Campanula ‘Viking’: Love at First Sight

January 31, 2010 by  
Filed under Featured, Featured Plant, Perennials

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There is something undeniably romantic about the blooming presence of old fashioned bellflowers. The blued lavender blooms of Peachleaf Bellfower are a sight to behold in early summer. And then, the magic is over. Undignified and flopping about, the common bellflower is a mess in your garden. Campanula ‘Viking’ is going to change your view of bellflowers completely. Get ready for a love affair that isn’t a flash in the pan two-week stand.

New perennial Campanula Viking PPAF

Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau
Copyright © Plants Nouveau 2009

Perennial gardens everywhere in zones 5-8 will be so much lovelier with Campanula ‘Viking’ in May through July. Fat lavender blooms erupting on very upright stems, for weeks on end. The breeding for a compact plant will be the reason that this bellflower won’t be found lolling on the soil surface. No flopping and a vastly extended flowering period. A perennial flower destined to win your heart and be awarded a prized spot in your yard or flower garden.

Do be sure to give Viking all day sun for best flowering and vigor. One of the beauties of Campanula of all types (and there are oodles of them) is that they don’t have issues with pests and diseases some perennial plants can be prone to. You won’t have any problems with it spreading like wildfire and taking over your planting space or creeping into the lawn either. Viking is very well behaved. No runners and the seed is sterile, making it no garden thug you will regret planting forever more.

Campanula Viking will do well in average garden soil, but be prepared to give it consistent moisture. Bellflowers will not reward you with great vigor in heavy clay soils; prepare a well drained planting space. With the proper foundation, you’ll find that the superior strength and vigor of this bellflower, paired with months of luscious fat purple blooms, draws interesting visitors to your garden. Hummingbirds and butterflies will be magnetized to your new stand of Campanula Viking.

You won’t be sorry for adding this perennial plant to your front foundation plantings. The compact nature will keep this perennial in great shape. At only 18 inches tall in full bloom, be sure to plant your Viking Campanula in the middle to front of your border gardens. For those who enjoy a sampling of cut flowers extending the garden to bouquets in the house, Viking is an excellent addition to your cutting garden. For cottage garden and English garden plantings, here you have a winner in plumping up the romantic theme. In your garden or landscape, this lovely and nicely mannered perennial will mature to 24 inches across.

New perennial Campanula 'Viking' PPAF

Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau
Copyright © Plants Nouveau 2009

New to the US gardening scene for 2011, Campanula ‘Viking’ PPAF is a Plants Nouveau introduction. You can count on the discerning judgment of anything Angela presents. Plants Nouveau has strict standards in deeming a new perennial plant fit for growing. This gorgeous new bellflower is the breeding work of Arie Blom and A-B Cultivars. This is just one more phenomenal perennial flower crafted by the Netherlands breeder who brought us the Cone-fections Echinacea series. Thanks Arie!

For more information about new Campanula ‘Viking’, contact Plants Nouveau.

In the Pink for Spring

January 27, 2010 by  
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Carpeting blooms so divine,
They named them Flower of God.



Introducing Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘St. Benedict’

Dianthus St. Benedict
Image courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions
Copyright © Intrinsic Perennial Gardens 2008

Clearly beyond pink. Just look at the brilliance of that bloom. Imagine a perennial plant forming a sliver blue carpet covered with hundreds of these scented flowers in spring. Against the uniquely blue foliage, St. Benedict Dianthus is quite an arresting show. An instant pairing of glorious color springs to mind, I can see the low sweep of these spicy little blooms in front of Gold Variegated Iris (Iris pallida ‘Aureo Variegata’).

Iris pallida 'Aureo Variegata'

Variegated Iris
Image courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden.

