Top 20 Plants of 2008
Below are the Top 20 Plants of 2008 selected by the Wilson Brothers.
Selections were made based on popularity among customers, sales, outstanding features, and overall performance in the landscape and garden.
#1 The Knock Out Red Rose (Rosa 'Radko') - From the same cross that produced the original Knock Out Rose, The Double Knock Out Rose represents the next generation in the family of The Knock Out Roses. The full double flowers look just like a classic rose. It is as resistant to black spot as the famous original, has the same bloom cycle from Spring to first frost. Plant as a specimen, in groups or as a hedge anywhere in the landscape that receives full sun to afternoon shade. Morning sun and good drainage is a must...more
#2 Loropetalum 'Ever Red Sunset' (Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum) - The first loropetalum to produce true-red flowers! The witch hazel-like, fringy flowers are produced in abundance during late Winter and Spring, and sporadically during Summer and Fall. The flowers contrast wonderfully with the deep burgundy-red foliage. An easy to grow, low maintenance shrub. Useful as a hedge, accent, in small groups, in mass plantings, or as a specimen in landscape beds and foundation plantings...more
#3 Indian Hawthorn 'Snow White' (Raphiolepis indica) - 'Snow White' Indian Hawthorn is an evergreen shrub that produces an abundance of white flowers in Spring. An excellent alternative for azaleas where there is too much sun. The dense, low and mounding form, and the hardiness makes this shrub a great selection for foundation plantings or in sunny to partially shaded landscape beds and islands. Also useful as a hedge or border, or in small groups or planted in mass. Very easy to grow in many varieties of well-drained soil. Exceptionally drought and heat tolerant. Leaf spot resistant...more
#4 Encore Azalea 'Autumn Embers' (Azalea X 'Conleb') - This Encore selection grows up to 4.5' tall and 4' wide. Large, rich purple trumpet flowers are produced in Spring, Summer and Fall! Most impressive when planted in groups or mass plantings in landscape beds but also works well as an informal hedge or border. Grows well in large containers or planters so long as the soil is evenly moist but well-drained. As with most azaleas, this one prefers acidic, well-drained soil. Does not like wet feet. Will tolerate full sun, however prefers some afternoon shade. Attracts butterflies...more
#5 Frost Proof Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) - 'Frost Proof' Gardenia produces an abundance of sweetly fragrant, velvety, double white flowers in Spring through mid-Summer. Unlike some of the older, more finicky varieties, 'Frost Proof' Gardenias are unaffected by cold snaps, and thrive on neglect. They easily adapt to a variety of soill conditions and resist insects and disease. Upright, bushy habit, with narrow, elongated leaves. Excellent cut flower - the flowers last longer than older Gardenia varieties. Winner of the '2007 Garden Writers Best Plants Award'...more
#6 Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' (Viburnum macrophyllum) - This outstanding viburnum produces an abundance of pretty, white flower clusters from April to frost! produces a flush of blooms every month through October. One of only a few shrubs that blooms all season. Most useful in the landscape as a free standing specimen shrub or small tree. Will grow in full sun provided there is adequate moisture during summer dry spells. Some afternoon shade is appreciated. Attractive bright red berries in late Summer are followed by wine-red Fall foliage. A must in every landscape where it will grow (zones 5 to 8)...more
#7 Spirea 'Gold Mound' (Spirea japonica) A low and mounding shrub popular for its outstanding golden-yellow foliage throughout the season. These plants literally fly out of the nursery during the warm season. Fuzzy pink flowers are produced from late Spring into Summer atop the mounding foliage. If the faded flowers are sheared you can expect a repeat bloom. Useful as an accent, in small groups or massed or as a border in landscape beds, islands and foundation plantings. A low-maintenance plant that will grow in a wide range of well-drained soils. Best foliage color in full sun. Very drought tolerant once established...more
#8 Coneflower 'Tiki Torch' (Echinacea A new coneflower that boasts large, bright orange flowers on upright, well-branched stems. The flowers appear in June and keep coming into September. Plants thrive in average soils or hot, dry conditions, shrug off cold, and are equally at home in full sun or partial shade. Blooms last well as cut or dried flowers, and the large cone at the heart of the flower head turns black as the seeds mature, adding further interest and providing nourishment for birds...more
#9 Daylily 'Stella De Oro' (Hemerocallis) America's favorite daylily and one that has remained the most popular daylily at the nursery. Why? Because it's the only daylily that repeat blooms for up to 5 months! Even more impressive, one plant can create up to 400 blooms in a single season! Grow this amazing daylily in containers or the garden. Useful as an edger, for mass planting in beds or on embankments, or as an accent in perennial gardens or anywhere in the sunny landscape...more
#10 Lantana 'Sonset' (Lantana camara) Perhaps the hardiest lantana in existence - rivals 'Miss Huff'. The flowers are amazing and butterflies and hummingbirds flock to them. The flowers provide a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colors throughtout the day: starting off the day yellow, then followed by orange changing to red, then magenta and purple. You will even find tiny petals with more than one color! Easy to grow in most any well-drained soil and execptionally drought tolerant...more
