Most wanted - Idea from Mid-South Gardening Forum

I've been peeking in at the Mid-South Gardening forum where they have a "Most Wanted for 2007 Garden" thread going. I thought it was a wonderful way to have multiple pairs of eyes on the lookout for the special things others are looking for :-) Hopefully, many will find their wishes granted as part of our seed exchange, but for those who want something very new or hard to find I thought I would copy the idea.

My most wanted for 2007 is to find a Canadian mail order vendor of Echinacea 'Green Envy'. This was introduced in 2005 and I have been unsuccessfull to date in my attempts to locate it. I want it, but not bad enough to drive to Peterborough. Here's a link:

http://www.prideofplaceplants.com/plant-introductions/echinacea_green_envy.html

--Ginny

List of Everyone's Most Wanted Plants for 2007
Abutilons
Aporocactus flagelliformis (Rat-tail Cactus)
Astilbe 'Color Flash'
Bomarea
Brugmansia (esp doubles)
Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda Dogwood, "Wedding Day Cake" for one)

Echinacea 'Green Envy' Yippee! Found at Canning Perennials.

Fuchsias (Specie)
Fuchsias (Specie) + cultivars: Automnale, Fire Cracker
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersens Variety’
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Southcombe Double'
Hamamelis (various - Witch Hazel)
Heleniums
Heuchera 'Caramel'
Heuchera 'Cinnabar Silver' Found at Floral & Hardy.
Hibiscus schizopetalus (Japanese Lanterns)
Hosta 'Red Dragon'
Hoyas (indoor gardening)
Impatiens (Specie)
Iochroma
Lapagarea
Lavatera maritima (Tree Mallow 'Bicolor')
Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus (Mexican Turk's Cap)
Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood)
Passiflora foetida 'Alba'
Tropaeolum tuberosum (Mashua, Perennial Nasturtium)

This message was edited Mar 1, 2007 7:08 AM

Ginny, I'd like to find that, too. It's gorgeous and so different! I wonder just how green it really is. A google search only turned up that one same photo. Might yet be a rare one.

I'd like to find a source for Hosta 'Red Dragon'. I want to make a family themed hosta garden and since the red dragon is a symbol of Wales, where I was born, well, I just gotta have it! It's been available in the U.S. recently, but not in Canada yet. I've got my fingers crossed though.

A couple more really new perennials I'm looking for are:
Heuchera 'Cinnabar Silver' http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/131965/index.html
Astilbe 'Color Flash' http://www.backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=243

Sandy

Sandy those two look fabulou s and I love that Echinacea but even if I find them they will probably be very expensive - always takes a while for prices on new introductions to go down!
Id be happen to find Heuchera 'Caramel'

We talked about this Echinacea last year. Remember this thread? http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/557368/

I wonder if it will ever be available in quantity. And I still would like to see a real gardener photo of it, not just a promotional pic. It is quite facinating. I can't find my GardenImport Spring Catalogue at the moment, but I have just a little niggle it might have been in there.

The craziest I have gone on the Echinaceas is the Doubledecker/Doppelgangers I started in 2004 from seed, and this years Sundown, that I bought at season end special for ~6.00. And of course the ordinary beauties that I've had forever are still at home in my garden. And I'm waiting for the E. paradoxa to bloom, hopefully next year. You can be sure if I find a Green Envy, I will get it for you or tell you where it's available.

So far we have Heuchera, Hosta, Astilbe, and Echinacea. I'll add these to the first post and keep a running list for folk to find easily as people add their most wanted items here.

Brenda, unfortunately Green Envy wasn't in the Spring 2006 Gardenimport catalogue. I even emailed them back in July and received a very nice response:

I've exceeded my edit limit on posts already today! I'll have to add any new ones posted today sometime tomorrow. From now on, I'll copy and paste them throughout each day into a document and add them all at once each evening.

echoes, I had a niggle we'd seen that Echinacea before. In fact, I emailed my local specialty nursery but didn't hear anything back. Still think if we see it, it'll be exPENsive! (Especially if it's in Garden Import!)

Ginny, that's a great idea to have them all listed in the top post like that. I didn't know we had an edit limit.

Sandy

Re: my first post:

Oh bother - not being able to edit my posts anymore today is making me one of the more prolific posters for the day I'm sure :-)

Anyway, if Gardenimport were to receive a bunch of requests for this plant do you think they might actually still have time to get it in for spring 2007? They're more likely to try if there are enough requests for it from their customers.

I have a couple of Geraniums still on my want list. Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersens Variety’ and 'Southcombe Double', Then I think I have to stop with the geraniums.

I still have a lot of plants on my shopping list, but they are mostly if you see it buy it plants, not I have to have this plants. I walked through my gardens a few days ago, just checking if I forgot to take care of of anyone for the winter, and came to some conclusions/revelations, whatever. If I never bought another plant or packet of seeds, I could still keep my gardens going and looking interesting and coulourful. It would make no difference to the enjoyment of the ambience. And what fun I would have, filling up spots with my own daylily, iris, and lily seedlings. Other plants could be selected for particular colour or strengths, and strains developed. .........So why do I want to spend a wagon load of money on plants and seeds every year?

