August 16, 2019

Plant of the Week: Pink Chiffon® Hibiscus


Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles


August.

It's warm - perfect for beaches and barbecue. And Hibiscus syriacus.


Pink Chiffon® H. syriacus habit
Rose-of-Sharon is beautiful right now, flowering happily when many other plants are kind of tired. What color do you want? Blue, white, purple? How about pink?

Pink Chiffon® H. syriacus is a delightful plant, charming even those of us who aren't partial to the color. The large blooms hit just the right part of pink: bright enough to stand out in the garden yet not disruptive.

Pink Chiffon® H. syriacus bloom

Like other H. syriacus, Pink Chiffon® grows best in full sun. It will get 8-12' tall and 6-10' wide, and is hardy to USDA Zone 5. It is one of several outstanding varieties brought to us by plant breeder Dr. Roderick Wood. His selections all have large, unique flowers and a full, graceful habit. They are much more appealing in containers than older varieties.

In addition to having abundant late summer flowers, rose-of-Sharon is a durable plant that will tolerate some challenging conditions. Heat, drought, clay soil - even deer in most areas don't bother it.

Get ready to celebrate!

August 18 is this Sunday, and it's a day to celebrate. Why? I'll give you two good reasons: it's the day U.S. women gained the right to vote in 1920, and it's the anniversary of the first plant patent! Wow!

The first plant patent was issued to New Jersey resident Henry Bosenberg in 1931 for the 'New Dawn' rose. Since then, thousands of plant patents have been granted. Breeding a new plant is no different than any other creation, and protecting intellectual property like songs, books, and yes, plants, is a critical element in our economy.

As exciting as plant hunting can be, it's a lot of work. It takes time, dedication, and attention to detail. And don't you think the person who spends years breeding a better hydrangea deserves both credit and compensation?

So how will you celebrate plants and women's suffrage? Buy a lady a plant! And cake! Wine, too, if she's old enough to enjoy it. After all, you only need to be 18 to vote. And if you know a young lady who's turning 18 soon, remind her to register to vote. (Young men, too).

August 2, 2019

Plant of the Week: Blue Diddley® Vitex


Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

Vitex agnus-castus is a plant with a history.

The common name is chaste tree, which should clue you in to some of the folklore around it. Yes, its berries were believed to help monks keep their thoughts pure.

Conversely, it has a long tradition in folk medicine for helping women with reproductive system issues.

More recently it is valued simply as an ornamental, particularly in southern areas where lilacs don't do well - it has a similar flower color. Vitex also has pretty good deer resistance and salt tolerance.

Blue Diddley® Vitex

Blue Diddley® is a compact version of chaste tree. While traditional varieties can get large, even grow to be a small tree, Blue Diddley® maxes out at about 6'.

In colder climates, Vitex agnus-castus is like Buddleia and behaves more like a perennial. It's considered hardy to USDA Zone 5 as a dieback shrub, and will be a shrub in Zone 7 and warmer. Zone 6? Well, I guess it will depend on the winter. Check with your local extension service to see if it's suitable for your area.

Either way, it's an interesting addition to a sunny bed or border. Just make sure the soil is well-drained.

True blue

What is it with blue flowers? People seem obsessed with them. I suppose it's the human tendency to want what we can't have, and blue is rare in the botanical world. It's rare in all of nature, actually.

Let's Dance® Blue Jangles®
Hydrangea macrophylla

Yet we want blue hydrangeas (even in unrealistic climates), blue roses, etc. And given a genus with a fighting chance of producing a blue flower, like Syringa, people ask for yellow. (Why? Has that ever ended well? The answer is no.)

Here's a quick video to share with all of your friends who ask about blue flowers. People ask, we listen. Except for the yellow lilac thing.

July 25, 2019

Plant of the Week: Emerald Envy® Viburnum


Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

The Emerald City is on my mind right now because I'm headed to Seattle this week for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers International Design Conference. It should be a great time! If you're not going you might be green with envy...

The event gives me an excuse to talk about a really handsome Viburnum: Emerald Envy®. It's a very nice selection of Viburnum x rhytidophylloides (same species as 'Alleghany') with a dense, compact habit.                                                       

Emerald Envy®  Viburnum
Sure, Emerald Envy® has nice white flowers in spring, but the reason I like it is its rich green foliage. There's a bit of a sheen to the leaves that's quite enticing.

Emerald Envy®  Viburnum flowers

An appealing habit in a container is pretty great, too. Let's face it, many Viburnum look a little awkward in a pot. But Emerald Envy® is a plant that invites you to come and get a closer look at it.

Hardy to USDA Zone 6, this deer-resistant plant will grow 6-8' tall and adapt to either sun or part shade.

Another awesome plant geek event is happening next week, too!

