Hot New Perennials 2023 - Report by Eason Horticultural Resources

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PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

Welcome to the Jungle!

Or really, the 14th annual edition of EHR’s Hot New Perennials report. We tend to think new introductions hold the same power as your favorite golden oldies, if not more. Whether you’re still jamming out with favorites of the past or looking to diversify with a new single or series, we hope this report provides enjoyment.

A special ‘thank you’ goes to our vendors and breeders for their help in this report. From providing plant information, photographs, and descriptions to devoting time to touring us at trial gardens and conducting webinars, these partners make our production possible. Thank you!

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Agastache

MEANT TO BE™ QUEEN NECTARINE 01.

PROVEN WINNERS | What is meant to be will BEE! A brand new introduction from Proven Winners, Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine, debuts with large, soft peach flowers on mauve calyxes.

Members of the MEANT TO BEE™ Collection were selected for their large, full habits, significant landscape presence, and hardiness. Flowers cover the top two thirds of these plants from mid to late summer, with colorful calyxes extending interest well into fall.

Zone 5-9

Agastache

BETTERBUZZ SERIES 02.

DUMMEN ORANGE | This new series was all the buzz at California Spring Trials. It looked gorgeous at Dummen Orange’s trial displays. The series launches with three colors: Amarillo, Amber, and Rosa. It is best to keep the soil from being too moist and give the pots some spacing to prevent them from being too leggy. These plants are extremely drought tolerant and thrive in full sun and heat. Deadheading spent flowers will help promote new blooms, bringing hummingbirds and other pollinators to the garden all season. Zone 6-10.

Agastache

BLUE BAYOU 03.

WALTERS GARDENS | You don’t have to go far south to get to know this ‘bayou’… Agastache Blue Bayou, that is!

This giant hyssop isn’t quite so giant, but a more compact cultivar that reaches 16-18” in height. It is FILLED with lavender blue flowers that sparkle in contrast against dark calyxes, attracting pollinators and providing garden splendor.

Compared to other varieties, Walters Gardens notes that it matches Rosie Posie and Peachie Keen in performance. It is also worth noting that this is a drought tolerant nativar. With some well drained soil and sunshine, it is set to be a garden favorite. Zone 5-9

Agastache

PINK PEARL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS, INC.®

04.

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | A stellar new introduction that looked fabulous at Cultivate 2022! Agastache Pink Pearl is a mid-sized, full, and compact mound of large flower spikes.

Terra Nova Nurseries brings us an agastache unlike many others, with large, dense blooms that cover the entire plant and appear a dynamic two-toned with deeper colored flower buds contrasting nicely. Eye-catching in the mid to front garden border, also looks stunning in the container at home or at retail. Long blooming, spring through frost. Expect a summer display June through September. Zone 6-10

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

perennials so bright, i gotta wear shades E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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ASTILBE c.

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

Achillea

SUN N’ FUN ® RED 05.

GREEN FUSE BOTANICALS | You met Sun N’ Fun Gold in our past report, now it gains a companion! Sun N’ Fun Red is day length neutral and does not require vernalization. GreenFuse notes that it is perhaps the most compact yarrow available! It is almost a groundcover, with the foliage only reaching 2-3 inches off the ground with the flower right on top. Gold was a hit intro for GreenFuse and we anticipate Red to follow suit! Zone 4

Anemone

FRILLY KNICKERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLANTS NOUVEAU

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREEN FUSE® BOTANICALS

06.

PLANTS NOUVEAU | If you think the plant name is great, wait to see this anemone. Anemone Frilly Knickers is a true double flower, blooms of bright white, bi-color flowers on a vigorous, clump-forming plant. Semidouble white flowers with the most adorably ruffled edges unfurl to reveal a surprise on their backside - a periwinkle lavender back and dark stems. Plants Nouveau brings up this introduction with the note that it is a tough anemone!

Zone 5-9

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way? Here it is. Introducing Astilbe Dark Side of the Moon, a first class introduction from Proven Winners.

