February March 2018

21 colorad o nga.org LooseLeaf February/March 2018 Hibiscus  ‘Heartthrob’ – Heartthrob Hardy Hibiscus PP 24760 from Walters Gardens/Proven Winners The scarlet flowers reach close to 12 inches across, rise above good green foliage with a red tinge, and adorn the plant from late summer to first frost. The growth habit is upright mounding, maturing to about four feet tall and three feet wide. This hibiscus is very vigorous and hardy, and survives Colorado winters well. Panicum virgatum  ‘Cheyenne Sky’ PP 23,209 – Cheyenne Sky Switchgrass from Walters Garden/Proven Winners The growth habit of this grass is upright with a height of three feet and width of two feet. The foliage is green with hints of red and good reddish fall color. The growth habit remains upright into the winter. The pink blooms start in late summer and persist into the winter, and the plant is quite drought tolerant. Veronica x   ‘Sunny Border Blue’ – Sunny Border Blue Speedwell from Bluestone Perennials This plant is covered with blue to purple flowers from mid- summer to heavy frost, above dark green foliage. It has an upright growth habit, growing to a height of about 18 inches and spread of two feet, with strong stems. It is semi-drought tolerant and continues to bloom well after deadheading. Phlox  ‘Barsixtyone’ PP 22,223 – Flame™ Violet Garden Phlox from Bartels The plant is covered with violet flowers from early summer to first frost, and blooms heavily after deadheading, above waxy green foliage. It has a strong, upright growth habit, growing to a height and width of about two feet. Butterflies seemed to love this plant and it was bred for resistance to powdery mildew.