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This spring, Colorado Gardeners can choose from six new plants that are well adapted
to the Rocky Mountain regions' harsh climate thanks to a joint project between Colorado
State University, the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the Green Industries of Colorado.
These six new varieties mark the 1998 Plant Selectr introductions. Plant Selectr
is a program designed to seek out and distribute the very best plants for Gardens from
the High Plains to the Intermountain Region.
The 1998 winners include Starburst Ice Plant, Lavender Mist Sun Daisy, Purple Mountain
Sun Daisy, Silver Fountain Butterfly Bush, Pink Crystals Ruby Grass, and Colorado Gold
Hardy Gazania. These 1998 introductions were selected from rare landscape specimens,
seedling populations, and other sources several years ago and tested in trials at Colorado
State University, Denver Botanic Gardens, and numerous other locations throughout the Rocky
Mountain High Plains region. These six new plants have been identified as suitable for
our environment and previously rarely planted in our landscapes. They are now available
at most retail nurseries/garden centers this spring. All six varieties released in 1998
can be seen at the Denver Botanic Gardens and at Colorado State University. Plants
debuting at retail stores this season include:
Starburst Ice Plant - Delosperma floribundum 'Starburst'
This clumping Ice Plant produces a dome of bright pink flowers with eye catching
white centers. The texture of the petals is shimmering, almost like metal. It starts
blooming in June and continues steadily until fall. It grows about 4 inches in height
and 10 inches in width and prefers sun and a moderate to dry soil location with average
Garden soil.
Lavender Mist Sun Daisy - Osteospermum 'Lavender Mist'
This plant forms mats of oblong, nearly succulent leaves that are evergreen with up
to 3 inch flower heads which open white and turn a soft lavender purple as they age
and are produced from late April to autumn. The plant gets about 12 inches in height
and 15 inches in width. It will grow in full sun to partial shade and will need moderate
watering in ordinary Garden loam.
Purple Mountain Sun Daisy - Osteospermum barberiae v. compactum 'Purple Mountain'
This sun daisy has bright purple daisy-like flowers which cover the
mat of rich green leaves from late April to mid-summer. If it is
deadheaded it blooms sparingly until frost. This is a wildflower
from the summits of the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa. It
grows about 10 inches in height and 12 inches in width and prefers
full sun to partial shade. It likes moderate watering and grows in
ordinary Garden loam.
Colorado Gold Hardy Gazania - Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold'
This gazania has glossy mounds of deep green, strap-shaped leaves that have up to 3 inch
shiny yellow flowers throughout the growing season. This selection is cold hardy to our
climate compared to the annual bedding gazanias. It does well under ordinary Garden
treatment or in unamended, dry soils once established. The plant gets about 3 inches in
height and 10 inches in width. It will grow in full sun to partial shade. It prefers
loam soils and may need some light fertilization in sandy soils.
Pink Crystals Ruby Grass - Rhynchelytrum nerviglume
This grass is an annual here in the Rocky Mountain High Plains region.
The shimmering heads of bright ruby and silver flowers are an excellent contribution
to the bedding or annual border. It grows to about 24 inches in height and 15 inches in
width. It will grow in full sun to partial shade and will need moderate watering.
Silver Fountain Butterfly Bush - Buddleia alternifolia 'Argentea'
This woody plant can be grown as a small tree or large shrub that does well in a variety
of soils and sites. The lavender to violet flowers are produced in mid spring, making this
a centerpiece of any Garden when it is in bloom. The foliage throughout the season is
blue gray and more finely textured. It does well in more naturalistic designs, shrub
borders, or as a specimen plant. The plant can get up to 10-12 feet in height and 10-12
feet in width. It will grow in full sun to partial shade and likes moderate watering.
It will tolerate most of our soils and exposures, however it does not like real wet feet.
Most local Garden centers and nurseries have these plants in stock this Gardening season.
Look for Plant Selectr display cards and labels for each of these plants at your local
Garden center or nursery. For information on plants call Panayoti Kelaidis
at the Denver Botanic Gardens (303-370-8054) or Jim Klett in the Department of
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, 970-491-7179.
For information about a variety of topics, contact your
local Colorado State University Extension office.
For more information on Gardening, contact your
local Colorado State University Extension office.
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