Introductions

Itea virginica Scarlet Beauty
Scarlet Beauty is a new introduction from Chicagoland Grows. It's a summer-flowering shrub with excellent fall color. It has a higher soil pH tolerance than other cultivars of the species. It's hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. Mature plants are broad-rounded and measure about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide in five years. Recommend it as a specimen plant or encourage customers to use it on moist soils along ponds and waterways, at the edge of woodland gardens, under landscape trees and in a mixed shaded border.

For more: www.chicagolandgrows.org

Echinacea × 'Snow Cone'
Intrinsic Perennial Gardens Inc. introduced Echinacea × 'Snow Cone.' This hybrid has Echinacea tennessensis as one of its parents, giving the plant better longevity and hardiness in the garden. Bright-white petals surround chartreuse cones and grow 24 inches tall and wide. Light-green foliage skirts the entire bushy plant, which starts blooming in late June and continues into September. These easy-to-grow and hardy plants prefer an average to well-drained soil in full sun and are very drought-tolerant.

For more: www.intrinsicperennialgardens.com

Colocasia 'Black Coral'
Colocasia 'Black Coral,' part of the Royal Hawaiian series from PlantHaven, features deep-black glossy foliage with electric blue veins. The Royal Hawaiian colocasias have been bred to be sturdy garden performers and container specimens. If planted in the ground, 'Black Coral' will reach a mature height of around 4 feet, making a glorious statement in the garden. It continues to branch as it matures, making a wonderful compact habit with shiny leaves. If used in containers for the patio, just remove old leaves and 'Black Coral' simply makes two to replace it. This series is not invasive. It's hardy to Zone 7b. PlantHaven will perform Zone 6 trials with partner growers this winter.

For more: www.royalhawaiiancolocasias.com