New from Monrovia, in garden centers this coming spring
Lantana 'Mary Ann'
I love the description of this evergreen shrub lantana, which is said to be very cold-hardy, as far north as zone 7. So I could even try it here in Washington DC or at my place in Woods Hole, MA in a protected location. It's a small shrub, just 30 inches tall and wide, with multi-color flowers of orange, pink, and yellow. And, like its annual cousins, it blooms all summer and late into the fall. It might go very well in the front of a perennial border, or even in a large container. Monrovia is also carrying another evergreen lantana, about the same size, developed by Dr. Michael Dirr. It's called Lantana 'Chapel Hill Yellow,' -- hardy to zone 7 -- with solid yellow flowers and dark green leaves. It sounds like a winner as well.
Magical® Fantasy Weigela (Weigela florida 'Kolsunn')
Here's an alternative to some of the other new weigelas with variegated leaves. This one was introduced by Peter Kolster, who breeds cut flowers in the Netherlands. This weigela has broad white edging around the leaves, which becomes greener as the season progresses. The flowers are solid pink and very prolific. The shrub is hardy in zones 4-8 and reaches a size of about 3-4 feet high and wide. Full sun for best blooms.
Angel's Blush®Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata 'Taizo')
There's always room for another flowering cherry, and this one is nice because of its small size -- just 6 feet high and wide. Pink buds open to double white flowers, with up to 30 petals per bloom. The foliage is bright green, and the tree is hardy zones 5-9. The cultivar was discovered in a garden in Glendora, CA, in the southern part of the state.
Baby Pete Agapanthus (Agapanthus orientalis 'Baby Pete')
This lovely little agapanthus does not produce seeds, so yes, it blooms much longer than other cultivars. It's also quite small, flowering on stems that are just 9-10 inches long. Violet-blue flowers appear on stems with a bluish-stripe, making the plant very striking. It takes sun to part shade and is hardy zones 8-11. Sure makes all of us jealous who are further north, but then it could always be grown as an annual. It would be great along a path, in containers, or in a mass planting near an entryway.
(images: courtesy Monrovia)
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