Mailorder plants get thumbs up

The Mailorder Gardening Association presented its Green Thumb Awards earlier this year.

This year’s plant winners: Petunia ‘Opera Supreme Lilac Ice’ from Park Seed, Changing Colors dahlia from Dutch Gardens, April in Paris and Lovestruck roses from Jackson & Perkins and peony ‘Bartzella’ from Wayside Gardens.

‘Opera Supreme Lilac Ice’ petunia is a trailing petunia with 2-inch flowers. The free-flowering, self-cleaning, vigorous plant grows 4-6 inches high and trails 2-3 feet.

Changing Colors dahlia features 4- to 5-inch flowers that slowly change from purple to white, or vice versa. It flowers from midsummer to midfall and grows 26 inches tall.

April in Paris rose has pale-pink flowers edged in solid pink. The extremely fragrant rose has 4 1/2-inch flowers and 20-inch stems.

Lovestruck rose’s 4-inch-wide flowers are cream brushed with hot pink and a white reverse. They have a light, spicy fragrance. Stems are 16 inches long.

Peony ‘Bartzella’ is a cross between a herbaceous peony and a tree peony. The yellow, semi-double flowers measure up to 9 inches across. It flowers from late spring to early summer and grows 48 inches tall.

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For more: Mailorder Gardening Association, (505) 822-8222; www.mailordergardening.com.

April 2008