Freaky Fun Foliage A-Z (part 1)

When making your next tree, shrub or perennial plant purchase, think first about plants that have attractive foliage. It could be a plant with variegated foliage, but there are many other types of leaves that add interest to the landscape. Plants offer a wide array of foliage colors such as yellow, chartreuse, blue, orange, copper, bright reds, dark burgundy and even black. 

 Albizia  Summer Chocolate

Mini Salsa Berberis 

Green leafed plants can also have interesting leaves as well. First off there is an endless range of green hues. Leaf texture also adds interest. Leave texture varies greatly from finely cut leaf, to wavy, to crinkled, to big and bold, all of which provide variation and texture that can make a garden more interesting.  

Pucker Up Cornus

Crème Fraîche Deutzia 

Goldy Euonymus 

Forsythia 'Kumson' 

Bangle Genista

Hydrangea a. petiolaris 'Firefly'

Castle Gold Ilex 

 

 More to come . . .

Genetic Modification of Ornamental Shrubs

The phrase genetically modified has come to mean that the DNA of a plant or animal has been modified using recombinant DNA technology; gene splicing by means of a gene gun and a gene transporting viruse. To many it is a frightening prospect that man should play God, but people have been genetically modifying plants and animals since the dawn of agriculture, if not before. The simple act of collecting seeds for replanting has given us new and improved strains of heavier fruiting plants. For years we have been selecting, culling, isolating and transferring pollen, all which have changed the world in ways we rarely think about. 

Plant breeding using tradition methods, and the principles first developed by Gregor Johann Mendel, have served human-kind well. Our stomachs are full and our gardens are more colorful because man has genetically modified thousands of organisms. This is especially true in the world of ornamental garden plants.    

There is an orange forsythia, but I created these with Photoshop

Sure, there have been a few forays into transgenic ornamentals. I once saw an orange flowered forsythia in France. Beet genes had been inserted into its DNA, but not to worry, the plant is under lock and key and will never be released. The Japanese used gene transfer to created a blue rose, but It's only sold as a cut flower and not as a garden plant. These are rare examples of transgenic ornamentals. The truth be told, traditional breeding is easier and plenty powerful. We have just seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential of traditional plant breeding. 

Take a look at the picture below. While most people would not recognize that it's a hydrangea, it is or native form of Hydrangea arborescens or smooth hydrangea. This is a plant I saw while hiking in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Not too spectacular, is it?

This unassuming plant is the starting point for many popular garden hydrangeas that you know and love. Through traditional breeding, it has been turned into a wide array beautiful garden plants. Just look at what has been has done with this shrub.

White Dome has very large lacy flowers

'Hayes Starburst'  was selected for its highly doubled flowers 

'Annabelle' is one of the most well known hydrangeas. It has large round blooms

Incrediball hydrangea is an improved 'Annabelle' with larger flowers and stronger stems 

Once in a while nature lends a hand in the breeding process. Annabelle was discovered in the wild as a naturally occurring mutation. There are three pink flowered variants of Hydrangea arborescens and I believe all were discovered in nature. 'Pink Pincushion', 'Eco Pink Puff' and 'Wesser Falls' all resemble the wild-type I showed you in the first picture, except that each has a bit of pink coloration in their flowers. While none of these selections are all that attractive, they were exactly what plant breeders needed to make the next big step.

Here are the crosses that lead to the creation of Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea

Two of these pink variants along with 'Annabelle' were used to create the plant labeled here a F1B. The breeder then crossed siblings in this generation to create the first ever pink Annabelle hydrangea called called Invincibelle 'Spirit'.  

Invincibelle 'Spirit' 

All of this genetic modification resulted by selecting, culling, isolating and traditional plant breeding techniques. Toss in a bit of natural occurring mutation and an unassuming shrub is changed in ways we could hardly image. And the great thing about this is that we have only just begun to see the power of traditional plant breeding.

Follow this link to see some of the very best hydrangeas ever developed

What's New and Exciting?

The question I get all the time is "What's new and exciting?"  But with so many plants in development it's hard to pick just a few. So I typically respond with varieties that are looking good at the moment.

After a heavy rain this morning the sun came out and I had a quick walk through the garden. I just got back from the California Pack Trials so a lot has changed while I was gone. The magnolias are looking great. I have a yellow variety called 'Butterflies' that is just stunning right now. 'Goldfinch' is just about to break bud. Everything is so early this year, it's hard to believe it is early April. 


The Show Off forsythias are still looking great. It's a plant that gets a reaction from everyone that sees them in bloom. The flowers are just packed up and down the stem. No one believes me when I tell them how much I like this series. I kid you not these plants are special, especially the little Show Off Sugar Baby which is about the height of a daffodil. 

