Every year we get excited about all the new varieties out there in the plant world. Here are some of the ones you’ll see at The Growing Place this spring. Opening day is just around the corner on March 30. See you soon!

Annuals

Calibrachoa hybrid ‘Superbells’ Series – Double Love Swept

Double Love Swept has us head over heels gazing at its deep pink double flowers finely lined in white. Cascading as a spiller in containers, the semi-upright, heat tolerant calibrachoa blooms small, abundant petunia-like flowers all summer long without deadheading. Hummingbirds are attracted to this pollinator plant. Regular fertilizing in average soil will keep Double Love Swept going all season in full sun to part shade.

Perennials

Hybrid Tall Cushion Phlox – Phlox hybrid ‘Cloudburst’

Phlox ‘Cloudburst’ features early-blooming, lavender star-shaped flowers with hot pink eyes all summer long. Its small, narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season. TGP Perennial Manager Kyle recommends this drought and pollution tolerant Proven Winner plant. “Phlox ‘Cloudburst’ kept blooming when we trialed samples last year.” Phlox likes moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade to grow 18-24 inches high by 3-4 feet wide. Good for cutting, fragrant phlox will attract butterflies and hummingbirds for your enjoyment.

Trees

Paperbark Maple ‘Cinnamon Girl’ – Acer griseum x Acer maximowiczianum ‘Molly Fordham’

This paperbark maple is an ornamental deciduous tree known for its rich cinnamon colored bark. Growing to 30 feet tall at maturity with a spread of 20 feet and an upright oval shape, the small paperbark maple is a great accent tree. Providing 4 season interest, the bark exfoliates as the maple ages, making a show in winter and early
spring against the contrasting white snow. In spring and summer, the trifoliate leaves stay dark green as the maple is vigorous and heat-tolerant. The multi-stemmed paperbark provides shade during sunny days and turns crimson red in fall. Growing best in full sun to part shade with average to moist soil, paperbark maples grow at a slow rate and can be shaped to have a high canopy if planted near a walkway.

Shrubs

Straight Talk Common Privet – Ligustrum vulgare ‘Swift’

Need a vertical accent for tight spaces? Straight Talk™ Common Privet is a narrow, upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub. With its columnar growth habit, Privets are great for privacy screening and hedges. At maturity, this privet can reach 12’x3’, and handles pruning without a problem. Privets grow fast in full sun to partial shade, with white blooms in June to attract birds and butterflies. With average, well-drained soil, Straight Talk is drought tolerant and cold hardy once established.