Award-winning selections for shade, sun and

everything in-between

PLANTSGarden GREAT

GreetinGs, friend! We’re happy to send you this Guide to Great Garden Plants and to help you begin planning the next addition(s) to your plots. On the following pages you’ll find the tried-and-true plants that are being honored by various organizations across the United States in 2015. These plants have stood the test of time. You’ll see that the most revered garden plants

tend to be those that have multiple seasons of interest and can withstand weather-related challenges with no coddling.

We hope that this booklet will help you as you spend some time this winter planning changes and additions to your gardens. I already have several trusted plants on my wish list. I’d love to plant ‘Chumbyi’ silky rock jasmine in my daughters’ miniature garden; ‘Roxanne’ radish, a selection of one of my favorite vegetables; ‘Victory’ hosta for its impres-sive size; and Carolina lupine because I love lupines and baptisias. Enjoy choosing your own must-grow plants!

P.S. Join us on and , and sign up for our free, weekly eNews-letter here to get smart gardening ideas and inspiration as often as you want you!

E d I T O R

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These tried-and-true plants have earned special attention for 2015

organizations across the united States continually evaluate garden plants, and each year they single out a few species and cultivars as con-tinually standing a cut above the rest. here are the plants being honored in 2015:

compiled by Meghan shinn

AwardWinners

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PRAIRIE STARWinners of the Praire Star (prairiestarflowers.com) are best adapted to the challenging prai-rie climate. they have shown superior performance for two or more years in the trial beds of Kansas Sate university, where they’re rated on vigor, substance and floriferousness.

‘Happy Wilma’ CannaCanna cannaSol ‘happy Wilma’. At just 30 inches tall, this can-na is well suited for large con-tainer displays. its foliage and flower color really stood out to the Prairie Star evaluators. the early leaves have a peach over-lay. they mature to maroon over green, which complements the bright coral blooms. Full to part sun. uSDA Zones 7b–11.

‘WHite improved’ sCaevolaScaevola Surdiva ‘White im-proved’. this cultivar has a tight growth habit with flowers that turn it into a solid mass of bright

white. the petals complete a full circle. its trailing habit makes it excellent for mixed containers. it was deemed one of the best scaevolas ever trialed in the KSu beds. Full sun. Annual.

‘King Crab’ ColeusSolenostemon scutellarioides un-der the Sea ‘King crab’. With two years of high ratings, this cultivar is a great addition to the list of recommended plants for foliage displays. it is a strong grower with unique “pinchers” along its leaf edges. in the gar-den you might provide some ex-tra space to show off this robust plant. Sun or shade. Zones 10–11, or grown as an annual.

‘Fire and iCe’ CaladiumCaladium Artful ‘Fire and ice’. this variety showed amazing vig-or with very low maintenance. it made for a beautiful container dis-play, and it also held up well in the landscape. it was trialed in both sun and shade, and its tolerance for full sun surprised the evalua-tors. Sun or shade. Zones 9–11.

morning glory CHarm supertuniaPetunia ‘uStuN61801’. An ex-cellent new color in the charm series, this cultivar has un-matched vigor and floriferous-ness. the relatively small flow-ers were in constant bloom, making the container look like a globe of color, and the growth habit completely hid the pot. Full sun. Zones 10–11, or grown as an annual.

Clockwise from bottom right: Morning Glory Charm supertunia; 'King Crab' coleus; 'Happy Wilma' canna; 'White Improved' scaevola; 'Fire and Ice' caladium.

Award

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‘dreamland red’ zinniaZinnia elegans ‘Dreamland red’. While this isn't a new flower on the market, it still turned heads in the trials. People love the rich red color and the short, compact habit. in two years the evalu-ators did not see any powdery mildew. Full sun. Annual.

‘suCCess! WHite’ petuniaPetunia hybrida ‘Success! White’. this color received excellent marks in the container trials in eastern Kansas, and it was also one of the best performers at the trials in western part of the state, where petunias often suf-fer from iron chlorosis because of the high-ph soils. this culti-var had green growth and kept right on blooming those crisp white flowers. Full sun. Zones 10–11, or grown as an annual.

bounCe and big bounCe impatiensImpatiens Bounce and Big Bounce series. these plants were incredible all summer in sun and shade, and they provided a huge amount of color. Stunning in both the landscape and con-tainers, and they’re resistant to

impatiens downy mildew. All the cultivars received near-perfect scores, with 'Pink Flame' being particularly impressive. Part to full shade. Zones 10–11, or grown as an annual.

