New Perennials and Tender Perennials for 2018 from California Spring Trials
Perennials bloom year after year, offering enormous variety in size and shape, foliage and bloom color, and habits and bloom times. Many have the advantage of providing all-season interest, while others are drought tolerant and fuss-free. No wonder they’re a popular staple of the garden. We asked breeders what new perennials and tender perennials they’re introducing at the 2017 California Spring Trials. Here’s a sampling of some of the varieties that will hit retail shelves in 2018.
-
-
1 of 22
Antirrhinum Crackle n' Pop Bicolor Mix (Floranova)
Crackle n' Pop is an early and uniform pack series of antirrhinum that is bred for ultimate branching in the early stages of growth. This structure yields a stronger plant, more able to sustain itself in transit, on the shelf, and at home, without sacrificing earliness. It is available in five bold colors and two bright bicolors. It is a tender perennial, often grown as a summer annual.
-
2 of 22
Agapanthus campanulas x 'Brilliant Blue' (Kiwi Flora)
'Brilliant Blue' produces masses of rich, dark, brilliant-blue flowers. This agapanthus is very free flowering from spring to late summer. It will set more than 100 flowers in year five and is a great pot and patio plant.
-
3 of 22
Dianthus 'American Pie Bumbleberry Pie' (PlantHaven)
Bumbleberry Pie is bred for beautiful scented blooms and excellent garden performance. Rose pink, single blooms with vivid-pink centers cover the plant in spring, and repeat flowering occurs in summer and fall. It is hardy to Zone 5.
-
4 of 22
Dianthus 'American Pie Georgia Peach Pie' (PlantHaven)
Peach Pie has a compact, mounding habit and is bred for beautiful scented blooms and strong garden performance. Its large, single blooms with a pale-pink blush and vibrant coral centers have a timeless elegance. The foliage is blue green with sturdy stems that do not flop. Peach Pie will repeat bloom in summer and fall and is hardy to Zone 5.
-
5 of 22
Dianthus ‘Supra Pink’ (Hem Genetics)
‘Supra Pink’ is a new color addition to the Supra series of dianthus from Hem Genetics and an 2017 All America Selections winner. It is an interspecific hybrid including a perennial species that imparts excellent heat and cold tolerance. Plants are hardy to Zone 4B.
-
6 of 22
Cosmos atrosanguineus ‘Brownie’ (Thompson & Morgan)
‘Brownie’ is a seed-raised version of Chocolate Cosmos with maroon flowers that have a wonderfully rich chocolate fragrance. Masses of flowers are produced all summer from June to frost. Plants are ideal for borders and containers and reach a final garden height of 28 inches.
-
7 of 22
Dianthus 'Rockin' Red' (Kieft Seed)
This dynamite red will keep perennial borders alight for years to come, thanks to its vivid color, durable performance, and count-on-it overwintering. It opens the door to premium product sales in perennial quart and gallon programs for mid-spring and the fall decorating season. Lacy, slightly scented flowers top full and long-lasting plants.
-
8 of 22
Echinacea Meadow Mama Series (Pacific Plug & Liner)
From Plants Nouveau comes a new series of larger, single flowering echinacea that are available in a wide range of saturated colors and even interesting bi-color combinations. Meadow Mama Echinacea are great in the garden and also as large planters for the patio garden. They are hardy in Zones 5 to 9 and available for the 2017 spring to fall retail season. Pictured: 'Blushing Meadow Mama'
-
9 of 22
Echinacea Moodz Series (HilverdaKooij)
Echinaceas are difficult plants to propagate and grow. Growing Moodz echinaceas involves a different cultivation method (without vernalization), which produces beautiful, full plants with many side shoots within a short time period of 12 to 13 weeks. Echinaceas, commonly known as coneheads, attract many bees and butterflies. When planted in the full sun, they produce flowers from July through to September and will easily survive the winter.
-
10 of 22
Echinacea 'Kismet Red' (Terra Nova Nurseries)
‘Kismet Red’ has early blooming, large, red flowers that rebloom all summer. This showy variety has an upright, compact, mounding habit with a great crown count, making it widely useful for eye-catching containers or striking borders.
-
11 of 22
Echibeckia ‘Summerina Butterscotch Biscuit’ (Pacific Plug & Liner)
‘Butterscotch Biscuit’ is a new variety in the lineup that has flowers with a nice, bright, buttery color and a light eye. It has the largest flowers in the series. This variety is more aggressive in growth and is best in larger containers. The bloom time for ‘Butterscotch Biscuit’ is late, similar to Yellow, so it is great for summer and fall sales. It is hardy in Zones 7 to 9 and available for the 2017 summer to fall retail season.
-
12 of 22
Echibeckia 'Summerina Electra Shock' (Pacific Plug & Liner)
Electra Shock is a selection with quill-type flowers, giving it a spider mum appearance. In cooler weather, the flowers have a brown tinge, in warmer weather the flower will appear more yellow in color. Electra Shock has a very nice habit, working well in both 2½-quart and 2-gallon containers. With a mum-like appearance, it would be great for fall sales. Electra Shock is hardy in Zones 7 to 9 and available for the 2017 summer to fall retail season.
