March 2023 - 32

VAUGHN'S VIEW
4. DELOSPERMA 'DELMARA RED'
Green Fuse Botanicals
When I began my horticultural selling
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career in the early 1980s, delosperma
varieties were nonexistent. In 2000,
three delosperma varieties were on
the market: 'Cooperi', 'Starburst'
and the species herbeau. Multiple
breeders now offer five series, and more
than 30 varieties are available from
domestic liner and offshore suppliers.
The Delmara series offers large,
vibrant, vivid, star-shaped flowers, a
prolific flower canopy, drought and
heat tolerance, a low growing habit,
and hardiness. The Delmara series,
consisting of six colors, was entered in
multiple trials last summer; all the colors
were vibrant and red was extremely eyecatching
in the trials. The series is hardy
to Zone 4, matures at 4 to 6 inches,
and has application in rock gardens
and sunny borders. The accompanying
photograph of 'Delmara Red' is from the
Trials at Ball in mid-August 2022.
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MARCH 2023 GPNMAG.COM
5. KNIPHOFIA 'GLOWSTICK'
Darwin Perennials
When I entered the industry in 1971,
only a handful of kniphofia (Red Hot
Pokers) were available from domestic
suppliers. The list at that time included
'Flamenco', 'Royal Standard' and
'Goldmine'. Since that time we have seen
extensive breeding, resulting in a wide
range of series, collections and hybrid
varieties. The genetic improvements are
impressive, resulting in assorted colors
and sizes and increased hardiness. The
stand-alone variety I have highlighted
is 'Glowstick' from Darwin Perennials.
The name is appropriate for this new
distinctive and vivacious introduction.
'Glowstick' was entered in multiple trials
and did not disappoint with its lanceshaped
spikes of bright yellow tubular
flowers and tufted finely textured foliage.
This is a statuesque variety, and it made
a striking statement in the summer trials.
This variety matures at 26 to 30 inches,
is hardy to Zone 6a, and is a season
extender, flowering July through October.
It is also a pollinator magnet with its
nectar-rich flowers. The accompanying
photograph is from the Colorado State
trial in mid-September 2022.
6. MONARDA 'UPSCALE
LAVENDER TAFFETA'
Walters Gardens
We have innumerable exciting and
colorful monarda series and varieties
available. I have highlighted many
introductions in previous articles, but
the one variety that caught my eye last
summer was monarda 'Upscale Lavender
Taffeta'. Upscale is a new Proven
Winners series for 2023 consisting of
three varieties: 'Pink Chenille', 'Red
Velvet' and 'Lavender Taffeta'. Walters
Gardens offers five series, and the
Upscale series is the tallest, averaging
24 to 30 inches at maturity. The flower
colors are vibrant, fluorescent and
stable. The series will produce a second
flush of flowers in late summer, which
was evident in my visit to the Walters
Gardens trial in mid-August, as shown
in the accompanying photograph of
'Lavender Taffeta'. This series had
excellent mildew resistance and is hardy
to Zone 4. A Proven Winners label and
container are required for this series.
7. PEROVSKIA 'PRIME TIME'
Walters Gardens
It's not surprising that the breeding
and introduction of perovskia varieties
has been extraordinary the past
few years. The species has so many
benefits for the consumer: aromatic
foliage, drought tolerance, rabbit
and deer resistance, a long flowering
season, and pollinator attraction.
The new selections offer a diversity
of sizes and various shades of blue,
violet, and purple calyxes and flowers.
The new 'Prime Time' is an upgrade to
'Rocketman', with improved earliness
and a denser habit, upright architecture
and more prolific flowering, as depicted
in the accompanying photograph from
the Walters Gardens trial in midAugust.
This variety matures at 30 to
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March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2023
