P. Allen Smith's "Hot 25" Plants for 2010
Gardening expert P. Allen Smith is a renowned and respected authority when it comes to plants. So when he makes a recommendation, you can be sure it will be a winner in your garden. The following Proven Winners plants have been named his "Hot 25" for 2010. He will be showcasing theses superior varieties in magazine articles, during book tours and TV appearances, and on his website, where they will also appear as his Top Picks for 2010.
These plants have been chosen for their visual color and impact, superior performance, and low maintenance. You can find each of them at Vite Greenhouses. Ask for them on your next visit.
Common Name |
Botanical Name |
Cultivar | Description |
Thumb- nail Image |
Flower Color | Foliage Color | Annual/ Perennial | Exposure | Bloom Season | Height | Spread | Hardiness Zone (See Map) |
Container Size | Greenhouse Location | |||||||||||
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| Spring | Summer | Autumn | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Early | Middle | Late | Early | Middle | Late | Early | Middle | Late | |||||||||||||||||
| Abelia (Fragrant) | Abelia mosanensis |
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A hardy, fragrant Abelia! Wonderfully fragrant, rich pink flowers. The fragrance is better than a Lilac! The blooms adorn this plant from late May to early June. The glossy summer foliage turns an attractive orange-red in autumn. |  |
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5'-6' | 48"-5' | 5 | 10" Green | 9C-South | |||
| Agapanthus | Agapanthus |
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Large cobalt blue flowers rise far above the foliage on blackish stems in summer. |  |
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12"-18" | 36" | 7-10 | 8" Mocha | 3B-North | |||
| Agave | Agave bovicornuta |
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'Raggae Time' sports leaf edges that are clothed with highly decorative, dark brown teeth that curve both away from and back towards the center of the plant. There are two types of teeth which make the leaf edges quite unusual. |  |
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12" | 12" | n/a | Gallon White | 7D-South | |||
| Ageratum ('Artist®' Series) | Ageratum  |
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Has an open habit with radiant clusters of fuzzy flowers on compact plants flowering May through October. |  |
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7"-9" | 10"-12" | 9-11 | 4½" White | 1C-South | |||
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Has an open habit with radiant clusters of unusual, bicolor blue violet fuzzy flowers on compact plants. Flowers May - October. |  |
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12"-18" | 18" | 10 | 4½" White | 1C-South | |||||
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A little gem of a plant that continuously produces masses of purple pink flowers. |  |
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8"-12" | 10"-12" | 9-10 | 4½" White | 1C-South | |||||
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True rose-pink color with an upright, full habit; flowers all season long; low maintenance. |  |
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8"-12" | 10"-12" | 9-10 | 4½" White | 1C-South | |||||
| Alkanet | Anchusa capensis |
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Blue Angel has great vivid ultra-marine blue flowers on plants with a bushy habit make this wariety ideal for garden borders and mass plantings. Early blooming and extremely long blooming time for any perennial. |  |
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12"-15" | 12"-15" | 3-8 | 4" Green | 5A-North | |||
| Brunnera macrophylla |
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This new sport of 'Jack Frost' has more silver barring with with the bars connecting to form a silver collar around the perimeter of the leaf. In addition, there is a very light dusting of silver over the entire leaf surface. |  |
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12"-15" | 12"-15" | 3-8 | 10" Green | 11B-South | ||||
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Light green leaves with wide, irregular, creamy yellow margins characterizes this variety of Brunnera. Though somewhat hard to find in garden centers, this plant is worth searching for. It is strikingly beautiful, especially when planted en masse. |  |
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12"-15" | 12"-15" | 3-8 | 10" Green | 11B-South | |||||
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Bold, irregular, creamy white leaf margins that simply glow in the shade characterize this lovely Brunnera. This one will really light up the shady corners of your garden; some leaves can be almost entirely white! |  |
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12"-15" | 12"-15" | 3-8 | 10" Green | 11B-South | |||||
| Aloe | Aloe hybrid |
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The textured, dark green and light green leaves with raised pink ridges make this a unique plant. Clumping growth habit. |  |
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8"-14" | 8"-14" | 9-11 | 4½" White | 7D-South | |||
| Alumimum Plant | Pilea cadierei |
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Fast-growing plant with green leaves quilted in silver. |  |
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12" | 6"-8" | n/a | 4½" White | 3B-South | |||
| Alyssum | Lobularia hybrid |
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This sterile Lobularia is extremely vigorous, and beacuse it puts no energy into setting seed it has an incredibly long bloom time. Creates a beautiful hanging basket or window box and is a perfect filler in combination. New in 2010. |  |
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14"-20" | 14"-20" | 9-11 | 4½" White | 2B-North | |||
| Lobularia maritima |
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Clear Crystal is more vigorous with larger flowers than Easter Bonnet. Gardeners and landscapers will enjoy the fragrant, large blooms and stronger performance in containers and in-ground plantings. |  |