It is the the only dark leafed astilbe with purple flowers on the market! The rich deep brown leaves form a mound of foliage, first emerging yellow with a dark margin. Dark stems hold raspberry buds that burst forth with rosy purple flowers. The foliage on this is spectacular! Vernalization required for flowering.

Zone 4-9

Begonia

LUNAR LIGHTS™ STERLING MOON

07.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

PLANTS NOUVEAU | This introduction marks the beginning of a new series from Plants Nouveau! The foliage is a display of puckered, forest-green leaves that are frosted with silver and mint-green flecking.

The salmon-pink flowers on Sterling Moon play nicely with young leaves, which are highlighted by a touch of pink. While not as hardy as other picks in our report, the attraction is great enough for even patio containers, if not a shady perennial border.

Blooming in the summer, it reaches 24-30” in height. Zone 7-9

Brunnera mac.

FROSTBITE

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLANTS NOUVEAU

08.

DARWIN PERENNIALS | A welcomed addition to brunnera comes to us from Darwin Perennials. While some brunnera don’t hold up all season, this intro is the exception. Frostbite holds up mid-late summer, versus the popular Jack Frost that tends to fade out into late summer. It also has a tighter habit than Jack Frost. While the silver and green foliage is the attraction here, it does produce a delightful blue flower in spring. Zone 4-9

E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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LET’S HEAR IT

Dian PHOTOS COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS, INC.®

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREEN FUSE® BOTANICALS

Dianthus

MAD MAGENTA 09.

DUMMEN ORANGE | Dianthus Mad Magenta was a favorite of ours at California Spring Trials this year. It has some of the largest flowers we have ever seen on a dianthus! Not only was the flower size worth the gold star, the electric magenta color is stunning. Mad Magenta forms an upright, mounding habit with sturdy branching. It blooms early and continues through the season with no cycling. Zone 5

T FOR THE

nthus Dianthus

SINGLE LADIES™ SERIES ADDITIONS 12.

WALTERS GARDENS | Perhaps you started singing a certain song in your head when you read this plant name? Like the song of the same likeness, this series is comprised of single flower dianthus. Two new varieties expand the lineup: Lip Gloss, magenta pink flowers with well-defined white halos at the center, and Red Rouge, burgundy red flowers with a rosy pink edge and flecking reaching 1.5” wide! The habit is more dome-shaped than flat, with a spreading nature. Zone 4-9

Dianthus

BEAUTIES SERIES ADDITIONS 10.

DUMMEN ORANGE | You know the Beauties from past reports and its Kahori bloodline, a resilient and popular series!

Sometimes flowers in the Kahori line get smaller in heat and humidity, but the new varieties do not! They are easy to grow with extreme heat and humidity tolerance... Florida to Canada! Joining the Beauties series are 5 new varieties: Tyra (red-purple), Rebecca (bright pink), Melina (purple-pink), Tiiu (hot pink), Vida (hot-tolight pink). Tiuu and Melina get semi double look as they age, a new feature to the series. Vida starts out hot pink then ages to a light pink. Zone 3

Dianthus

SUNFLOR SERIES ADDITIONS 1 1.

WALTERS GARDENS | The Sunflor series is one of the most compact dianthus series on the market. With over 20 varieties to choose from, there is no shortage on colors options. Four new varieties join the series: Riley, Hailey, Harper, and Skylar.

Our interest specifically spikes with Harper and Hailey for being a unique addition to dianthus. Hailey has a bright purple-violet color that isn’t often seen in dianthus.

Harper is a delightful bi-color variety of white and pink blooms that are quite large on such a cute plant form.

Dianthus

CONSTANT BEAUTY CRUSH POMEGRANATE 13.

GREEN FUSE BOTANICALS | Joining the Constant Beauty Crush series is the first ever single flowering variety! Beauty Crush Pomegranate has a deep pink flower that is almost iridescent, with a dark eye. This series is bred in the Tropics to flower under high temperatures, with added features of early blooming, great fall color, and highly scented. It is day length neutral and no vernalization required. Also pictured is a cluster of blooms from a 2022 introduction to this series, Potpourri. It looked fantastic at CAST, as well! Zone 5

E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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D

m i u n i h elp

RED LARK

14.

