Allen Wilson is a Vancouver gardening specialist. Email Allen Wilson at allenw98663@yahoo.com.
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All-America Selections, a national nonprofit organization that tests plant varieties, has announced awards for six new flowers after competitive trials across North America.
Echinaceae Artisan Yellow Ombre is a new deep-yellow hybrid perennial coneflower that will be available both from plants and seeds. Large 3- to 4-inch golden yellow daisy flowers are produced on sturdy 2- to 3-foot plants that do not need support. Artisan Yellow is attractive to bees and butterflies and makes a nice cut flower. Once established it blooms from midsummer to frost.
Leucanthemum Carpet Angel is a new ground cover perennial Shasta daisy that grows only 6 inches high and spreads to 20 inches. It is the part of a new group of perennials created by Green Fuse Botanicals that are day-length neutral. They produce earlier blooms that continue all season long. Pure white 3-inch flowers have a second layer of petals. Profuse branching plants can spread to 20 inches. A little deadheading of spent flowers will reward you with even more blooms.
Salvia Blue On You is a new perennial that features rich blue flowers that bloom up to two weeks earlier than the comparisons. It makes a nice cut flower, and is attractive to butterflies and humming birds. Suitable for containers, it grows about 20 inches high. It blooms continuously from late spring to late summer with a little dead heading, and doesn’t require staking.
Colocasia Royal Hawaiian Waikiki is a new ornamental plant from the tropics that we can plant and grow in our summer gardens here. It is grown for its variegated pink, white and green leaves with burgundy stems. Sturdy, 36-inch compact plants hold up against wind and rain. It makes a striking accent or large container plant for deck or patio. Waikiki is part of the Royal Hawaiian series.