Fresh plant ideas for the garden

by: GardenWise |

Use the cold weather months to dream up the new plants you'll introduce to your garden this year. Here, some ideas to get you started...

The break from the chores and delights of the garden during the cold months of winter seems to translate into renewed vigour come the first signs of spring. And with that enthusiasm often comes the wish to introduce new plants to the garden. Nurseries, growers and seed companies have many new introductions and variations on old favourites to attract your interest this time of year.

Consider some of these plants for your garden.

cattleyas

These new compact cattleyas require high light and warm temperatures. Flowers are in warm shades of yellow, orange and red. – Brookside Greenhouses Ltd.

Coreopsis rosea 'Sweet Dreams'

Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ is a wonderful border plant featuring single five-centimetre blooms of cherry-pink with white tips. – Van Noort Bulb Co. (PHOTO Florissa)

Rhododendron minus

The delicate pink funnel-shaped flowers of Rhododendron minus contrast beautifully with the deep green of the foliage. – Wrenhaven Nursery

Campanula porscharskyana 'Blue Waterfall'

Campanula poscharskyana ‘Blue Waterfall’ is a new selection of the Serbian bellflower with loads of starry violet-blue bells on trailing stems. – Heritage Perennials/Valleybrook Gardens

Hy Darcy

Unique colouring and impressive size make this dahlia special. The 18-centimetre blooms of ‘Hy Darcy’ are bright yellow blending with pink variations. – Ferncliff Gardens

William Shakespeare 2000

‘William Shakespeare 2000’ is a shrub rose of rich velvety crimson. A repeat-flowering rose with strong fragrance and excellent disease resistance. – Old Rose Nursery (PHOTO David Austin Roses)

'Hot Cocoa'

‘Hot Cocoa™’ is a smoky chocolate-orange floribunda with ruffled fragrant flowers. Natural disease resistance and easy to grow. – Pan American Nursery Products

Calla lillies 'Anneke'

This stunning calla lily is ‘Anneke.’ – Veseys

Carex 'Lemon Zest'

Carex ‘Lemon Zest’ is a brilliant gold foliage plant that tolerates moderate shade and prefers even moisture. – Terra Nova Nurseries

Calibracoa Mini Famous™ 'Peach'

Calibracoa Mini Famous™ ‘Peach’ is an early-flowering calibracoa with a trendy colour that mixes well with other shades, but is bright enough to stand out on its own. – Nordic Nurseries

Oglevee 'Patriot Cranberry Red'

This Oglevee ‘Patriot Cranberry Red’ zonal geranium has magenta undertones that add depth to the already brilliant flower colour. – Clearview Horticultural Products

'Patty Coles'

'Patty Coles’ is an ivory-cream bloom with a deep-red eye. This daylily reblooms in warm fall weather. – Erikson Daylilies

Gentiana scabra 'Blue'

Gentiana scabra ‘Blue’ has true blue trumpet-shaped flowers that make a brilliant late display. – Patio Perennials®

Clematis ‘Kivso’ Piilu™

Compact and heavy-flowering Clematis ‘Kivso’ Piilu™ is one of the Kivistik Collection of clematis from Estonia. – Pride of Place

Mimosa Kiss

‘Mimosa Kiss’ is a vigorous-growing miniature rose with a soft buttery-yellow flower, tipped in red. The intensity of the colour changes with temperature and time of the season. – Select Roses

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’ has light-yellow tips on golden petals that encircle a green centre and make this variety ideal in any sunny garden location. – Dominion Seeds

Dahlia 'Devotion'

Dahlia ‘Devotion’ is a uniquely coloured dahlia that has the look of a late autumn sunset and will appeal to the “natural-look” enthusiast. – Botanus Inc

Angelonia Angelface™

Angelonia Angelface™ has beautiful shape and structure and will flower well into the fall. The series includes blue, white and a blue bicolour. – Proven Winners

Papaver orientale ‘Pinnacle’

Papaver orientale ‘Pinnacle’ produces large robust blooms edged with a wide band of orange colour. Seedpods provide added interest during winter months. – McConnell Nurseries