Quite an amazing spring rock garden scene would be created with two of these perennial plants, and such a planting situation does both of them justice. St. Benedictine Dianthus, like all Cheddar Pinks, is an excellent easy to grow pink flowering perennial that forms a low mat that is a lovely color both in and out of bloom. While the silvery blue grass-like foliage is not quite as dramatic as those late spring flowers, you will find that it makes a lovely unique note amidst many greener leaved plants in the garden.

If you are wondering where the ‘Flower of God’ comes from, Dianthus is the combination of the Greek words for flower and god. We shouldn’t be surprised; the sight of Cheddar Pinks in bloom during May to June really is quite heavenly. Other forms of Dianthus are known as Sweet William and Cottage Pinks. Dianthus gratianopolitanus is a different variety than either of them and imparts a spicier scent much like cloves. The common name of Cheddar Pinks comes from their source of origination, an area known as Cheddar Gorge in southwest England where they grow in wild, natural abandon.

Dianthus g. 'St. Benedict'

Image courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions
Copyright © Intrinsic Perennial Gardens 2008

For best vigor and beauty, St. Benedictine Dianthus requires excellent drainage and soil with a 6.6-7.8 pH level. If your soil is more acidic, you can bring it into the desirable balance with periodic additions of lime. You want a full sun spot for this alpine style glory of spring. The more silvered than most foliage of St. Benedictine reaches 6 inches tall and forms a 12 inch wide clump. The splendid almost beyond pink blooms appear on stems no taller than 8 inches. Blooms measure 1” wide with 4-5 serrated edge petals.

St. Benedictine Dianthus is hardy for zones 5-10 and being introduced to the world by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. For those of you living in the deeper reaches of the hardiness zones, you will do best to give Dianthus filtered shade. St. Benedictine is really a lovely little source of early season vibrant color well worth a spot in the landscape and garden.

Sign of the Intrinsic brand of perennial plantsFor professional growers seeking more information on the plant, visit Intrinsic Introductions.

The Dirt on Soil in a Bag

May 17, 2009 by  
Filed under Gardening Tips & Info

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Its as simple as 1-2-3!

  • Open the bag and pour it into your pot.
  • Stick in some plants and presto, you have an instant garden.

Are you sure about that? Did you happen to ask your new plants how they feel about this one-size-fits-all situation?

Geranium jardinere

Image copyright Lost In The Flowers © 2008

If you’ve ever had problems with plants in containers, don’t just assume you got a bad plant. Most people assume that if its sold in a bag at the store the stuff is a miracle wrapped in plastic. Well to humans it sure is nifty, but we don’t have to live in it. Let’s take a closer look at what is in that clean bag of dirt.

You can buy three different soil products in a bag and none of them are the same.

Topsoil in a bag does not mean it is worth it’s weight in gold. All it means is that the soil came from the “top” – the surface of the earth. The mystery here is you that have no idea where on the Earth. You should be a little bit concerned as to what exactly this soil was on “top” of. It could be from anywhere there was construction going on. It may be shredded, screened and mostly free of weed seed, but you have no way of knowing anything about the quality of the topsoil in that bag. There is no such thing as the dirt police.

Some brands are labeled “Potting Soil” and others “Potting Mix” … this can be confusing. Actually, neither blend contains very little soil, if any. The proper name of this substance loosely known as “potting soil” is really a “soil-less media”. If you open a bag labled “potting soil” and it is real soil – do not put it in a pot! At least without some judicial amendments.

Soil-less media was created to assist container-growers to raise plants in an unnatural environment. Plants grown in plastic containers in regular soil are prone to many problems as there is no available airflow through the plastic. Drainage through a couple small holes at the bottom intensifies the problem when topsoil is used for potting.

Unhealthy potted plat for sale.

Image copyright Lost In The Flowers © 2008

So, we have turned to natural, yet soil-less blends to assist in getting air to root systems and create quick drainage. Both these elements are needed to succeed in growing healthy plants in containers.

