Our Top 20 Sellers of 2006 Alaska Hardy Perennials

Our Best Sellers in 2006

#1 Primula (primrose)
Click to see large view	No stranger to the number one position, Primula has held this spot numerous times. There are over 600 varieties which might have some influence, but the beauty, fragrance, ease of growing including almost any soil and little care requirements makes Primula a winner in any circle. We are famous for our Primula including being listed as a source in the Horticulture Magazine in 2006.

#2 Sedum
Click to see large view	Another one that has many varieties including 2 inch ground covers and taller choices that are perfect for hedging, borders, or highlights in your perennial gardens. Voted number 1 in 2005, we stocked up for this year and our customers loved the newer varieties offered. No moose, little or no maintenance, draught tolerant, poor soils OK, butterflies, bees—what’s not to love.

#3 Iris
Click to see large view	Chicken in every pot and an iris in every garden; that’s our motto. Almost every color, sword like foliage that stays attractive all season, nice spreading habit, and many heights offered makes for a great choice. Remember; don’t plant rhizomes too deep if you want some blooms with that gorgeous foliage. Divide only when the middle stops blooming.

#4 Veronica
Click to see large view	Here’s a new trend. Moved from number 13 spot in 2005 all the way to number 4 this past year. Do you think it’s the lovely spikes that start blooming at the bottom and continue up the spike to the top lasting almost all season? Or perhaps the way the nice, full foliage stays at the bottom setting off the blooms to perfection (and keeps the weeds down)? Whatever, we agree with your choice.

#5 Hosta
Click to see large view	Year after year, this one shows up as a front runner in the top 20 competition. If you don’t have hosta in your garden, are you really a gardener??? There are hundreds of varieties out there and more coming on each year. Short, tall, fat, skinny, green, gold, blue, cream or combinations. We have a whole walk dedicated to our hosta sporting about 45 varieties now. In Alaska, shade is not a requirement. Hosta arrive a little late in the season so don’t give up too soon on these wonderful plants. Oh yes! They do bloom and they are fragrant.

#6 Ornamental Grasses
Click to see large view	Long gone are the days when Alaskans thought we had only a couple of choices for hardy ornamental grasses. We’ve dedicated the last few years to researching and experimenting with good results. Our 2006 lineup included 11 varieties and 2007 is looking excellent.

#7 Lilium (Lily)
Click to see large view	Between the L.A. hybrids and the ultra hardy asiatics, there is just no excuse not to have a half dozen of these wonderful plants in your gardens. Fragrant, long blooming, attractive foliage, wide range of colors, hardy, draught tolerant, need I go on more? We’re always looking for late-season bloomers and lilies are the perfect choice. Unfortunately, we sold out early in the season. We’ll try to do better this year.

#8 Meconopsis, Blue Poppy
Click to see large view	This is one of those plants where you can either grow it or not!! Some folk brag about 50 plus blooms on their plants. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I’m not one of those. I love the rare and covenanted blue color of the blooms, and I have had some success, but not like so many of my customers. Yes, I’m jealous! Excellent drainage is a must, good sun, and something else I must not have, are requirements. Seriously, they are very special and can’t be grown in most of the world so you really owe yourself to give them a try.

#9 A three-way tie Phlox, Vines and Ligularia
It was just too close to call for number 9 spot. Three totally different plants, just like most gardeners, different styles/choices.
#9a Phlox
Click to see large view	While there are many sizes and colors of phlox, the reason this one made the charts for the first time is the exquisite phlox subulata ‘Candy Stripe’. I couldn’t garden without this one. An early and long bloomer, this happy little plant is what spring is all about. The cheerful pink and white striped flowers bloom on evergreen sharp, hairy foliage.

#9b Vines
Click to see large view	While growing vines up a trellis will always be popular, meandering through my paeonia plants, filling up an obelisk, or just trailing on the ground, are just a few of the many other uses for vines. The easy to grow yellow Tangutica can completely camouflage that ugly whatever in just a few seasons. The unusual seed heads that look like silver hair remain throughout the winter and birds love them for nest material. Other varieties include; blues, purples, pinks, white, red and almost black blossoms.

#9c Ligularia
Click to see large view	If not the biggest, definitely one of the biggest leaved plants we can grow in our short, cold summers. Ligularia varieties range from extreme cut leaf to giant leathery leaf and flowers from huge spikes to massive umbrellas of yellow daisy-like blooms. .

#10 Lewisia
Click to see large view	This one really is easy to grow with big rewards if you take time for just a little extra preparation. Rocks-that’s the secret. Sharp, sharp drainage and you’ll enjoy often two blooms per season. Compact, evergreen foliage and unusual blooms present a solid, beefy appearance in the rock garden. Pictured

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