Page 18 - maY 26, 2016 - martensville messenger
GARDENING
Hardy Perennials, Recent Introductions
For many, gardening is a
competitive sport. Some
brag that theirs is bigger,
better, brighter or bloomier
(ok, not a real word, but it
fits in the sequence). Others
like a challenge and go
to extremes to grow what
others find impossible
on the prairies. While
others are connoisseurs or
collectors – these gardeners
like to have something
that no one else has: rare
and/or expensive. And
lastly, there are the ones
that need to have the
latest and newest. These
latter gardeners may be in
interested in the following
recent
introductions:
Tall Bearded Iris
‘Mallory Kay’ (Iris
Germanica)
‘Mallory Kay’ is a lightly
scented, dark cherry red
iris, 80 cm or more in
height. Iris hybridizer Larry
Johnson introduced it in
1989. Its green sword-like
foliage remains attractive
throughout the growing
season. Bearded iris have
graced prairie gardens
almost since European
settlement. Their demands
are minimal: full sun and
well-drained soil. They are
easily divided every 3 or
4 years. This is best done
after flowering in late June
or early July. Deer resistant.
Siberian Iris ‘Concord
Crush’ (Iris Sibirica)
Native to central Europe
and Asia, Siberian iris are
very tough and do well on
the prairies. With large,
vibrant blue, “ruffled”
double flowers in early
summer, ‘Concord Crush’
is 70 cm or more in height
with narrow blue-green,
grass-like foliage. Unlike
the bearded iris, Siberian
iris do best in full sun and
evenly moist soil well
amended with organic
matter. Once established,
it is easily divided every 3
or 4 years. Introduced by
Bob Bauer and John Coble
in 2009. Deer resistant.
A 4-inch mulch layer
will retain soil moisture.
‘Autumn Fire’ Showy
Stonecrop (Sedum
Spectabilis)
In the same group as the
well known ‘Autumn
Joy’, ‘Autumn Fire’ was
selected for its tight growth
habit, thick succulent
blue-green foliage, and
more brightly coloured
dusty- rose flowers which
deepen to a rusty red.
Although the species is
native to China, ‘Autumn
Fire’ is a Quebec Norseco
Nursery introduction. It’s
taller than ‘Autumn Joy’,
with sturdier, less floppy
stems. Once mature,
plants have a height of
50 cm and a spread of
40 cm. Blooming in late
summer and early fall,
it also provides winter
interest. Plant in full
sun and well drained
soil.
Drought-tolerant
once established. Easily
divided once established.
Sara Williams
Hosta ‘Empress Wu’
(Hosta)
If you want an enormous
focal point, ‘Empress
Wu’ will be your hosta of
choice this season. With
an impressive mature
height of 110 cm and a
spread of 120 cm, it’s hard
to beat and is considered
“the largest hosta known
in the industry.” But it
may take up to 5 years to
achieve its mature size.
Named after an Empress of
China (624-705AD), it has
thick, dark green, deeply
veined leaves and forms
an enormous clump with
reddish-violet flowers in
August. Hostas do best in
shade in evenly moist soil
well amended with organic
matter. Mulch to retain soil
moisture. It was bred by
Brian and Virginia Sklaggs
and patented in 2005.
All these should be
available at your local
nurseries. Or, come
and be sociable at the
Saskatchewan Perennials
Society’s
Spring
Perennial Plant Exchange
and Sale. Here members
share plants from their
gardens as well dainties
and a cup of coffee
or tea (and, of course,
some garden gossip).
For the Sale part, these
and several other select
perennials (e.g. Itoh
and fernleaf peonies,
hydrangeas,
clematis,
etc.) will be available
at bargain prices. The
Plant Exchange and
Sale will be held on
Take and Bake Pizza
Fresh made
right in front of
you with our
in store made
pepperoni, ham,
salami and
pulled pork.
We have a variety of new products!
Come in or check out our website.
(306) 955-9791
www.smokehaus.ca
Tuesday, May 31 at the
Forestry Farm Park and
Zoo starting at 6:30 pm.
While this is a memberonly event, memberships
can be purchased at the
door for just $10.
Sara will be discussing
more of her favourite
perennials in her workshop,
“Perennials: The Enduring
and
the
Fleeting”
during the University of
Saskatchewan Hortweek
in July, 2016. For this full
program of more than 30
classes and workshops on
a wide range of gardening
topics (some of them free),
go to https://ccde.usask.
ca/gardening/hortweek.
This
column
is
provided
courtesy
of
the
Saskatchewan
Perennial
Society
( w w w. s a s k p e r e n n i a l .
ca;
hortscene@yahoo.
com; www.facebook.com/
saskperennial).
Check out
our Bulletin
Board or
Calendar
for
upcoming
garden
information
sessions,
workshops,
tours and
other
events.
ABOVE: Sedum Autumn Fire
ABOVE: Siberian Iris ‘Concord Crush’ ( Iris Sibirica)