Best new plant this season?

Let's face it this has not been the best gardening season so far this year with the weather and slugs and bugs. Although we all hate to think of it most years, the end of growing season except for the fall bloomers is coming pretty quickly. I know boo, hiss and it seems we just started summer, but on a positive note, what brand new plant was a highlight in this sometimes gloomy garden year? I had several new things in the garden this year and all of them seem like they are keepers, but the one I just love is agastache 'Black Adder'. The color is just lovely and goes well with everything. The deer don't like it and the bees and butterflies do. I need to plant more of this here and there in garden next year. First runner up would be penstamon 'Dark Tower'. How about you?

I planted echie Coconut Lime last year & hated it---this year, it was lovely. Roses Carefree Celebration and White Out have bloomed since May---and DL Mary's Baby.

My new plant is Agastache Apricot Sprite.I started them from seeds

It's not hardy here so it will be new again next year.

I had the opposite from CL echinacea this year. It grew well and had lots of blooms but not as colorful as previous years. I think lack of sun for a month might have been a factor there. A really nice plant all and all.
I like your agastache JoAnn. Will it reseed itself or will you have to replant it? Did the hummers like it too?

Apricot sprite is loved by hummers absolutly.
The taller Agast. Apache Sunset as well.
Its hardty here but I'll compost the whole garden this fall and hope Sprite survives.
This would be #2 favorite plant.Agas.Apache Sunset with DL spider Red Thrill

Love this one, just kept on blooming.
oenothera tetragona summer solstice

very cheerful

Love that onethera. I had one this year. It disappeared back in April amidst the floods. Should have bought two and put them in a floating container.

best new jm this year is beni hime - i bought over 30 this spring and this little dwarf with its new growth is just bright red all the time.

Didn't realize you had the awful rain, too, Jada. Jo Ann, I like those colors together.

Very nice, Bill.

Very pretty Bill, I like it.

thank you ladies

Thanks Robin
Alas the red DL will be done when you come.

30, Bill?!! Beni looks nice. Might have to add it!

I like oenothera in general. I have missouriensis.

Pat, does that agastache stand up straight?

I'll have to think on this one. Most of my newbies this year were trees and shrubs.

I am liking everyone's favorite new plants. Getting lots of ideas too.
Yes Victor it is a sturdy one like 'Blue Fortune' but a deeper more vibrant color. The pic does not do the color justice really.

yep and maybe a couple more.

What are your plans for Beni hime for the winter?

Can't tell about my irises, with luck will bloom next yr.

keep it in the pot and bring it in the garage - this one was from wildwood - i lost one on a fall purchase from rarefind that i tried to over winter - taking no chances

although a friend on the jm forum in ohio had not problems over wintering it - could have been the ice storm here

I wish the AS would reseed it's self Ge... none of mine have... but my cuttings are doing really well

Thamks for the reseed wishes,I do too. I;ll let you know in May 2010

Gardeners are so hopeful, aren't we? LOL

If they dont make it there is always another plant to replace them.

Though I will have to plant them again but Zinnias have never been as tall and healthy as this year

Reminder to myself
Plant Zinnias next year.
Those are fantastic

Were they from seed or did you get plants. A person on the hybridizer's form breeds them & has some interesting types. He doesn't sell them but he would be a good reccommendation for types of seeds.

I'll wait for ThompsonM and other seed Co.'s to post their spring seed offerings.
I'm also looking for some interesting cosmose.
Different colors than the pinks.
Definatly white and I saw a chocolate at a friends house.

Is this agastache? I've never grown it, and it was so beautiful here all summer--would go on my wish list should a gardening opportunity arise in the future.

This message was edited Aug 23, 2009 12:53 PM

Here's the whole planting....

Iris, I do not plant nything with seeds. they are from my nursery and were about 12" tall in a single pot.

I have solid clay soil and wanted them around the patio, dug down about 10" and refilled it mostly with compost and some garden soil. It was hard work for an old woman, but worth it.

I'm with you Maria.
I have clay soil and all the gardens are new
I also ammend with compost and potting soil altho I have switched to other top soil.
Phoebe I have agastaches in a couple of varieties.
Blue Fortune

agastache Apache Sunset
Its in there with the cones

From seed( the only seed started last year) Apricot Sprite
Its shorter than other Agastaches 18-24 inches

thats ahorrible pix of Apache Sunset
Here's a betterone
The DL is Red Thrill

ge, I have agastaches too for the first time but with orchid color, I like them a lot, will have them again next year, I call them hissop, am not much into proper names of flowers. Also have the same cones as yours, but bugs here just love them :-((

Well, it appears to be the same as your blue fortune, but it is as tall as I am--which isn't all that tall (lol), but taller than yours. There are also several other plants around the property that appear to be the same, but they are only 2-3 feet tall. Can it's growth be that variable?

That's a really nice photo with the lilly! The colors are gorgeous!

This message was edited Aug 23, 2009 1:35 PM

Your blue hissop is darker than mine

I'm sorry? LOL.....not really mine--just lives at the same address--can't take any credit, but I enjoy it.

Looks like 'Black Adder' agastache to me. (see first pic of thread) The Blue Fortune is a more a powder blue. They are both good plants here.