There's a pretty amazing tour going on in August as part of the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS). The IPPS Eastern Region Michigan Area Meeting is Thursday, August 8 at the Dow Gardens:

Here's the schedule:

  • 9:00-9:30 - Registration with coffee and donuts. Meet in Visitor Center first.
  • 9:30-9:45 - Welcome by Chuck Martin, Senior Horticulturist, Dow Gardens.
  • 9:45- 11:30 - Tour of the Whiting Forest. The nation's longest canopy walk, orchard with over 75 varieties of apples, creek restoration project, and much more.
  • 11:30-12:30 - Erik Runkle, Michigan State University Professor/Floriculture Extension Specialist will speak about supplemental lighting and the use of LEDs during propagation.
  • 12:30-1:30 - Lunch break.
  • 1:30-2:00 - Bob Kuszmaul, owner of D&B Plants, will speak about trends in the nursery/propagation industry.
  • 2:00-4:00 - Tour of the Dow Gardens. Experience a dazzling 110 acre display of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees punctuated by distinctive bridges, an award-winning children's garden, towering pines, and delightful water features.

But wait - there's more! For anyone who wants to stick around once the meeting ends, you and your family are invited to the home of IPPS-ER Board member and meeting organizer, Chuck Martin, for hot dogs and burgers along with yard games.

The cost of this fabulous event is just $35. Attendee family members may attend for $25 each to include admissions and lunch. Family road trip!

Note: You do not need to be a member of IPPS to attend. Students, interns and employees are welcome!

Register here by August 5.

July 18, 2019

Plant of the Week: Lollipop Malus


National Lollipop Day

Other than helping a bit with laryngitis, I don't think of lollipops as being very useful. They certainly have never satisfied my 4 pm chocolate craving.

But here's a Lollipop® that actually is useful: it's a truly dwarf crabapple tree. It was selected by the breeder because it maintains its neat habit and dwarf (8') form.

Lollipop® Malus is one of seven Proven Winners® ColorChoice® trees available now - with more to come in the future.



Lollipop® crabapple has loads of white flowers that will produce shiny red fruits in fall. Birds and wildlife love them.

This is a useful plant for formal mass plantings or as a well-behaved specimen. Homeowners often want assurances that a plant won't get "too big". Here's one that won't.

It will do best in full sun, and is hardy to USDA Zone 4 (AHS heat tolerance of 8).


Yes, National Lollipop Day is a thing, and it's happening on Saturday

I admit the timing seems a little off. Mid-July is when I'm looking for a frozen treat rather than room temperature candy. Still, I did think it was pretty great when the drive-through bank teller sent a lollipop to me when I was sweltering in the back of my parents' un-air conditioned, vinyl-seated Dodge Coronet.

You can make the day more meaningful by skipping the standard issue sucker and going for an artisan lollipop. I'm the driver now, and maybe I need to keep a stash of these in my air conditioned car for when I'm waiting for my kids to get out of practice.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

July 5, 2019

Plant of the Week: Scentlandia® Itea

North America has some pretty cool plants. Native plants are popular for a lot of reasons, but sometimes it seems like the discussion misses the fact that they would be worthwhile plants even without the bonus of being native.

Itea virginica, or sweetspire, is one such plant. It has lovely fragrant flowers, is adaptable to wet soils and shade, and will reward you in fall with nice foliage color. Who wouldn't want that?

Scentlandia® Itea 
Scentlandia® Itea features exceptionally fragrant flowers and a compact (2-3') habit. Normally, the species can get up to 5' tall, so if you have a smaller space this dwarf selection will be a better fit. Note: Love fragrance? This native beauty made our Top Ten Fragrant Shrubs video.

Scentlandia® Itea fall color
While we consider it to be hardy to USDA Zone 5, it has shown better bud hardiness, which helps it flower better than generic members of the species after harsh winters. If you're toward the northern edge of its zone, you'll like that. Remember that Itea virginica flowers on old wood, so you don't want to prune it back in fall or winter.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

June 27, 2019

Plant of the Week: Dandy Man® Pink Rhododendron

A rhododendron that's hardy, heat-tolerant, and is resistant to root rot? That would be dandy!

And here it is: Dandy Man® Pink Rhododendron. This R. hyperythrum hybrid is attractive, too, with an attractive habit and enticing pink flowers.

Dandy Man® Pink Rhododendron
Dandy Man® Pink rhododendron grows 4-8' tall and wide, and is hardy to USDA Zone 5.

Rhododendron...or azalea? It's complicated.

The easy answer would be something along the lines of that infamous Supreme Court ruling re: pornography: "I know it when I see it." But that's hard to implement in a legal system, and it's just as difficult to use in botany.

For a good description for either subject one needs a very precise description:

"True rhododendrons have 10 or more stamens which is 2 per lobe. Azaleas usually have 5 stamens or 1 per lobe. Azaleas have 5 lobes in a flower.

Azaleas tend to have appressed hairs which is hair parallel to the surface of the leaf. This is particularly true along the midrib on the underside of the leaf. It is easily seen in "evergreen" azaleas. True rhododendrons instead of hair are often scaly or have small dots on the under side of the leaf. Azalea leaves are never dotted with scales and are frequently pubescent."

   - New York Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society

Trust me that a detailed explanation of plant taxonomy is less disturbing that that of pornography. If you need a refresher on flower anatomy, here's a good one. The other, well, you're on your own.

