Plants I Want to Order
The Perennial Plant Association has named Hakonechloa macra "Aureola" the 2009 perennial plant of the year, and fellow garden blogger Margaret Roach of A Way to Garden lists it as "a plant I’d order," which is high praise, considering gardeners desire many more plants than they actually purchase.
She has also posted this wonderful picture of the grass in among ferns and hostas, and it looks very dramatic.
This long-season ornamental grass looks kind of like an Asian style liriope, as well it should. It’s common name is golden variegated Japanese forest grass.
It can be used as a ground cover or a mass planting or along the front of a border. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, it likes partial shade in hot climates like ours. It also likes moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, but then what plant doesn’t?
The Perennial Plant Association began the plant-of-the-year program in 1990, selecting a perennial that is suitable for a wide range of climates types, is low maintenance and has multi-season interest.
By the way, the PPA will holds its symposium and trade show in St. Louis July 19-24, with lots of lectures and seminars. E-mail ppa@perennialplant.org for details.
Tell us what’s on your list of "plants I’d order." Mine is really, really long.
Photo credit: A way to garden.
Comments
I want to order more roses - more than I have room for, more than I can afford. Not hybrid teas - the needy prima donnas of the rose world - but the overlooked, easy-to-care-for old garden roses. Just their wonderful names makes me want them. On top of my list this year is Chapeau de Napoleon (has mossy sepals that resemble his hat) and Madame Hardy.
I also want more plants for the butterflies - both host and nectar plants. More milkweed! Also more plants that smell good - maybe dianthus? I could go on and on.
Posted by: Maureen | March 23, 2009 4:50 PM
I bet my list is even longer, despite the several acres of plants I already grow. "Never stop wanting more plants" is the motto here.
That's for dropping by, Maragaret! Garden Variety readers, meet Margaret Roach, author of the extraordinary blog, A Way to Garden. It is an honor, Margaret!
Posted by: Margaret Roach | June 15, 2009 7:43 AM
I'm looking for Joe Pye. The good folks at Poor Boys' are starting to hide when I get there, but their story of "soon" and "we always carry it" are wearing thin.
Posted by: Eve | June 15, 2009 2:08 PM