Hi CPG,

I will be searching high and low for Brunneras this year so that Diane's Gold looks good. I am replacing most of the Hostas in our shade gardens and tried Jack Frost a couple of years back. It has done well and the deers don't like it, so this family of plants appears to be a great alternative to Hostas.

Would you know of a good mail order site for Canada for the Brunneras? I tried to find different ones here in NS last summer, but the nurseries here didn't have them.

I did plant a red Dicentra - not sure if it was Burning Hearts. As soon as I did it disappeared... UGH!

That Geum is some special! Love the orange!

I came across 'Burning Hearts' late last season and had to have it. I hope it survives a rather late planting.

I've had little success with the newer echinaceas but I'm trying one more time with 'Flamethrower'.

Tiffy, you might want to check out Gardens Plus as a Canadian mail order source. I don't see 'Diane's Gold' listed but the 'King's Ransom' I received from them last year performed beautifully and is a a gorgeous plant! They are already accepting orders for spring!

The only Canadian mail-order that I'm familiar with is Garden Import. From their website, they are also only offering the Brunnera 'King's Ransom' at the moment.

Otherwise, try Great Garden Plants or Plant Delights down in the U.S.

Another Canadian mail order source is Select Plus Lilac Nursery, and they do have 'Diane's Gold' brunnera. I have no experience with them yet, but I am planning on placing an order with them soon. Good luck in your search. Seeking out new plants each year is a great winter past time.

Since I live very close to Skagit Gardens (one of the larger growers that repeatedly features new introductions for the US gardening scene) and I also work in nursery sales, I have already planted or been exposed to several of these new plants. The dicentra is nice (Skagit has introduced a new white flowered form as well - 'Ivory Hearts') and the euphorbia is exceptional. Not quite as deep a maroon/black as 'Blackbird' but a much more vigorous plant. Mine is in a container planting and just went through a week-long cold snap in the teens without flinching. Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' is pretty darn nice as well (also growing in a container, the sunniest position in my new garden).

But I'm not overly impressed with either of the golden brunneras. The gold color washes out easily, even in shade.....it's mainly just on the newest growth.....and what you are left with is pretty much just a plain green Brunnera macrophylla. I much prefer 'Jack Frost' or 'Looking Glass'. Even 'Hadspen's Cream' has more to say for itself.

I've also trialed a few of the new Terra Nova heucheras. I can give high recommendations to both 'Autumn Leaves', 'Fire Chief', 'Electra' and Heucherella 'Sweet Tea'. As if we needed any more new heucheras :-))

gardengal, thanks for the comments. I grew Dicentra 'Ivory Hearts' and 'Candy Hearts' several years ago when they first came out -- superb plants with excellent vigour, literally bursting out of a 4.5" (11cm) pot.

I'm hoping the E. 'Ruby Glow' is a true selection of E. amygdaloides (as opposed to a hybrid like 'Blackbird') with improved hardiness. Your description seems to confirm this.

CPG, Dicentra 'Burning Hearts' looks like it might be finding it's way to my garden this spring, it looks like a really nice one :o).

Tiffy, Gardens Plus and Hortico (page 42, perennial section) are two that come to mind at the moment that list Brunneras, both Canadian mail order sources with on line catalogs.
Garden Import has been a long time favorite of mine for the new and interesting. Fraser's Thimble Farms on Salt Spring Island is another favorite of mine, they were the only source for Leucojum vernum I could find in Canada, they also carry a lot of rare plants for those that are looking for something unique.

Annette

I must add that Terra Nova has a few new 2010 intros that were not mentioned: Geum 'Eros' (golden foliage) and Athyrium 'Lady in Lace' (curly and crested foliage).

-gardengal, when you say that you are not impressed with either of the gold leafed Brunneras, are you comparing 'Diane's Gold' with 'Spring Yellow'? Last year a local plant sale had the SY, but I passed because I had read it greens out come summer. Do you find DG to do the same? Terra Nova claims it does not green out.
PS. did you ever get that new camera for Christmas? ;-)
CMK

Here is a link that might be useful: new for 2010 at terra nova

CMK, you just had to go and post a link to new for 2010, you're sure not helping me curb my appetite one little bit LOL. I already have Hellebore 'Onyx Odyssey' I bought it last spring from Garden Import. I don't think it's going to bloom this year, the other doubles I bought are already showing flower buds. I wonder how close to black it really is.

