Cantaloupe Supreme coneflower. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
During an annual mid-July trek to OFA, the country’s largest horticulture trade show in Columbus, Ohio, I found a few plants that hold promise for our landscapes in the next few years. Here’s the first of a two-part sampler:
Supreme Elegance coneflower. Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries
‘Supreme Cantaloupe’, ‘Supreme Flamingo’ and ‘Supreme Elegance’ are a series of coneflowers introduced in a new partnership between two well-known brands — Terra Nova Nurseries and Blooms of Bressingham Plants.
Terra Nova, which introduced ‘Tiki Torch’ coneflower, bred the Supreme series to bloom their first year.
Many of the newer coneflower (Echinacea) introductions need a couple of years in the ground before they perform to expectations. In fact, many breeders recommend cutting off the first-year flowers to allow roots to bulk up.
The Supreme series will be co-branded with Blooms of Bressingham Plants, which introduced ‘Rozanne’ geranium.
On a sweltering July day, the crisp and clean ‘Supreme Cantaloupe’ stood out in the Blooms’ perennial trial garden in its first year at Ohio State University, adjacent to the Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences building.
Supreme Flamingo coneflower. Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries
Each of the Supreme coneflowers is hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9. Cantaloupe, with a color that is just like its name, is 29 inches tall when blooming; Flamingo, with coral to shrimp pink color, is 30 inches tall; and Elegance is 34 inches tall with rose-red flowers. Each is about 15 inches wide.
Also in the first year mix for the partners are two foamy bells (Heucherella).
Buttered Rum foamy bell (Heucherella). Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries
‘Buttered Rum’ and ‘Cracked Ice’ have white flowers that dangle about 5 inches above 10-inch compact mounds. They have white flowers and are hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9.
‘Buttered Rum’ has large, buttery, caramel colored maple like leaves that turn rose red in fall. The leaves on ‘Cracked Ice’ have a blue-green hue and contrasting veins. They turn pinkish in fall.
Cracked Ice foamy bell (Heucherella). Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries
Look for these plants next spring in garden centers, online or mail order plant sources.