Show Off Forsythia

Show Off Sugar Baby 

'Amy Cotta', a new dwarf version of PJM Rhododendron, is favorite of mine. This cute little Rhododendron has smaller leaves than PJM and is a bright ball of purple when in flower.

Rhododendron 'Amy Cotta' 

Quince is in peak here in Michigan. The Double Take series is really looking great. This year I noticed that the orange opens first, followed by Scarlet and then Pink. The thing I like about these plants is that the large blooms last much longer than those of the typical quince. Growers like that too. I think it's because they have so many petals.

Double Take Orange Storm

Double Take Scarlet Storm

Double Take Pink Storm

The shrubs at the Pact Trials got me excited. We never seem to get very much press on our flowering shrubs, so I guess I'll have to do it myself. Here are a few that caught my eye.

Let's Dance Big Easy is one of my favorites, but as the breeder I am a bit biased. It has really big flowers that glow as they open with shades of green and pink then mature to a rich pink. People are going to be amazed by the size of these blooms.

Let's Dance Big Easy

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea was the surprise hit of the Proven Winners Shrub display. It is a new form of Hydrangea serrata a species which is native to the colder regions of Japan, Korea and China. The contrasting colors and the doubled flowers give this plant a lot of charm.

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea 

I am a big fan of Chris Warner's Oso Easy Roses. Oso Easy Mango Salsa is the newest addition to the series. Its flowers emerge orange, and then change to pink to give you a festive happy feeling. Our Canadian customers claim they are hardy to zone 3, but I'll list them zone 4 until we have a few more years of data to better judge them. Regardless, they are carefree, low growing roses that give you lots of color with very little effort.  

Oso Easy Mago Salsa Rose

I really like the Bloom-A-Thon azaleas. While you can get them in red, pink and lavender, I prefer Bloom-A-Thon White. The pure white flowers contrast nicely against the dark green, glossy foliage. It's the most compact plant in this series of continuous flowering azaleas.

Bloom-A-Thon White Azalea

So there you have it.  Check back later and I'll let you know what else is new and exciting in the world of flowering shrubs. 

More Notes From France

Forsythia has a Bright Future

One of my favorite nurseries in France is Pepinieres Minier. Located in Loire Valley, the nursery dates back as far as 1838. Since that time it has grown into one of the leading nurseries in all of Europe. While they grow a wide range of garden plants, they specialize in Hydrangea, Magnolia, Syringa (Lilac) and in Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon). Violet Satin Hibiscus and Rose Satin Hibiscus are two many outstanding plants developed by Minier.

The driving force behind the nursery is Jean-Paul Davasse, a quiet, unassuming man that just happens to be a first rate plantsman. Not only does Jean-Paul oversee 270 employees and some 250 hectares of production he make the time to manage Minier’s breeding program.

Our recent visit to Minier took us back their superb display garden and as always, Jean-Paul beamed with excitement as we zigzagged the garden looking at their newest acquisitions and breeding work. Fortunately spring came early to the Loire this year and we were lucky enough to evaluate his Forsythia collection.

While Forsythia is not their specialty per say, Jean-Paul has a keen interest in the plant and has been actively breeding the plant for some time. The gem of the collection was his own development, Show Off (Forsythia ‘Mindia). This beauty originated as a sport from the compact, variegated cultivar ‘Fiesta’. There are several notable attributes that makes Show Off special; in the spring it is loaded with very bright, very large flowers that emerge from the base of the plant to the very tips of its branches. Most forsythia plants grow indeterminately, and thus flower buds often fail to form on the late season growth. Show Off seems to have no such problem. While outstanding in the garden, Show Off is especially showy in the garden center. It shines in a three gallon pot compared to other selections. This plant is also quite attractive later in the season because of its compact form and its unusual dark green leaves. The leaves are darker than any other cultivar and distinct in shape as well.

After the garden, we had the great pleasure of evaluating his latest crop of unnamed, unreleased forsythia seedlings. He had narrowed the breeding work down from 3,000 seedlings to about thirty selections. These selections were now in three gallon pots, as well as, in field plots. The evaluation process is the most exciting part of the breeing process. It is also the most difficult part – so many beautiful plants to choose from and you have to narrow the field down to one or two plants that are significant and worthy of introduction. In other words, you have the fortitude to throw plants away! During our evaluation we looked at flower size, flower color, plant density, dwarfness, the flower bud density and overall presentation. So many superb plants, but clearly one or two unique and superior selections rose to the top. Plants destined to have a bright future.

Some say that Forsythia is old fashioned and over used. Some would even say it’s boring - but I strongly disagree. And if you were in my shoes this day, evaluating Jean-Paul’s plants, you would feel as I do - forsythia has a bright future.