Michael Martin, AmericanHort

How to Address the Growing Threat of Thrips Parvispinus
Andy Wilcox
Andy Wilcox

How Data Drives Greenhouse Production
Jean Feldman
Jean Feldman

How to Support the Well-Being of Your Injured Greenhouse Workers
Cassandra Faurote
Cassandra Faurote

Establishing Appropriate Employee Pay Practices to Stay Competitive

10 Distinctive Plants Monrovia Hopes Will Be Consumer Standouts in 2024

Brian D. Sparks Posted by Brian Sparks|July 18, 2023

Monrovia’s Botanic Garden, displayed at Cultivate’23, has a strong focus not just on new plants, but also distinctive plants.

“This year at Cultivate, we are showcasing Monrovia varieties in a completely different way,” says Katie Tamony, Chief Marketing Office at Monrovia. “Our Botanic Garden brings the key trends that shape consumer behavior to life. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore different ways to drive sales.”

Advertisement

Here’s a look at the top ten distinctive plants for 2024 (photos are in the slideshow above).

Hydrangea ‘Seaside Serenade Kitty Hawk’

The newest member of the Seaside Serenade hydrangea collection is pretty and pink. Kitty Hawk’s star-shaped flowers emerge a lime green then transition to a beautiful soft pink. This hydrangea features strong stems and thick deep-green foliage that highlights the stunning blooms. Beautiful in the landscape, Kitty Hawk also makes a stunning container plant. Zones 5 to 9.

Top Articles
How to Celebrate the Fifth Annual Women in Horticulture Week

‘Heavenly Ascent’ Climbing Rose

‘Heavenly Ascent’ Climbing Rose brings beautiful fragrance and a classic look to your landscape. This smaller climber features fragrant, creamy-pink blooms and reaches 8 feet tall. This continuous blooming rose is a must-have for cottage gardens. Full sun. Zones 5 to 9.

Agapanthus ‘Bridal Veil’

‘Bridal Veil’ Agapanthus packs loads of bright, beautiful blooms in a compact habit. The stunning white flowers sit atop strong stems that reach only about a foot high. This agapanthus is perfect for mass planting or in containers. A perennial in Zones 7 to 11, it can be grown as an annual in cooler climates.

‘Itsy Bitsy Peach’ Miniature Rose

Beautiful things come in small packages. This is especially true of the new ‘Itsy Bitsy Peach’ Miniature Rose. The abundant blooms range in color from soft peach to orange-yellow, covering the plant in sunny color. Itsy Bitsy stays compact, reaching only 18 to 24 inches tall, making it an excellent choice for containers or in the landscape. Zones 5 to 9.

Bougainvillea ‘Burgundy Queen’

This Bougainvillea brings a double dose of beauty to the garden with stunning flowers and gorgeous foliage. The new growth leaves of ‘Burgundy Queen’ are a showy, deep wine-red. The flower-like bracts are an even more dramatic burgundy hue. Discovered by Monrovia Craftsmen Tracy Harrison at the Georgia nursery, ‘Burgundy Queen’ is a vigorous climber, growing up to 30 feet long. It is the perfect climber for trellises, fences, and large patio pots. Evergreen in warmer climates, Burgundy Queen is also a great container or hanging basket annual in cooler regions. Hardy in Zones 10 to 11.

Cotoneaster ‘Shear Genius’

Discovered by Dan Hinkley, this evergreen shrub features fine foliage in an upright and narrow form. Shear Genius is perfect for hedges or for shearing into formal shapes. Zones 7 to 9.

‘Eau de Parfum Berry’ Rose

Big, romantic blooms are on-trend with home gardeners, and Monrovia’s Eau de Parfum Rose series delivers. Lush, fragrant blooms cover the easy-care shrubs. These disease-resistant roses are available in Berry (pictured), Blush, and Bubbly. Zones 4 to 8

Begonia ‘Tectonic Caldera’

The latest addition to the Tectonic Begonia series features giant, glossy heart shaped leaves that emerge red and open to a bright green. Discovered by Dan Hinkley in India, Caldera’s leaves can grow to 2 feet wide. Impressive in the landscape, Caldera can remain smaller in containers. Zones 8 to 11.

Campanula ‘Arctic Falls’

This unique Campanula is loaded with eye-catching lavender-purple, star-shaped blooms. The foliage cascades down making it a beautiful selection for baskets, containers, and rock gardens. This perennial bellflower is recommended for Zones 4 to 9.

‘Jurassic Stegosaurus’ Holly Fern

Each variety in Monrovia’s Jurassic Ferns series adds unique texture to the shade garden. Discovered by Dan Hinkley, ‘Jurassic Stegosaurus’ Holly Fern features holly-like fronds with large leaflets that make it a standout in the woodland garden and containers. Zones 6 to 9.

3

Brian Sparks is senior editor of Greenhouse Grower and editor of Greenhouse Grower Technology. See all author stories here.