#11 Crape Myrtle 'Dynamite' (Lagerstroemia indica) This recent introduction features an abundance of large, true-red flower clusters for up to 100 days during Summer! Upright, broad, rounded canopy to 12 to 20' tall and 8 to 16' wide. The dark green leaves turn to orange and red in Fall and contrast nicely with the exfoliating, grey-brown bark. Useful in landscape beds, islands and medians; planted in a row, as a specimen, or planted in groups of typically 3 or more. Useful in foundation plantings as espalier (against a large open wall), or as a focal point or entryway tree. Yes, the flowers are TRUE red!...more
#12 Verbena 'Homestead Purple' (Verbena canadensis) Homestead Purple Verbena is the most cold hardy verbena in existence. In southern gardens the purple flowers will start blooming profusely as early as March and continue until frost! Leave this one plenty of room as it will spread up to 6'. Useful as a border in gardens and landscape beds, in containers, and in hanging baskets. Can be sheared during the season to promote more flower production. Exceptionally tough and drought tolerant...more
#13 Hosta Lily 'Patriot' (Hosta) Patriot is one of the most exciting hostas to come along in some time. The foliage is dark green with a broad, wavy margin of pure white, creating an especially strong and highly visible contrast which literally lights up any shady area. Plants grow vigorously to 20" tall and nearly twice as wide. Lavender flowers appear on 26-30" scapes in Summer...more
#14 Mexican Petunia 'Purple Showers' (Ruellia brittonia) A vigorous plant that produces a non-stop abundance of showy purple petunia-like flowers from Spring to frost. Butterflies love the flowers. The flowers appear at the the leaf axils on greenish-purple stems clad with willowy, sword-shaped green leaves. An easy to grow plant that can be grown in soils with average moisture retention, to damp and even wet soils, such as in the margin of the pond. Useful most anywhere in the sunny to part shaded areas of the garden...more
#15 Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' (Euphorbia) Though small in stature - reaching about 12 to 18 inches tall and wide - Diamond Frost always has hundreds of tiny white flowers. For best blooming, select a location with as much sunlight as possible, although some shade is acceptable. Prefers well-drained light soil. Useful in beds, containers hanging baskets and window boxes. An excellent companion in combination plantings...more
#16 Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) Muhly Grass features beautiful clouds of pinkish-purple, airy, wispy, puff ball-like flowers in late Summer through early Fall. An absolutely showstopping source of late-season color, this native grass is also effortless to grow in all but wet or boggy soils. Thrives is sandy, well-drained soil in full sun. Excellent for mass planting as a groundcover on embankments and seaside plantings. Also useful as an accent, in groupings or mass plantings in borders, landscape beds and islands, perennial gardens, rock gardens and foundation plantings. Exceptionally drought tolerant....more
#17 Abelia 'Canyon Creek' (Abelia grandiflora) 'Canyon Creek' Abelia is an attractive, low-maintenance, mounding, flowering shrub that features copper-color new growth that matures to outstanding yellow. The best foliage color is displayed in full sun. Clusters of pretty, bell-shaped flowers are produced at the ends of the branches from early Summer to frost! Easy to grow in most any well-drained soil. Will appreciate an occasional watering during drought...more
#18 Dwarf Magnolia 'Little Gem' (Magnolia grandiflora) 'Little Gem' is a dwarf Magnolia grows from 15' to 23' tall and produces an abundance of wonderfully fragrant, large white flowers from late Spring through late Fall. The evergreen, lustrous leaves are about 1/3 the size of the species. Growth habit is upright and bushy to 20' tall and 10' wide. Useful in landscape beds and islands as an evergreen screen, hedge, buffer or background or in small groups or as a specimen. Useful in foundation plantings as a corner plant, or as espalier (grown flat against an open wall). Easy to grow in moist, well-drained soils, but also very drought tolerant once established...more
#19 Carolina Sapphire Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) Also known as Arizona Cypress, this fast-growing graceful evergreen tree features silvery-blue lacy foliage that provides year round color and texture in the landscape. A super-fast grower moderate to 30' tall and 10-15' wide. Useful in landscape beds, islands and medians as a screen, buffer, specimen, or in groups. Useful around the home or a building to frame the outside corners. Form is upright, broad and conical with weeping branchlets. An excellent selection to create a quick screen or buffer. Low maintenance, adaptable, drought tolerant and durable...more
#20 Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood' (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood') Bloodgood is a very popular cultivar of the upright, Japanese red maple. It is a compact understory tree popular for its attractive foliage and shape. Grows 15 to 20' tall and about the same in width. Palmate leaves are deep-reddish purple and hold their color well through Summer, then turning to outstanding crimson-red in Fall. An excellent specimen or accent tree around the home or in landscape islands. Well-drained soil is a must. Grows in sun or partial shade...more
SEE ALSO:
Top 20 Plants of 2009
Top 20 Plants of 2007