All brands of “potting mix” contain portions of fine pine bark, perlite or vermiculite with perhaps a pinch of topsoil, with a main ingredient is of sphagnum peat moss.  Peat moss is naturally very acidic with a pH level of 3.5 – 4.5. A high level of acidity means the same as a high pH level.

Some areas of the USA enjoy “perfect soil” that almost any plant does well in provided it likes the climate there. Other areas have highly acidic soil that unless amended to lower the pH levels and kept at the desired range by periodic amending, the plant will slowly decline as the acidity level rises.

Still other areas have very alkaline soil that offers little nutrients to plants but drains very freely. You may wonder what this all means and why it is important to worry about since you are only trying to grow a few patio containers. To really be successful at growing plants in pots and rewarded with lush beauty … it IS important!

Distressed Cleyera

Image copyright Lost In The Flowers © 2008

Soil-less media have very low pH levels. Manufacturers blend in dolomitic lime attempting to make it less acidic, but there are still problems when trying to grow plants that do not do well with acidity. The pH level cannot be measured accurately within the mix of the medium.

No manufacturer will state a level of pH; it is always listed as a range of 3.5 to 7.5 pH.  Most likely this is due to the loose, fluffy nature of sphagnum versus the weighty chunks of limestone. Some parts of the bag to be less acidic than others as the chunks of stone shift around in the fluffy moss, especially after shipment.

While many plants adapt to lower pH levels, some will become a sickly yellowish green and begin declining and others will simply die quite rapidly.

Commercial growers know that certain plants require amending the media they use for potting to get the plant to perform appropriately. They know to rectify the situation before they pot the plants. The plant’s requirements will decide how they will change the potting mix. Sometimes adding more lime is fine; other plants might do better with a little more nutritious soil added to the media.

Hanging basket petunia
Image copyright Lost In The Flowers © 2008

In my small nursery of ornamental plants I potted with my own mix based on 50/50 topsoil-Michigan peat mix with potting media added for drainage and airflow. Plants that I brought in from other growers required far more watering than those I potted. At times when I was short on the number of a given plant for a customer’s needs, I would bring the missing plants in from another perennial grower. I found that the very same plant potted in her bark-based mix was never the same color of green as those I grew. The difference in leaf color was so noticeable people swore they had been sold two different kinds of plants tagged the same.

The other grower’s plants were very healthy and full, and after a few months in the ground the noticeable color difference of the foliage disappeared. The more yellow coloring of the bark mix grown plants is directly due to pH. The level wasn’t off enough to hamper healthy growth, but it was definitely affecting good iron uptake.

Iron is what allows chlorophyll to form in a plant’s leaves and stems. Chlorophyll is what makes plants green. Pale or somewhat yellow leaf coloring can be a sign that there is not enough iron available to the plant whether it is not present in the soil or something is causing the iron to not be useable by the plant.

Last summer I was faced with a few simple pots on the porch, having relocated to a rented house and no Michigan peat to be had in the southeast. I started testing out different bagged potting mixes. First, there was MiracleGro mix, which I found to have good moisture retention but was poor at remaining over roots when I watered. The light sphagnum peat moss floats around and settles higher at the rim of the pot as the heavier weight of the water pushes it away.

The next set of pots I planted I used Fafard potting mix and instantly regretted my switch. This one was even worse at floating away from roots and did not hold moisture as long as the MiracleGro brand. I knew I needed some real soil to stabilize the mix.

distressed gerber daisy

Image copyright Lost In The Flowers © 2008

My Gerbera Daisy’s leaves began to turn a sickly shade of yellowed-green and I contemplated what it’s ailment was as I picked off the really sad looking oldest leaves. It dawned on me one evening at dark that perhaps the acidic potting medium was the reason for the Gerber’s angst. I repotted it under porch light. Sure enough within a couple of weeks new leaves popped out in a far healthier shade of green.

