By Brian Minter
Summer always does its thing with sending some extra heat while turning off the rain, so we need to be planting varieties that are up to the challenge.
I’m a sedum fan for that very reason, and they are only getting better.
My go-to varieties have rich colour — not only now, but all year long.
It’s no secret my traditional favourite is the rich gold Angelina that seems to put up with just about everything, from hot sun to cold winters. It also makes everything planted around it look better. The reddish tips in cold weather are lovely, and I have yet to find a better place in the spring to show off minor bulbs like crocus. Over time, however, I’ve grown more fond of Angelina Prima and Angelina’s Teacup, because they don’t distract from the show with flowers in late spring.
I just returned from a whirlwind one-day trek to North America’s largest horticultural show in Columbus, Ohio. It was a lot of travel but so worthwhile because I bumped into my friend Chris Hansen. He has become a plant breeder extraordinaire. His main, and well-earned, claim to fame is the development of the first golden sedum called Gold Nugget. It has won awards worldwide and is so deserving of them. He took me by the arm and invited me over to introduce me to his latest plant “kids.” I didn’t realize that he had previously developed Angelina Prima, for which I thanked him profusely, but that’s not the story. He has bred five new cousins for Prima, which he has named the Tight & Tidy series. Coming out next year will be Angelinas in red, yellow, green, pink and blue. These will be the WOW factor for our gardens. Imagine having five colours of evergreen sedums to add life to those impossibly dry areas. Even your containers will come to life with these garden jewels, and they will be so easy to care for.
They are hardy to the Prairies, down to Zone 3, grow only about three inches tall by 15 inches wide and remain truly Tight & Tidy all year round. This sedum reflexum series is also mildew resistant which is a common problem with many sedum varieties.
Coming in a wide range of colours from gold, hot pink and orange to many variegated golds and reds, the Dazzler series will also be available by late next spring. They, too, will blend beautifully with his whole new series of sempervivums.
Hansen also developed the Sun Sprite series of sedums, and his new SuperSparkler Blue Ox and SunSparkler Cherry Flare will further spice up this already amazingly colourful collection.
I’m very excited for Hansen, but more excited for our gardening community to find these among the garden offerings next year.
When it gets very hot, dry and tough to keep things looking lush outside, you will have the perfect new plants to challenge summer.
Featured images by Brian Minter
Brian Minter is an award-winning horticulturist, author and syndicated columnist from Chilliwack, B.C. He and his wife, Faye, founded Minter Gardens, a 32-acre mixed-style show garden.
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