Top 20 Plants of 2007
Below are the Top 20 Plants of 2007 selected by the Wilson Brothers.
Selections were made based on popularity among customers, sales, outstanding features, and overall performance in the landscape and garden.
#1 The Knock Out Red Rose (Rosa 'Radrazz') - This original of the Knock Out Rose Family set a new standard in disease resistance with little to no maintenance required. The bloom cycle produces rich cherry red blooms that will continue until the first hard frost. Black spot resistant, drought tolerant and self-cleaning, this is a rose anybody can grow! Useful as a specimen, in groups or as a hedge anywhere in the landscape that receives full sun to afternoon shade. Morning sun is a must to dry dew from the leaves...more
#2 Loropetalum 'Purple Diamond' (Loropetalum chinensis 'Shanghi') - Also known as the Chinese Fringe-flower, 'Purple Diamond' Loropetalum boasts some of the most intense purple foliage color of any plant on the market. Vibrant pink, witchhazel-like, fringy blooms are heavy in Spring, appear occasionally in Summer and again in Fall providing a stunning contrast with the purple foliage. An easy to grow, low maintenance shrub useful as a hedge, accent, in small groups, or in mass plantings...more
#3 Indian Hawthorn 'Snow White' (Raphiolepis indica) - 'Snow White' Indian Hawthorn is an evergreen shrub that produces an abundance of white flowers in Spring. An excellent alternative for azaleas where there is too much sun. The dense, low and mounding form, and the hardiness makes this shrub a great selection for foundation plantings or in sunny to partially shaded landscape beds and islands. Also useful as a hedge or border, or in small groups or planted in mass. Very easy to grow in many varieties of well-drained soil. Exceptionally drought and heat tolerant. Leaf spot resistant...more
#4 Encore Azalea 'Autumn Royalty' (Azalea X 'Conlec') - This Encore selection grows up to 4.5' tall and 4' wide. Large, rich purple trumpet flowers are produced in Spring, Summer and Fall! Most impressive when planted in groups or mass plantings in landscape beds but also works well as an informal hedge or border. Grows well in large containers or planters so long as the soil is evenly moist but well-drained. As with most azaleas, this one prefers acidic, well-drained soil. Does not like wet feet. Will tolerate full sun, however prefers some afternoon shade. Attracts butterflies...more
#5 Daisy Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) - Daisy Gardenia produces masses of fragrant, single, white flowers in late Spring/early Summer and sporadically through the season. Blooms heavier than other gardenias. A very hardy selection that prefers full sun to partial shade. Mounding habit with very dark green, lustrous foliage. Useful in landscape beds, foundation plantings, near outdoor living areas where the fragrance can be enjoyed, and in containers or planters...more
#6 Hydrangea 'Endless Summer (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer') - Endless Summer 'The Original' is a mop-head type hydrangea with the unique ability to bloom consistently on both old and new wood. The result is a plant that provides beautiful flowers all summer long. The flowers grow up to 8" in diameter, with blue blooms in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. Since Endless Summer The Original blooms on new wood, removal of spent flowers will encourage rebloom. An outstanding shrub for shady areas of the landscape garden....more
#7 Spirea 'Gold Mound' (Spirea japonica) A low and mounding shrub popular for its outstanding golden-yellow foliage throughout the season. These plants literally fly out of the nursery during the warm season. Fuzzy pink flowers are produced from late Spring into Summer atop the mounding foliage. If the faded flowers are sheared you can expect a repeat bloom. Useful as an accent, in small groups or massed or as a border in landscape beds, islands and foundation plantings. A low-maintenance plant that will grow in a wide range of well-drained soils. Best foliage color in full sun. Very drought tolerant once established...more
#8 Nandina 'Harbor Belle' (Nandina domestica A true dwarf form useful as a groundcover or border edge. It produces panicles of white, star-shaped flowers in late Spring or Summer that are followed by clusters of showy red berries which provide color through Winter. The dark green, finely-textured, shiny evergreen foliage turns to attractive purplish, maroon-red during Winter. Ideal as a hardy groundcover or border edger in foundation plantings, entryway plantings and landscape beds and borders. Grows to about 2' tall and spreads by small suckers on branches. Easy to grow in well-drained soils in sun or shade. Nandinas do not like wet feet! No disease or insect problems. Berries are attractive to birds...more
#9 Daylily 'Stella De Oro' (Hemerocallis) America's favorite daylily and one that has remained the most popular daylily at the nursery. Why? Because it's the only daylily that repeat blooms for up to 5 months! Even more impressive, one plant can create up to 400 blooms in a single season! Grow this amazing daylily in containers or the garden. Useful as an edger, for mass planting in beds or on embankments, or as an accent in perennial gardens or anywhere in the sunny landscape...more
#10 Miss Huff Hardy Lantana (Lantana camara) Miss Huff Lantana is perhaps the hardiest lantana in existence: returning year after year even in USDA Zone 7. Clouds of butterflies will flock to the tri-color, yellow, orange and pink flowers which are produced in abundance from May to frost! With a height of up to 6' and a spread of up to 10', leave plenty of room for this one to grow. An exceptionally drought tolerant perennial shrub useful to fill large spaces in the landscape garden. Very easy to grow in any well-drained soil. DO NOT prune this plant in Fall as this will ensure death of the plant. Instead, prune in Spring when new growth begins to emerge...more