If you'd like something a little hardier, consider Dandy Man® Purple rhododendron, which goes into USDA Zone 4. It, too, grows 4-8' tall and wide as does the newest Dandy, Dandy Man Color Wheel®. All of these plants will grow in full sun or partial shade.

Dandy Man Color Wheel® Rhododendron 
One final note: Rhododendron is toxic to livestock. Rhododendron is also toxic to dogs and cats although they are less likely to consume it than livestock. As it says on the University of Maryland Extension website: "As is the case with most toxic plants, prevention is key." Years ago I got a phone call from a rancher whose cattle had gotten into some Taxus, also toxic. It was terrible. Be safe out there.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

June 21, 2019

Plant of the Week: Sugar Shack® Cephalanthus

It's been a cold, wet spring. The Great Lakes and our surrounding rivers are at record levels and there's more rain coming.

We know that this is just an inconvenience, not the catastrophe faced by farmers in Iowa and Nebraska, but it's still frustrating. While many ornamental plants like regular watering this might be a bit much for some of them, not to mention the increased risk of fungal problems such weather can bring.

Luckily there are some plants that genuinely like wet conditions. Cephalanthus occidentalis, or buttonbush, is one of them.

Sugar Shack® is a dwarf form of this delightful native plant, growing to about half the size of the species.

Sugar Shack® buttonbush  summer flower

It has the same crazy summer flowers that bees and other pollinators love, yet will have showy red fruit in fall rather than the typical green. It's not just bees that like the blooms; the fragrance is appealing to humans, too.

Sugar Shack® buttonbush fall fruit
It's a great plant for soggy spots in the landscape or near ponds and streams. Sugar Shack® will grow about 3-4' tall and wide, and takes either full sun or partial shade. It's hardy to USDA Zone 4.

Enjoy these long days.
We're nearing the longest days of the year, which means long, soft twilight hours here in the North Country. It's wonderful to sit outside (on nights it isn't raining, anyway) and enjoy the evening with family and friends.

Evening is when we really appreciate the light colored flowers like those of Cephalanthus - the sweet scent is nice, too.

People without at least a few white flowers in the landscape are missing out on one of the simple joys of a summer evening. Here are some suggestions for other white blooms to add to gardens.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

June 12, 2019

Plant of the Week: Fire Light® Hydrangea paniculata

Fired up for hydrangeas!
We like to say that Fire Light® is the standard by which you can measure all panicle hydrangeas. Plus, it's the 2019 Proven Winners® hydrangea of the year! This easy-to-grow, reliable, panicle hydrangea was developed in Michigan, selected for its huge, full flower heads and sturdy, strong stems. Blooms emerge creamy-white and age to a vivid red for lots of summer color. It makes a great cut flower, fresh or dried, and can be used as a hedge, specimen, or incorporated into flower gardens and foundation plantings.

Hardy to USDA Zone 3, they bloom every year - even after bad winters. The flowers open white and then turn pink-red. Need a smaller variety? Try a dwarf variety such as Little Quick Fire®.

Fire Light® Hydrangea paniculata
Fire Light® Hydrangea paniculata in container
But what about blue?
Sorry, these hydrangea aren't going to turn blue. They start out white, then transition to pink-red. That's what they do.

If you want a blue hydrangea you need to grow a H. macrophylla or H. serrata. And you need to grow it with attention to flower color.

This isn't an overnight process. You can't go out to a crop of beautiful pink mophead hydrangeas and change them to blue instantly. But with proper planning and execution you can have that sea of blue flowers.

Here is a very good article about shifting hydrangea color. It has more detail than most such articles, and really helpful!

If you need something a little less technical, we have a really nice pdf that you are welcome to link to and share.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

June 7, 2019

Plant of the Week: Purple Satin® rose of Sharon

Today is June 7, which happens to be Prince's birthday. I can't think of a more appropriate plant to celebrate the occasion than Purple Satin® Hibiscus syriacus.

Purple Satin® rose of Sharon provides an exuberant display of purple flowers in summer. It will do best in full sun, and gets 8-12' tall.

Purple Satin® rose of Sharon
It is hardy only to USDA Zone 5, so probably isn't a great choice for Prince's hometown of Minneapolis, but folks in very warm climates will appreciate how it takes heat and drought.

We like Purple Satin® rose of Sharon for its flowers. Not just the color, although that is just as fabulous as the Purple One himself.

Purple Satin® is a seedless rose of Sharon. Anyone who has ever spent an afternoon pulling up seedlings and cursing their decision to plant a 'Blue Bird' or other seedy variety will appreciate this.

Other sterile, non-invasive rose of Sharon varieties include Sugar Tip® and Sugar Tip® Gold, Azurri Blue Satin®, and Orchid Satin® Hibiscus.

Hibiscus syriacus have a lot of great qualities:

Purple Satin® rose of Sharon habit
Rose of Sharon are often taken for granted. They're an old-fashioned plant without a lot of plant snob appeal. But sometimes we come back to old-fashioned things because it turns out they're pretty good.

Hibiscus syriacus will grow in hot, dry conditions, and tolerate drought and clay soil. It's tolerant of black walnut, too, but that may not be the issue we were all taught it was.