The addition of 33% topsoil (1 part topsoil to 2 parts potting soil) to the MiracleGro medium and a couple of handfuls of pea gravel to assist in drainage were the cure. This is my “scientific recipe” for a 10” pot. The repotting recipe for the Fafard mix containers was 50% potting soil (1 part topsoil to 1 part potting mix). The Fafard mix gets one one handful of pea gravel as it has less moisture retention than the MiracleGro mix. The addition of topsoil corrects the pH imbalance while also stabilizes the mix to keep roots covered after watering.

If the plant you have in that container likes it dry, you will need to add a bit more gravel to sharpen the drainage. If the plant prefers a lot of moisture, then you would be wise to put most of the gravel for drainage at the bottom of the pot and a smaller portion within the mix to allow for air to the roots and some down flow motion for water to travel during periods of heavy rainfall.

The best way to determine what acidity or pH level a plant you want to grow will not just tolerate, but do really well at would be to do your research before you go through the task of potting it up. If it really adores a lower pH then it would be wise to add some aluminum sulfate to your potting mix when you prepare to plant that container.

It is pretty easy to research this kind of information in this day of Internet at your fingertips. Much of the commercial growing trades technical information is readily available to anyone if they know how to type the search terms in the right way. To use the Gerber Daisy as an example, type in “Gerbera Daisy – pH level”.

To accurately determine the actual pH level of the media you are going to use for potting, it would be best to test a few samples from different parts of the bag.

nutrient difficient rose

Image copyright Lost In The Flowers © 2008

Plants in distress will signal to you that there is a problem. Figuring out what they are trying to tell you is not always easy. Before you assume that you are over or under watering, do a little research. Start by investigating nutrient deficiencies caused by your soil. You will find an excellent, easy to understand fact sheet on this web page: Soil Nutrient Fact Sheet.

If the problem is related to a pest and not a soil issue you might find the information from one of the university agriculture departments or an Extension Service website.

The other area you need to consider is whether it is a disease that has attacked your plant. Try doing a search on the description of your plant’s symptoms. If you can’t figure it out, take the plant or a piece of it into your local Extension Service office. They’ll find out what is wrong even it they have to send it to the lab for testing.

Cool As a Cucumber

February 22, 2009 by  
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Gorgeous foliage that will not fry …
No matter how hot, no matter how dry.

Introducing Autumn Delight™ Sedum ‘Beka’ PP#18,421

Autumn Delight Sedum

Image Courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008


There is a lot more to perennial plants than just the flower. Blooming is wonderful, but don’t forget about the rest of the season. Your garden or landscape plantings have far more impact with different hues and textures of foliage on display. Autumn Delight Sedum has great value for foliage impact from spring to early fall.

This lovely new plant from Intrinsic Introductions gives you glowing chartreuse leaves edged with a thin line of deep blue green. Autumn Delight is sure to set those hot, dry plantings off in a way not possible with other drought tolerant plants. A sweep of brilliant foliage in summer is topped with increasingly deep pink and finally brilliant red blooms in late fall.

Sedum Autumn Delight

Image Courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008

Sedum Autumn Delight is easy to grow and will adapt to just about any soil but does require good drainage. This perennial prefers full sun but will do well in part shade. As with most colored foliage plants, you will get far brighter hues in all day sun. Maturing at 18″ high and wide, Autumn Delight is hardy in zones 4-9.

If you’re new to growing perennials in your yard, sedums are an excellent starter plant. They thrive even when neglected, making them the perfect ‘plant it and forget it’ perennial. Their chunky texture makes them the perfect textural balance planted with ornamental grasses. For the exact reverse in variegation excitement, check out the stunning looks of Autumn Charm Sedum.

Sedum Autumn Delight

Image Courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008

In a container garden this new sedum will shine without constant care. In the ground, you’ll get great impact in hot, dry places teaming Autumn Delight Sedum up with dramatic plum purple lower growing Vera Jameson Sedum and silvery Artemesia. To really jazz it up and add some height toss in some Pink Muhly Grass. New and beautiful Autumn Delight Sedum is available from better garden catalogs and nursery for Spring 2009 purchase.

