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New Plants for 2008
Our new perennial plants lineup for 2008 is extreme. I stopped counting at 84 new varieties and that doesn't include new Primula, Lilium, vines or Iris. Traveling to the Northern Scandinavian countries and into Russia in fall 2007, I couldn't seem to control myself. You'd think after 11 years I'd get a little accustomed to seeing new plants without having a burning desire -- NOT! I am, however, trying to move to more unusual perennials and less of the easily obtained varieties. I hope you have an opportunity to stop by the greenhouse and see some of these truly great plants. Sorry if we are sold out before you get here. Unfortunately, many of the newer varieties are available only in limited quantities.
Achillea millefolium 'Summerwine' (Yarrow) | |
 | Unlike our native yarrow, this one has decent manners. Very easy to grow in lean soils with little maintenance. The ferny, silver foliage adds a different dimension. 'Summerwine' looks terrific combined with Lilium 'Landini' or any of the pink to purple lilies. Plants dry well. Miscellaneous Name: Nose-bleed Size:* 12-36" x 24" |
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Agastache 'Blue Fortune' (Hyssop) | |
| A hybrid of A. rugosa and A. foeniculum. In the past I thought Agastache was too tender for us, but after seeing it in Estonia I was encouraged. The grower there said it had survived minus 20 F without snow. It's a long bloomer, starting in midsummer. Plant this one in your best sunny spot and mulch the first year. Combine with day lilies, Primula florindae, Myosotis (Forget-Me-Not). Size:* 24-30" x 30" |
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Ajuga reptans 'Golden Glow' (Bugleweed) | |
| Everyone has a burgundy Ajuga but this new variety has gold- and cream-variegated foliage. One of the few plants that will grow in dry shade under trees. Also will take moist soils. A truly flexible plant. Hummingbirds like this one. Combine with Cornus canadensis, spring bulbs. Size:* 6-8" x 8-10" |
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Anchusa azura (Italian Bugloss) | |
| Clusters of brilliant azure blue flowers with white centers top out above coarse hairy, green foliage. New for us so we'll have more experience next year. Combine with brightly colored flowers like poppies, yarrows and peonies. Size:* 36-48" x 18" |
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Aquilegia canadensis 'Red Lantern' (Columbine) | |
| Dainty orange-red lanterns hang from these smaller columbines. Very similar to our native columbine. Very nice with an Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' mat at its base. Attracts hummingbirds. Size:* 8-12" x 10" |
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Aquilegia vulgaris 'Clementine Dark Purple' (Columbine) | |
| This series is spectacular. The pristine, compact habit and totally upright flower stems present out of a tight mound of fragile foliage. Spurless, dark purple flowers combine nicely with the white Anemone sylvestris. Attracts hummingbirds. Size:* 18" x 15" |
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Aquilegia vulgaris 'Lime Sorbet' (Columbine) | |
| 'Nora Barlow' type with no spurs. Unusual double lime green tinted white flowers. Should be in most gardens because of its size and color. Plant in multiples of 3 to 5 or in large sweeps combined with late bulbs, Iris setosa, geraniums, lupine. Hummingbirds like this plant. Size:* 12-18" x 12" |
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Arabis caucasica Little Treasure (tm) (Rock Cress) | |
| We love the white Arabis and now we have Little Treasure (tm) with its uniform blooms of vibrant rose pink brightening any perennial border. Excellent ground cover for dry areas, slopes or sunny areas. Combine with tiny spring bulbs, Primula auricula, Primula allionii, Primula 'Wanda' or the dwarf Iris setosa. Size:* 4-6" x 10" |
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Astilbe arendsii 'Sister Theresa' (False Spirea) | |
| This large, blocky, salmon-pink plumed Astilbe is considered to be one of the best Astilbes. Finely cut, medium to dark green leaves. I saw a combination in Denmark that blew me away. A tall iris with Astilbe blooming right out of its middle. Looked as if it belonged to the spiky leafed iris. Size:* 24" x 15" |
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Astilbe japonica 'Red Sentinel' (False Spirea) | |
| Vibrant scarlet-red flowers are held in open, lacy panicles. Forest green foliage and mahogany-red stems. Outstanding. Combine with iris or lily sword-like foliage or with Achillea for a softer look. Size:* 18" x 15" |
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Astilbe x arendsii 'August Lite' (False Spirea) | |
