2013 new plants: Introductions are sure to thrill gardeners

As plants parade into garden centers, you're faced with decisions. The well of new annuals, vegetables, perennials and shrubs is bottomless. You can't possibly have them all, so the pleasant problem is finding those you can't live without.

It's hard. Breeders bring in newbies by the thousands. Plants arrive from Europe or come to light in gardens, parks and even deserted lots. Collectors make discoveries in the wild; nursery owners find unusual crosses growing right in between the other pots on their grounds. Everyone is excited to share their finds with you.

We have every confidence you'll make the right choices, but we're hoping my picks will help. I gave precedence to plants from Oregon sources. The stories -- like Sean Hogan of Cistus Nursery finding a cactus hanging from a cliff in eastern Oregon and the love behind 'Licorice Candy' agastache -- swayed me. New colors such as the melon shade of Terra Nova's 'Supreme Cantaloupe' echinacea persuaded me. Increased bloom time, better form and hardiness all came into the mix. In the end, though, it's up to you.

 
KYM POKORNY'S TOP PICKS

'Licorice Candy' agastache:

A special plant, not only because of its beauty. 'Licorice Candy' was raised by Andy and Melissa Van Hevelingen,  who are donating proceeds from the plant to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of Melissa's uncle, Orlin Roth, and Andy's mother, Frances Van Hevelingen. (Nurseries listed below are doing the same.)

Unlike many new agastache cultivars, this one has proven reliable in even the worst Northwest winters. Throughout summer and fall the 3- to 4-foot-tall perennial holds up foot-long flower heads with burnt-coral buds opening to rosy-purple tubular flowers that whorl around the stem. If you want hummingbirds in the garden, you want 'Licorice Candy.' Nice to know, though, that deer don't find it so attractive.

The edible flowers taste like licorice candy and can be added to fruit salad or desserts or just popped in your mouth as a natural breath freshener. Leaves, which also have an anise flavor, can be used in soups or dressings or as a tarragon substitute.

Enjoys full sun, well-drained soil; needs little water once established. Hardy to Zone 6.

Available at:

, 22999 S.W. Newland Road, Willsonville; 503-638-0387

, 27731 N.W. Reeder Road (Sauvie Island); 503-621-1457

, 5470 Highway 20, Corvallis; 541-753-6601

, 20300 N.W. Watson Road, Scappoose; 503-543-7474

5050 S.E. Stark St.; 503-231-5050

, 13936 S.E. Division St.; 503-761-7757

A NOTE ABOUT FINDING PLANTS

Many of the featured plants are available from the nursery that introduced them. Some are grown by wholesalers that sell to garden centers around the Northwest and beyond. It's best to call before going to a nursery or garden center to find out whether they have what you're looking for in stock. If they don't, ask if they can order it for you.

We've broken the plants into two lists. One is of plants available through Willamette Valley retail or mail-order nurseries that sell their new plants directly to the public; the other is nurseries that supply garden centers.

PICKS FROM NURSERIES THAT SELL DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC

Mail order (in Ohio); 800-852-5243

Black Eyed Angels' delphinium:

If there's a symbol of English cottage gardens, it's delphiniums. Tall and statuesque, they are the queens of the perennial border. The romantic flowers of new 'Black Eyed Angels' from Bluestone Perennials excel in mixed beds, planted along a fence or massed for high impact. Semi-double blooms with a dramatic black center or "eye." Goes with anything, perhaps joining a blue salvia like 'Black and Blue,' or with Veronica 'Crater Lake Blue,' or fronted by award-winning Geranium 'Rozanne.' Needs lots of sun, regular fertilizer and water to grow best. The sturdy, 3- to 4-foot-tall perennial doesn't need staking. Good as a cut flower and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Hardy to Zone 3.

Retail and mail order: 22711 N.W. Gillihan Road (Sauvie Island); 503-621-2233

Buxus sempervirens 'Golden Swirl' (boxwood):

The Cistus description says it all: "A collection from a lone surviving shrub in the shade of an ancient pecan in a North Portland 'garden,' this 8-foot boxwood has a tall, rather narrow habit, with upright branchlets and a pleasing creamy-gold variegation throughout the leaves. Drought tolerant and vigorous. You should have one. We would like to see it used as good garden furniture. Considering its 'habitat' it must be very drought tolerant and, from the original plant's appearance, able to withstand occasional pruning with chain saws." Hardy to Zone 6, at least.

