Recent pictures from the nursery

Check these out:

What do you get for Valentines Day????

You’re asking me?  Something to make Margaritas of course!

New cold hardy citrus just in at all New Nurseries, for pots on your patio or ornamental trees…

But what do you mean cold hardy?  Well, to the untrained eye, you can’t see it.  But to the experts, the only citrus worth growing are grafted on to the most cold hardy rootstock.

Why spend time growing an inferior tree?  The best Citrus are grown on ‘trifoliate’ or ‘flying dragon’ rootstock.  The cheaper inferior plants are grown on ‘sour orange’ rootstock.  Trifoliate and Flying Dragon (flying dragon intentionally dwarfs the tree) are more disease resistant and up to 5 degrees more cold hardy.

The best varieties?

Meyer Lemon for taste (actually not a lemon, it’s a yellow orange with lemon flavor)

Bloomsweet or Rio Red Grapefruit for the scent of the blooms

Kumquat for year round ornamental color

Satsuma for good eating.

And finally….Mexican Limes for Margaritas!!!

What blooms in the deep shade after weeks of cloudy weather? Nothing? Nope...something......

The never ending question….would you like the foolproof answer?

It takes two to (Blue) Tango!

Blue Tango is a relatively new subtropical plant, along with Loie’s Pride, Del Mar and a few other choice hybrid bromeliads. 

These guys are easy…just place them in the garden, don’t worry about the roots, in fact they’re best remaining in the pots.  Certain varieties have colored foliage, some spiky blooms, but all exotic.  They’re even a striking houseplant.  The “pups” babies may be removed and planted for next years crop.  So care free even dummies can do it. 

Loie’s Pride…a perfect houseplant.

How do you decide which Loropetalum?

Not too many years ago, we old timers never heard of the word Loropetalum.  (At least these purple ones)

Along came Barry Yinger from the USDA and trips to Korea, China and Japan and now Loropetalum is a household name.

But now we have the question, “Which One?”

Let New Nurseries help you with choosing the best.

LOW GROWING

Pixie- new patent from PDSI and in the Southern Living Collection, Pixie stays almost flat, 6”-12” prostrate ground hugging.  Makes a great accent in a container flowing over the sides.  Keep Pixie dry, dry, dry.  He’s very touchy to overwatering which makes a great plant for containers.  I have even seen a few in large hanging baskets with accent color that look unexpected and elegant.  Mix the purple of Pixie with whites, or even Spanish Moss for a tropical look.  Available at all New Nurseries in 3 gallon and 7 gallon.

MEDIUM GROWING

Plum Delight- trademarked by Hines Nursery in the early 90’s, Plum Delight is a robust medium grower that keeps the purple foliage better than others.  (Many turn to a muted dingy brown-purple as the weather gets warmer)  Plum Delight is the best foundation shrub of all the Loropetalum varieties because he’s (or she???) more dense and compact than others.  Part shade or full sun.   Looks great with white caladiums or impatiens. 

Purple Diamond- this little boy has the manners your mother tried to teach you.  Tidy, uniform and compact.  Good color, great performer.   Not always easy to find at most wholsale nurseries….until you try The New Nurseries.

LARGE GROWING

Ever Red Sunset – WOW!  Best blooms ever, Clear red and luminous foliage.  Undoubtedly the best color.  A bit untidy if allowed to go unpruned. 

ZhouZhou Fuchsia- Can’t say that too many times without a tongue twisting.  Z-Z gets big, which in turn makes one of the BEST small ornamental trees.  Very picturesque, almost a poor Southerner’s Japanese Maple.  However, don’t feel too sorry for the poor southerner, this Big Daddy blooms its head off and makes a stunning accent if pruned to a small tree.  30 gallon specimen trees arrive at New Nursery Central and New Nursery West March 1.

