Re: Future trends?

> > I was recently talking to a prominent garden author about future trends
> > in gardening.  I have my own thoughts, and they're definitely going
> > to come into play with some new plant introductions that I'm making.
> 
> One of the features I would like to see is the development of perennials
> with longer bloom times.  We already see this with the likes of Stella d'Oro
> hemerocallis, which is, unfortunately becoming much overused IMO.
> 
> I live in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and with increasingly tight budget
> constraints, the parks department has had to cut back on the colorful
> boulevard plantings, which dot our city.  The use of perennials with longer
> blooming periods would be of much benefit in that respect.

What about specific genera that you're familiar with, but would like to
see become 'hot'?

In the perennial world, I think Baptisia is up-and-coming, but probably
only briefly.  Thermopsis will probably be there too by association.
Scutellaria will also appear on the scene, but also briefly.  Nepeta will
also become more popular as more and more species are introduced and
made aware to gardeners, like Nepeta subsessilis.

I also think that Clematis are going to make a big show in the next
couple of years -- not necessarily with new hybrids, but the rediscovery
of the old stand-bys by gardeners.

In the woody plant world, European Spiraea cultivars will start appearing
like S. betulifolia 'Tor' and var. aemiliana.  We'll also see more 
Deutzia species and cultivars, and, of course, Viburnum (which I think
are still riding the wave).  The shrubby dogwoods will also become
more popular, but more for foliage color than stems.  Keep an eye out
for yellow-leaved cultivars like 'Garden Glow' that will replace the 
more disease-susceptible varieties.  Hydrangea are still peaking, but
will decline soon.  Same with Sambucus.

OK, those are my predictions.  Come on, share yours!

Chris

http://www.bonvivantnursery.com/
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