DARWIN PERENNIALS | We know what you’re thinking… you’ve met this introduction before. We featured it in a past booklet, but supply was limited and an improvement was in order. If you had the chance to see it this year at the Costa trials, Cultivate, or at CAST, we’re certain your jaw dropped like ours did. A sturdy spike holds vibrant coral-red blooms for a dramatic display.

Imagine this in a large pot or as a focal plant in the garden! Zone 5-8b

Delphinium

DELGENIUS™ SERIES ADDITIONS 15.

PACIFIC PLUG & LINER | The blood lines crossed to create the Delgenius™ series bring enormous hardiness, heat tolerance and strong flower stems to Delphinium. These varieties require no vernalization so crops can be potted in the fall or spring. The semi-double blooms rebloom. Three new varieties join the line up. Neva is a great, bright white variety. Chantay is a beautiful muted pink. Blue Fabulousa is a deep blueviolet color with white centers to the blooms- a bi-color effect. Zone 3

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Dicentra

AMORE™ TITANIUM PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

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Echinacea

Echinacea

ARTISAN™ YELLOW OMBRE

CARA MIA™ CORAL

FRESCO™ APRICOT

PAN AMERICAN SEED | The Artisan Collection is the first F1 hybrid seed lineup of echinacea. Previously introduced and loved Red Ombre and Soft Orange, now we have a gold-yellow option with Yellow Ombre. All varieties are consistent in structure and flowering for a highly branched, full plant at retail. Yellow Ombre is 2-4 inches taller than the collection companions. Zone 4-10b

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | This year Terra Nova Nurseries debuted a handful of brilliant echinacea, but this one is extra extraordinary! Conch shell peach and coral are blended to form the fantastic flowers on this garden worthy plant. The double flowers first start off as a green-eyed anemone type and then burst into their true double form. Upright, compact habit plant features healthy mid-green foliage, right to the ground, making this plant very versatile and a pleasure to grow. Zone 4-9

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | This introduction stands out for its zinnia-like flowers! The blooms are extra large and extra fun with their frilly nature. The plant has a tall, narrow habit that reaches about 23” in height. From June to October, Echinacea Fresco Apricot will put on a floriferous display, in the border or in the background of the garden. This was another stellar performer on display at Cultivate this year! Zone 4-9

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SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF

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ce a a n i h c E

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

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E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

Echinacea

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | “Absolutely one of the most pure, true white flowers we’ve seen in ages,” says Terra Nova Nurseries, and we don’t disagree! Dicentra Amore Titanium has bright white flowers against soft blue-green foliage. This variety came as a mutation of the popular Amore Pink. It shares the same series attributes of heat resistance and season-long flowering, with extra vigor! Zone 5-9

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Gaillardia

REALFLOR ® SUNSET ORANGE RUFFLES

PLANT HAVEN | Gaillardia RealFlor® Sunset Medium Collection varieties have single rows of flat petals of vibrant color fringed with yellow carried on very strong stems. Blooms are colorfast and age well over an exceptionally long period. Drought-tolerant once established, these sun-loving, floriferous beauties are ideal for containers, beds, and borders. RealFlor Sunset Medium ‘Sunset Orange Ruffles’ features two rows of flat petals, in warm sunkist tones. It has almost a ‘double echinacea’ style flower, a feature that allows PlantHaven the claim... “world’s first double flowered blanket flower!” Not only is the flower form unique, it is exceptionally floriferous over a very long period. Hardy to zone 5.