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6"-10" | 6"-10" | n/a | Flat | 8D-South | ||||
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Clear Crystal is more vigorous with larger flowers than Easter Bonnet. Gardeners and landscapers will enjoy the fragrant, large blooms and stronger performance in containers and in-ground plantings. |  |
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6"-10" | 6"-10" | n/a | Flat | 8D-South | |||||
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Clear Crystal is more vigorous with larger flowers than Easter Bonnet. Gardeners and landscapers will enjoy the fragrant, large blooms and stronger performance in containers and in-ground plantings. |  |
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6"-10" | 6"-10" | n/a | Flat | 8D-South | |||||
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Tidy, 3-4" bedding plants are matched in both habit and flowering for easy scheduling. Compact, uniform and early blooming, this series does exceptionally well from pack to garden. An excellent edging plant. |  |
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4"-4" | 9" | n/a | Flat | 8D-South | |||||
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3" dwarf series with uniform timing and compact plant habit. Fragrant flowers give a bright, colorful show. Flowers are rose-pink shades with yellow tones. |  |
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3"-3" | 9" | n/a | Flat | 8D-South | |||||
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3" dwarf series with uniform timing and compact plant habit. Fragrant flowers give a bright, colorful show. |  |
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3"-3" | 9" | n/a | Flat | 8D-South | |||||
| Amethyst violet, Bush viole | Browallia |
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Ideal for hanging baskets, tubs and mixed containers, the free-flowering, vigorous plants have attractive 1.5-in. blooms. |  |
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15"-15" | 9" | n/a | Flat | 8D-South | |||
| Anagallis | Anagallis monellii |
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This anagallis monelli type displays vivid blooms on an upright plant habit. Angie has excellent heat tolerance and it won't set seed, so consumers can enjoy a striking color show all season long. |  |
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18"-20" | 12"-18" | n/a | 4½" White | 1C-South | |||
| Anagallis ('Wildcat®' Series) | Anagallis hybrid |
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More compact and earlier to bloom, these true-blue flowers meander beautifully with other sprawlers, like Helichrysum 'Licorice'. |  |
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6"-12" | 12" | 9-10 | 4½" White | 1C-South | |||
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Early flowers with large ocher-colord flowers all season. |  |
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6"-12" | 12" | 9-10 | 4½" White | 1C-South | |||||
| Anemone (Japanese) | Anemone x hybrida |
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Pure white, semi-double flowers measuring 4 in. across top very tall stems beginning in late summer. Try planting anenomes with other fall bloomers such as mums, asters, snakeroot, and Sweet Autumn Clematis. |  |
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36"-48" | 24"-36" | 5-8 | 8" Green | 11C-North | |||
| Anise Hyssop | Agastache |
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A long-flowering cultivar, 'Black Adder' produces strong, bottlebrush-like stalks of light violet blue flowers which emerge from darker purple buds. It starts to bloom in midsummer and continues until early fall. |  |
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24"-36" | 18"-24" | 6-9 | 8" Green | 11C-South | |||
| Apple | Malus |
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Braeburns are sweet with a hint of tart, and a firmness that stores well. These traits plus the fact that they bake well have made them a very versatile apple. |  |
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Empire apples have a smooth texture and ripen in mid-September. Empire is a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious and takes on the best characteristics of both. It is excellent for eating out of hand and in salads and for use in baking and cooking. |  |
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n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 Gallon | Trees | |||||
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An exciting apple that is exceptionally crisp and juicy. Flavor is sweet but well-balanced. Excellent storage life, up to 7 months. Has been rated equal to or higher in overall quality than Haralson, Honeygold or Keepsake in winter storage trials. |  |
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n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 Gallon | Trees | |||||
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Jonathan apples are a tart firm apple that ripens in mid-September. The Jonathon is a dual-purpose variety suitable both for fresh eating and for processing. This crimson apple has a spicy tang that blends well with other varieties in sauces and cider. |  |
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n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 Gallon | Trees | |||||
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Requires pollinator. A well-known older apple that has a sprightly flavor and a medium storage life. Nearly solid, bright red skin. Heavy bearer. Good for eating and baking. Fruit tends to drop when ripe. |  |
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15'-20' | 15' | 4-7 | 5 Gallon | Trees | |||||
| Apple (Combination) |
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This single tree has a branch of each variety grafted on. Fun! |  |
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n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 Gallon | Trees | ||||
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A single tree has branches grafted on with each of the listed varieties (one branch pre variety). Novel! |  |
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n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 Gallon | Trees | |||||
