CNGA LooseLeaf February March 2019

20 colorad o nga.org LooseLeaf February/March 2019 CSU RESEARCH UPDATE By James E. Klett, Ph.D. CSU Professor & Landscape Horticultural Specialist The perennial trial garden sub-committee met recently to discuss and determine some of our best perennials from our 2016 plantings. Since individual perennials often peak at different times of the year, evaluators meet and review photos taken every two weeks during the growing season for the entire trial period of two winters and three growing seasons. Data tabulated by the student coordinator throughout the season is also taken into consideration. The following eight plants ranked high in their voting and should be considered for planting in Colorado landscapes. Top Perennials from our Three-year Perennial Trial Delosperma  ‘Alan’s Apricot’ PPAF – Alan’s Apricot Iceplant from Plant Select ® At peak bloom plants are just a carpet of Apricot flowers. Plants are very uniform and have great vigor and good cold hardiness. They are good for low-water plantings and low-maintenance gardens. They grow just about 2 to 3 inches tall and can spread 2 to 3 feet wide. They are a standout for both unique flower color, with blooms throughout the season. Dendranthema  ‘Sundance Igloo’ – Sundance Igloo Chrysanthemum from Blooms of Bressingham Plants had a very uniform rounded growth habit with good green foliage. Plants did not lodge from overhead watering, and had a great winter survival rate (100 percent). Flowers were yellow with shorter bloom time when frost was early in the fall. Plants grew to about 26 inches in height and 39 inches in width. Dianthus  ‘Beauties Doutzen’ – Beauties Doutzen China Pinks from Dummen Orange This Dianthus had excellent cold hardiness with 100 percent survival rate after three seasons. It has a slightly larger, mounded growth habit with more silvery blue foliage. It has a longer bloom time compared to many other Dianthus. It survives best in partial sun, and grows to about 8 inches in height and 18 inches in width.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzc3ODM=