GAI LL PHOTO COURTESY OF PLANTHAVEN, INC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANZIGER

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Gaillardia

GUSTO™ SERIES

DANZIGER | If you’re going to do something with gusto, you give it all you got. This series certainly matches its namesake! The Gusto

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series doesn’t give up spring through fall, with foliage and flowers that cover older blooms for a season long display. The habit and flowering is consistent across the varieties. Choose from four eye-catching colors, Lemon, Saffron, Paprika, and Sweet Chili. Plants are first year flowering with no benefit to cooling. This brand new series was bred for uniformity and easy rooting. Each variety can be expected to reach 14” in height with a width of 16-18”. You can find this series joining the team of other ThinkPlant selections that are sure to bring the gusto! Hardy Zones 4-9

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W

m o o l B

RED

TOP

NON-S

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EB SO M E A R

..

SOM

SOME WILL , N LO WI SE L LI TO

ARDIA

PHOTO COURTESY OF DUMMEN ORANGE®

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Gaillardia a.

SPINTOP SERIES ADDITIONS

DUMMEN ORANGE | Perhaps one of the most popular series of gaillardia on the market, the SpinTop series will gain two new color additions! SpinTop Mango brings an orange color to the series and Pineapple is a dark gold-yellow selection. Like the rest of the series, these are bright in color and compact in habit. Both selections are first-year flowering with extreme heat and humidity tolerance. They flower early, so it does not go to seed as quickly as seed varieties and flowers around 3 weeks earlier than seed varieties. If you want to expand your SpinTop production, or simply want a bright display that will flower all season long, these two new varieties are your pick!

E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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I FEEL THE NEED, THE NEED FOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONCEPT PLANTS®

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PACIFIC PLUG & LINER

Erysimum

WALLART SERIES

LUNA ROJA

DUMMEN ORANGE | You want artsy and unique? You got it! Erysimum WallArt series is new breeding that offers bright colors as a brilliant season opener. This is a cold-beneficial crop with a long flowering window. The series stands out because it stays compact, with flowers on top of the plant. It is a very showy plant with a high retail value, if grown correctly. Four colors mark the series: Berry Lemonade, Pearl, Citric, and Pink Lemonade. Zone 7

CONCEPT PLANTS | Heliopsis Luna Roja has a neat, compact and naturally rounded habit with strong flower stems. The stems are strong enough to hold those masses of flowers upright: without any flowers flopping or hanging.

It has an extended flowering period from July through October, making sure you can enjoy those orange-red flowers all summer long. Luna Roja is a disease, drought and humidity tolerant perennial and hardly requires any maintenance. Zone 3-9

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Heliopsis

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Heuchera

Heucherella

26.

27.

DOLCE ® FROSTED BERRY

PROVEN WINNERS | Calling all Heuchera fans! This introduction is a sport of Wildberry, with a matching habit, leaf size, and flowers. The leaves are huge, 5-6” in size, with charcoal veins. The foliage features slight blush tones and dark stems rise above to feature rosy pink calyxes and white flowers. We are big fans of Heuchera Wildberry, so naturally we’re putting a checkmark next to this intro! Zone 4-9

PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

COPPER KING

WALTERS GARDENS | Walters Gardens debuts their most vigorous heucherella to date! Copper King has large 5” leaves in a maple-like shape with deep dissection. New leaves appear bright orange with copper red centers and yellow edging. Compared to the beloved Hopscotch variety, this intro has more defined central patterns and marginal color. Red stems rise up with white flowers. Zone 4-9

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS, INC.®

Helleborus

WINTER’S ANGELS™ VIBEY VELVET 25.

PACIFIC PLUG & LINER | Our friends at PP&L debut another fantastic hellebore! Winter Angels Vibey Velvet blooms ‘old school’- plant in the summer, enjoy blooms at Christmas time. The full blooming window is November through March. It has a really great deep red color on outward facing large flowers with dark flecking. The Winter Angels series is an exclusive series to Pacific Plug and Liner. Zone 5-8

E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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No w, I ’ v e g o t you i n m y si ghts

with these

s e y E l e g n A Hibiscus

ANGEL EYES

WALTERS GARDENS | Sing it with us… “Now, I’ve got you in my sights, with these ANGEL EYES, one look at you and I can’t disguise…”

Walters Gardens is forever dominating the game in perennial hibiscus, with this introduction making us swoon more than ever.

