Hot Plants for 2010
This week at New England Grows I visited with many of the nurseries in the exhibit hall to find out what they see as the hot plants for 2010. Of course, many nurseries have their own introductions that they consider to be the “latest and greatest” (and many of their plants are truly spectacular). But, aside from that, there was a lot of consistency in the answers they gave. So here are the predicted top selling plants for the year –
Edibles – Many nurseries ran out of fruit trees and berries last year and they expect the trend to continue in 2010. Despite the horrible summer in many parts of the country last year, consumers seem committed to growing their own fruit and vegetables, especially heirloom plants and organic herbs. Garden centers are selling larger transplants of all kinds, as well as pre-planted containers (e.g., salad mixes, herb gardens).
Succulents – Both hardy and tender succulents are showing up in a wide range of applications, from living walls and green roofs to container gardens, rock gardens, dining table centerpieces, herbaceous borders, and along walkways. New varieties are rapidly being introduced, including some gorgeous, highly structural plants (such as agave) that go well beyond the familiar sedums and echeveria.
Natives – Despite the ongoing debate about what, exactly, constitutes a true “native” plant, consumers are drawn to anything labeled as a native plant.
Bamboo – With the increasing availability of cold-hardy clumping bamboos (such as the Fargesia bamboos), nurseries and garden centers are carrying more varieties of bamboo for use in the home landscape. Homeowners are recognizing the versatility of bamboo and are starting to use it in place of more traditional shrubs and ground covers.
Echinacea – Cone flowers have been all the rage for several years now and continue to enjoy widespread popularity as new cultivars are introduced, particularly red and yellow varieties like ‘Tomato Soup’ and ‘Mac ‘n Cheese’.
Heuchera – Another favorite over the past few years, coral bells are available in a wide range of colors, including traffic-stopping, multicolored plants like the new introduction ‘Electra’. Heuchera with villosa parentage (Heuchera villosa is our native species) are particularly popular due to their hardiness, many blooms, and ability to withstand hot weather without the typical summer “melt-down”.
It’s interesting to see confirmation of the trends in this way. None of these seem to be new so that may mean they are indeed trends rather than fads. You have to wonder if Echinacea and Heuchera might be on the way out of the trend line but new introductions are keeping them alive. So what might be coming next?
You’re right that there’s nothing really new here. The one truly new plant I forgot to mention was the Bloomerang reblooming lilac that many people are talking about – this is the first year we’re seeing it in garden centers (I’ll be writing about it soon). I do think that the tried-and-true, like Echinacea and Heuchera, continue to be popular because (with a few exceptions) they’re easy to care for, dependable, and beautiful – and because there’s always a new introduction that people just have to have. Some of the other plants where we continue to see new introductions are hydrangeas and roses. But, realistically, how many of these can one person fit into their garden? Smaller plants, like the cone flowers and coral bells, are easier to squeeze in (“Just ONE more! OK, maybe two…”). As for what’s coming next – some of the things I heard at NEGrows were living walls (there are quite a few smaller, consumer-friendly, modular systems available to homeowners), moss and/or ‘no-mow’ grass as an alternative to traditional lawns (this seems to be feeding on the green/sustainable/eco-friendly movement – as are living/green walls), and more compact shrubs for smaller landscapes. What do others think?