Opuntia polyacantha

'Imnaha Blue' (prickly pear cactus): A clone of a common native of Western drylands, this Cistus introduction was found weeping off a cliff in Imnaha Canyon in northeastern Oregon. Gray-blue pads are sparse of spines and will spread into mats 4 to 12 inches tall and up to several feet wide. Soft yellow flowers in early summer. Ordinary cactus requirements: sun, lean and well-drained soil, and little or no summer water. Hardy to Zone 4.

Mail order (in New Mexico): 800-925-9387

'Winky Red & White'

columbine (

Aquilegia

): Heavy-blooming, dwarf columbine with half-and-half magenta and white flowers with faces tipped up to the sky rather than dangling. Blooms profusely from late spring into early summer. Nice, compact plant that gets about 1 foot tall and wide. A low-maintenance plant for sun to partial shade with regular water. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Deer resistant. Deadhead to get another flush of flowers. Self-sows, but not overwhelmingly. Hardy to Zone 3.

Retail and mail order: 20300 N.W. Watson Road, Scappoose; 503-543-7474

'Eve' hydrangea:

A semi-double lacecap with lavender pink to blue flowers that sometimes appear fully double. Rose-colored stems add another dimension. Compact, rounded shrub about 3 feet tall and wide is covered with blooms all summer. If grown in the sun, foliage will turn shades of rose and gold in fall. The highest bidder in an auction won the opportunity to christen this new hydrangea and named it after her mother, Eve. Plant in sun to part shade. Hardy to Zone 5.

'Coral Flair' penstemon:

A new penstemon from Joy Creek Nursery that certainly has flair. Extra-large flowers start with coral-pink lips underlined with a raspberry star and finally a white throat. Often up to 40 flowers per stem, blooming summer into fall. Like all garden penstemons, this one wants good drainage, full sun and occasional summer water. Perennial plant grows 2 1/2 feet tall and wide. Hardy to Zone 7.

7185 Lakeside Drive N.E., Brooks; 503-463-9615

'Rocket's Red Glare' hosta:

An open mound of thick, smooth and shiny green leaves with rippled margins that contrast with the prominent red at the base and on up the stem. Lavender-striped flowers in late summer attract hummingbirds. The medium-size hosta (15 inches tall and 30 inches wide) fits into any style garden, from cottage to container. Plant in full to afternoon shade. Hardy to Zone 3.

'Tropical Dancer' hosta:

Impressive clump of heart-shaped, dark green leaves with wide, creamy white margins and pie-crust ruffled edges. A plant with nice substance for a bed in partial sun to full shade. An excellent grower with light lavender flowers on tall stems in early summer. Wants a home in partial sun to full shade. Grows 14 inches tall by 26  inches wide. Hardy to Zone 3.

1114 S.E. Clay St. (opened June 6); 503-236-8563

Cistus x pagei (rock rose):

One of the loveliest of the rock roses, blooming happily for more than two months, starting in late spring. The flowers shatter by day's end, but not to worry, fat buds open continuously into 3-inch-wide flowers of the palest pink. Just shy of 3 feet tall and wide, Cistus x pagei forms a dense evergreen shrub for full sun, well-drained soil and little water once established. Leaves emit a sweet aroma on warm days. Hardy to Zone 7.

Halimium 'Sarah':

A different kind of rock rose, this Halimium named 'Sarah' is about as bright and cheerful as it gets. Each of the outrageously sunny yellow petals is painted with maroon at the base. Evergreen gray foliage is a fine foil for the masses of flowers that appear from early May through July. At 30 inches tall and a little wider, it's a shrub that works for a small or large garden. Needs well-drained soil and is drought tolerant in the hottest sun. Hardy to Zone 7.

PICKS FROM NURSERIES THAT SELL TO GARDEN CENTERS

BALL HORTICULTURAL CO

.

Look for the Ball Horticultural Co. tag

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Pistachio':

A mophead with multicolored flowers -- fuchsia petals with green tips, purply blue centers and little dots of white stamens. Plants are a sturdy 3 feet tall and wide, maybe a little more. The leaves are big enough and dark enough to do their job as backdrop to the large flowers. 'Pistachio' is one of the newer repeat-blooming hydrangeas, which means the flowers make an appearance from spring to fall. Hardy to Zone 5.

BLOOMING NURSERY

Look for burgundy pots at garden centers.

