New Plants for 2015
High Country Gardens has introduced its 2015 plant varieties that thrive in a wide variety of growing conditions. “The plants we offer celebrate the concept that landscape and garden plants should reflect the natural beauty and growing conditions of each local climate,” says David Salman, chief horticulturist. Here are five that work well in San Diego.
Salvia Sylvestris ‘Little Night’ (Little Night European Sage)
In late spring, an eye-catching display of dark purple-violet flower spikes bloom over blue-green mounding foliage. Reblooming in late summer, the plant grows readily in any type of soil. It is long-lived, water-wise, and heat and cold tolerant. Its small size makes it useful along paths and driveways, at the front of perennial beds and in rock gardens. It grows to 10 inches tall by 14 to 16 inches wide.
Agasache rupestris ‘Glowing Embers’ (Glowing Embers Licorice Mint Hyssop)
Blooming in smoldering orange-red colors from midsummer to early fall, this selection is aromatic, with a spicy, licorice-mint scent. Hummingbirds adore the nectar-rich flowers that contrast nicely with the thin, fine-textured, pewter gray foliage. It grows best in well-drained soil with heat and full sun. Its mature size is 24 to 26 inches tall by 16 to 20 inches wide.
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Wee One’ (Wee One Dwarf English Lavender)
With small heads of clear blue flowers and dark blue calyxes, this slow-growing little beauty is great for small spaces, rock gardens and knot gardens. It doesn’t need much trimming to keep it tidy. In flower, the mature plant is only about 10 inches in height. ‘Wee One’ is very xeric and has excellent heat tolerance. It will reach mature size by the end of the third growing season.
Digitalis ‘Honey Trumpet’ (Honey Trumpet Foxglove)
An impressive perennial, ‘Honey Trumpet’ has 2-foot tall spikes of large, nodding, bell-shaped flowers the color of amber and honey. Handsome, shiny green leaves radiate out from multiple low-growing rosettes that generate new flower spikes all summer long. It grows best in a compost-enriched garden loam with good drainage and full to partial sunlight. This is a great plant for attracting bumblebees and other pollinators.
Delosperma dyeri ‘Red Mountain Flame’ (Flame Ice Plant)
The large, multicolored flowers of this flame ice plant are ablaze in shades of orange, red and scarlet surrounding a magenta eye. This rugged ice plant, which seems to tolerate dryness a little better than many, blooms in late spring. The tight, flat-growing mat of bright green foliage is evergreen, which gives the plant good winter interest. Use this ice plant in fire-resistant landscaping. It grows 1 inch tall by 15 to 18 inches wide.
David Salman, Chief Horticulturist
High Country Gardens
800-925-9387
highcountrygardens.com