It is one of the earliest hardy hibiscus to flower!

Expect larger blooms reaching 8” in size. The flowers appear in a bright white fashion with raspberry red eyes that radiate out through the petals. The foliage is a rich green color on red stems to form a well rounded habit. The thick roots grow deep, allowing the plant to withstand periods without water with little consequence to its gorgeous display. Zone 4-9

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS, INC.®

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Hibiscus

SUMMERIFFIC® VALENTINE’S CRUSH WALTERS GARDENS | Be mine, Valentine? No seriously, we are crushing hard on Hibiscus Valentine’s Crush from Proven Winners. It joins the Summerific Collection of hibiscus.

Important to note, it replaces the previously loved Cranberry Crush in the collection.

Compared with ‘Cranberry Crush’, this variety has brighter red flowers that open fully flat at 7” wide and features a more columnar habit.

The leaves have a large, ovate shape – causing the plant to have a full appearance – and a dark bronze cast in full sun. Zone 4-9

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PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DUMMEN ORANGE®

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

Iberis semp.

Kniphofia

WHITE SHADOW

ROCKET JR.

DUMMEN ORANGE | This iberis introduction has perhaps the largest flowers on the market! Iberis White Shadow has a compact habit with excellent container-filling capacity, but could also be featured in the garden. Vernalization not required but benefits from cold. White Shadow is a perfect season opener, blooming April to June. Looking for a late iberis? Add Iberis White Candy from Dummen Orange to your production as well! Zone 6-9

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | We love seeing new red hot pokers join the scene and Rocket Jr. makes our list! The intense color on this kniphofia is a fiery deep red orange that shifts to a golden afterburn. Blooms are held tight within and above upright grass like foliage. You can expect blooms summer through frost, pushing up through the foliage non-stop. This is a dwarf variety of kniphofia, but it could still be used as an excellent thriller in mixes or in the front of gardens.

Zone 6-9

30.

Kniphofia u.

FLOWSTICK 31.

DARWIN PERENNIALS | A kniphofia that is available as a URC through our friends at Darwin Perennials, allowing growers a different input option not typically seen on the market! Abundance of bright yellow flowers from summer to fall lure pollinators in with nectar-rich blooms. Plus, it makes an excellent cut flower for bouquets. When not in bloom, the finely textured foliage resembles ornamental grass – adding a nice texture to any garden.

Zone 6-9b

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E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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Leucanthemum

LEMON MERINGUE 33.

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | A sweet, new shasta daisy debuts in the cutest, compact form! The flowers open a lemony citrus yellow and shifts to a clean crisp white flower. Tight, heavy branching creates an extended bloom time with successive flowers opening on top of previous blooms.

Utilize this sunny intro in borders, beds, or in containers for a long lasting summer display! Zone 5-9 PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MUST LOVE PERENNIALS

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENCHOICE™

Leucanthemum

Leucanthemum

SUNSHINE FREAK™

FLOWERPOWER

34.

MUST LOVE PERENNIALS | Another shasta daisy to freak out over! Leucanthemum Sunshine Freak boasts light-yellow flowers that lighten as they mature from cream yellow to white, creating a multi-colored display as plants bloom throughout the season. Zone 5-8

36.

35.

GARDENCHOICE | Leucanthemum FlowerPower has a lot to offer the landscape and container world. This lovely new leucanthemum, is another fine addition from the breeding of Brent Horvath, brought to you by GardenChoice™. In trials this plant has shown stunning performance with an overabundance or 2-3” white with yellow flowers on strong and sturdy stems. It will reach 18-24” tall and 24-32” wide. Zone 4.