'Marilyn Monroe' hebe:

Part of the Hollywood series, 'Marilyn Monroe' lives up to its namesake as a sexy star in your garden or a pot -- and not in black or white. New leaves are born purple and age to olive gray edged with a thin line of creamy white. Shapely flower spikes arise in a deep shade of rose-purple and lighten to amethyst. Blooms late spring through summer and sometimes makes another star appearance in fall. Butterflies love it. A 2-by-2-foot evergreen shrub that asks for sun and good drainage. Hardy to Zone 7b.

Gaillardia 'Galya Coral Spark':

A blanket flower that shows off a whole new look. Pompom clusters of tubular coral flowers with ivory tips shake their thing all summer long. An easy and fast-growing variety that likes it on the dry side. Regular water can make it a little floppy. Grows to 18 inches tall by 28 inches wide and is just fine in containers. Hardy to Zone 8.

FALL CREEK FARM & NURSERY

Look for BrazelBerries tag

Raspberry Shortcake' raspberry:

Bred by Fall Creek Farm & Nursery as part of the new BrazelBerries collection, which includes 'Jellybean' and 'Peach Sorbet' container-size blueberries. A game changer in so many ways: Thornless; doesn't need a trellis; self-pollinating so you only need one plant; small enough to grow in a pot, but pumps out the berries. First time you can bring a raspberry onto the patio. Dwarf plants are 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Needs full sun, good drainage, neutral pH soil and regular water. The one-of-a-kind raspberry is being introduced by Monrovia. Hardy to Zone 5.

Find retailers on website.

'Pumpkin' hypericum (Hypericum inodorum 'Kolmapuki'):

Hypericum is prized for its berries, which add color and texture to bouquets. The orange berries of new 'Pumpkin' fill that bill with more than enough impact to go around. A nicely compact, rust-resistant shrub to 30 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 30 inches wide that fluffs with bright yellow flowers in spring, followed by large clusters of pumpkin-colored berries. Plant in full sun to part shade. Will make a nice specimen plant, or use in a swath for real impact. Hardy to Zone 5.

'Hawaii' hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus 'Mingrand'):

Though it looks tropical, this hibiscus with true blue flowers is hardy down to minus 15 degrees. A First Editions introduction that joins white-flowered 'Bali; white and pink 'Fiji'; and 'Tahiti, a pink, purple and red variety. This perennial makes a big statement at 5 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 7 feet wide. Blooms July through September. Especially dramatic when several are planted together. Plant in full sun and see how easy it is to grow. Hardy to Zone 5.

Find a retailer on website

'Feelin' Sunny' deodar cedar:

You might be familiar with deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) as a tree, a big one that easily tops 100 feet. This one, introduced for 2013 by Monrovia, is a fraction of the size, but with twice the punch. Though only 2 to 4 feet tall, 'Feelin' Sunny' spreads out to 6 glorious feet. The color alone sets this chartreuse dwarf conifer apart. Loves full sun and, after the first year, doesn't need much water. Fertilize in spring, and that's it. Hardy to Zone 7.

Find a retailer on website

'Blue My Mind' dwarf morning glory (Evolvulus):

A new annual that looks perfect in a hanging basket or spilling over the edge of a container. Trails up to 25 inches. Full sun and plenty of water on sunny days. The foliage is a nice silvery color, but you won't see much of it as flowers cover it from spring to fall. Annual in our climate.

SKAGIT GARDENS

Look for Skagit Gardens tag

Helenium

'Short 'n' Sassy':

More than a short Helenium, this brand-new sneezeweed, which was discovered in a bed at Skagit Gardens, starts blooming one to two weeks earlier than others and continues without taking a breath until late fall. As new flowers emerge, they open above the spent blooms, so the plant looks tidy even without deadheading. Bright orange and gold flowers with a chocolate brown cone seem to glow. Dwarf plant from 12 to 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide. Attractive to bees and butterflies. A good cut flower. Needs full sun, good drainage, regular water, little fertilizer. Hardy to Zone 4.

'Beyond Blue' fescue (Festuca glauca):

The claim to fame of this new blue fescue from Skagit Gardens is the staying power of the intense, powder blue color well into fall. Doesn't brown out in the summer as 'Elijah Blue' tends to do. The delicate-looking but tough ornamental grass grows 9 to 12 inches high and 18  inches wide. Upright, showy blue-green flowers. Great for massing. Easy to grow in a sunny spot. Hardy to Zone 4.