It's also considered to be deer-resistant, although we all know that's relative. We know that deer are a real problem in a lot of areas and just when you think you've found a plant that they don't like they change their mind. A really good resource for this is the Rutgers University website. We also have a cool new video highlighting deer-resistant plants. Feel free to share it with your readers if deer are a problem in your area.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

May 31, 2019

Plant of the Week: Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis


Some plants just like the heat. Berberis is one of them.

Heat hasn't been a problem in Michigan (yet). We've had a cool, rainy spring so far. But we know that warmer days are coming. That's great for an afternoon on Lake Michigan but can be rough on some plants.

Barberry, however, thrives in full sun and plenty of heat. New to garden centers this year, Sunjoy Todo™ (pronounced tow-dough) is no exception. It has deep purple color that just grows richer as the August sun beats down on it.

With its semi-dwarf size and nice, consistent habit, this is an easy and responsible way to add durable color to hot, dry areas. As with other barberries, it has good deer resistance and will do best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis in flower

Sunjoy Todo™ barberry grows 1.5-2' tall and is hardy to USDA Zone 6. It's a semi-evergreen selection with really showy yellow flowers. Don't worry - the berries produced by these flowers do not have seeds. They are hollow!

Barberry rehabilitated.
It's easy to hate barberry; Berberis is considered invasive in many areas. And we don't want to plant things that will become a problem.

Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis
But barberry came to be a popular landscape plant because it is a really useful option for challenging sites. Heat, drought - even deer are not a problem for this plant. I'm thinking of some businesses I've seen on busy streets - they want a landscape but whatever is there needs to tolerate air pollution and general neglect. In goes the barberry.

So providing a non-invasive barberry for such conditions is something we're really proud of. We know some people have those difficult spaces to fill in their landscapes, or maybe they just want something colorful and durable for their yards. Let's use the plants that meet this need but don't cause problems for the environment.

It's not just barberry - if there's a problem plant in your area, see if there's a non-invasive alternative. If you're not sure, ask. Plant geeks love to help other plant geeks discover new plants!


Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

May 24, 2019

Plant of the Week: Sonic Bloom® Weigela

This is a spring for reblooming plants.

It's been cold. Sure, we've had some lovely Chamber of Commerce-worthy blue sky days, but on the whole it's been a wet, cold spring. They've even been using the "F" word in parts of West Michigan.

Reblooming plants are pretty awesome in years like this. Even if we do have an untimely frost or freeze, rebloomers like the Sonic Bloom® Weigela will still reward us with flowers. Better late than never, right?

Sonic Bloom® Pink Weigela

Sonic Bloom® Weigela are very rewarding plants in more ways than one.

They're pretty, of course. Those classic weigela flowers are a charming addition to any spring garden. They're eye-catching in the landscape, and really easy to grow.

And they rebloom, so everyone gets to enjoy the flowers multiple times through the year. It's not just people who like the flowers: butterflies and hummingbirds like them, too.

Sonic Bloom® Weigela come in several colors, including Pink, Pure Pink (which is a more pastel pink), Red  and a red flowered variety with chartreuse foliage, called Ghost. If you'd like something a little more genteel, Sonic Bloom® Pearl has white flowers that transform to a soft pink.

Sonic Bloom® Pure Pink Weigela has an upright habit and is a good choice for hedging. The others have a more rounded habit.

Sonic Bloom® Pure Pink Weigela
All are hardy to USDA Zone 4 (Pure Pink even down to zone 3) and will get about 5' tall. You'll want to put them in full sun.

Weigela have good deer resistance, and will also tolerate clay soil They're more than just a pretty face!

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

May 16, 2019

Plant of the Week: Magenta Chiffon® rose of Sharon

You've seen Lavender, and White. Blue, and even Pink.

Are you ready for Magenta Chiffon® rose of Sharon?*

It has the same lacy tuft in the center of its large flowers, but it's a deeper, more intense color than the rest of the series. This should appeal to folks who aren't fans of pastels but want the reliable summer flowers of this durable plant.


Hibiscus syriacus is tolerant of some tough conditions, including heat, drought and clay soil.

In addition to their distinctive flowers, the Chiffon® Hibiscus syriacus have strong, uniform growth and nice container presentation. While older varieties can seem stiff and awkward, these plants are full and quite appealing.

All will grow best in full sun, and are hardy to USDA Zone 5. They will get 8-12' tall and wide.

If you'd prefer a lighter color for your summer garden, take a look at the other colors in this video. You're sure to find one that works!

*Magenta Chiffon® Hibiscus syriacus will be available at garden centers in 2020.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

May 10, 2019

Plant of the Week: Golden Shadows® Cornus


We're in the peak of Tulip Time here in West Michigan. Really, the only thought people are giving to trees right now is to complain about their allergies.

I say take some allergy medicine and carry on, because trees are great. (Seriously, I say this. Everyone in my house, including the dog, is on allergy medicine.)

Tulips are nice enough, but trees will delight us for far longer than a couple of weeks in the spring.

Golden Shadows® Cornus alternifolia, in particular, is a plant that brings me a great deal of joy.


