Welcome to our lists of new plants that have been added to our website at various times after January 1 of the current year. Plant Delights Nursery has major new plant releases twice per year, coinciding with our spring and fall catalogs (January 1 and August 1). These new plants can be seen in the ‘New Plants for 2011’ page, but we also add a few new plants to the website here throughout the year for our open houses or in the case of small trial runs. We notify customer of these through our e-newsletter or you can check here often to see the latest and greatest new plant releases as soon as they are posted.
New plants or plants that have been absent for at least 6 years,
are indicated throughout the catalog by:
This beautiful, but slowly offsetting selection of the Mexican Agave americana makes a 2' tall x 3' wide clump, with each wide blue leaf highlighted with a wide central stripe of white. Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' is often used as a specimen container plant by gardeners in colder zones. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Ajuga 'Binparcol'...a really silly name for a great groundcover, comes from the UK's Mike Tristram, who named this tissue-culture mutation of Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'. The leaves of Ajuga 'Binparcol', which appears to be a tetraploid, are slightly larger and thicker than Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' with a wider creamy white border and a more compact growth habit than its parent. Expect a 4" tall x 2.5' wide clump in 5 years, topped each spring with short spikes of small lavender flowers...attractive to hummingbirds. Moist, but well-drained soils are ideal. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Alstroemeria 'Zaprifabi') Alstroemeria 'Princess Fabiana' from Holland's Van Zanten Plants is one of the standouts in our heat-tolerant alstroemeria trials. Alstroemeria 'Princess Fabiana' is a lovely white-bordered sport of Alstroemeria 'Princess Paola' (aka Stapripal). The 10" tall dwarf clumps, which were actually bred for the container market, are topped starting in early summer with creamy white flowers with burgundy markings. When summer temperatures rise, flowering slows until the weather cools. As is so often the case, the plants were given nonsensical names, so we use their illegal trade names as the cultivar names. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Alstroemeria 'Zaprimat') Alstroemeria 'Princess Mathilde' is another of the rock garden alstroemeria hybrids that stood out in our trials. Alstroemeria 'Princess Mathilde', discovered as a sport of Alstroemeria 'Princess Zavina', forms a 10" tall x 18" wide patch topped in summer with large peachy-orange flowers flecked with burgundy...quite showy. While the princess series Alstroemeria selections we offer are good in hot climates, they are that much better in areas with cool summers. If they aren't hardy in your zone, alstroemerias make fantastic summer potted plants for the patio. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Alstroemeria 'Staprioxa') Alstroemeria 'Princess Oxana' is another of the rock garden alstroemeria hybrids that has stood out in our trials for both heat and cold tolerance. This 2002 introduction from Holland's Van Zanten Plants forms a compact clump 10" tall x 18" wide, topped starting in mid-summer with large rosy-red flowers, highlighted by a central yellow band and brown bands in the background. For us, flowering slows during the hottest part of the summer, but resumes when the weather cools...great in the rock garden or in colorful summer containers. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are truly thrilled to be able to introduce the latest hybrid from Ellen Hornig of Seneca Hill Nursery, that she describes as her best arisaema introduction ever. Ellen describes it as "a real drama queen" ..."sort of Arisaema 'Perfect Wave' on steroids"... "bigger, more vigorous, better substance, and a strong rippled/crisped edge". The 30" tall thick stalk is topped with a glaucous green radial leaf with heavily rippled edges, and adorned with a wide central stripe. Arisaema consanguineum does not grow vigorously in deep shade, so a very open canopy or a few hours of morning sun is preferable. I'm not sure what else I add, other than to christen this the Lady Gaga of Jack-in-the-pulpits.
Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This evergreen clump-forming wild ginger from central Japan has been quite durable in our garden. Each plant will offer different leaf patterns, but the most common is a green leaf with a wide central stripe of silver. The unusual tri-lobed glossy brown flowers occur beneath the leaves in March (NC). We have found this to be a good grower in our trials, forming a 1' wide clump. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Aspidistra elatior 'Spek-tacular' is a stunning new selection of cast iron plant, purchased at a flower market in Sichuan, China by our friend, Linda Guy and first introduced commercially in 2012 by Plant Delights. Aspidistra 'Spek-tacular' makes an attractive clump of 40" long dark green leaves with arching tips. Each evergreen leaf is adorned with the most abundant yellow spotting of any clone of Aspidistra elatior that we've ever seen. The evergreen 30" tall clumps look great all season, adding a wonderful bold texture to the woodland garden. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This stunning astilbe first appeared as a mutation on the cultivar Astilbe 'Betty Cuperus'. This Astilbe thunbergii hybrid is truly unique in the crowded world of astilbes. The clumps of lacy green basal foliage are topped in mid-spring with well-branched 3' tall panicles of pink flowers with cascading side shoots that give a wonderful weeping effect. Unlike most astilbes which barely hang on in our hot, humid climate, Astilbe 'Straussenfeder' has thrived. As with all astilbes, moist soils give the best results. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Baptisia 'Blueberry Sundae' is a 2012 release from the breeding work of Walters Gardens' Hans Hansen that includes both Baptisia australis and the more compact Baptisia minor. Baptisia 'Blueberry Sundae' makes a refined 3' tall x 3' wide clump, topped in late April (NC) with 3' tall spikes of lavender blue flowers...a much improved Baptisia australis look-alike. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This 2011 Hans Hansen introduction makes a well-branched 3' tall x 3' wide clump, topped in late April (NC) with flower stalks adorned with dark mahogany buds that open to cinnamon colored flowers, highlighted by yellow keels. As with all baptisia, its drought tolerance and deer-resistance are legendary. This is a wonderfully vigorous hybrid that you're sure to enjoy. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This compact 2011 Hans Hansen introduction (a Baptisia minor hybrid) forms a 30" tall x 2' wide clump topped in late April (NC) with spikes of black-purple buds that mature to brown...the darkest flower of any baptisia so far. Baptisia 'Dutch Chocolate' is an amazing color breakthrough in this wonderful group of US native, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant perennials. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' is a yummy 2011 Hans Hansen hybrid that forms a 3' tall x 3' wide vigorous clump, topped with dark purple spikes, adorned with contrasting large dark yellow flowers. You'll love this very vigorous, attractive selection! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This unique form of the hardy ground orchid comes from Japan's famed Gotemba Nursery. The typically long green pleated leaves are streaked with gold, and like the species, the clumps are topped in May and June with floral spikes of terminal dark purple flowers...an incredible color combination. Bletilla striata 'Gotemba Stripes' fares well in both dry (once established) and moist soils. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This bizarre selection of the Japanese ground orchid, Bletilla striata, makes a nice deciduous clump of pleated green leaves, topped in late April (NC) with narrow flower stalks. Each stalk is adorned with dark purple flowers that each have three lips instead of the normal one...sort of like you would look after a boxing match with Mike Tyson. This is truly one of the strangest mutations I've ever seen on a hardy perennial. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Borinda macclureana is the latest addition to our widening selection of clumping bamboos, originating from a Keith Rushford collection from 11,000' elevation in Tibet. We planted our first trial plants in 2007, and so far, so good...despite reports that it wouldn't withstand our brutally hot and humid summers. Our plants in full sun for a few hours each day actually look far better than our clump in shade. Borinda macclureana makes a 20' tall, slightly arching clump with 10" long leaves along the top of the purple stems. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We love this plant! Brunnera macrophylla 'King's Ransom' is a white-edged sport of the wildly popular Brunnera 'Jack Frost', discovered at Terra Nova Nurseries. For us, Brunnera 'King's Ransom' has proven dramatically more heat-tolerant than Brunnera 'Variegata' or 'Hadspen Cream'. The compact 1' tall x 1' wide deciduous clump is composed of heart-shaped leaves of silvery-green, highlighted by dark green veins and a creamy border. In April (NC), the clumps are topped by short spikes of tiny pure blue (not to be confused with horticultural blue which is actually purple) flowers...absolutely stunning! A slightly moist, well-drained soil will produce the best results. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Buddleia NC2006-10) Buddleia 'Ice Chip' is the latest in a series of compact butterfly bushes from NCSU's Dr. Dennis Werner. Buddleia 'Ice Chip' is a complex hybrid involving Buddleia davidii, Buddleia lindleyana, Buddleia fallowiana, and Buddleia globosa. Because of this complex parentage, Buddleia 'Ice Chip' has shown itself to be both male and female sterile. The result is an amazingly floriferous groundcover butterfly bush that grows to only 2' tall x 4' wide in 3 years, topped all summer with short white floral spikes...fantastic! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
(aka: Canna D12-75) Our friends at Yucca Do Nursery discovered this amazing natural canna hybrid (Canna glauca x Canna indica) in 2001 along a stream in the northern Mexican mountains. Canna 'Tama-Tulipa' is a giant in the garden, reaching 8' tall for us. Because of the Canna glauca background, it's quite stoloniferous, forming a large 10' wide patch in 8 years. The clumps are topped in summer with small, but dazzling brilliant red flowers, surrounded by a bright yellow border...very cool! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
Cardiocrinum cordatum var. glehnii is a Japanese version of the Himalayan Cardiocrinum giganteum, except much hardier (fine in Ontario, Canada). Cardiocrinum cordatum v. glehnii makes a green skunk cabbage-like rosette for three years, before producing a 6' tall flowering stalk, lined with tubular, lightly fragrant green flowers. After flowering, the bulb divides into small pieces and starts the four year process over again. Slightly moist, but well-drained soils are best. Cardiocrinum cordatum var. glehnii has thrived for us despite some of our hottest summers on record. Planting these is a cardio workout that even I could enjoy. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
.jpg "Epimedium wushanense (Wushan Fairy Wings)")
.jpg "Buddleia 'Ice Chip' PPAF (Ice Chip Butterfly Bush)")