Annette

CPG, I've read various reports on the parentage of the euphorbia.....one lists it as species hybrida (??) and another as amygdaloides and even the patent applications can be extremely misleading. I've encountered numerous errors in plant patent information with regards to species/parentage, why I'm not at all sure. One would think the hybridizer/patentee would know what the heck the plant material was he was working with.......:-) But given the willingness of many hardy euphorbia species to hybridize, I'm not sure I'd be willing to bet this one is 100% amygdaloides. Regardless, it seems to be a very strong plant and with great color.

CMK, my boss likes to trial new plants and purchases liners from Terra Nova to grow on each season. Last season, it was an assortment of brunneras and heucheras (and a few other items, like the Geum 'Eros' - very nice plant, btw). He grew several of the gold brunneras including 'King's Ransom', 'Diane's Gold' and 'Spring Yellow', which I had forgotten about. They ALL greened out, at least to my eyes. I'm not sure Dan Heims doesn't fall prey to a bit of marketing hype with regards to his new plant intros :-(

btw, 'Eros' DOES retain a very vivid chartreuse (not gold) foliage color all season and with strong orange flowers. I'm a sucker for geums and this one makes my list!

I bought 'King's Ransom' brunnera last year and it did not green out at all for me, it kept its color, though the older foliage did fade a bit.

Karen

gardengal, my guess regarding the confusing patent info is that sometimes (oftentimes?), the breeders don't really know the exact parentage of their selections, and/or the time-frame for introduction is so short, that misinformation (i.e. slightly differing parentage) often gets released. In any case, I'm glad to hear that Euphorbia 'Ruby Red' sounds like a good, tough one. We're also growing 'Ascot Rainbow', which is a very cool plant, but almost certainly less hardy (although it was reported to over-winter in Western Michigan).

As for the gold-leaved Brunneras, my expectation is that 'Diane's Gold' is slightly better (i.e. holds its colour longer) than 'Spring Yellow', but will still ultimately fade to a green-chartreuse. It's possible that the amount of change in colour is based on some variable(s), e.g. light and/or temperatures.

We are growing the Geum 'Eos' as well. I'm happy to hear that it keeps it coloured foliage right through the summer. I too, after many years of resistance, am becoming a sucker for Geums! ;)

Ooops, I got the name wrong again. It is indeed 'Eos' not 'Eros'. Two different Greek dieties completely, lol!

Oh no! Not another Geum to buy. I went crazy over them a couple of years ago and bought enough to bring the grand total up to twelve. I told myself I wouldn't get any more, but what did I do last summer? Yup, bought 'Flames of Passion'. This year I want to buy 'Tequila Sunrise'. Why can't I control myself??

I think I might have to try one of those Brunnera anyhow (I mean, since I am going to extend the shade garden next year anyway...;-)

-Annette, lol! I do the same thing to myself. I go and look up the new intros even though I know there is no room for them. I can resist ordering pretty well, but when I am face to face with it at the nursery I am a goner! You will have to post pics of that Hellebore if it does bloom. A local plant sale offered it last year and I didn't get it, which I regret :-(
CMK

And I followed right behind you Chris, repeating the incorrect name :-) I think I may have had one or two glasses of New Year's eve wine when I was posting that. LOL!

And no, Santa was on a very tight budget this year and the hoped-for camera didn't arrive :-( I'll see how tricky it may be to fit one into my monthly budget. But I did get a killer handknit afghan to snuggle up with!

And it's not exactly a brand new introduction although still relatively new on the market, but I recently acquired Helleborus niger 'Joshua' that I am extremely impressed with. Came laden with buds and a few open flowers and has since continued to bloom non-stop, even through a period of very cold weather. I've been reluctant to carry or plant much in the way of niger cultivars as they seem overly prone to fungal issues in my climate, but the HGC nigers are very hardy, disease resistant and incredibly floriferous. I'd certainly recommend them.

I'll second the motion re. the HGC Hellebores. I've got H. niger 'Josef Lemper' in my garden, and it's been blooming since late November, and still going strong, despite the arrival (finally!) of winter-weather a week or so ago.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions on Canadian mail order sources for Brunneras. I've checked out gardens Plus and Hortico and they have some 'new to me' varieties. I will surely order a bit later in the winter when I new to get out of the blahs. :O)

I must say my Jack Frost produced some nice seedlings this past year which should make it through winter. They grew quite quickly, and yes, some did revert to the plain jane. But that's OK for now. Great 'fillers'.

