Chicagoland Grows introduces new perennials

Chicagoland Grows

has introduced three new perennials, and I got the details on them from breeder Jim Ault at the Mid-Am show in January.

Prince Charming Solomon’s seal
Selected by Brent Horvath at

Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

Inc., this vigorous selection of Solomon’s seal produces attractive medium-green foliage that can take on a bluish cast in full sun, contrasting with the gray undersides of the foliage. A profusion of creamy-white flowers produced in spring is followed by green berries that turn purple in autumn. The season ends with the foliage turning an attractive golden yellow in October and November. A vigorous spreader, yet compact, growing only to 12 inches high. USDA Zones 4 to 7. Retail availability in 2011 or 2012.

Burgundy Fireworks coneflower
This unique coneflower is the culmination of five generations of breeding over 10 years and combines three different coneflower species: Echinacea laevigata, E. purpurea, and E. tennesseensis. The convoluted ancestry no doubt is the source of the unusual traits observed for this selection. ‘Burgundy Fireworks’ has the vigor and stout stems of Echinacea purpurea, but at less than 18 inches tall by wide, it is more compact than many selections currently in the marketplace. The stems remain sturdy even on pot-grown plants, unlike so many of the Echinacea paradoxa hybrids. The flowering stems are a deep burgundy color in spring and fall, which is still evident in the heat of summer. But most unique about this selection are the deep beet-red ray flowers, which are not only upturned like its E. tennesseensis ancestor, but are individually fused into quills. It's long blooming, as well. Stable under four years of field evaluation and three cycles of tissue culture propagation. Hardy in Zones 5-7 at least. Developed by Jim Ault at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Tidal Pool prostrate speedwell
This hybrid prostrate speedwell was selected from a cross made at the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2007 between Veronica armena and Veronica pectinata ‘Rosea,’ two already popular prostrate speedwells. This selection seems to have inherited the best traits from both parents: it's denser and faster spreading than either parent, with small oak-like leaves that are medium green with a faint silvery-blue cast from its slight pubescence. The plants cover themselves with medium to deep blue-violet flowers from late April into mid-May. The rest of the growing season, they settle into attractive groundcovers that seem to handle cold, heat, humidity, rain, and drought equally well. Trial plants at the Garden have been through two winters and three summers without any cultural issues. Two-year-old plants have grown to 2 inches tall by 22 inches wide on a clay soil, and to 3 inches tall by 30 inches wide in sandy soil. This selection can be propagated readily from cuttings or by division. Very drought tolerant. Likely hardy to Zones 4-8. Developed by Jim Ault at Chicago Botanic Garden.