One To Grow On

February 22, 2009 by  
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Dashing and radiant leaf to bloom …

Easy to grow, plant it and forget it beauty.

Introducing Autumn Charm™ Sedum ‘Lajos’ PP#14,421
Sedum Autumn Charm
Image courtesy of Introductions © 2008

One magnificent looking perennial plant you really out to get to know. Here’s living proof that workhorses can be stylish and beautiful. Sedum ‘Lajos’ Autumn Charm will grow in just about any soil. The sedum family will tolerate just about anything you or nature can do to it. Including not only surviving the family dog’s digging spree but also multiplying merrily because of the apparent destruction. (Believe it or not … it has happened to me. The following spring there were hundreds of baby sedums!)

Sedum Autumn Charm
Image courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008

Autumn Charm Sedum will be beautiful from the spring day it emerges from the soil until hard frost dries it for winter interest. This sport of Sedum Autumn Joy has all the great assets of irs parent and 20 times the beauty. Autumn Charm will give you brilliant fall color later in the season when all the rest of the sedums have darkened and become dull.

Bloom of Sedum Autumn Charm
Image courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008

Autumn Charm Sedum prefers full sun and dry conditions once established. The plant will mature at 18″ or more high and wide and is hardy in zones 4-9. Foliage is a lovely blue green with a wide cream colored margin. The exact reverse foliar pattern of Sedum Autumn Delight (Sedum ‘Beka’) also new for 2009 from Intrinsic Introductions.

Bright fall color holds on longer than other sedums.

Flower buds will be full blown and glowing white in August. Coloring as the weather cools to pink and gradually deep red. For 3 seasons of color and added winter interest, Autumn Charm Sedum is definitely one to grow on … and on. Look for Spring 2009 availability in better garden catalogs. If you have a hard time finding this one in the spring, give them a year and there will be around for purchase by summer 2010.

Tall, Dark and Handsome

February 22, 2009 by  
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True red phlox? You bet!

Smoldering atop the world’s only black leafed cultivar.

The truest red of any Phlox paniculata bloom is definitely Lord Clayton.

Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau © 2008

Early spring leaves are the blackest of burgundy as they rise from the soil. As the leaves age and become more plentiful, each develops the arresting accent of a striking acid green stripe down the midrib.  Quite a showstopper clump of foliage it is too.

The strong stems are black burgundy from the soil line to the tips where the midsummer blooms will form. There is no other colored leaf cultivar within the Phlox paniculata plant family even though it is a vast and highly varied assortment of available perennials.

Dramatic black and lime green foliage colors for late spring from Lord Clayton Phlox.
Image courtesy of Lost In The Flowers Media © 2008

He is very debonair this high society gent. At home in any garden where full sun will allow him to strut his stuff. Black tie attire completed when he pins those fire engine red flower heads to the tips of every showy stem when July is under way (zone 5).

Dazzling in full dress, Lord Clayton is talented at turning heads.
Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau © 2008

No color rendering needs to be done when it comes to this plant or these flowers. All these photos are true to color. There is a noticeable different in hue to any other tall phlox bloom found to date. It is the truest to red of any of them.  Believed to be a natural cross between Phlox paniculata ‘The King’ and Phlox paniculata ‘Starfire’.

Starfire can only hope to claim a red bloom. Instead it is very much on the pink side of the color chart and a short plant of about 24″ in height. The theory is that the bluer tones of The King allowed the cross to produce a true red. Works well in crayons and paint the same should be true in nature.

Greenhouse grown Lord Clayton Phlox will lack the total impact from strong sunlight outdoors.
Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau © 2008

Like any dark color foliage plant, the more sun will markedly deepen the black variegation. The intense coloring of th e stems does not fade in less sunlight. As shown in the above photo shot inside a greenhouse, the stem remains dark. No matter what lighting you grow Lord Clayton in, the stem is one tone from tip to soil.