| Arborvitae | Thuja occidentalis |
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Techny Arborvitae has long been regarded as the hardiest, most rugged of all the Arborvitae. Now we have Golden Techny, a golden sport with the same hardiness. A major breakthrough in Gold arborvitae! |  |
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10'-15' | 5'-6' | 3 | 10" Green | 9C-South | |||
| Asparagus Fern | Asparagus densiflorus |
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Delicate, bright green, needlelike leaves on arching stems with a trailing habit. This fern will create a dense fluffy look in containers. |  |
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12"-24" | 12" | 9-10 | 4" Green | 3D-South | |||
| Aster | Callistephus chinensis |
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Ideal dwarf asters for containers. The double 3" flowers create a mound of vibrant color in the pot and a dense carpet in flower beds. Large flowering. |  |
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7"-8" | 6"-7" | 5 | 4" Green | n/a | |||
| Aster (Alpine) | Aster alpinus |
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Lavender, blue and pink flowers, May-June |  |
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12" | 15" | n/a | 4" Green | 5A-North | |||
| Aster (Hardy) | Aster novi-belgii |
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The variety Believer is a early, deep purple flowering Aster | |
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18"-24" | 18"-24" | 3-8 | 8" Green | n/a | ||||
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Dark purple double flowers on well mounded plants. Late natural season response matches Marie III and Peter III and the peak of the garden mum season. |  |
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18"-24" | 18"-24" | 5 | 8" Green | 12B-South | |||||
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Dark purple double flowers on well mounded plants. Late natural season response matches Marie III and Peter III and the peak of the garden mum season. |  |
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18"-24" | 18"-24" | 5 | 8" Green | 12B-South | |||||
| Aster (Japanese) | Kalimeris yomena |
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A variegated relative of the aster, 'Shogun' has narrow, olive-green leaves edged in and splashed with golden yellow in the springtime. As the season progresses, the leaves age to green and creamy white. Small, pale lavender, aster-like flowers are produc |  |
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16"-24" | 18"-24" | 4 | 8" Green | 11C-North | |||
| Aster (New York) | Aster dumosus |
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Densely packed clusters of clear light blue flowers provide outstanding color in the garden from late summer into fall. 'Wood's' selections have shown excellent resistance to mildew and rust. Dwarf, compact habit. |  |
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12"-16" | 15"-20" | 3-8 | 8" Green | 12B-South | |||
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Densely packed clusters of charming purple, semi-double flowers provide outstanding color in the garden from late summer into fall. 'Wood's' selections have shown excellent resistance to mildew and rust. Dwarf, compact habit. |  |
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12"-16" | 15"-20" | 3-8 | 8" Green | 12B-South | |||||
| Astilbe (Chinese) | Astilbe chinensis |
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Soft bluish-purple plumes are dense and blocky. Heavy bloomer; blooms in midsummer. Large, bright green leaves are coarse in texture. Great in containers or in the garden. |  |
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18"-20" | 12"-15" | 4-9 | 8" Mocha | 11B-North | |||
| Avens | Geum |
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'Fireball' has large golden yellow semi double flowers picoteed in red, a compact habit and reblooms. This plant will brighten any border. Very showy and easy to grow. |  |
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24"-36" | 18"-24" | 5-9 | 8" Green | 12C-North | |||
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The burgundy purple calyx opens to reveal ruffled, apricot flowers with a rose blush. They lighten to peach as they mature. The semi-double to single flowers measure up to 1½ inches across and are perched atop burgundy purple stems. |  |
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16"-18" | 14" | n/a | 10" Green | 12C-North | |||||
| Geum chiloense |
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Grown for attractive hairy foliage and long blooming cheerful flowers in summer. Saucer shaped flowers are held high above foliage on long erect stems. |  |
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18"-24" | 12"-18" | 5-8 | 4" Green | 6B-North | ||||
| Azalea | Rhododendron |
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Bright neon red-pink flowers engulf this compact semi-evergreen Azalea in spring. Vivid, glossy, silver and dark green variegated foliage supplies the color the rest of the year. |  |
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18"-24" | 18"-24" | 5 | 10" White | n/a | |||
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A compact, densely branched variety with masses of lavender flowers providing a spectacular show in spring. The glossy, dark green foliage turns a rich mahogany in fall and is slightly longer and narrower than PJM. |  |
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36"-5' | 48"-6' | 4-7 | 3¾ Gallon | Trees | |||||
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n/a | n/a | 4-7 | 3¾ Gallon | Trees | |||||||
Common Name |
Botanical Name |
Cultivar | Description |
Thumb- nail Image |
Flower Color | Foliage Color | Annual/ Perennial | Exposure | Early | Middle | Late | Early | Middle | Late | Early | Middle | Late | Height | Spread | Hardiness Zone (See Map) |
Container Size | Greenhouse Location | |||
| Spring | Summer | Autumn | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bloom Season | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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