Thanks again!

-gardengal, I don't have an excuse as good as yours. I am a poor speller by nature and too lazy to crack open a dictionary. Maybe brithday time will bring a nice camera ;-)

Well I guess I may be buying a few Hellebors this year...
CMK

I bought 'King's Ransom' brunnera last year too and it had that golden yellow edge all year, but it did burn a bit in what little sun it got. That might be a first year thing though that will hopefully improve.

I couldn't resist ordering the new Dianthus "Raspberry Surprise" from Bluestone. I sure hope it looks as good as the picture. I'll have to keep an eye out for those new heucheras, I was planning to get a few more and there's a local nursery that is good about getting the new ones. Geum Totally Tangerine came so close to making my Bluestone order but I dropped it because it is a little too tall for the area that is open.

Several Canadian mail order sources were mentioned on this thread. Hortico is near me, so I have purchased a few daylilies in person in their fall sale. Based on what I saw at the nursery, I wouldn't recommend them, somewhat disorganized and overpriced, in my opinion. Labelling appears to be an issue. Gardenimport is also overpriced, but the plants were good and received in excellent condition. Gardens Plus (in Peterborough) is a place I haven't dealt with yet, but may order from them in the future. So far, I haven't heard any negative comments about them and that is always a good sign. I like their website, too.

cool, just curious: how can you be Z.6 so far north of me? are you on "a" lake that tempers your climate?one of those iddy biddy lakes you have out there?
mindy

I'm actually not that farther north. Otherwise, yes, it's the moderating effects of the not-so-iddy-biddy Great Lakes -- Erie and Ontario in my case.

Latitude really doesn't have that much bearing on hardiness zones, at least with regards to the continental US and Canada......the actual geography is much more of a factor - bodies of water, topography, ocean currents, etc. I am much further north than either of you (latitude 47.62N) and yet I am in a much higher hardiness zone (8b). In fact, Seattle is located further north than any other major US city in the continental US. But I and much of the rest of the Pacific Northwest benefit from a maritime climate due to proximity to the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound and shelter between two mountain ranges which produces a very moderating effect on weather - it's never very hot in summer or extremely cold in winter

I fell in love with leucanthemum 'Banana Cream' and just ordered it from Garden Crossing. I am staring a new flower bed and plan to plant both 'Banana Cream' and Becky for a good flower show during mid-summer. I only hope it is as vigorus as 'Becky'

arbo return, don't forget that the zones in the USA and Canada are not exactly interchangeable. For example, USDA zone 5 is considered to be closer to Canada zone 6, USDA zone 4 is closer to Canada zone 5, etc. It's something (for Canadians) to remember if one is reading gardening books written in the USA, or reading plant descriptions written for the US consumer.

ontnative, arbo retum - to clarify, the USDA zones are based on Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range, whereas the AgCanada (Agriculture Canada) zones are based on a multitude of variables.

Therefore some, but not all, areas differ by one zone. For example, where I garden (Niagara-on-the-Lake) is zone 6 in both maps.

In most cases however, I believe any difference matters little as the zone designation of a plant is best used as a "general guideline" only.

I've decided not to try anymore new plants. I'm going to wait and see how they perform for others and see if they stand the test of time!

I'd like to try Coreopsis "Ruby Frost"....question is Am I going to be able to find it?

~Chills

Chills, according to Terra Nova's website, Coreopsis 'Ruby Frost' is only hardy to zone 7. It would make a nice annual at the right price though! ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: Coreopsis 'Ruby Frost'

I can dream, right? Besides I've got an area in which I've had calla lillies return 3 years running now.

~Chills

Hmm...I like that coreopsis too. I may have to try and find it, and plant it in a container and over winter it in the garage. It gets cold in there, but doesn't freeze.

Karen

There's another interesting new Brunnera for 2010, named 'Emerald Mist'. It looks like a cross between 'Langtrees' and 'Jack Frost'. Brunnera grow very well for me, just a bit too much self-seeding. However they are very low-maintenance and have TRUE BLUE flowers, (except for 'Mr.Morse' which has white flowers.)

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Emerald Mist ' Brunnera