All-America Selections, a national nonprofit organization that tests plant varieties, has announced awards for six new flowers after competitive trials across North America.
Echinaceae Artisan Yellow Ombre is a new deep-yellow hybrid perennial coneflower that will be available both from plants and seeds. Large 3- to 4-inch golden yellow daisy flowers are produced on sturdy 2- to 3-foot plants that do not need support. Artisan Yellow is attractive to bees and butterflies and makes a nice cut flower. Once established it blooms from midsummer to frost.
Leucanthemum Carpet Angel is a new ground cover perennial Shasta daisy that grows only 6 inches high and spreads to 20 inches. It is the part of a new group of perennials created by Green Fuse Botanicals that are day-length neutral. They produce earlier blooms that continue all season long. Pure white 3-inch flowers have a second layer of petals. Profuse branching plants can spread to 20 inches. A little deadheading of spent flowers will reward you with even more blooms.
Salvia Blue On You is a new perennial that features rich blue flowers that bloom up to two weeks earlier than the comparisons. It makes a nice cut flower, and is attractive to butterflies and humming birds. Suitable for containers, it grows about 20 inches high. It blooms continuously from late spring to late summer with a little dead heading, and doesn’t require staking.