Find a retailer on website

'Desert Black' sedum:

A fast-growing new sedum -- one of the three-plant Desert series from Terra Nova Nurseries -- that is nice and full with strong branches so it doesn't fall apart in the middle. Black foliage, which makes an appearance in spring and stays dark well into summer, is drama personified. Unlike some sedums with washed-out flowers, this 8-by-11-inch mound blooms with deep rose flowers in August and September. Full sun and well-drained soil are a must. Drought tolerant. Hardy to Zone 4.

'Supreme Cantaloupe' echinacea:

Cut open a cantaloupe and you'll agree the newest color in the echinacea world really is the color of a melon. One of the Supreme series bred by Terra Nova Nurseries and introduced by Blooms of Bressingham. The strong stems hold up double flowers that start out with a large, dark orange cone that opens up into a big fluff ball. Flowers surface in July and last through August. The plant grows up to 30 inches tall. Prefers full sun and some water. Other reasons to like it: Attracts butterflies, cuts well for bouquets and is fragrant. Hardy to Zone 4.

VEGETABLES

I can't do it, but if I had to give one type of plants the edge for the most exciting advancements, it would be edibles. All of these have a good reason to be on my list. I'm especially enamored with the Lunchbox peppers, the gorgeous Salanova lettuce mix and healthful Indigo tomatoes.

Find retail locations at website:

'Indigo Apple' tomato:

One of the Indigo series of blue tomatoes that were bred for their healthy, high-antioxidant content by Oregon State University breeders. There are no others like them. The first, 'Indigo Rose,' came to the market last year and was so late ripening that some people were disappointed. Log House Plants is growing eight new ones, including 'Apple, 'Kumquat,' 'Starburst' and 'Blue Berries,' which are much earlier. 'Apple' is indeterminate and has 2- to 4-ounce fruits that are nearly black on the top with rosy undersides and red flesh. High yield. Provide a cage or trellis. 70-80 days from transplant to harvest.

are various sizes, both fruit and plant; different colors; some indeterminate, some determinate. All are highly ornamental. Brand-new this year, so you may not find them all in the same place.

Lunchbox sweet peppers:

New miniature peppers so sweet you'll pop them into your mouth -- or at least eat them in a couple of bites. No slicing or chopping needed. Good for cooking, too. Tons of the 2- to 3-inch fruits mature from green to red on tall, strong plants. Also, orange and yellow varieties. All three are beautiful in the garden. 55 days from planting to turn green; 75 to red.

'Redventure' celery:

A big, strong celery that provides a continual harvest of stalks in pretty shades of burgundy, red and pink, all with green foliage. Just keep picking the outside stalks as needed. Bred by Frank Morton of Shoulder to Shoulder Farm in Philomath. 100 to 110 days from transplant to harvest. Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.

'Mexican Sour Gherkin' cucumber:

A rediscovered heirloom with darling little gherkin-style cucumbers that look like teaspoon-size watermelons. Produces prodigious amounts of fruit that fall off the vine when ripe and have a sweet and sour flavor with a tangy hint of citrus. Use in salads or for pickling. The 1-inch cucumbers are delicious in salads or pickled. Pretty plants can be grown trellised in a flower garden or cascading from a hanging basket. 70 days from transplant to harvest.

Salanova lettuce mix:

Called the convenience lettuce because it forms large heads that fall apart into instant salad when you cut them at the base. Several different kinds, including butterhead, frisée and oakleaf red and green lettuces. A large head that produces twice as many sweet, baby-size leaves as other varieties. 55 days from transplant to harvest.

Territorial Seed Co., 800-626-0866

'Patio Snacker' cucumber:

Following the trend for container-size vegetables comes a 24-by-36-inch-radius plant that pumps out as many cucumbers as its larger kin. A healthy guy with dark-green, crisp fruit great for pickling, 2 inches in diameter, 6 1/2 to 7 inches long. Keep picked and you'll harvest cucumbers all season long. 50 to 55 days from planting to harvest.

'Golden Gate' pole bean:

A highly productive Romano-type bean with large, flattened, stringless pods. This yellow variety with dark green foliage is as ornamental as it is tasty. Stringless even when the pods mature at an impressive 10 inches. Very productive. 66 days from planting to harvest.

-- Kym Pokorny