| Scarlet-red plumes with new leaves of tinted red changing to a medium green bloom a little later. Combine with Filipendula 'Kahome' for a totally soft, romantic look. Miscellaneous Name: Astilbe 'Augustleuchten' Size:* 28" x 15" |
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Baptisia australis (False Indigo) | |
| Showy indigo-blue flowers on tapering spikes up to 1 foot are held just above the dense, bushy mounds of soft blue-green foliage. Black seed pods add fall and winter interest. Attracts butterflies and bees. Good plant for drying. Combine with Papaver 'Brilliant', Dicentra eximia 'Luxuriant' or Geranium to cover ankles. Size:* 36-48" x 36-48" |
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Bergenia 'Solar Flare' (Pig-squeak) | |
| A new twist on a garden classic. Evergreen leaves offer something all year. Spring brings cream margins that turn to brilliant shrimp-pink in fall. Low maintenance, spreads with good manners. Combine with Phlox 'Emerald Blue', ferns, Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader'. Size:* 12" x 15" |
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Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Eldorado' (Feather Reed Grass) | |
| One of our designers says this one looks like a waterfall. I agree. Low maintenance and something to see all year long -- what more could you ask? Plant spring bulbs in with your grasses. Miscellaneous Name: Patented (PP #16,486) Size:* 15" x 15" |
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Campanula persicifolia 'La Belle' (Bellflower) | |
| From the mound of long-leathery evergreen, dark green leaves, the tall, upright stems bear a bouquet of small, double, deep blue flowers with a silver gloss. Combine with Actaea 'Black Negligee', Brunnera 'Jack Frost, Primula florindae. Size:* 24" x 18" |
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Chasmanthium latifolium (Sea Oats) | |
| Grass native to wooded slopes, moist thickets and creek bottoms. The dangling oat-like spikelets turn red in fall. New for us so we'll see. Looks very nice in pictures. Plant in your best sunny spot and mulch. Winter snow on the spikelets is very attractive. Size:* 48" x 15" |
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Clematis 'Henryi' (Clematis) | |
| Back by your requests, this wonderful very distinct-shaped, pure-white bloomer often sports bronze-tinged leaves in the spring. An early bloomer in our gardens, we grow this one on our big trellis-arch with our Alaska Hardy roses. Tons of smaller white flowers that usually bloom twice with the second bloom period are a bit more reserved. Pruning guide: Early blooming so dead and weak stems should be pruned in late winter or very early spring. The books say to prune to 9 to 12 inches but we've found this doesn't work for us so we only prune out the dead and weak. Combine with climbing rose 'John Cabot' on and arch. Very surprising! Size:* 96-120" |
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Clematis 'Kugotia' (Clematis) | |
| A brand new yellow selection from the Netherlands, we're pretty excited to see this one. The petals are more waxy than C. tangutica and the stamens are purple -- yeah. It has the same wonderful grey-white seed heads as we are so pleased to see each fall and throughout the winter. If this Clematis turns out to be as hardy as our C. tangutica, we'll be very pleased. Pruning guide: The usual caveat such as cool roots and prune hard in spring are listed with the plant instructions. However, cool roots are no issue in our climate and I'm going to follow the prune one-third each spring rule and see how it goes. Miscellaneous Name: Clematis Golden Tiara Size:* |
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Clematis 'Polish Spirit' (Clematis) | |
| A beautiful, truly purple Clematis. You may get different variants of purple depending on your soil conditions. From the Viticella Group. Pruning guide: Prune in late winter or we just prune out the dead and weak stems. You could also use the one-third per year method. This is a strong Clematis, so relax. Combine with the white Clematis 'Henryi'. Size:* |
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Clematis 'Star of India' (Clematis) | |
| Beautiful velvety plum-colored petals sport a distinctive red stripe down its center. A real bonus: it blooms all summer long and into fall. Pruning guide: Blooms on current season's growth and the books say to prune hard in spring. With our short season we will be trying the prune one-third only each year method. Combine with climbing rose Rosa 'Royal Bonica' and use as a shrub display. Size:* |
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*Size: Inches unless noted. |
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Fritz Creek Gardens
PO Box 15226, Homer, AK 99603
Phone: (907) 235-4969
Fax: (907) 235-8116
E-mail: info@alaskahardy.com
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