Staying Power

Ellen C. Wells

Kieft Seed
Kieft Seed’s first-year-flowering perennial combinations are some of the best we see on Ball Publishing’s trip through the California Spring Trials. Each recipe is trialed in various climates to assure all-season performance. Count of these combos for well-balanced growth, great fill and pleasing colors and textures.

1. | The hot colors of Lobelia Starship Scarlet and Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit make a perfect summertime combo.
2. | For a patriotic mix, Flying The Flag includes Lobelia Starship Scarlet, Dianthus Dash White and Delphinium Diamonds Blue.
3. | For tall container components, try combining AAS winners Gaura Sparkle White and Echinacea PowWow Wild Berry.

Green Fuse Botanicals
Green Fuse’s First Light perennial mixes can be ordered from one broker (Michell’s in the U.S. and JVK in Canada) as cuttings or as individual liners—and better yet, you’re able to plant all varieties together to finish together without vernalization. The various mixes are timed to bloom together for a great retail display.

4. | Mountain Sun mix includes Agastache Acapulco Deluxe Yellow, Leucanthemum White Mountain and Veronica Vernique Dark Blue.
5. | Peach Cobbler mix includes Agastache Acapulco White Yellow, Gaillardia Lunar Two Moons and Veronica Vernique Rose.
6. | Bottle Rockets mix includes Leucanthemum Angel Daisy, Veronica Vernique Blue and Veronica Vernique Rose.

Walters Gardens
When it comes to perennials, Walters Gardens has the strength of its own genetics and those of breeding powerhouse Proven Winners.

7a-d. | This combination of Proven Winners perennial varieties is timed for peak performance May through June—Baptisia Decadence Cherries Jubilee, Heuchera Dolce Brazen Raisin, Itoh Peony Bartzella and Salvia Color Spires Crystal Blue.

8. | This combination may be shown in a garden setting, but putting them in a pot is another way to go: Heliopsis helianthoides Tuscan Sun, Leucanthemum superbum Daisy May, Monarda didyma Pardon My Purple, Sedum Maestro and Veronica Magic Show Hocus Pocus.

EuroAmerican Propagators

Find perennials, annuals and grasses to combine for cool-season combinations in EuroAmerican Propagators’ new Cool Combinators program. This combination is just one of the possible mixes you can create from the range of elements offered in the company’s new catalog.

9. | Included in this mix are Oxalis vulcanicola Zinfandel, Lysimachia Sundew Springs, Vinca major, Wojo’s Gem and Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Terra Nova
The folks at Terra Nova are the masters of heuchera, but they have many other genera up their sleeves that can slide into perennial container combinations. You’ll agree the following two are well worth replicating at garden retail.

10. | In this Yin and Yang container, contrast is king, as exhibited by Heucherella Copper Cascade and Pulmonaria Silver Bouquet. Agastache Kudos Gold evens it out with a warm element.
11. | Same plant, different colors in separate varieties? Sure it’s a combo! What we have here is a mix of Heuchera Little Cuties varieties.

Dümmen Group
Bartels, Dümmen’s perennial brand, made its first appearance at California Spring Trials in 2014 and includes some extraordinary mixable varieties.

12. | Phlox Early Pink Dark Eye, Stachys Bella Grigio, Heuchera Black Beauty.
13. | Salvia Deep Blue, Coreopsis Cherry Pie, Heuchera Black Beauty.
14. | Phlox Early White, Stachys Bella Grigio, Heuchera Cherry Cola.

Darwin Perennials
While Darwin Perennials aren’t available as pre-mixed combos, Darwin’s staff does have a few faves they feel look terrific together.

15. | Scabiosa Harlequin Blue, Delphinium Dasante Blue, Viola Celestial Midnight, Heuchera Carnival Peach Parfait.
16. | Salvia Lyrical Blues, Lavandula SuperBlue, Heuchera Carnival Peach Parfait.
17. | Echinacea Sombrero Sandy Yellow, Gaura Whiskers Deep Rose, Monarda Balmy Purple, Hedera helix Baltic.

Come On, Combos!
Perennial words of wisdom from Terra Nova’s
Dan Heims:

Plants are similar to people, in that they can act alone and are individuals with unique and distinctive traits. Yet, many can be placed together to achieve greatness in both form and function. You probably agree that even one well-bred plant is a great thing to have and behold. However, a mix or combination of several robust, garden-worthy beauties … well, that’s just incredible!

With new plant introductions and retail sales both in mind for the upcoming spring season, conceptualizing perennial container combination recipes can invite life back into to the garden and add colorful texture, contrast and variety to an array of outdoor spaces. Here are some important concepts to keep top of mind as you gear up for the spring sales season:

• Container gardening gives homeowners results for their outdoor living areas without a great deal of time commitment or difficulty for both the novice and seasoned gardener.

• For the garden center retailer, perennial combinations are a known means to cross-
selling and promoting many different varieties in a creative way that grabs the attention of customers.

• By informing customers which plants “play” well with others you can encourage them to become perennial combination aficionados. Visual display examples of eye-catching combos go a long way in creating plant-lovers out of shoppers in the aisles. GP