More Gloom Busters - A New Hydrangea and a new Rose for 2011

Just the thought of a petite new hydrangea is enough to get me through the first weeks of February. Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Lime' is a dwarf version of the popular 'Limelight' and small enough to grow in containers or front of the border. The flowers on this baby are spectacular cones of bloom that open soft green and morph to pink and burgundy come fall. The flowers dry beautifully when brought indoors...this is one new plant worth hunting down, for it's hardy, blooms for months if watered regularly, and only grows 3-5 feet tall.

And how about a red rose that almost makes up for its lack of fragrance with fire-engine bright flowers from June until frost? Flame red with single blossoms, this rose has been around for a couple of years in limited quantitites, but there should finally be an adequate supply of 'Home Run' in nurseries this spring. An offspring of the tough 'Knock Out', take a look at how healthy the foliage looks on this low-growing, continual flowering shrub rose. It's said to have "phenomenal fortitude against the dreaded black spot and it is also completely resistant to powdery mildew," which of course is marketing hype, but these shrub roses have proved to  be very tough - if you like red roses, 'Home Run' may be a great problem solver for any sunny, difficult spot in the garden. This is a rose that might almost get me to like red flowers...

 

Comments

[Chris]

I have to replace my Pee Wee hydrangea that after many yrs. in it's pot decided not to come back, so this one may take it's place. I really loved Pee Wee because of it's oak shaped leaves that were even more beautiful in the fall!
I'm with you on red flowers, although I have a crocosmia named Lucifer that is out of this world Red and attracts hummingbirds like crazy and it's seed pods are wonderful in a fall arrangement!

[avi movie editor]

Rose has been around for a few years in quantities limited, but it should finally be sufficient supplies of ' home run ' in the nursery school this spring.