Monrovia Unveils 7 New Plant Varieties For 2015, Plus A Sneak Peek
Monrovia has announced some of its new and improved plants for 2015. The company seeks out plants that are more pest and disease resistant, drought resistant or that have a different color, flower or fruit.
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Weigela 'Crimson Kisses' (Monrovia)
A compact reblooming weigela, 'Crimson Kisses' has a tidy rounded shape and is covered with dark, lipstick-red flowers, that are kissed with a white eye and backed by bright green foliage. The flowers bloom from mid spring through summer. Early trials have exhibited hardiness in Zone 4. 'Crimson Kisses' will reach three feet high and wide, making it perfect as a backdrop for flower borders or in the foreground of shrub beds. It is lovely in a container, too. Hardy from Zones 5 to 9.
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Jacaranda 'Bonsai Blue' (Monrovia)
A true dwarf jacaranda, this fast grower will make a stunning small specimen tree or it works well in a small patio container. It has bright green, soft, fern-like foliage and explodes with deep purple tubular blooms in late spring. 'Bonsai Blue' prefers full sun and once established it is remarkably tolerant of heat and drought. While jacarandas can grow 40 to 50 feet tall, this petite discovery from Israel will be about six feet high by five feet wide. A Monrovia exclusive through Ball Ornamentals. Hardy from Zones 9 to 11.
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Arborvitae 'Ember Waves' (Monrovia)
A new conifer with bright, yellow-gold new foliage that matures to chartreuse, creating a striking color contrast. The real drama arrives in winter when foliage turns deep gold with brilliant orange-red tips. It is vigorous, virtually disease-free and deer resistant. 'Ember Wave' responds well to shearing and is slightly more compact than its parent 'Green Giant.' It grows to 25 feet tall and eight feet wide and does well in full sun. Hardy from Zones 5 to 8.
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Arborvitae 'Tiny Tower' (Monrovia)
A sport of the well-known 'Green Giant,' its parent plant, 'Tiny Tower' is a noted improvement. It has an upright, more compact habit and is a slower grower. Its lively green foliage is finer to the touch and maintains a tighter shape. It will reach 18 to 20 feet tall by four to five feet wide in 10 years. Use this easy-care shrub to create an evergreen screen, define the back of a border, or feature it as an accent specimen in the landscape or a container. 'Tiny Tower' grows well in full sun and is hardy from Zones 5 to 9.
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Hydrangea Vine 'Red Rhapsody' (Monrovia)
This extremely rare selection from the Dan Hinkley Collection has varnished-red new growth that is stunning in spring. Its flowerheads are surrounded by large, cream-colored bracts. Six years ago, Hinckley was driving through a remote area of the southwest Sichuan Province when he noticed some seedheads on a plant. When the seedlings were two years old, he realized he had a rare species that, to his knowledge, has never been successfully grown in Western cultivation. 'Red Rhapsody' will self adhere, reaching 10 to 15 feet, and is best grown on the trunks of sizable trees, fences or arbors in shade to part shade in evenly moist soils. Hardy from Zone 6 to 9.
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Laurus (Sweet Bay) 'Little Ragu' (Monrovia)
Native to the Mediterranean, this is a true compact sweet bay. Its bright, golden-green, wavy leaves have a seductive fragrance. The narrow foliage emerges chartreuse on red stems, and then becomes a rich, sage green. 'Little Ragu' will top out at five to eight feet high and wide in 10 years. Its small size makes it ideal for planting closer to the house or in a container near the kitchen. This evergreen shrub works well as a houseplant in colder climates, adding fragrance to the home all year. It prefers full sun to part shade. 'Little Ragu' is a selection of 'Emerald Wave.' It is hardy to from Zones 8 to 11.
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Disporum cantoniense 'Moonlight Chinese Fairy Bells' (Monrovia)
'Moonlight Chinese Fairy Bells' has fascinating foliage on graceful, arching stems. The wavy leaves are bright green with a unique pearl-white center, and they develop some interesting striping. The dramatic foliage color emerges in spring, followed by clusters of small yellow flowers that last through summer. Then, as temperatures cool in the fall, the variegation turns purple-pink. A compact form, 'Moonlight Chinese Fairy Bells' will reach 18 to 24 inches and requires only occasional pruning. Hardy from Zones 7 to 9.
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Pieris 'Impish Elf Lily of the Valley' (Monrovia)
This is a sneak peek of the Enchanted Forest Collection of Lily of the Valley Shrubs from noted breeder Sven Svenson. This collection loves dappled shade and will reach five feet high and wide. These late-blooming Lily of the Valley Shrubs develop buds in the fall that hold throughout the winter, providing a flame of color all season. 'Impish Elf' is the first in the collection. It is hardy from Zones 6 to 8. Details on the other varieties to come soon.
View all
Weigela 'Crimson Kisses' (Monrovia)
Jacaranda 'Bonsai Blue' (Monrovia)
Arborvitae 'Ember Waves' (Monrovia)
Arborvitae 'Tiny Tower' (Monrovia)
Hydrangea Vine 'Red Rhapsody' (Monrovia)
Laurus (Sweet Bay) 'Little Ragu' (Monrovia)
Disporum cantoniense 'Moonlight Chinese Fairy Bells' (Monrovia)
Pieris 'Impish Elf Lily of the Valley' (Monrovia)
“The habit is another characteristic we seek to improve,” says Nicholas Staddon, new plant specialist and Monrovia spokesperson. “Many people are seeking dwarf and compact varieties of their favorite plants, so they can grow them in a smaller garden or container. Low-maintenance is in big demand, so those plants that don’t require much pruning or dead-heading are hugely popular.”
Here are some of Monrovia’s new varieties for 2015 (more to be announced soon):
For more information, visit Monrovia.com
Source: Monrovia
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Janeen Wright is former Editor for Greenhouse Grower. . See all author stories here.