Top Performers

Although most field trials put bedding plants under the microscope, some test perennials and tender perennials. These four selections of hardy plants scored well at their respective sites. To see results from more than 30 trial sites in the United States and Canada, visit our sister publication’s website, www.GreenhouseManagementOnline.com and navigate to the October issue.

1. Echinacea Sombrero Salsa Red
This coneflower from Darwin Perennials flowers from late spring through late summer. Sturdy, compact plants grow up to 22-inches tall and wide. This very well-branched series fits well into spring-planted programs. Salsa Red is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. This floriferous selection grows best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. It's drought resistant.

For more: www.darwinperennials.com.

2. Gaillardia Mesa Yellow
Mesa Yellow is a first-year flowering perennial from PanAmercian Seed. It's the first F1 gaillardia from seed. It features a more uniform habit and more flowers than other varieties. An early-flowering and well-branched selection, it fills gallon containers quickly, but does not flop over. It's drought tolerant once established and hardy in Zones 5-9. Mesa Yellow grows best in full sun, and flower color does not fade during the growing season. It grows up to 18-inches tall and 22-inches wide.

For more: www.panamseed.com.

3. Hydrangea paniculata Honeycomb
This Hydrangea paniculata from Ball Horticultural Co. makes quite an impact in the landscape with huge, white blooms – up to three times larger than others – that last all summer and into fall. Honeycomb grows up to 15-feet tall and 7-feet wide. It grows best in partial sun (it needs at least 3 hours of sun) and is hardy in Zones 3-8. Honeycomb is adaptable to a wide range of conditions.

For more: www.ballhort.com.

4. Rudbeckia Cappuccino
Cappuccino's flowers are 4-inches across – huge by black-eyed Susan standards. The petals are divided into golden-yellow and mahoganhy-red and surround a dark brown to black center. This rudbeckia from Park Seed is compact and well-branched. It grows up to 20-inches tall and 16-inches wide. Cappuccino flowers nonstop from late spring until mid-fall in most climates. It's hardy in Zones 3-9.

In the landscape, plant en masse for an eye-popping display.

For more: http://parkseed.com.