-
13 of 22
Echibeckia ‘Summerina Pumpernickel’ (Pacific Plug & Liner)
Pumpernickel is a selection that holds a deep-brown color and more closely matches the habit of the current Orange and Yellow varieties, versus Brown, which is more compact. In warmer climates, Pumpernickel does not express the brown color as strongly as pictured and looks closer to Orange. The brown color will deepen with cooling weather so it is great for fall sales. It is hardy in Zones 7 to 9 and available for the 2017 summer to fall retail season.
-
14 of 22
Spin Top Gaillardia Series (Dümmen Orange)
Three new SpinTop gaillardia cultivars are coming to market in 2018. These new introductions fit perfectly into the existing assortment with a matching habit and timing, expanding the best compact gaillardia series on the market. With fantastic colors and intense flower power, these are great for high-density production and mixed combinations. These perennials feature excellent landscape performance and cold hardiness in trials across the continent.
-
15 of 22
Heuchera 'Forever Red' (Terra Nova Nurseries)
‘Forever Red’ is a fast-growing heuchera with brilliant-red, slightly ruffled leaves that are the reddest in the spring and fall when the weather is cool. In mid-summer, the 14-inch spikes with white flowers complement and contrast with the foliage. This new variety’s mounding habit contains excellent vigor and a nice crown count.
-
16 of 22
Heuchera 'Northern Exposure Silver' (Terra Nova Nurseries)
‘Northern Exposure Silver’ is a cold-tolerant and rust-resistant plant with burgundy-to-silver colored leaves. Its dense, round, mounding habit with multiple crowns and a long lifespan makes it a well-suited landscape plant. The finish time for a 4-inch pot is six to eight weeks and a gallon-size pot is eight to 10 weeks.
-
17 of 22
Lavandula allardii 'Meerlo' (Sunset Western Garden Collection)
These are the most heat, humidity, and drought tolerant lavenders in the Southern Living Plant Collection. These vigorous plants hold their beautifully variegated and highly fragrant foliage year round, and are not as picky about soil conditions as others. They are hardy in Zones 9 to 10 with a mature size of 24 to 36 inches high and 24 to 30 inches wide.
-
18 of 22
Lavandula 'Paris' (Green Fuse Botanicals)
‘Paris’ is a compact selection that shows off beautiful, large, lavender-blue flowers. It is very early to flower compared to other L. dentata on the market. The mounded plant form will finish higher-quality lavender plants with a more tidy appearance.
-
19 of 22
Lewesia ‘Constant Fuchsia’ (Terra Nova Nurseries)
‘Constant Fuchsia’ has constantly blooming, beautiful, fuchsia-pink flowers that thrive in full sun. This variety’s low fertilizer needs make it easy to grow with good drainage, and unlike other lewesia, it performs well in containers and gardens.
-
20 of 22
Pristine Penstemon Series (Dümmen Orange)
Aptly named Pristine, these penstemon feature a medium-compact habit, intense colors, and a naturally well-branching habit. With uniformity at the forefront of Dümmen’s breeding efforts, this new series is easily grown under a universal production regimen. Pristine penstemon boast strong stems and robust architecture.
-
21 of 22
Salvia ‘Rose Marvel’ (Darwin Perennials)
'Rose Marvel' brings a rich, deep-rose color to the collection. It has large flowers and a long flowering window. It re-blooms without being cut back.
-
22 of 22
Tanacetum ‘Radiant Deep Pink’ (Terra Nova Nurseries)
‘Radiant Deep Pink’ has showy, glowing, deep-pink blooms that last for a long period. This new and improved Painted Daisy consists of a compact, mounding habit that does not fall open.
View all
Antirrhinum Crackle n' Pop Bicolor Mix (Floranova)
Agapanthus campanulas x 'Brilliant Blue' (Kiwi Flora)
Dianthus 'American Pie Bumbleberry Pie' (PlantHaven)
Dianthus 'American Pie Georgia Peach Pie' (PlantHaven)
Dianthus ‘Supra Pink’ (Hem Genetics)
Cosmos atrosanguineus ‘Brownie’ (Thompson & Morgan)
Dianthus 'Rockin' Red' (Kieft Seed)
Echinacea Meadow Mama Series (Pacific Plug & Liner)
Echinacea Moodz Series (HilverdaKooij)
Echinacea 'Kismet Red' (Terra Nova Nurseries)
Echibeckia ‘Summerina Butterscotch Biscuit’ (Pacific Plug & Liner)
Echibeckia 'Summerina Electra Shock' (Pacific Plug & Liner)
Echibeckia ‘Summerina Pumpernickel’ (Pacific Plug & Liner)
Spin Top Gaillardia Series (Dümmen Orange)
Heuchera 'Forever Red' (Terra Nova Nurseries)
Heuchera 'Northern Exposure Silver' (Terra Nova Nurseries)
Lavandula allardii 'Meerlo' (Sunset Western Garden Collection)
Lavandula 'Paris' (Green Fuse Botanicals)
Lewesia ‘Constant Fuchsia’ (Terra Nova Nurseries)
Pristine Penstemon Series (Dümmen Orange)
Salvia ‘Rose Marvel’ (Darwin Perennials)
Tanacetum ‘Radiant Deep Pink’ (Terra Nova Nurseries)
In case you missed it:
Begonias, Dahlias, and More for 2018 from California Spring Trials
New Petunias and Calibrachoas for 2018 from California Spring Trials
Phlox, Zinnias, and More for 2018 From California Spring Trials
Subscribe to eNewsletter
Janeen Wright is former Editor for Greenhouse Grower. . See all author stories here.