Introductions

Blue grama grass
Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’ is a highly ornamental selection of Western native grass with tall, upright stems. Showy chartreuse seed heads, which age to blonde, hold their straight shape and are displayed high above the foliage through winter, providing many months of color and texture. Developed by David Salman of High Country Gardens, this new grass is being co-introduced nationally with Plant Select. ‘Blonde Ambition’ grows 30-36 inches tall and wide. Blooming July to October, it grows best in full sun to partial shade in moderate to dry soils, and tolerates a wide range of soil types. This hardy native will grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9.
 
For more: High Country Gardens, www.highcountrygardens.com; Plant Select, www.plantselect.org.

Aster
Intrinsic Perennial Gardens Inc. introduced its second aster. Aster ericoides ‘First Snow’ has a bushy habit growing around 24 inches tall and spreading even wider. Plants start blooming in late September and continue into October with hundreds of tiny white flowers that cover the plant. The plants have fine needle-like foliage on arching stems. These easy-to-grow and hardy plants grow best in a moist to well-drained soil in full sun and are drought tolerant. 
 
For more: Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, (800) 648-2788 ext. 15; www.intrinsicperennialgardens.com.