All new from Monrovia:
Pink Yuletide Camellia
(Camellia sasanqua 'MonDel' PPAF)
This is a sport of the Red Yuletide camellia, but this one has a bright pink color with yellow stamens. It's fragrant as well, and can be used as a hedge, a screen, and it can also be espalied. Eight to ten feet tall and wide, it blooms in mid season and prefers filtered sun.
Zones 7-10.
Blue Balloon® Bluebeard
(Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Korball' Blue Balloon®)
Well, how about a globular bluebeard? Round in form, deep blue flowers with a lavender-like fragrance, and dark green leaves. Prefers full sun, cut back in early spring.
Zones 6-9
Mountain Pepper
(Drimys lanceolata)
This plant is from the Dan Hinkley collection, and it looks like a real winner. A medium sized evergreen reaching 10-15' tall and 10 feet wide, it features creamy green fragrant flowers that give way to black fruits in autumn. The foliage is held on stems that are brilliant red when young, so it's a real standout in the garden. Prefers full sun to part shade and a sheltered place away from cold winds.
Zones 9-10.
Smith Opus 1 Peony
(Paeonia (Itoh) 'Smith Opus 1' PPAF
Although I don't usually write about perennials, you should check out the two new Itoh peonies. This one emerges orange, then fades to a peach-yellow color in full sun with a red center. Vigorous growth and heavy flowering, with disease resistant foliage.
Zones 3-8
The other new one, 'Smith Opus 2', is pink that fades to pale white with a burgundy center. Same zones.
Leave a Reply