Three New Perennials

I've long had a significant interest in new perennials. Of course, it's a natural extension of my interest in perennials generally, but it's also a matter of some excitement, at least for me -- it's the "cutting edge" if you will, of the world or industry of perennials.

Heuchera trial garden at Terra Nova Nurseries, Oregon.






A new perennial, whether it be a recently discovered species from China, a new cultivar of a North American native plant, a variegated "sport", or a brand new hybrid plant from some breeder's painstaking efforts, offers hope in improved performance, interest in a unique or different colour or form, and simple awe and wonder in what taxonomists call the Plant Kingdom.

Range of colours in Heuchera foliage developed in recent years.









Of course, not every new perennial that has been introduced to the industry is a "better" or even a "good" plant. It's unfortunate, but demand for new perennials and competition amongst propagators, has indeed reduced some professional standards. Only more recently, with the advent of renewed testing and trialling, has some integrity returned.

One project in this regard that I'm involved with at the Epic Plant Company is our New Plant Trial, which begun in the summer of 2005. It is a special garden that consists of over 100 varieties of new perennials. After a period of some time and evaluation, several are removed and several are added each year. During our annual open house in June, members of the industry and then the public is invited to view the garden.

Three relatively new perennials that I feel have indeed proven their worth in regards to garden performance, and are excellent additions to almost every garden, are the following:

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'. I can remember seeing this plant for the first time, what may have even been the very first plant, during a tour of Walters Gardens several years ago. A single pot sat on a bench, and Mary Walters said after I noticed it, "Ah yes, good eye Mark, that's a new plant we discovered as a sport of the old variety 'Langtrees'. We hope to introduce it in a couple of years." And so indeed they did -- and I've loved it ever since. Not long afterwards, we planted several here in a shady garden amongst some White Pines, and they have performed admirably -- returning reliably each spring to produce a pleasant mound of wonderfuly silvery foliage, accompanied in the spring by loose clusters of tiny but brilliant blue flowers.














I've never noticed a sinlge pest or disease bothering this plant, and by late summer, after weeks of high heat and humidity, and occassional periods of drought, the near dinner-plate size leaves remain in excellent condition.

Another beauty that came out a few years ago and has since done well, is Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart', with the usual pink and white flowers, but accompanied on this version, by brilliant golden-yellow foliage. The emergence of this plant in spring is truly a sight to behold. It was developed by fellow-Canadians Nori and Sandra Pope while they were looking after the gardens at Hadspen House in Somerset, England. It has good vigour and wonderful colour.














Finally, one of my favourites from our trial garden last summer, is Gaillardia 'Oranges and Lemons'. It survived the previous winter nearly 100% (unlike 'Fanfare' for some reason), and flowered non-stop from June through October. A mid-summer cut-back to about half made little or no difference in performance, and ultimately didn't seem to be necessary. The plants in general maintained a pleasant habit all summer.














Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD