Tesselaar Introduces 2010 Plants
October 28, 2009 
– Phormium ‘Black Adder’
–Ceanothus ‘Tuxedo’
–Fairy magnolia ‘Blush’
–Hydrangea ‘Strawberries and Cream’
Phormium ‘Black Adder’ is tall, dark and dramatic. ‘Black Adder’ is a burgundy-black spike of glossy sword leaves shooting upward from the base. It is notable for its blacker-than-ever color, elegant architectural form and drought and wind tolerance.
Hardy to Zone 8, ‘Black Adder’ grows to just 3 feet with a slight curve at the tips. Unlike its parent, Phormium cookianum ‘Platt’s Black,’ ‘Black Adder’ is a strong, healthy grower suited to exposed conditions and coastal planting. Gardeners in cooler climates will appreciate its drama in container and accent plantings. It can also be overwintered indoors.
Ceanothus ‘Tuxedo’ is a black-foliaged ceanothus, or California lilac. ‘Tuxedo’ made its U.S. debut in California last year, and it will be available across the U.S. in 2010.
Powder-blue flowers provide a stunning contrast against glossy, deep purple-black foliage in a shrub that grows to 8 feet x 6 feet and blooms in the fall. ‘Tuxedo’ occurred as a sport in Kilkenny, Ireland, where ceanothus-loving hybridizers were quick to recognize its importance.
In 2008, ‘Tuxedo’ was honored with a bronze award at Plantarium, the prestigious international nursery plant exhibition held annually in The Netherlands. ‘Tuxedo’ is also drought tolerant, able to handle a windy slope and well behaved when it comes to pruning.
Fairy magnolia ‘Blush’ is delicate and fragrant. ‘Blush’ delivers lilac-pink, fragrant flowers, preceded by russet-colored buds and accompanied by evergreen foliage resembling a camellia without the gloss. ‘Blush’ is an upright, compact, bushy shrub that reaches 8 feet high and 6 feet wide.
Hardy in Zones 7b through 10, it blooms in late winter to early spring when sited in full sun to partial shade.
Hydrangea ‘Strawberries and Cream’ was first presented as a gift idea in a Mother’s Day sneak peek in 2009. ‘Strawberries and Cream’ makes its available-all-season debut in 2010.
A striking, dark rosy-red, white-centered lacecap, ‘Strawberries and Cream’ is compact at 3 to 4 feet, prefers some shade and will delight either as a long-lived indoor container plant or a border or specimen planting outdoors.
Hardy to Zone 7, the plant will be marketed by Tesselaar as an ideal plant for gift giving and will be packaged as a ready-for-the-table centerpiece.
For more information on Anthony Tesselaar Plants, visit Tesselaar.com.
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