Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens released its 2008 Plant Select List in April. Plants chosen are especially suited for high plains and intermountain regions. This year’s selections include:
* Clematis Mongolian Bells, a compact plant available in pink, white, lavender and blue. It’s hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9, flowers from May to September and grows in full sun to part shade.
* Heptacodium miconioides (seven-son flower), a lush, large shrub or small tree with peeling bark. It produces masses of fragrant white flowers in late summer and cherry-red sepals in fall. It’s hardy in Zones 4-9 and grows best in full sun to part shade.
* Nepeta ‘Psfike’ (Little Trudy catnip), a hybrid catnip with distinctive serrated, silvery foliage and long season of lavender flowers. It is the most compact catnip cultivar growing up to 10 inches high and 16 inches wide. It’s hardy in Zones 4-9. It flowers from April to October.
* Scrophularia macrantha (red birds in a tree), a perennial that produces crimson tubular flowers from May to frost. It’s hardy in Zones 4-9. It grows up to 36 inches high and 18 inches wide.
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For more: Pat Hayward, executive director Plant Select, (970) 481-3429; www.plantselect.org.
July 2008