BEST BLOOMER

Emerald Snow- a white selection of green foliaged Loropetalum that blooms, blooms….blooms.  Want another bloom cycle?  Just tip the plant lightly with pruning shears and in 3 weeks here comes another set of blooms.  Emerald Snow is another superior selection from the Southern Living Collection.  Looks great combined with Plum Delight or Purple Diamond.

Purple Pixie

So confusing are all these iris....

Don’t be confused, whether “Butterfly, Bicolor, African”   Use the best one you can…Use only Katrina.

Perino’s Garden Center in New Orleans was devastated by flooding in Hurricane Katrina that lasted for weeks.  The Perino brothers, Peter and Buddy found one lone survivor in a bed of thousands of dead Butterfly Iris.  This tough new survivor, appropriately named ‘Katrina’ was studied and patented for its hardiness traits by Monrovia Nurseries.  We are proud to say that The New Nurseries helped introduce ‘Katrina’ three years ago and we find it to be a much better proven performer. 

Root rot resistant, vertical evergreen to 24”, almost always blooming white with a hint of yellow and orange.

Patent royalties for ‘Katrina’ go to preserving America’s wetlands. 

Autumn Lilac Encore Azalea

You’ve never seen this color before in the South….

A new hybrid Encore everblooming Azalea, Lilac was just released to a few exclusive nurseries.  Come check ours out, ready for your landscapes in 3 gallon.  Lilac is a low grower, to 24”.  Tolerates full sun to light shade.  Shape and fertilize after each blooming and you’ll have a great performer for your customer

What's all the buzz about Southern Living Plant Collection?

Well, lots of buzz actually!   www.southernlivingplants.com

A great resource, Southern Living has been working with leading plant innovators, breeders and growers to select the best plants for the South.  New Early Blooming Crape Myrtles will be here later this year, and more exciting is a Lilac colored blooming Encore Azalea.  No azalea before has ever had this color, so perfect for Easter themed gardens.  Lilac Encore Azalea coordinates with almost every color, whether a traditional Southern Colonial or a stark white contemporary home. 

New Nurseries continues to carry the Southern Living line, look for the Southern Living Pots.

www.southernlivingplants.com

Cold Hardy Palms

Looking for the Tropical Vibe but want hardy plants?

Each of the New Nurseries carry a full line of hardy palms.  This year has taken its toll on many Pigmy Dates and Queen Palms.  Replace these with Windmill Palms, Pindo, Sabal, Med Fan and the most hardy Needle Palm.  

Rhapidophyllum histrix, Needle Palm, hardy to 10 degrees.   One of the few palms that survive in to Oklahoma and even Kansas.  Slow growing and tough.  Create a tropical feel and never worry about freezing.

Needle Palm  Rhapidophyllum histrix.  Suffer no damage in snow or ice.  Evergreen to 6’, grows in a bush form or small trunk.  Very unique and tough as nails…or needles!

Southern Living Collection

Southern Living is endorsing a few great plants for Sourthern gardeners.

Tested and trialed at PDSI, Inc, in Loxley, AL and leading growers, The New Nurseries will be part of each year’s introductions.  This year’s most exciting are Early Blooming Crape Myrtles.  Two-toned Agapanthus, “Queen Mum” are here.  Check them out by stopping by and preview this year’s plants at www.southernlivingplants.com    

               

 

       

Blog insert-Encore Lilac Azalea

Encore Lilac Reblooming Azaleas just arrived at New Nursery West and Central this morning.

This new patent has a glossy foliage, semi-dwarf habit and Lilac to Lavender blooms.

Never before has there been an Azalea this color that blooms well in the South.  A perfect Easter color combination with Silhouette Mix pansies, alyssum, dianthus.  Great foundation planting for the Southern traditional home or white modern contemporary.  Great contrast with white blooming plants or pastels.  Imagine a mass of these with Bridalwreath spirea.

Available in 3 gallon and quantities are limited.  Give your landscapes a more unique look.  The Encores take a good bit of sun to part shade and bloom more than your traditional azaleas.