New Perennial Varieties for 2008

Clematis ‘Bourbon’ – This vine has stunningly vibrant red 5-6” flowers.  The round shaped flowers have contrasting yellow anthers.  Ideal for container growing as its height is only 4-6’.  Blooms June through early August.








Clematis ‘Kingfisher’ – This vine has flowers up to 6-7” in diameter.  It is exceptionally free-flowering and the plant is covered with nicely shaped full flowers with overlapping petals.  The blue color of the flowers is intense and the petals are offset by creamy/yellow anthers.  Blooms June through July and again in late August.

Alstromeria ‘Mauve Majesty’ – Mauve pink flowers with dark spots and a creamy yellow throat are produced atop neat, upright plants.  A hardy selection from the breeding program of Dr. Mark Bridgen of Cornell University.

Anchusa azurea – Clusters of brilliant azure blue flowers with a white center put on a spectacular display at a time when there are few other blues in the garden.  Coarsely hairy, green foliage.  Best in lean, well-drained soil.

Buddleia ‘Butterfly Heaven’ – Highly floriferous selection with very large, fragrant, lilac purple flowers up to 12” long.  Well-branched habit.  Silvery grey foliage ages to green.  Discovered by Adrian Bloom.

Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’ – A natural bispecific cross between ‘Early Sunrise’ and ‘Zamfir’.  Golden yellow flowers with more consistently fluted petals are produced atop a compact mound of foliage.  Very floriferous.

Dianthus ‘Dessert’ Series – From breeder John Whetman comes a new series of dianthus with colorful, intricately patterned flowers.  These plants are generally taller and more open in habit then the Star Series.  They make wonderful cut flowers.  
         










‘Cranberry Ice’ – Fragrant, pink flowers measuring 1 ½” wide have a fuchsia-purple eye and wide picotee, pinked edges.  Blue-green, loosely mounded foliage.


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Raspberry Swirl’ – Yound flowers have pink petals with a maroon picotee edge and central disc.  As they age, they fade to white with a magenta edge.  Loosely mounded, gray green foliage.

Echinacea Harvest Moon™ (‘Matthew Saul’) – Fragrant, bright gold flowers with a golden orange central cone.  Wide petals overlap, giving the flowers a fuller look.  Excellent branching.  Vigorous grower.











Geum ‘Double Bloody Mary’ -  Double red flowers. Grown for attractive hairy foliage and long blooming cheerful flowers in summer. Saucer shaped flowers are held high above foliage on long erect stems. Likes a well drained moist soil.

Hemerocalis ‘Lavender Stardust’ - This Designer Daylily™ reblooms faithfully and offers exceptionally large, weather-resistant flowers. Designer Daylilies™ represent the very best in bloom quality and garden performance, and 'Lavender Stardust' is among the finest of this group. Its enormous blooms, ability to repeat, tolerance of cold and heat, and vigorous growth make it an indispensable part of the sunny to lightly shaded garden.

The flowers measure 5 1/2 inches wide, with deep ruffling and a substantial petal texture that keeps them colorfast even in the brightest sun and hottest weather. The base color is lavender-rose, accented by a bright yellow throat and a "diamond dusting" of silver that gives it an eye-catching, glittery look. The show begins in midsummer on very heavily budded scapes, and continues for several weeks, then resumes at season's end for a generous encore.

Faintly fragrant, 'Lavender Stardust' reaches 26 inches high and at least 18 inches wide. A dormant diploid, it is quite cold-hardy (through zone 3), but its sunfast color makes it ideal for hot climates as well (through zone 9). And like other Daylilies, once established it is quite resistant to drought, heat, humidity, unseasonable cold, and poor soil. Rabbits tend to leave it alone, while butterflies and hummingbirds are enthusiastic visitors. Introduced by Carpenter, it won an Honorable Mention from the American Horticulture Society in 1998, and continues to be a favorite among discerning gardeners. Combine it with pink and yellow Daylilies for a striking display of bold colors. Zones 3-9. (Description from waysidegardens.com)

Heuchera ‘Christa’ – Very unique new hybrid.  New leaves are nearly all rose-purple with a peach underlay.  As the leaves mature, the peach color becomes dominant and a light silver overlay develops.  Cream flowers.

Heuchera ‘Miracle’ – New leaves are chartreuse with a smattering of reddish purple in the center.  Mature leaves are brick red with a chartreuse to gold edge and silver undersides.  Pink flowers.

Heuchera ‘Pistache’ – A robust grower with large, light lime green to chartreuse-yellow leaves depending on sun exposure.  This cultivar performs best in part shade.  Combines well with purple-leaved heucheras.  Cream flowers.







Tiarella ‘Sugar & Spice’ – The best tiarella according to breeder Dan Heims.  Glossy, deeply dissected leaves with prominent dark centers.  Pink and white, lightly fragrant flowers.  Clump former.  Looks great in containers.

Descriptions are from waltersgardens.com.  Visit their site, perennialresource.com, or designerdaylily.com for photos and much more.