Lavandula

JAVELIN™ COMPACT SYNGENTA | A new addition to the Javelin series, but in a compact form! This Spanish lavender intro is plentiful in color atop sturdy stems. It has a densely branched habit with tightly stacked internodes. Javelin Compact has similar powerful flowers as regular Javelin Forte, but with a compact habit. This is a great item for quart to 2 gallon production. Vernalization is required. Zone 7-9 PHOTO COURTESY OF SYNGENTA®

Lavandula

LAVEANNA™ VIOLET

15

DANZIGER | Laveanna Violet is as lovely as it is to say the series name! These vibrant and very early blooming, Spanish lavenders have multi-season uses with their large cone and prominent flags. It has a strong, delightful fragrance to grace the garden or patio. There is no need to pinch and makes for an ideal pot crop. The series is one of the earliest flowering Spanish lavender series on the market. Zone 7-9 H OT N E W P E R E N N I A L S | 2 02 3 R E P O R T

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANZIGER

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perennials �rike bacK

Lithodora

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

38.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

PHOTO COURTESY OF SYNGENTA®

DROUGHT | DISEASE | HEAT | MILDEW | DEATH

39.

Miscanthus s.

TIDEPOOL™ SKY BLUE

Oenothera miss.

HIGH FREQUENCY

SYNGENTA | From Syngenta and Think Plants, Lithodora Tidepool Sky Blue debuts with a true blue color! It has a great tidy habit creating a great producibility. Compared to earlier and unpatented varieties, it is full of flowers covered side to side with no bare center.

It is perfect for early spring production.

Vernalization is required. Zone 5-9

DARWIN PERENNIALS | Miscanthus High Frequency is the big brother of Bandwidth, reaching 7-8 feet tall. This variety looks incredible in the landscape!

It features banded variegated foliage that would make it a perfect focal point in plantings. It is nearly sterile, flowering so late that it doesn’t set viable seed.

Zone 5-9

Panicum v.

NIAGARA FALLS

PROVEN WINNERS | A graceful cascade of foliage! Panicum Niagara Falls is unique in comparison to other panicum with its cascading foliage.

It is intermediate in height between Apache Rose and Totem Pole. Proven Winners notes it is the broadest panicum in the Prairie Winds® collection. With exceptional flower coverage and strong, wind resistant stems, this intro is a winner in our book. Zone 4-9

EVENING SUN

DARWIN PERENNIALS | This introduction is an improvement over the variety Shimmer. Where there are common issues with Shimmer getting ‘too wet’, Evening Sun can mix right in with other crops without the consequences of wet soil. Perfect for high heat areas, with little maintenance required! Zone 5-9

PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

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40.

42.

43.

Penstemon

FLOCK OF FLAMINGOS

Phlox

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | Insert pun about flocking to this new intro! All jokes aside, this is a stunning introduction.

It is a large, clump forming penstemon with attractive shrimp pink flowers that shift to baby pink as they age. We love the showy, frilly nature it brings to the garden with large ombre blooms that amass tall, sturdy stems. You can expect a very long bloom period July through October. Zone 6-9

LUMINARY SUNSET CORAL

PROVEN WINNERS | When it comes to tall garden phlox, the Luminary series is at the top of the charts. Luminary Sunset Coral is no exception to top tier status.

We are excited to see this one perform!

It has coral pink flowers with an orange tinge. The orange color is especially noticeable when compared with true pink P. paniculata varieties. This variety matches the height of the rest of the collection; perfect for the middle of the border. Zone 3-8 E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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Perovskia atrip.

BLUESETTE 44.

PAN AMERICAN SEED | This is the first dwarf perovskia from seed! This fact offers growers an alternative to vegetative varieties. It is a long day plant that will flower earlier in long days, as well as in higher light intensity and temperatures.

No vernalization is required. Use in high value patio pots or in the front of landscapes. It features a long flowering window and an aromatic fragrance.

Bluesette brings perovskia from the back of the garden to the front! Zone 4-9 PHOTO COURTESY OF PAN AMERICAN SEED®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Perovskia

Polemonium pulch.

Polemonium

45.

46.

47.

PRIME TIME

GOLDEN FEATHERS

DARWIN PERENNIALS | At both CAST and Cultivate, this little (yet big in impression) plant was a hit! It features a very nice variegation, green and gold in color.