Because you can't resist, just like the rest of us? :-)

What a great idea putting this thread together. Thanks ginnylynn.
I am looking for a few things but they are probably more tropical and less hardy. I have found very few sources for anything tropical here in Canada unless I just don't know where to look. I will list a few things should anyone happen to see them when they are surfing around please let me know of the source.
Bomarea
Lapagarea
Abutilons
Specie Fuchsias
Specie Impatiens
Hoyas (indoor gardening)
Brugmansia esp doubles

Bea

Truthfully I wont know what is 'most wanted' in my garden until I start looking at catalogues and then visiting the local greenhouses late April!

Here on the other hand - for your amusement - is a 4 legged
'most wanted'!

Too cute! Thanks for the laugh :-)

I've updated the top post with everyone's wish list items to date. Keep 'em coming!

--Ginny

Oh Ginny - I just remembered - I am on the lookout for Heleniums!

carolvan

Added to my document for today for addition to the list tomorrow morning :-)

Bea...........go to "Plants of Perfection" and check out Cristina's list there of plant material she sells....excellent! I shop there all the time for trops...good luck...tell her Ramblin' Rose sent you..........E

Yes Christina had some nice things:) I say had because I had the opportunity of stop by there this summer and bought more than I should have:) She still has some very nice things and I sure should check back with her to see what she has now.
Thanks I think I will do that now.

Bea

Heleniums have been added to the list at top for carolvan. Anyone else? List even your "in my dreams" items that are too expensive, too picky to grow, too whatever! You just never know.....someone might see it at rock bottom prices somewhere and think of you when they do :-)

--Ginny

bump - want to keep this within everyone's view

I have a new want. Passiflora foetida 'Alba'. Silly me, I forgot to bring one in and I don't have any seeds from them. I'd like to trade for them or find some seeds or cuttings available in Canada. Or possiby seeds from the US. I have passed this plant on to a few peeps, but have my doubts anyone took them in for the winter.

I have saved this off for addition to the list tomorrow morning Brenda. (along with any others that are posted by then)

http://www.gardencrossings.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.main/alphaKey/D-F/whichName/genus/showIntro/0/cfid/11694508/cftoken/19269264/index.htm

I've never ordered from here, but maybe someone will try them.

Unfortunately, they only ship within the continental U.S. according to their web site. Thanks anyway for the link :-)

Parrotia or other Hammilus

The above is the late color this is the early color.

Do you mean Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) Sofer? Can't find Hammilus on PF. And Parrotia is the Persian Ironwood, right? I'll get these added to the list on the weekend.

Yah sure you betcha. Hamamelis 'Arnolds Promise' is a good one for northern climates. I also got a Hamamelis ' Purpurea' and just got them in the ground before this super frost came. How cold did it get up your way this week early?

Up here in mid-western Ontario we were enjoying +13 C to +17 C, but all that came to an end on Friday :-( It turned colder (high today was only about -1 C), windy, and we got just enough snow to dust the ground. All in all, not too bad for December at all!

Sofer, your Hamamelis and Parrotia have been added to the list at the top of this thread. Good luck!

--Ginny

Ginny thank you for keeping me added to Canada's Most Wanted. LOL I will have many pictures next year. I have another plant that I am getting called Agave. But I don't know which yet. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55351/index.html This one is a cool one that I think I will try in several pots on porches etc. This is a cornus Alterfolia I must have also.

Sorry Ginnylynn. I didn't realize that. I thought they were a bit expensive anyway.

Soferdig. I like the tiers on the Cornus. Resembles the ''Wedding Day Cake'' Cornus I'd like to have.

Carol, Swallowtail Gardens has a couple of kinds of Helenium seed available. You probably would rather have the plants, but I have't come across those yet.

Alright! Our first "hit" :-)

OK, Helenium plantsavailable in Dominion catalogue. I'm sure there will be more.

I'll check them out. Dont get much in the way of catalogues any more since I rarely ever bother about seeds.Presume they will have websites.

I wish I had the joy in planting seeds. I just feel bad when they don't make it. I also feel bad it takes forever for them to start. You seed people are truely a dedicated sort.
Yes the Cornus alterfolia is a well layered tree. I have a different one that I have enjoyed for several years now. This one is varigated so the picture they have given is kind of white. I think it is really more buttter and dark green. I will see when the one I ordered gets here and starts its growth next year.
I like the looks of the color in Helenium. I am suspicious why they call it sneezewead? My honey bun planted these are they Helenium? I couldn't see the leaf type.

I think those are Helenium Steve.
Check here:http://www.helenium.net/ for lots of pictures.

I kept thinking Plant Delights would get it, but WFF got it this year
http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/28482-product.html

Steve - that looks like Morheim Beauty to me

Hi there!
I am a little late but I think its an incredible idea to start that thread, thanks Ginny!
Mommum, I wish I knew what you where looking for a week ago, I had some abutilon seeds to share. I also am crazy about fuchsia species so I will try to remember to contact you next time I find something new. I also might have some special impatiens by next fall...

My precious treasures I would like to get hold of are:
Specie Fuchsias + cultivars: Automnale, Fire Cracker
Rat-tail Cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis )
Japanese Lanterns (Hibiscus schizopetalus )
Iochroma
Tree Mallow 'Bicolor' (Lavatera maritima)
Mexican Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus )
Mashua, Perennial Nasturtium (Tropaeolum tuberosum)

Am I asking to much? LOLOLOL!

I promise I will be keeping an eye on that thread to help everybody to find their treasures.
Zarcanat