Variety Notebook

Published March 01, 2010

	Echinacea purpurea ‘Lucky Star’ Bred from the lines of JelittoPerennial Seed’s award winning ‘Rubinstern’, ‘Lucky Star’ produces bright white flowers with an orange-yellow cone and horizontally held petals. They appear on upright stems from midsummer to early fall. This is a sturdy, long-lived variety that is a vigorous grower in the landscape. This plant has a nice bushy habit and exhibits great vigor. Ovate-lance shaped leaves form thick rosettes which grow up to 40 inches high. Deer-resistant ‘Lucky Star’s’ vigorous and sturdy growth habit make it ideal for use in borders or meadows. It is also great as a cut flower. Plants prefer well-drained soil and full sun, partial shade. USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8. For more: Jelitto Seeds, (502) 895-0807; www.jelitto.com
	Dahlinova Hypnotica Pink Dahlinova Hypnotica Pink from Fides North America, is one of seven colors in the series. Dahlinova Hypnotica plants are very vigorous, have excellent branching and produce a continuous, large amount of flowers during the summer. This series is uniform and requires little to no plant growth regulators. Plants flower from spring until fall and are rain and mildew tolerant. They can be grown in pot sizes from 5 inches and larger, and should be planted about 16 inches apart. The series may be used in gardens, containers, and on balconies and patios. Other colors available include Red, Orange, Yellow, White, Light Pink and Bronze Bicolor. For more: Fides North America, (805) 525-7125; www.dahlinova.com
	Hakonechloa macra Fubuki ‘Briform’ Briggs Nursery offers Hakonechloa macra Fubuki ‘Briform’ US PPAF. This ornamental grass features beautiful contrasting variegation of white and green that endures from spring through summer. In autumn, it casts a stunning pink among the blades. It has a compact, mounding habit and measures 14 inches tall by 18 inches wide. This Hakonecholoa tends to be lower in height than other cultivars. ‘Briform’ prefers partial shade to partial sun in neutral to slightly acidic, well-drained soil. It can be used in landscape beds and borders as a specimen or in groups of three to five plants. It is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 5. For more: Briggs Nursery, (800) 444-1515; www.briggsnursery.com