Voters choose favorite 'pavilion' plants

Two plants -- Echinacea purpurea ‘Coconut Lime’ and gaillardia Commotion Tizzy -- tied for the Favorite Plant Award at the NMPRO Plant Pavilion. The pavilion showcased 42 plants from 23 companies at the ANLA Management Clinic Feb. 8-11 in Louisville, Ky.

‘Coconut Lime,’ from Plants Nouveau, is the first double, white coneflower. Flowers begin leaf-green, maturing to lime-green. Cones develop into tubular, greenish-white ray petals. Plants are well-branched and floriferous. They produce many straight, sturdy flower stems. It’s propagated by tissue culture and division.

Hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones (4) 5-9. ‘Coconut Lime’ grows 30 inches tall. It begins to flower in early July, which lasts for eight to 12 weeks. In the landscape it grows best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Commotion Tizzy from Skagit Gardens is offered through Novalis. It is a brightly colored gaillardia with fluted petals. The higher petal count makes flowers appear semi-double. Deep-russet-red buds open to fluted ray flowers that range from red to rosy-terra cotta, outlined with a hint of yellow.

Plants reach 24 inches tall and are hardy to Zone 5. Commotion Tizzy flowers from May to October. In the landscape, it grows best in full sun and works well in a border or a container. It’s also suitable as a cut flower.

{sidebar id=2}

For more: Plants Nouveau, (410) 858-0577; www.plantsnouveau.com. Novalis, (888) 845-1988; www.novalis.com.

April 2008