Bluish-purple flowers are a bonus in the late spring to summer months. It features a mounding habit similar to a reptans type. A lover of shade, use along borders or in rock gardens. Zone 5b-9

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS, INC.®

CALLER #9, WHAT’S YOUR REQUEST?

H OT N E W P E R E N N I A L S | 2 02 3 R E P O R T

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | This new polemonium was named for the ‘blue views’ of the Olympic mountains in Washington State where the nativar originates.

Polemonium Hurricane Ridge is a new foliage favorite for the garden! Plant in sun or shade, this tough plant will perform May through September. The foliage is ‘frondlike’ with light lilac-blue toned flowers that top the green foliage mid-summer. Zone 4-9

nials! n e r e P More

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

WALTERS GARDENS | A prime time bloomer comes in the form of Perovskia Prime Time! The oval leaves are slightly dissected, giving the impression of a very full plant. Dusky purple calyxes hold blue flowers, remaining colorful well into the fall for an impressionable display after the flowering has ended. The habit is very upright. Compared to Rocketman, it blooms earlier and has denser spikes. Zones 4-9

HURRICANE RIDGE

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAN AMERICAN SEED®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Rudbeckia fulgida va, sullivantii

GOLDBLITZ 48.

PAN AMERICAN SEED | It’s hard to say this, but we might have a contender to one of our favorite rudbeckia! Rudbeckia Goldblitz is an improvement over Goldsturm! It is easier to get to flower, providing a natural daylength option for growers without requiring special treatment. It also blooms 3-4 weeks earlier than Goldsturm. It is TRULY a first year flowering variety. Growers can plant 2 seeds per, instead of 4 seeds that they may have done with Goldsturm because germination is a bit better. Goldblitz is a Fleuroselect Gold Medal award winner for both container and garden performance. Zone 3-9b

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA® NURSERIES, INC.

Rudbeckia

LION CUB 49.

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES | Hear him roar! Rubeckia Lion Cub is a cute new black-eyed Susan that forms a tight mound of green foliage topped by pompom golden yellow flowers and a dark chocolate eye. Each flower is covered with a sunburst of strap thin petals, which do not brown or fade, but develop a contrasting red edge with age. Another favorite from Cultivate 2022! Zone 8-10

E AS O N H O R T I C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N C .

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Sedum

Veronica

50.

52.

ROCK ‘N ROUND™ BRIGHT IDEA PROVEN WINNERS | We love where Proven Winners is going with this collection of sedum! Joinng the Rock ‘N Round varieties is Bright Idea. It features dark green holly-like foliage, held on red stems. Summer brings a bright delight with bright yellow flowers. It is like an early flowering Sedum kamtschaticum combined with the domed-habit of the Pure Joy types. Zone 3-9

MAGIC SHOW ® EVER AFTER PROVEN WINNERS | This new veronica joining the Magic Show series has tall, LONG LASTING spikes that are worth talking about! It is similar to White Wands, but with a lavender blue flower that continously bloom. While the long blooming earns our mark, the spikes are massive! They reach nearly a foot in length, with each spike showing color for many weeks and self-cleaning. In peak, flowers cover the top 2/3 of the plant. Vernalization required. Zone 4-8

PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Sedum spurium

Veronica l.

51.

53.

WHAT A DOOZIE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS®/BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

DARWIN PERENNIALS | We saw Sedum What a Doozie at CAST and it is a delightful little sedum!

It has great variegation and actually HOLDS variegation, no reversion to white or green.

Darwin Perennials trialed this variety for 3 years, which proved stability. It is a mat forming type of sedum, seeming to have more vigor than other variegated varieties. Zone 5-9b H OT N E W P E R E N N I A L S | 2 02 3 R E P O R T

SKYWARD™ SERIES DARWIN PERENNIALS | The sky is the limit with this new veronica that we are so excited about! Darwin Perennials shared this with us at CAST and Cultivate 2022 as one of the favorites. Compared to First Glory, the Veronica Skyward series produces 30% more flowers. It isn’t brittle like some other varieties, holding up well in shipping. In their trials, there wasn’t any mildew at the end of the season.