It has a lovely horizontal branching structure that adds an elegant touch to any garden. The bright color of the foliage is appealing, too, brightening the murky corners of a property.

Golden Shadows® will be happiest in filtered shade - just where you need that cheery green and gold foliage.

It's hardy to USDA Zone 3, and will grow 10-12' tall and wide.

If you haven't grown this plant, please do. I can say rather smugly that I've had it in my yard for years. and it never fails to make me happy.



Did you know? Proven Winners® is getting into the tree game!

Golden Shadows® has been a favorite here at Spring Meadow Nursery for a long time. We've been hoping to make it fit into the Proven Winners® brand, but it wasn't quite right mixed in with the hydrangeas, etc. By teaming up with Maria Zampini, we've found a group of other fantastic ornamental trees and so have enough varieties to establish a Proven Winners® tree program.

As the former President of Lake County Nursery, Inc., Maria brings a wealth of tree experience to this partnership. We're confident that she will provide our customers with the same outstanding options for trees as they have come to expect from the shrubs coming from Spring Meadow Nursery's own breeding programs.

Finally, if you really want to talk trees you might want to use a special tree font to do it. Yes, such a thing exists. I know at least one graphic designer who will be going down a font rabbit hole after reading this.


Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

May 3, 2019

Plant of the Week: Tiny Wine® Physocarpus


Tine Wine® Physocarpus
Hello and happy Friday! 

It's hopefully extra happy for us, as the rain has cleared and we can dig into the dirt all weekend!

I mentioned on Monday that I had been in Iowa last week. So before I get to the Plant of the Week, which is Tiny Wine® ninebark (pictured right) I wanted to share a couple of pics I took in the Better Homes & Gardens test garden.

I'm lucky I have an "in" there since, although it is open to the public, it doesn't officially open for a couple of weeks. It was fun to see the gardens waking up and the tulips all in their glory. Very different from my trip there last June when the bulbs were done blooming and other plants were capturing the spotlight.

The Helleborus were also in full bloom and absolutely gorgeous, as were many other plants like Sunjoy® Citrus Berberis! Click here for my online photo album that contains all the pictures.

Now, as promised, here is Jane's Plant of the Week:

April 29, 2019

Plant of the Week: Show Off® Forsythia


Show Off® Sugar Baby Forsythia
I was in Iowa last week and never got a chance to complete the plant of the week blog, so I'll see if I Forsythia. I don't can churn out two this week, starting with Jane's post about a "perennial" favorite, know about you, but mine is gorgeous right now.

Also, don't forget about the Mother's Day giveaway! There are still two days to enter to win! See details below:

Click this link to enter by May 1, and you could win Lorraine Ballato's book Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide plus a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® hydrangea, shipped from Great Garden Plants, directly to your mom's home! It's a $50 value, free to one lucky winner.

Lorraine is an Advanced Master Gardener and like me, a hydrangea lover. In her book she gives tips for knowledgeable and novice gardeners alike on how to grow this favorite garden shrub. Each of the thirteen chapters covers the whys and wherefores in easy-to understand language with nearly 150 photos and illustrations. I got one for my mom last Mother's Day and she loves it!

Don't want to leave it up to chance? You can order a signed copy of Lorraine's book right on her website and get it shipped in time for Mother's Day!



Plant of the Week: Show Off® Forsythia

It's a bit unfair to say that Forsythia are good only for their flowers. That may be true in an
ornamental sense, but these are tough, durable plants. They are a useful choice for places that face pressure from deer browsing, and will also tolerate clay soil.

April 17, 2019

Plant of the Week and a Mother's Day Giveaway!


I think I can safely say it's spring! Okay, yes, we had a blizzard last Sunday, but that's all in the past. The last lumps of snow are melting (I actually spent a little time scooping handfuls off my daffodils that were just ready to pop before the storm) and I just finished deadheading my hydrangeas and pulling out the spent canes. It's exciting to see all the buds waiting to bloom - very soon now!

Speaking of hydrangeas... ya' know, they make a great Mother's Day gift. In fact, what have you gotten for your mom this year? Nothing yet?

Never fear...I have a way that you can win an excellent gift for her, (or maybe for yourself, you deserve something special too!) just in time for the holiday.

Click this link to enter by May 1, and you could win Lorraine Ballato's book Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide plus a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® hydrangea, shipped from Great Garden Plants, directly to your mom's home! It's a $50 value, free to one lucky winner.

April 11, 2019

Plant of the week: Yuki series of Deutzia


Hello and happy Thursday -

Happy Face Hearts Potentilla in bloom
Spring is in the air...finally! Even those of us who live close to the chilly shores of Lake Michigan are seeing bulbs poking their heads out of the soil and new growth is appearing on once-dormant shrubs.

In fact, this is photo of a Happy Face® Potentilla I put in last summer. I was thrilled to see these tiny green buds all along the stems already.

Happy Face Hearts new growth
Soon my bulbs will be in flower and I'll share lots of photos. Last fall I put in a bunch of new ones from Brent and Becky's Bulbs... I'm excited to see them bloom!