#11 Crape Myrtle 'Natchez' (Lagerstroemia indica) A favorite of landscape designers, Crape Myrtle 'Natchez' features large white flower clusters for up to 100 days during Summer! The flowers and the large dark green leaves contrast nicely with the cinnamon-color exfoliating bark. The colorful bark provides nice winter appeal. Upright growth to 25' in height with a broad weeping canopy to 20' wide. Useful to frame in a home or building, as espalier (against a large open wall), as a focal point or entryway tree, or planted on the west side of a home to provide cooling shade. Can also be planted in straight or curved rows as a tall screen, buffer or to line a driveway. 'Natchez' is one of the Fauriei Hybrids that is resitant to powdery mildew....more
#12 Purple Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) Also known as Hardy Ice Plant, Purple Ice Plant is a spreading evergreen succulent that produces an abundance of purple, daisy-like flowers from Spring to frost! This exceptionally drought tolerant plant will never need water once established. Useful in rock gardens, beds and embankments as a border edger or groundcover. Does not like wet feet....more
#13 Hosta Lily 'Sum and Substance' (Hosta) A strong growing, huge hosta with large chartreuse-yellow wavy leaves. Excellent for partial sun even in southern gardens. Extremely pest resistant. Very fragrant, lavender flowers rise above the foliage on 50" scapes! A truly outstanding landscape or garden hosta...more
#14 Abelia 'Rose Creek' (Abelia grandiflora) The most dense and compact form of abelia to date. Clusters of pretty, white, tubular flowers are produced at the ends of the branches from early Summer to frost. Occasional tip pruning of spent flowers will encourage more blooming. The habit is low and mounding and the evergreen leaves are shiny, becoming purple in winter. Easy to grow in most any well-drained soil....more
#15 Heuchera 'Silver Scrolls' (Heuchera) A clump-forming perennial that features large, metallic silvery-purple leaves with dark purple veining and conspicuous but non-showy whitish flowers. The foliage forms a mound to about 8" tall by 12" wide. Tiny, whitish flowers borne in open, airy panicles appear in late spring to early summer on slender, wiry stems rising well above the foliage mound. A drought tolerant shade plant great in the garden or containers...more
#16 Variegated Maiden Grass 'Silver Arrow' (Miscanthus sinensis) Silver Arrow Grass is an outstanding Miscanthus cultivar featuring variegated green leaves that are vertically striped with white margins. It is an upright, warm season, clump-forming ornamental grass growing 4-6' tall and 4-5' wide. Attractive, tassel-like inflorescences rise above the foliage in late Summer, gradually turning into creamy white plumes by Fall as the seeds mature. Useful as an accent, specimen, small grouping or mass in landscape beds, borders, meadows, wild gardens, cottage gardens, naturalized areas, pond/water garden peripheries or containers and planters....more
#17 Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans) Grown as a large shrub or small tree this plant is a fragrant wonder. Produces an abundance of strongly fragrant, tiny white flowers thorughout both the Spring and Fall seasons. One shrub will fill the backyard with a powerful and exquisite scent of perfume. Can grow to 20' tall however is usually seen at 8 to 12' in landscapes. Plant near windows and outdoor living areas where the fragrance can be enjoyed. Easy to grow in most any well-drained soil in sun to partial shade...more
#18 Magnolia 'Little Gem' (Magnolia grandiflora) 'Little Gem' is a dwarf Magnolia grows from 15' to 23' tall and produces an abundance of wonderfully fragrant, large white flowers from late Spring through late Fall. The evergreen, lustrous leaves are about 1/3 the size of the species. Growth habit is upright and bushy to 20' tall and 10' wide. Useful in landscape beds and islands as an evergreen screen, hedge, buffer or background or in small groups or as a specimen. Useful in foundation plantings as a corner plant, or as espalier (grown flat against an open wall). Easy to grow in moist, well-drained soils, but also very drought tolerant once established...more
#19 Carolina Sapphire Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) Also known as Arizona Cypress, this fast-growing graceful evergreen tree features silvery-blue lacy foliage that provides year round color and texture in the landscape. A super-fast grower moderate to 30' tall and 10-15' wide. Useful in landscape beds, islands and medians as a screen, buffer, specimen, or in groups. Useful around the home or a building to frame the outside corners. Form is upright, broad and conical with weeping branchlets. An excellent selection to create a quick screen or buffer. Low maintenance, adaptable, drought tolerant and durable...more
#20 Coral Bark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku') Coral Bark Japanese Maple 'Sango Kaku' features outstanding, bright coral-red bark during Winter. When the light green, delicate leaves emerge in Spring the contrast with the red bark is magnificent. Palmate leaves mature to slightly darker shade of green during Summer, then to yellow and orange in Fall. An upright, broad, vase-shape habit from 15 to 25' tall and 15 to 20' width. An excellent, outstanding specimen or accent tree around the home or in landscape islands. Well-drained soil is a must. Likes some shade in the afternoon...more
SEE ALSO:
Top 20 Plants of 2008
Top 20 Plants of 2009