Crystal Ball For Next Springs Must-have Plants

A glimpse of the rising stars that will appear at a nursery near you.

In August, I was asked to judge the 2009 New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest trade show in Portland, Oregon. Thirty-nine annuals, perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees were up for consideration. We three judges, clipboards in hand, represented various gardening perspectives. Dave Etchepare is a manager from Dennis Seven Dees Landscaping & Garden Centers in Portland and The Garden Doctor on KEX radio. Roger Mille, Homescaper LLC, looks at design considerations. Im both a garden journalist and a home gardener. Our task was to choose a best plant in four categories, plus one overall winner for Best in Show. Using the criteria of landscape usefulness, uniqueness and retail appeal, we spread out to inspect the professionally designed display garden and make our separate decisions. Then we met to reach consensus.

The trend for colored foliage is still hotblues, reds, purple-black and chartreuse were the dominating hues in the displaybut among plants that didnt make the final cut, I liked the tiny green leaves of tropical creeping mint, Mentha longifolia Mini Mojito. In a winter greenhouse, the matting foliage could soften edges, scent the air and get popped in a drink. For descriptions of all thirty-nine entries, go to www.farwestshow.com/nvs.

Surprisingly, in our first round of voting, we were unanimous in every categoryexcept annuals. The gentlemen liked Petunia x Pretty Much Picasso, with its magenta-purple flowers edged in lime green. I preferred Breathless Blush, an annual euphorbia (Euphorbia hypericifolia Ballbreblus). We chose the delicately pink-flowered euphorbia, based on its three-season sales appeal, and toughness in garden situationsits cousin, the white-flowered E. Diamond Frost is ignored by all critters (including voles) in my garden. We all agreed on the handsome green-and-white variegated northern sea oats (Chasmantium latifolium River Mist). Also the pinkyes, pinkblueberry (Vaccinium Pink Lemonade) for its four-season great looks and those rosy berries, and a handsome dwarf (to six feet) flowering cherry (Prunus Little Twist).

Best in Show honors went to a small (to 15 inches) orange-red variegated barberry, Golden Ruby (Berberis thunbergii Goruzam). This shrubs thin gold leaf margins seemed to radiate light. Show goers were drawn to it, reaching out to touch the bright foliageand thats quite a feat for a prickly plant. As for invasiveness, this one is reputed to be a sparse seeder. Dave thought it would be a solid sell in the nursery; Roger saw many design uses; and me? I just wanted it, with lust in my heart.

by: John Bried

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