Until then, I'll have to be patient, even during the few cold days that we most certainly have in store. Reading Jane's Plant of the Week posts help. Beautiful flowering shrubs shared with a truly original viewpoint!

Enjoy it, copied below - Natalie

April 4, 2019

CAST 2019

Natalie talking about cool, new shrubs.
Hello and happy Thursday!

Oh my goodness, CAST was a whirlwind. I just got done uploading some pictures of the beautiful shrubs we showed this year. Mind you, these are plants that are available to growers this year, so they will be at garden centers in 2020.

I loved spending the week in the California sun (okay there was a little rain, but I'm not complaining) talking about shrubs. What could be better!

Two of my favorites are:

Interstella® Pieris

Whether you call it Japanese andromeda or lily of the valley shrub, Interstella® Pieris will have you seeing stars when it bursts into bloom with thousands of lantern-like ruby-colored blooms in early spring. You may have seen a Pieris with white flowers or pale-pink flowers, but we selected this one for its ruby red blooms. 

The long-lasting display is followed by the emergence of dramatic red new growth, and handsome evergreen foliage secures year-round presence and beauty. Thrives in the same conditions as rhododendrons. 

USDA Zone 5 - 8 exposure full to part sun. This will actually do well in the shade, too!

Ringo™ Rosa

I know you could say Ringo™ rose but it's so much more fun to say Ringo™ Rosa... 

This rose has already won six awards overseas, and will finally available in North American garden centers in 2020. 

The blooms of this colorful, appealing R. hulthemia hybrid open a bright golden yellow with a blazing red center. They mellow to a soft yellow, before finally turning white with a distinct pink center. The effect is of three colors blooming at once. 

Disease resistant and reblooming, hardy in USDA zones 4-8. This rose will get to about 3-4' tall. I can't wait to get my hands on one.

The rest of the photos from CAST are in my online Adobe Portfolio. I wish I could say I took them all, but that wouldn't be true... my co-worker Adriana Robinson also came to CAST this year and she took lots of great video as well as most of the photos on the page (and the photo of Ringo™ Rosa on this page.) She's super-talented and hopefully we'll be posting a few of her videos soon. Check out the CAST 2019 photos here.

Thanks for stopping by and see you next week!

Natalie

March 22, 2019

Plant of the Week: Spring into Syringa

Happy spring!
(Bloomerang® Purple lilac)

I'll be in California for the spring trials for the next couple of weeks. This week we are setting up our plant displays so I'm sending you this wonderful post about lilacs from Jane. Next week, pictures and posts from CAST will start to come in!

So for now...enjoy spring, it's here!

- Natalie




Plant of the Week: Spring is here!


Scentara® Double Blue Syringa
Not meteorological spring (that was March 1) or nursery grower spring (the first sale of the season), but astronomical spring, which was Wednesday.

What could be more fitting for a spring celebration than lilacs? Show me someone who doesn't like lilacs and I'll show you a bitter retiree who's discovered that she can't have a lilac at her Miami condo.

That's actually one of the most frequent questions we get on the Proven Winners® feedback site: why can't I get a lilac in Florida? Hint: the reblooming Bloomerang® varieties typically do quite well in warmer climates since they flower on new wood.

If you're looking for that classic farmhouse lilac with outstanding fragrance (and not so much powdery mildew), here's the plant for you: Scentara® Double Blue Syringa.

This plant gets 6-8' tall, like the one at your grandma's house. But it has unique doubled flowers and a nicer habit than old-fashioned common lilac. And there is the aforementioned mildew tolerance.

As with any lilac, it will want full sun to be at its best. Let it shine in a nice sunny, exposed border - that makes it easy to cut some flowers for bouquets.

This beautiful plant is hardy to USDA Zone 2 - it's the north country's reward for making it through another winter.


Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

March 14, 2019

Plant of the Week: Ground Hog™ Aronia

Hello and happy Thursday!

I don't know what it's like where you are, but today in Michigan it's grey and rainy. I'm not complaining though, it could be snowing. Yes, it's finally warmed up a bit. That is particularly important when you work for a place that ships live plants. So, although it seems like spring has been a long time coming, I'm feeling hopeful. I know it can, and has, snowed in April...but I'm confident  the polar vortex-type weather is behind us.

Despite the fact that this year Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow and winter ignored him and dug in its heels, I think it's safe to say we'll soon be seeing signs of spring. So enjoy this post from Jane about the super-durable plant with pretty white spring flowers...Aronia melanocarpa.

Enjoy! - Natalie


Signs of spring...

Ground Hog™ Aronia melanocarpa
Ah, the Groundhog Day prediction. So often wrong, and so often disappointing. This year it was particularly frustrating.

If only we could find a ground hog that gave us good news - and was reliable.

Here it is: Ground Hog™ Aronia.

This is a groundcover  - Aronia melanocarpa, with all of the adaptability and durability of the species but in a very useful low-growing package.

Ground Hog™ aronia comes to us from Dr. Mark Brand of UConn. His is the breeding program that developed Low Scape Mound™ and Low Scape Hedger™ aronia, too. This is fabulous work - taking a species with lots of great qualities and repackaging it to fit into more gardens.