It is nice to see a new veronica that isn’t dwarf and produces so many flower spikes! Zone 4b-9

ECHINACEA PANAMA RED

at Costa Trials

HIBISCUS SUMMERIFIC ® CANDY CRUSH

RUDBECKIA MINIBECKIA FLAME

at Walters Gardens

DIANTHUS CONSTANT CADENCE POTPOURRI

at California Spring Trials

at Cultivate

HELIOPSIS SUNSTRUCK

at Darwin Perennials

ASTILBE YOUNIQUE PINK

at Darwin Perennials

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2023 PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEAR ® Rudbeckia

AMERICAN GOLD RUSH The Perennial Plant of the Year® (PPOY) program began in 1990 to showcase a perennial that is a standout among its competitors. Perennials chosen are suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require low maintenance, have multiple-season interest, and are relatively pest/disease-free.

NOTES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT STONEHOUSE NURSERY: This amazingly uniform, naturally mounded cultivar is drawing high accolades across the industry. Its narrow, hairy foliage is highly resistant to Septoria leaf spot, and the plant is covered with a solid dome of gold blossoms for months. AAS winner.

Breeder: Intrinsic Perennial Gardens.

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H OT N E W P E R E N N I A L S | 2 02 3 R E P O R T

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTRINSIC PERENNIAL GARDENS

Hosta

NEPTUNE AMERICAN HOSTA GROWERS ASSOCIATION 2023 HOSTA OF THE YEAR Each year the American Hosta Growers Association selects ‘the best of the best’, and honors one variety as “Hosta of the Year”. These special selections are acknowledged for being unique, easy to grow, and loved by many.

NOTES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT WALTERS GARDENS: This unique blue hosta is popular among hosta collectors and makes a very nice specimen in the home garden. In spring, the narrow wedge-shaped leaves are bright glaucous blue and they hold their color well. As the season progresses they turn more blue-green. The heavily rippled leaves are of good substance, displaying some slug resistance.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS, INC.®

2023 PROVEN WINNERS NATIONAL PERENNIAL OF THE YEAR ® Heuchera

WILDBERRY

The Proven Winners National Plant of the Year program selects plants for their exceptional performance. These plants have been chosen for their proven excellence and ability to be used successfully nationwide by growers and gardeners alike. The Perennial of the Year is a division of this program highlighting the top perennials from the Proven Winners brand. Look for these perennials to be featured in magazines, social media, as well as home and trade shows throughout the year.

NOTES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT WALTERS GARDENS/PROVEN WINNERS: The intense purple color of these leaves are second to none! Compared to ‘Blackberry Ice’, the foliage is larger, a richer hue, and holds onto its purple color for much of the season. Large, scalloped, incredibly glossy leaves are a bold shade of purple. Charcoal veins accent the leaf color that make the leaves really pop. Dark stems hold rosy pink calyxes and white flowers. A must have!

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS®

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Thank you to our suppliers and breeders for the photographs, information and time shared for this years Hot New Perennials report.

Without the help of these industry leaders, we could not spotlight the must-have varieties for the coming season!

The photographs in this report are copyrighted property of the breeder/grower listed for each variety.

Aris/Green Leaf Plants

Dummen Orange

North Creek Nurseries

Proven Winners

Concept Plants

GardenChoice

Stonehouse Nursery

Creek Hill Nursery

Green Fuse Botanicals

PanAmerican SeedKieft Seed

Danziger

Gulley Greenhouse

Darwin Perennials

Intrinsic Perennials

PlantHaven Pacific Plug & Liner

Syngenta Terra Nova Nurseries

Plants Nouveau

s e t o N

939 Helen Ruth Drive, Ft. Wright, Kentucky 41017 (800) 214-2221 • (859) 578-3535 • Fax (859) 578-2266 info@ehrnet.com • www.ehrnet.com

Walters Gardens