Sporting dark dress hose all the way to the tops of his wing tips, Lord Clayton Phlox is dramatic and fetching. When he starts pumping out blooms, every woman will want him. He’s just that rakish kind of guy. You know, the one that all the girls are after. The ones who have seen Lord Clayton in full show regalia insisted that they must own him. Until now, no one else was allowed even the smallest little piece.

Your garden will never be the same.

This exclusive plant portrait is found only on Lost In The Flowers. I doubt even the most observant catalog nurseries know about Lord Clayton garden phlox yet, give them a little time as we’re sure they will catch on soon. Production for wholesale availability has only just begun. For once an arresting plant of huge appeal originated on this side of the pond. Collectors in Europe will just have to wait, as trialing is not yet completed there.

The birthplace of Lord Clayton Phlox.

Image courtesy of Lost In The Flowers Media © 2009

The plant has been stable and reliable throughout the entire 6 years of its existence. Truly one to swoon over. Once you get a good long look at Phlox paniculata Lord Clayton you’ll be begging for him to move in at your garden too. Full sun, dry to moderate soil, hardy in zones 4 – 8 (maybe zone 3 too). Mature plant will be 40-48″ tall and up to 3′ wide.

All inquiries about the future of Lord Clayton Phlox PPAF, should be directed to Plants Nouveau who is introducing this most sophisticated plant to the world.

Seedy Little Charmer

February 22, 2009 by  
Filed under New Perennials 2009

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Fine texture for great balance…
Makes a late statement of soft smoky blooms.

Introducing Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Piglet’ PPAF

Pennisetum Piglet
Image Courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008

Graceful, willowy ornamental grasses are usually too tall for being really versatile in the landscape and garden. Dwarf fountain grasses grow to a mere foot tall and regular sized varieties can hit 30″ in height. Piglet Fountain Grass gives you a happy medium at 18″ tall.

This lovely new introduction from Intrinsic Introductions measures up to a placement behind the front row of your border planting. The habit of fountain grasses being upright and yet somewhat weeping is great for shape and texture in any landscape planting. Piglet Pennisetum offers you an in between sized grass with excellent placement versatility.

Pennisetum 'Piglet'

Image Courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008


Abundant, light smoky bloom heads appear in late summer and hold on into fall and add winter interest everyone is seeking. Like all ornamental grasses, Piglet Pennisetum offers you an easy to grow perennial that deals with drought and hot sun effortlessly. You will also have great luck growing this fountain grass in part shade.

Grasses are excellent as a textural balance mixed with shrubs or perennials. For the best impact in any designed planting, you need to use large leaves down to small to get the most desirable finished look. The savvy homeowner will play one texture against the other and use a variety of foliage tones as well.

Even small fountains make beautiful music


Piglet Fountain Grass will prove to be valuable to just about many with an interest in improving their curb appeal. Cold hardy as far north as zone 5, this lovely little grass prefers consistent moisture and good drainage.

To add an abundance of light colored, buff tan seed heads to your beds with a concentration towards the front of the planting, Piglet is guaranteed not to disappoint in looks and easy care. You will find Piglet Pennisetum available from finer nurseries and garden catalogs for Spring 2009.

Fabulous Glowing Foliage First

February 22, 2009 by  
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Lemon-lime foliage is just the beginning.

Double the impact with fiery red blooms midsummer.


Introducing new Lobelia cardinalis ‘Golden Torch’ PPAF

Image courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008

For brilliant late summer to early fall color, Lobelia is an excellent low maintenance perennial. It does well in many soils with consistent moisture and good drainage. You will have great luck growing Lobelia in full sun to part shade.

