Three Featured 2019 Plants
Plant Select® is the country’s leading source of plants designed to thrive in the high plains and intermountain region. It is a nonprofit collaboration of Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and horticulturists around the world. During 2019, our 22nd anniversary, we are excited to recommend at least three new plants along with the promotion of several of our past introductions.
Prunus ‘P002S’ pp25767 – Sucker Punch® Red Chokecherry
This is a beautiful red-leafed chokecherry that does not sucker. The foliage is green at first, which changes to a deep purple to reddish as the season progresses. It has clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed in mid-August by dark purple chokecherries that are relished by birds. This plant was brought to Plant Select by Scott Skogerboe. It grows to about 20 to 25 feet tall and can get 15 to 20 feet wide. It prefers full sun, has moderate to dry water requirements and grows best in a clay to loam soils. It is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8.
Achnatherum calamagrostis UNDAUNTED® – Alpine Plume Grass
This grass is a long-lived, cool-season grass with no central dieback. It is a large-plumed species from the mountains of Central Europe. The arching growth habit is accented by large yellow floral plumes, which appear in late July. The seed heads persist in the winter for late season landscape interest. The plant is drought tolerant but does not perform well in areas with warm, humid nights. This plant was selected and brought to Plant Select by Lauren Springer Ogden. It will grow to about 30 to 36 inches in height and width. It prefers full sun and has moderate to dry water requirements. It grows best in a clay to loam soil. It is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 7.
Delosperma x ‘PJSO2S’ – Granita® Orange Ice Plant
This ice plant is vigorous with large, iridescent orange flowers, white centers and distinct yellow anthers. It prefers drier conditions in full sun, and is the best orange color of any ice plants. This plant was selected and brought to Plant Select by John Stireman. It grows 1 to 2 inches tall and 10 to 14 inches wide. It starts blooming in late spring and blooms until early fall. It prefers a moderate to dry soil that is a well-drained in a loam or sandy soil. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.
Featured Top Performers from Past Years
These are two other Plant Select options that have constantly performed well over the years in our demonstration and trial gardens and deserve more promotion and use in our gardens.
Phlomis cashmeriana – Cashmere Sage
Cashmere sage is a large and stately perennial that blends well in the traditional perennial border or mass plantings. It does well in tough or neglected areas that can be hard to irrigate. It grows to 36 to 48 inches tall and 18 to 30 inches wide. The flowers are lavender in the summer and the tall inflorescences leave an interesting whorled stalk for winter interest. It prefers full sun to partial shade and clay to loam soil with moderate watering to dry. It is hardy to USDA zones 4b to 8.
Anthemis marschalliana – Filigree Daisy
The low-growing, mat-forming foliage of this plant makes for a superb edging plant as well as a rock garden specimen. It prefers full sun to partial shade in a well-drained clay or sandy soil. Moderate water to xeric is best. It grows to 4 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. The yellow flowers in spring make for a lovely silver and gold combination. It is long lived in dry conditions and cold hardy to USDA zones 4 to 10.
