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Gardening News
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Our New Plant Introductions for 2008
By Cindy Bellinger
 Ever on the lookout for new plants, David Salman, President of High Country Gardens, is now announcing his latest introductions for next spring. His new 2008 plants range from a compact salvia hybrid to a tough perennial marigold. All the plants share some basic characteristics.
"My general criteria for including a new plant in the High Country Gardens catalog take in one or more of the following: They have improved cold hardiness, improved garden performance, are waterwise,native, rare or unusual and attract hummingbirds or other pollinators,"he says. Also, he looks for plants that bloom in late summer or early fall. "This is often a low color time in the garden, so plants with late season interest are extremely important."
Our 2008 Exclusive Plants
David says, "Most often, plants that come out of our plant development program are exclusive to High Country Gardens. Other new plants may already be available from other sources, but they have sufficient merit that I want to offer them as well."
 Exclusive Salvia pachyphylla 'Blue Flame' (Blue Flame Giant Purple Sage) is a HCG introduction chosen for its huge, brightly colored 10-inch-long flowering spikes. Like a gas flame, the long tubular blue flowers poke through the rose-pink bracts attracting hummingbirds from the entire neighborhood. This xeric native beauty likes full sun, good air circulation and fast-draining soil conditions. Zone 5-9.
 Exclusive Salvia 'Ultra Violet' (UltraViolet Hybrid Sage) was discovered in Lauren Springer Ogden and Scott Ogden's Fort Collins, Colorado, garden. They gave me some cuttings several years ago for me to put into our HCG perennial program. The dark foliage and copious violet-pink flowers make this plant a standout. For three years now, the plant has grown beautifully after surviving erratic zone 5 winters. Blooming starts late July and continues until October frost. Likes a hot, full-sun locale with well-drained soil. Its aromatic foliage is very rabbit and deer resistant. Zones 5b (-15 to -10˚ F) -9.
 Exclusive Asclepias tuberosa 'Western Gold Mix' (Western Gold Butterfly Weed) reaches nearly 24" tall and grows about 20" wide. Grown from habitat collected seed in western Colorado, plants of this magnificent western form of Butterfly Weed were planted into my stock beds three years ago. We’re finally producing enough seed to grow big crops of it for our HCG customers.The large flower heads are deep golden-orange and held high on big,vigorous plants with substantial deep green foliage. Zones 5-9.
 Exclusive Erigeron pulcherrimus v.pulcherrimus (Basin Fleabane) is eye-catching with huge, showy white to pale lavender daisies. I had never seen this native wildflower before discovering a large colony of it in central New Mexico. Seed was plentiful this past spring after a very snowy winter left the soil full of moisture. This long-lived perennial has a woody crown and very thin grass-like foliage. Likes full sun in dry clay-loam soil. Zone 5-8.
When David selects a new plant, he usually has a target introductory year in mind. "But the release date usually depends on when we hit"critical mass" for the plant," he says. "That means, when we have a sufficient number of the new plant in production for cuttings or seed."This may take two years; sometimes five. Plants for the Extreme Temperatures
 Tagetes lemmoni 'Compactum' (Compact Mt. Lemmon Marigold) is a very heat tolerant wildflower native to the mountains of southern Arizona and northern MX. This compact form has very showy golden yellow flowers begin covering the plant in early fall. When grown in warm winter climates the flowers continue until December. Rabbits and deer do not like its highly aromatic foliage. Mulch heavily before winter and leave the stems standing for improved cold hardiness. Zones 6-10.
 Nierembergia gracilis 'Starry Eyes 'loves heat in dry or humid climates. A fantastic Argentinean plant,this evergreen perennial grows as a low, tight mound of narrow foliage that covers itself with masses of soft lavender with dark lavender-eyed flowers. Nearly ever-blooming, an occasional shearing of the faded flowers keeps them coming from late spring to fall. Likes blazing sun and well-drained soil. Zones 7-9. Available this spring through the High Country Gardens catalog only.
 Prunus besseyi 'Pawnee Buttes' (Pawnee Buttes Sand Cherry)comes from the stark plains of northeastern Colorado where searing summer heat and bone chilling sub-zero winter temperatures challenge all the native plants growing there. Enjoy this cultivar for its tough-as-nails constitution, low-spreading growth habit, profusion of fragrant late spring flowers and glossy foliage. Fall turns the foliage a rich mahogany-red. Zone 4-8.
 Yucca rostrata 'Sapphire Skies' was found growing in the deserts of northern Mexico. Sean Hogan of Cistus Nursery selected this outstanding Yucca. Finally available to the gardening public this succulent stands out in a crowd with its flexible jade-blue leaves and huge spikes of ivory flowers. It's a vigorous trunk forming species, reaching 3 to 4' tall in 7 to 8 years, maturing at 10' or more. Sites with full sun and well-drained non-clay soils provide the best growing conditions. Provide extra cold protection in zones 5b (-15to -10˚ F) and 6 for the first couple of winters. Zones 5b to 9. More New Native Plants
 Erigeron linearis (Thread-leaf Fleabane) displays a month-long color-fest of bright late spring yellow daisies held over highly ornamental thread-leaf foliage. From the dry side of Washington state, it likes full-sun and sandy or loamy, well-drained soil. Zones 5-8. - Agave utahensis v. kaibabensis (GrandCanyon Century Plant) is a magnificent subspecies of the Utah Century plant. Its stout, narrow, toothed leaves form a substantial, solitary24" wide rosette at maturity. Eventually it will bloom with a narrow,6-8' tall flowering spike. Native to the high desert plateaus of Arizona around the rim of the Grand Canyon. Zones 5-9.
Order now, before these new plants sell out, and we'll hold them for you until you're ready to start working in your yard next spring. You choose a convenient shipping date and we'll make sure they arrive on time, fresh and ready to be planted outside.
 David's Helpful Hints: Holiday Gifts for Gardeners
Buying gifts for a gardener this holiday season is easy as there are so many wonderful plants, tools, and ornaments that would be appreciated. After all, what gardener wouldn't like a pair of new gloves, or a fresh bag of Yum Yum Mix? But giving unusual gifts always makes receiving more special too.
Remember the Birds Think of Great Tools
 Garden Rain Gauge -- for keeping track of the amount of rain- Felco Pruning Shears -- to make pruning easy, not a chore
- Leatherman Multi-function Garden Tool -- includes pruners, wire cutters, weed fork, grafting knife, bark lifter, Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, saw, bottle opener and ruler all in one.
Decorate with Ornaments
And don't forget those big, lovely Amaryllis bulbs. If you still don't know what to get, why not order one of our Gift Certificates.Then the gardener on your list can use it next spring to order those long wished-for perennials.
Plant Combinations for Holiday Décor
Separate or together for interior decoration, any of our indoor holiday bulbs and plants will brighten entryways, tabletops and counters throughout the holiday season.
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