Golden Torch Lobelia gives you double the color, double the fun with bright foliage that is striking through early summer. In full sun, you will have the brightest yellow hues to the leaves. In part shade, they will be more chartreuse. Either way Golden Torch will glow in the landscape and garden amidst the more expected colored foliage.

Image courtesy of Intrinsic Introductions © 2008

You’ll get a riot of beauty when the cardinal red blooms unfurl mid season and continue into early fall. That fiery display will be all the hotter shooting out of the glowing stems. This hot new plant is being brought to your garden from Intrinsic Introductions.

Sling some zing around your yard! Lobelia is fabulous in masses and thick waves when you have space to devote to multiples of one plant. It is excellent for around ponds, waterfront and stream banks because it adores moisture. Golden Torch Lobelia is sure to lighten your maintenance load and brighten your yard anywhere you want to enjoy them.

Golden Torch is a slender perennial finishing out at just 18″ wide. The foliage gives you 18″ of height. Brilliant red blooms give you months of floral enhancement at 30-42″ above the soil that continues into early autumn. Oooh-la-la! You’re going to look forward to this plant reawakening each and every spring.

Guiding light in ground effects

You probably won’t have to wait long to get your hands on this fabulous new easy to grow perennial. Look for Lobelia ‘Golden Torch’ to show up in better garden catalogs for Spring 2009 ordering.

Perfectly Timeless Posies

February 22, 2009 by  
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Imagine flowers that do not age. Impossible?

No!


Introducing new Echinacea ‘Milkshake’ PPAF

Echinacea Milkshake

Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau © 2008

Everyone will suspect you of pinning silk flowers on your perennials to mess with their heads! The plant is made up of strong, upright stems that will be smothered with those fabulous fully double coneflowers for the entire season. Milkshake Echinacea is destined to become the best white coneflower for middle of the border beauty.

Sturdy and erect, you’ll have no flopping dilemmas from Milkshake Coneflower in your home garden. As with all other Echinaceas, full sun for best flowering and average garden soil with good drainage is best. Everyone in zones (4) 5-9 will be lusting after this amazing Cone-fection perfection.

new! 'Milkshake' Coneflower_

Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau © 2008

For more information about the amazing Milkshake Echinacea, please contact Plants Nouveau directly.

Garden Frosting

February 21, 2009 by  
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Fluffy, not stuffy and fits just right.
Dwarf, fully double coneflower… a powerhouse bloomer.


Introducing new Echinacea ‘Meringue’ PPAF

Echinacea 'Meringue'


Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau © 2008


Like icing on a cake. Creamy and attractive petaling that may just find it’s way to being a favored blossom for wedding cake decor. What a lovely bloom to team up with romantic pink rose buds to add unusual flair to nuptials celebration traditions.

Echinacea ‘Meringue’ is a petite new introduction in the Cone-fections series that comes to us from The Netherlands. Add a little evening glow to your garden. Nicely compact for smaller spaces and an excellent candidate for front row placement. Arie Blom has again created a densely branched Echinacea that is fully double and extremely floriferous. Reported to be in full flower from July through September, Meringue has great garden merit.

Measuring 18″-20″ high and wide at maturity, Meringue is a Coneflower everyone needs in their collection. Anything bred by Arie will continue to delight you for weeks on end. Buds open to apple-green disc flowers that elongate as they age and develop into a fully double cream petaled cone skirted with bright white petals. Clean creamy white when fully open, then fading to resemble Coconut Lime.

Sweet ‘n low takes the cake.

Echinacea 'Meringue'


Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau © 2008


Beauty in shape as a plant and all those delightful flowers showing off in your yard over the second half of summer … how can you go wrong? Meringue Echinacea will be available in greater abundance for Spring of 2009. Make a note to scan the catalogs early before everyone sells out of stock. Hardy in zones 5-9 (and possibly 4 with shelter) – Meringue will thrive in any situation other Coneflowers do.

North American inquiries about Echinacea Meringue should be sent to Plants Nouveau.

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