2009 PRESS RELEASES
Click here to e-mail this page to a friend.
June 1, 2009
BEAUTIFUL GARDENS® 2009 PLANTS OF DISTINCTION ANNOUNCED
Contact: Marion Horsley, 804.225.3820
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is proud to announce the Beautiful Gardens® 2009 “Plants of Distinction." The Beautiful Gardens® program was initiated by the Virginia Nurserymen’s Association’s Horticulture Research Foundation Inc. to strengthen the quality and diversity of Virginia’s ornamental plants by featuring underutilized plants that have grown successfully throughout Virginia.
Here is the list of the Beautiful Gardens “Plants of Distinction” for 2009:
• Chinese Redbud, Cercis chinensis ‘Don Egolf’ – A 10 to 12 foot tall tree with abundant small rosy-purple flowers in March or April but no messy seeds; easy to grow in sun or shade;
•Lenten Rose, Helleborus x hybridus Pine Knot Strains – An evergreen perennial unpalatable to deer and voles, these 1-2 inch flowers bloom from mid to late winter until May in colors ranging from green, white, pink, burgundy, yellow, deep purple and almost black;
• Lily of the Nile, Agapanthus x ‘Monmid’ Midknight Blue® – a prolific, easy-to-grow perennial with bright blue blooms that flower heavily from mid to late summer on 12” – 16” stems; prefers full sun;
• Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ – a beautiful example that thrives in shady, moist areas, boasts spectacular 10 – 15” flower clusters and offers outstanding fall color with textured leaves that turn shades of red, orange and purple;
• Holly, Ilex x ‘Virginia’ – fast growing pyramidal evergreen tree that offers a winter display with heavy clusters of bright red berries; grows well in most well-drained soils;
•Arborvitae, Thuja x ‘Steeplechase’ (PP) – fast-growing evergreen with dense growth habit and feathery soft foliage; excellent for screening as it is unpalatable to deer and grows 30-40’ tall and 8-12’ wide;
• Boxwood, Buxus x ‘Green Velvet’ – rounded evergreen shrub with excellent winter color and more drought tolerance than Japanese holly or English and American boxwood; grows well in a wide range of conditions and in sun or shade;
•Stokes’ Aster, Stokesia laevis ‘Peachie’s Pick’ – easy-to-grow perennial with large, flat 2-1/2” soft blue blossoms that, with deadheading, continue into the fall; thrives in full sun or part shade in any soil;
• Hardy Banana, Musa basjoo – vigorous clump-forming perennial with a bold tropical appearance, it does not have to be dug up and stored each winter; grows well in both sun and part shade.
The Plants of Distinction were chosen by a panel of experts from an extensive list of nominations that, despite their outstanding characteristics, are not frequently used in Virginia landscapes. The panel made their selections based on the plants’ beauty, hardiness, disease resistance and potential public appeal. Each plant has proven by its longevity that it grows well in a variety of areas across the state.
Twenty-six independent garden centers throughout the state offer the Plants of Distinction. Look for the Beautiful Gardens signs, displays, posters, and plant tags that identify this special group of plants. Find a list of participating garden centers at www.beautifulgardens.org; click on Growers and Retailers.
Plants of Distinction is only part of the Beautiful Gardens program. The primary focus of Beautiful Gardens is the introduction of new plants. Since 2003 the Beautiful Gardens committee has established five evaluation sites in Virginia which represent different climate conditions found in the state. The committee then selected a number of new-to-the-market perennials, ornamental shrubs and trees for testing over a minimum of three years to see if they will acclimate to Virginia. After a plant’s hardiness, resistance to disease and insects, and simple beauty have been established, it will be propagated to provide adequate inventory levels for wholesale and retail sales.
“The Beautiful Gardens plant introduction program has been taking shape since 2003,” says Rick Baker, Market Development Manager for VDACS. “A group of interested and proactive individuals from many segments of the industry came together and formed an organization that would introduce new plants to the market and expand production opportunities for Virginia growers.”
Additional Plants of Distinction are already scheduled for release in 2010. Beautiful Gardens is presently soliciting nominations both for its 2011 distribution and for evaluation as a possible plant introduction candidate. For details about how to nominate a plant, see www.beautifulgardens.org and click on Nominate a Plant. For additional information about the Beautiful Gardens program, see www.BeautifulGardens.org or contact the Virginia Nurserymen’s Association Horticulture Research Foundation Inc., 383 Coal Hollow Rd, Christiansburg, VA 24073-6721, at 540.382.0943 or info@beautifulgardens.org.