‘Cabaret WHite improved’ million bellsCalibrachoa ‘cabaret White im-proved’. this cultivar bloomed all season long no matter the weather or conditions. Very nice uniform growth makes it ideal

Clockwise from top left: 'Dreamland Red' zinnia; 'Success! White' petunia; several varieties of Big Bounce impatiens; 'Aloha Tiki Neon' million bells; 'Cabaret White Improved' million bells; 'Pink Flame' Bounce impatiens.

for containers. it received rare perfect scores in all the rating periods. Full sun. Annual.

‘aloHa tiKi neon’ million bellsCalibrachoa ‘Aloha tiki Neon’. Very brightly colored flowers covered this cultivar in the con-tainer trials. the flower size is larger than most calibrachoa, adding to its tropical look. its color would make a big impact on the patio or at a front entry. Full sun. Annual.

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PLANT SELECTPlant Select, a collaboration be-tween Denver Botanic Gardens, colorado State university and regional and national horticul-ture professionals, seeks the best plants for mountain landscapes. these plants thrive in the rocky Mountains, flourish in drought, resist pests and diseases and look good for a long season.

engelmann’s daisyEngelmannia peristenia. “indus-trial strength” could be used to describe this adaptable perennial wildflower of the southern Great Plains. this plant forms decora-tive rosettes of crisp, ruffled gray foliage adorned nearly all sum-mer with bright yellow daisies. it resists deer, attracts pollinators and takes any type of soil. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–10.

‘WoodWard’ Columnar juniperJuniperus scopulorum ‘Wood-ward’. (Not shown.) this ele-gant upright evergreen flaunts soft-textured, dark green foliage that turns gray-blue in winter. it stands up to the windiest condi-tions and sheds snow loads with grace. Growing 20 feet in height and 2 to 4 feet wide, this rocky Mountain native makes a great privacy fence or punctuation. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3–9.

desert beardtongue Penstemon pseudospectabi-l is . Mounds of deep blue-green, toothed fol iage put u p v i v i d w a n d s t h r o u g h much of the growing season. this long-lived Southwest- native perennial thrives in wa-ter-thrifty gardens where it at-tracts hummingbirds and hawk moths. it makes a striking con-trast alongside yellow daisies. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–9.

Top to bottom: Engelmann's daisy; desert beardtongue.

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PLANT SELECT PETITESthis Plant Select offshoot high-lights noteworthy, well-adapted, unusual plants of smaller stature and promotes innovative ways to plant and enjoy these treasures—troughs, permanent containers, rock gardens, patio gardens, fairy gardens, green roofs and smaller gardens.

‘CHumbyi’ silKy roCK jasmine Androsace sarmentosa 'chumbyi'. this is a charming yet tough little plant from high in the himalayas. Furry gray-green rosettes put out strawberry-like red runners to form intricate, silky, semi-ever-green patches. clusters of fra-grant pink flowers rise on short stems in early summer for a focal point in rock gardens or perma-nent containers. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3–8 (but will not take heat and humidity).

‘WalloWa mountain’ desert moss Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountain’. An evergreen, exceptionally short and compact groundcover native to oregon, it resembles moss yet is very drought toler-ant. Superb for xeric and fairy gardens, permanent containers, between paving stones in paths and on patios, and as a compan-ion to hardy cacti and succulents. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–8 (but will not take humidity).

Top to bottom: 'Chumbyi' silky rock jasmine; 'Wallowa Mountain' desert moss.

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ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONSFor decades, All-America Selec-tions (all-americaselections.org) has tested new garden seed vari-eties in national test plots. their awards promote new varieties that demonstrated superior per-formance.

‘sandy’ lettuCe2015 aas Vegetable award Winner Not since 1985 has a lettuce won an All-America Selections award. ‘Sandy’ is an attractive oakleaf-type lettuce with a multitude of sweet-tasting, frilly leaves. it re-sists diseases, especially powdery mildew, and it’s slow to bolt. it can be grown as a cut-and-come-again crop or to full maturity, and it takes equally well to garden beds and containers. Sandy is the second AAS Winner that is avail-able as organic seed.

‘roxanne’ F1 radisH ‘roxanne’ is a hybrid radish with uniform bright red skin and a beautiful creamy white interi-or. it develops no pithiness or bleeding even at a larger size. it grows well in a wide range of cli-mates, and in mild regions it can be sown at intervals in fall and winter for harvest during these seasons. it will grow in pots at least four inches deep.