Ground Hog™ grows 8-14" tall and up to 3' across. It will grow in full sun or partial shade.
Aronia melanocarpa has good deer-resistance, too. Not deer-proof of course (there's no such thing).

It's a native species, which is important to many people, and supports pollinators, which is another common request. Aronia melanocarpa is an adaptable plant with many potential uses in gardens and landscapes

It's hardy to USDA Zone 3 and has pretty flowers in the spring as well as bright red fall color. It's a durable plant that will tolerate many challenging conditions. We even had a planting submerged under water for a few weeks last spring, and it came through fine. A little slower to take off than the ones on higher ground, but OK.

Practical and ornamental, like the perfect winter coat. Yeah, that groundhog was really off the mark this year.

If you're looking for a more general purpose plant geek experience, here's a video from the National Science Foundation. One of the discoveries they highlight is researchers identifying the genes that give a plant deer-resistance. That could be really useful to anyone struggling with deer browsing, which is to say nearly everyone in North America.


Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

March 8, 2019

Plant of the Week: My Monet® weigela

Hello and Happy Friday!

For the last couple of weeks I've been reminding you about Shrub Madness, and that's still going on... You can still get in on the voting and you can still get the prizes that will be distributed at the end of each round! I hope you decide to give it a try.

Now let's get back to the Plant of the Week, this week Jane wrote about the three beautiful varieties of My Monet® Weigela. Named after my favorite painter!

After the plant of the week post, be sure to check out the information about the brand new Proven Winners® Garden Book. Written by Thomas Christopher and the fabulous Ruth Rogers Clausen, who was one of the very first people I met at my first GWA (now Garden Comm) mixer. I was in the lobby of the Lord Baltimore hotel, feeling quite out of my element and she motioned for me to come over to where she was sitting in a comfy sofa, welcomed me to sit down, introduced herself and said "tell me about you." She made me feel right at home.

Enjoy this week's plant, My Monet® Weigela.


The original My Monet® Weigela is an interesting plant. The variegated foliage will often acquire pink coloration as the season progresses.

My Monet® Sunset weigela
My Monet® 'Sunset' (right) goes in a different direction as its foliage is fiery sunset hues of orange and red.

This year we have a third My Monet® weigela to offer you: My Monet Purple Effect™. As the name implies, this weigela has a purple tone in both the foliage and the flowers.

I think that having the three plants with such different color palettes really suits the name My Monet. One of Claude Monet's most famous works is the series of paintings of Rouen cathedral. It's the same subject, painted multiple times, but in different lights.

My Monet Purple Effect™ weigela
All of the My Monet® Weigela are dwarf plants that can be used more as a low-growing mass planting than in the traditional border filler role that we expect of a weigela. While the original My Monet® and My Monet® 'Sunset' grow 1-1.5' tall and wide, My Monet Purple Effect™ weigela will get a little bigger: 1.5-2.5'.

My Monet Purple Effect™ weigela is also faster growing than the original, and more heat tolerant. It produces purple-pink flowers in spring, and then the variegated foliage stays nice and bright up to frost so you have quite a long season of color.

Hardy into USDA Zone 4, My Monet Purple Effect™ will grow in full sun or partial shade. The original My Monet® is also hardy to USDA Zone 4, but My Monet® 'Sunset' goes into USDA Zone 5.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.

Looking for a good book?

The gardening season is still weeks away for many people, so they must content themselves with planning for the upcoming spring.

While websites are great for learning about new plants, many people still like the feel of a book. There's something relaxing about turning real pages rather than clicking through screens.

Proven Winners® Garden Book is a nice addition to any gardener's library. If you'd like an autographed copy to give to a special gardener in your life, or maybe offer as a door prize at an upcoming event, you can order one here.

Soon enough we'll be able to garden in real life!

February 27, 2019

Last Call for Shrub Madness brackets!


Voting starts Friday! Get in before it's too late! 


The 2018 champ
Zinfin Doll® panicle hydrangea
It's back! For the 6th year, we're celebrating the start of spring with Shrub Madness, the only bracket competition that pits shrub vs. shrub in a no-holds-barred battle for the title of National Champion!

Garden Writers Contest - did you miss this last week?
Of course, there is a Shrub Madness side-contest just for garden writers! Whoever sends me the closest, most accurate bracket will win a landscape-ready plant of their choice from the final four shrubs in the competition. 

To enter, fill out your entire bracket and send me the names of your final four by mail (12601 120th Ave. Grand Haven, MI 49417) or e-mail (natalie at springmeadownursery dot com) by February 28. 

Need a better reason that that? I'll give you three:

  1. It's the only way to win the Shrub Madness Grand Prize.
    Whoever most accurately predicts the competition's outcome will be adding beautiful Floral Four plants (the last four competing shrubs) to their garden this spring. It should be you.
  2. You're better prepared to vote.
    Foliage or flowers? Fragrance or fruit? Classic single blooms or bodacious double? Make the hard decisions now so you're not unprepared when it's time to vote, starting March 1.
  3. It's more fun.
    A little good-natured competition helps get you through the last days of winter. Get your friends involved and compete. Talk plants. Talk trash. Make a wager that involves weeding. 
How to Play:
Visit the website, www.shrubmadness.com; and complete your bracket by TOMORROW, February 28. Every day from March 1 through March 31, 2019, visit ShrubMadness.com to vote your favorite plants through to the next round of the competition. Registration is not necessary just to vote, but you can only win plants if you register.

