Brighten your Benches

AGASTACHE
'Blue Boa' from Terra Nova Nurseries produces deep violet blue flower spikes that are long, wide and extremely showy. Foliage height to 24 inches tall and 16 inches wide. Flowering height to 32 inches. It's drought tolerant once established and attracts hummingbirds as well as butterflies. Hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9.
www.terranovanurseries.com

AGAVE
Each leaf of Agave potatorum 'Cameron Blue' from Rancho Tissue Technologies features amazing curving imprints on the back. The plant forms a lovely open rosette shape with rigid blue leaves graced with large burgundy-tipped fingers. It prefers full sun and can tolerate freezing temperatures.
www.ranchotissue.com

BAPTISIA
Proven Winners' new Decadence series includes varieties which were hybridized and selected for their compact habit. They bloom the first year. Plants are hardy in Zones 4-9.

'Blueberry Sundae' has deep indigo blue flowers much more vibrant than B. australis and a perfect plant habit. It reaches 3 feet tall and 2½-3 feet wide. 'Cherries Jubilee' features deep maroon buds that open to bicolor maroon and yellow flowers that are held on strong scapes above blue-green foliage. It grows to 2½-3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. 'Dutch Chocolate' produces rich velvety chocolate purple flowers on upright stems above an especially compact mound of foliage. It grows to 2½-3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. 'Lemon Meringue' produces an upright, vase-shaped mound of blue-green foliage topped with long, charcoal stems and lemon-yellow flowers. It grows to 3 feet tall and wide.
www.provenwinners.com

COREOPSIS
The stunning flowers of 'Sweet Marmalade' from Blooms of Bressingham open deep orange, mellowing to soft apricot yellow through the season. No vernalization needed for flowering. Blooms summer into early autumn. Bushy mounded plants grow 10 inches high and 20 inches wide the first year. Hardy in Zones 5-9.
www.bloomsofbressingham.com

DIANTHUS
Barbarini Pink from Syngenta Flowers, Goldsmith Seeds can be programmed to bloom from April through September. It has a uniform habit and blooms the first year planted. Recommended for fall sales, this variety has great overwintering ability. Hardy to Zone 5.
www.syngentaflowersinc.com

ECHINACEA
Darwin Perennials has introduced two new series. The Sombrero series consists of Hot Coral, Salsa Red and Sandy Yellow. Sombrero features sturdy, compact plants with proven hardiness. Plants grow to 22-24 inches tall and 24-26 inches wide. Plants, which flower from June to August, are hardy in Zones 5-9.
www.darwinperennials.com

GAILLARDIA
'Arizona Apricot' from Benary is easy to grow, fills in the pot fast and flowers the first year without vernalization. It blankets the garden with color even under hot and dry conditions. With a well-branched, compact habit, it is easy to produce and displays controlled uniform, plants. Hardy in Zones 2-10.
www.benary.com

HEUCHERA
Danziger has added several new varieties to its Kira series. Plants are hardy to Zone 4. Autumn Leaves offers foliage of warm and inviting tones of peach and apricot with a coppery-red underside. It tolerates drought and high temperatures. Purple Rain Forest features a stunning purple veil with silver-green leaves. Sunset Green has dazzling foliage color in shades of red, orange and green with purple undersides.
www.danziger.co.il

HOSTA
'Hudson Bay' from Walters Gardens is an improvement over its parent, 'Eskimo Pie.' The leaves have a wider, brighter blue margin and apple green jetting that contrast nicely with the creamy white center all season. Near-white flowers on white scapes reach 26 inches tall in early summer. Plants reach 24 inches tall and wide. It is hardy to Zones 3-9.
www.waltersgardens.com

LEUCANTHEMUM
White Mountain from Green Fuse Botanicals has large 4- to 5-inch diameter classic daisy flowers. Plants, which reach 24-30 inches tall, flower the first year without vernalization. It flowers continuously all spring and summer in containers and in the landscape. Hardy to Zone 4.
www.green-fuse.com

PHLOX
Mildew-resistant 'Ditomsur' Grape Lollipop from Plants Nouveau produces clusters of deliciously scented grape jelly colored flowers. Plants reach 18-24 inches tall and wide. It flowers from July through September. Hardy in Zones 3-9. www.plantsnouveau.com

SALVIA
The Heatwave series from Pacific Plug & Liner can take heat and drought and blooms from spring through fall. Plants reach a height of 30 inches and width of 36 inches. Varieties include: 'Sparkle' (pink), 'Blaze' (red), 'Blast' (salmon), 'Glitter' (purple) and 'Glimmer' (white). Developed in Australia, the series is an excellent selection for perennial borders or as a foundation plant in a low maintenance landscape. Plants are hardy in Zones 6-9.
www.ppandl.com

SCABIOSA
Mariposa Violet produces large, fully-double deep violet, pincushion flowers on sturdy stems. Introduced by Outback Plants and available from Skagit Gardens, this compact plant grows 10-12 inches tall and 12 inches wide. It flowers from June through October. Plants are hardy to Zone 5.
www.skagitgardens.com

SEDUM
'Elsie's Gold' from PlantHaven features large flat heads of small star-shaped soft shell-pink flowers that age to deep magenta. It has large toothed foliage with warm golden yellow leaf margins that fade to a soft creamy white by fall. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. It is drought tolerant once established. Hardy in Zones 3-9.
www.planthaven.com