February 2019 - 36

VAUGHN'S VIEW
series and collections that have compactness, seed sterility, unique
stable colors and improved panicle size. Consumers are attracted to these
varieties for many reasons including drought and heat tolerance, and
especially as an important pollinator for hummingbirds and bees and a
butterfly magnet.
Walters Gardens has three buddleia collections in the program:
Cascade, Humdinger and the Monarch series. Prince Charming, the
newest addition to the Monarch collection, was in the summer trials. It
was the most distinctive and stunning buddleia in the trial because of
its panicle size, coverage and breakthrough raspberry pink flower color.
This variety has a tight, spreading, upright habit maturing to 4 feet and
is hardy to Zone 5. This series is impactful and striking and explodes with
color as the summer progresses.
4. HIBISCUS 'SUMMERIFIC HOLY GRAIL'
This Proven Winners introduction for 2019 is an eye-catching, hardy
hibiscus. The Summerific Collection includes six varieties. Holy Grail was
in the Metrolina trial throughout the summer and was striking with dark,
almost black, non-fading foliage and bright green calyxes complemented
with large, deep-red flowers. It was spectacular and will be a definite
winner in retail programs. This variety will mature at 48 to 54 inches and
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is hardy to Zone 4. There are many hardy hibiscus with unique solid and
multicolor flowers to choose from, and this is a summer-fall flowering
plant and worth waiting for!
5. HIBISCUS 'SUMMERIFIC CHERRY CHOCO LATTE'
This Proven Winners variety was in the Colorado State University trial
last summer and fall. I saw it in late July and returned in mid-September
when the plant was mature and flowering prolifically. It is part of the
Summerfic Collection and was stunning with its large multicolored
flowers. The white flowers with the pronounced pink veining and red eye
were extraordinary. This variety replaces Cherry Cheesecake in the Proven
Winner portfolio. The improvements include larger flowers, darker foliage,
compact habit and a more conspicuous flower venation. This variety
matures at 44 to 48 inches and is hardy to Zone 4.
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6. LEUCANTHEMUM 'SUPERBUM CREME PUFF'
We have an abundance of outstanding Shasta Daisy cultivars in
the perennial market and many were in the summer trials last year.
Walters Gardens has a total of eight in the 2019 program including two
Proven Winner varieties. The variety I am highlighting is Creme Puff,
which was introduced two years ago. I saw it in early June and later in
August in North Carolina. What impressed me about this variety was the
tight, compact growth habit, heat tolerance, large white flowers with
overlapping petals and a pronounced gold center. Many Shasta Daisies
can be unsightly in mid to late summer with numerous spent flower
heads, but this variety, with its prodigious flower canopy, created a mass
of color that was stunning in the perennial bed. This is a low growing
variety that matures at 14 to 16 inches and is hardy to Zone 5.
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February 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2019