Even if you have registered for Shrub Madness in the past, you will need to create a new registration this year. We don’t store your information from year to year. Want more info about how to get started? 

What are you waiting for? Register today!


February 21, 2019

Shrub Madness is here!


Move over, basketball. March belongs to gardeners.
The 2018 champ
Zinfin Doll® panicle hydrangea

It's back! For the 6th year, we're celebrating the start of spring with Shrub Madness, the only bracket competition that pits shrub vs. shrub in a no-holds-barred battle for horticultural glory and the title of National Champion! Zinfin Doll® hydrangea took it last year. Who will win this year? You decide.

How to Play:
Visit the website, www.shrubmadness.com; and complete your bracket by February 28. Every day from March 1 through March 31, 2019, visit ShrubMadness.com to vote your favorite plants through to the next round of the competition. Registration is not necessary just to vote, but you can only win plants if you register.

Even if you have registered for Shrub Madness in the past, you will need to create a new registration this year. We don’t store your information from year to year. Want more info about how to get started? 

Watch this nifty video:




What are you waiting for? Oh, I know, your chance to win...good for you for reading to the end!

Garden Writers Contest
Of course, there is a Shrub Madness side-contest just for garden writers! Whoever sends me the closest, most accurate bracket will win a landscape-ready plant of their choice from the final four shrubs in the competition. 

To enter, fill out your entire bracket and send me the names of your final four by mail (12601 120th Ave. Grand Haven, MI 49417) or e-mail (natalie at springmeadownursery dot com) by February 27.

Good luck, garden writers!

February 14, 2019

Natalie's Top 3 Roses for Valentine's Day AND Peppy Le Pom™ Punica


Happy Valentine's Day!

This week Jane writes about an alternative to roses for Valentine's Day, a peppy little pomegranate plant! (Scroll down for the post.) However, consumers will have to wait on this one, it won't be available to retail until 2020.

Until then, a rose never is a bad idea, right? So, just for Valentine's Day, here are my favorite three Proven Winners® ColorChoice® roses:

Oso Easy® Double Pink rose
Oso Easy® Double Pink Rosa 
I fell in love with this one at CAST last year. It is an amazingly prolific bloomer and I love the bright yellow centers on the full, little bubblegum pink flowers. This rose can have up to 10 blooms per stem, so it's always bright and colorful.

I planted quart-sized plants of this rose in my garden last spring and they doubled in size by fall. Plus, it just kept blooming and blooming well past summer. I can't wait to see what they do this year!

It's brand-new at garden centers this year...if you can't find it ask if they can order one for you! When local options fail, you can also get it online on the Proven Winners website.

Ringo™ Rosa
Ringo™ Rosa
I know, we talked about this one just last week, but look at it! It's ridiculous how gorgeous it is. Okay, you can't get it until 2020 but plan a spot for it in your garden because this one will stop passersby dead in their tracks.

At Last® rose
Finally, you can't ignore the 2019 Proven Winners Rose of the Year, At Last®.  

This rose has a beautiful upright habit and the soft, apricot-colored blooms are super-full and heavenly scented. Yes, this is unique for a shrub rose. Most are lovely, and the pollinators still flock to them, but the blooms have no scent at all. If you grow tea roses you'll get fragrance, but they susceptible to diseases like black spot and powdery mildew. But because At Last is shrub rose, (and a PWCC rose) it resistant to the typical diseases that befall hybrid tea roses. Plus, it's self-cleaning! When the bloom is spent, the petals simply drop to the ground so more flowers can take their place. So, if I can get a sweet-scented, fully petaled rose that is less work, I'm all in.

 So that's it...my Valentine's Day rose roundup!  See you next week - Natalie 


Not your typical Valentine's Day gift

Peppy Le Pom™ ornamental pomegranate
It's Valentine's Day, and you shouldn't be thinking about roses. The perfect gifty plant is Punica, a.k.a. the pomegranate.

Yes, the same plant that your health nut cousin is always talking about has some serious ornamental appeal, too.

Peppy Le Pom™ Punica is a very cute little dwarf plant that's ideal for gifting. It has fun orange flowers that will produce tiny pomegranate fruits. They are edible, but the primary appeal of the plant is the flowers and the compact habit.

Why pomegranates?

The pomegranate is already a traditional gift in many cultures. It's presented at Rosh Hashanah, they are used to celebrate the Greek Orthodox New Year, and they make a great Thanksgiving centerpiece, too.

Don't just take our word for it: Peppy Le Pom™ was recently awarded the Direct Gardening Association's Green Thumb award.

Peppy Le Pom™ Punica is hardy to about 40F, so for most of us, it's strictly an indoor plant. But if you're in a mild climate you can expect it to get 3-4' tall and wide. It will want full sun.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.

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