Top to bottom: 'Sandy' lettuce; 'Roxanne' radish; 'Victory' hosta.

HOSTA OF THE YEARthe American hosta Growers Association (hostagrowers.org) established its hosta of the Year award in 1996 to help nursery owners and home gardeners alike navigate the multitude of hosta varieties on the market. the win-ning hostas must be good growers in all regions of the united States and be widely available.

‘viCtory’ HostaHosta ‘Victory’. this selection can grow to an impressively large size, nearing three feet tall and four feet wide, with flower stalks close to five feet tall. it’s a steady grower, but it can take several years to reach its full potential. Aside from its size, ‘Victory’ com-mands attention with its variegat-ed leaves. When they’re young, the green leaves have yellow edg-es; as the season progresses the margins pale to a lighter tone. Part to full shade. Zones 3–9.

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PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEARthe nationwide Perennial Plant Association (perennialplant.org) singles out one perennial each year that suits many climates, requires little maintenance and offers several seasons of interest.

‘bioKovo’ CranesbillGeranium ×cantabrigiense ‘Bio-kovo’. this hybrid hardy gera-nium blooms in late spring with white, five-petaled flowers that have pronounced pink stamens. it spreads by underground stems to form a loose groundcover 10 inches high and 36 inches wide, with dark green, rounded leaves that turn red in the fall. With its neat habit, this geranium is a good choice for the front of the border or a rock garden. Full to part sun. Zones 4–8.

GREATPLANTSGreatPlants (arboretum.unl.edu/greatplants-great-plains), a joint program of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the Nebraska Nursery & landscape Association, focuses on plants that earn their spot in a garden or landscape year-round. the 2015 plants are native to large regions of the united States, so they’re adaptable to a wide range of soils and sites and they offer food and habitat for pollinators as well as several seasons of interest for a constantly changing view.

tree oF tHe year: blaCK oaKQuercus velutina. (Not shown.)the yellow spring catkins of black oak are among the showi-est of any oak. Black oak looks similar to red oak, but with

Top to bottom: 'Biokovo'cranesbill, or hardy geranium; a stand of red pines which are an example of the Evergreen of the Year (red pine).

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leathery, glossy, stiff leaves. in early spring these are a bright, velvety red; in fall they turn deep yellow to maroon and persist well into winter. like all oaks, it is important to pollinators. it prefers rich, well-drained soil but tolerates poor, dry soil. it’s native to far southeastern Ne-braska, iowa and south into east-ern texas, making it a great tree for prairie states. the common name refers to the dark, black bark color on mature trees. Full sun. Zones 3–9.

evergreen oF tHe year: red pinePinus resinosa. A native of the Great lakes and the Northeast, red pine is extremely cold hardy. it’s a picturesque tree with a tall, straight, clean trunk and an open, rounded crown. it tolerates poor sites better than white pine. red pine gets its name from its orange to reddish bark, which divides into large plates as the tree ma-tures. Full sun. Zones 2–5.

sHrub oF tHe year: buttonbusHCephalanthus occidentalis. Wet soil? Dry soil? Buttonbush can handle either. Naturally found in backwater areas and mucky swamps, it will grow just about anywhere you plant it—from soupy sites to dry uplands. But-tonbush blooms during the heat of the summer with showy white balls up to an inch wide. the

honey-scented flowers, a favorite of bees and butterflies, provide a long-lasting, unique display. the glossy leaves are a larval food source for beneficial insects, and they usually show red fall color. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–9.

perennial oF tHe year: Carolina lupineThermopsis villosa. this clump-forming perennial is known for its attractive foliage and beauti-ful yellow flower spikes in mid-spring. the spires of bright yel-low, pea-like flowers bloom atop three- to four-foot plants similar in appearance to lupines or bap-tisia. this easy-to-grow native of the eastern united States is a beautiful plant for massing in borders, meadows and wildflow-er gardens. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

grass oF tHe year: giant saKatonS p o ro b o l u s w r i g h t i i . t h i s drought- and heat-tolerant grass grows quickly when the weather warms in late spring, forming an impressive mound of gray-green leaves to three feet high by early summer. the open, airy flower panicles develop above the foli-age in late summer, doubling the height of the grass. though native to the Southwest, it has rock-solid hardiness and it stays attractive through winter. Full sun. Zones 5–9. •

Top to bottom: buttonbush; Carolina lupine; giant sakaton.