Beautiful Gardens’ Plants of Distinction tested to perform in Virginia

In 2009 the Virginia Nurserymen’s Association Horticulture Research Foundation implemented the Beautiful Gardens plant introduction program. Since its inception, the program has selected plants sustainable to Virginia’s landscape and its economy. In 2009, the program introduced nine underutilized plants with stable performance in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-2 and AHS Heat Zones 8a-7. This year the program added eight plants and in 2011 an additional six (Edgeworthia chrysantha, Hesperaloe parviflora, Iris cristata ‘Tennessee White’, Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold’, Sporobolus heterolepis and Narcissus ‘Golden Echo’).
The introduction program has several plants scheduled for retail/commercial sale in 2012. These plants have been field propagated at the Beautiful Gardens evaluation sites. VT Spirit daylily is the first candidate for retail sale in spring 2012. It is currently available in field-divided fans and as Stage III and IV tissue culture material.
Growers will initially be required to sell plants through participating independent garden centers. As inventories of plants increase sales will be open to commercial and out-of-state buyers.

Pictured: VT Spirit daylily is expected to be available for retail sale in the Beautiful Gardens introduction program in spring 2012.