Released March 25, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. -— The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum's GreatPlants program celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with its annual list of recommended plants that's dominated by natives and also includes a new category – conifers.
Although the GreatPlants program (http://arboretum.unl.edu/greatplants/index.html) is relatively new, it already has established a reputation that places it alongside the All-American Selections, Perennial Plant of the Year and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Awards, said Bob Henrickson, who coordinates the program for the arboretum. The 2008 GreatPlants Gardener newsletter includes articles by well-known writers such as David Salman, Rick Darke, Guy Sternberg and others.
Every region needs its own recommendations for sustainable, low-input plants. Only two of the eight recommended 2008 GreatPlants are not native: lacebark pine (originally from China) is in the newly created category for conifers, offering an alternative to Scotch and Austrian pines that are dying from pine wilt disease; and 'Wink' Dianthus tolerated drought and retained center growth better than any other selections.
Other recommendations include:
Tree of the Year: Ostrya virginiana , American Hophornbeam.
A graceful medium-sized native tree with horizontal branches forming an interesting zig-zag pattern. Sinewy bark and catkins add winter interest; hops-like fruits in summer; heart-shaped leaves are soft to the touch and change to a mild yellow in the fall. It's slow-growing until established and resists ice, snow, insects and disease. It occurs naturally as an understory tree along the Missouri River bluffs and up into the Niobrara River valley and grows best in part shade away from hot, windswept areas and salted winter roads but can also be grown in full sun. 30-40 feet high, 20-25 feet wide. Hardy to zone 4.
Conifer of the Year: Pinus bungeana , Lacebark Pine.
This Chinese native is one of the most beautiful pines, with the bark flaking away to create a patchwork of white, green and purple. The lustrous deep green needles are stiff and sharply pointed. This slow growing pine prefers well-drained, dry soils and full sun. It is pyramidal when young, often with many trunks and grows into an open, picturesque specimen with age. 30-40 feet high. Hardy to zone 4.
Shrub of the Year: Euonymus atropurpurea , Eastern Wahoo.
This native shrub is also referred to as burning bush with its orange-red fall color and attractive rosy-pink fruit capsules that persist into winter. But don't confuse this plant with the common winged euonymus, Euonymus alatus . The wahoo is very shade tolerant, yet it grows well and becomes an attractive dense specimen in full sun. It is pH adaptable and drought-tolerant. Can be grown in clump form or pruned up to form an attractive 8-12 foot small tree. Hardy to zone 3.
Perennial of the Year: Geum triflorum , Prairie Smoke.
This distinctive native of the northern plains has small purplish-red nodding flowers in very early spring. The flowers soon give rise to feathery silver and pink seedheads, which persist for many weeks after flowering. Attractive, deeply cut leaves look great for the rest of the season and the entire plant is "softly hairy." Easy to grow in well-drained areas of full sun and thrives in poor, dry soil. Grows less than a foot high and creeps slowly by rootstocks. Hardy to zone 3.
Grass of the Year: Bouteloua gracilis, Blue Grama.
This beautiful, short native grass forms low mats of curly, narrow 3-6 inch leaves. The eyelash-like seedheads rise above tufts of foliage to 18 inches high in July and persist all winter. Blue grama is more drought tolerant than buffalograss and can be planted with wildflowers to create a short grass prairie habitat. Its short stature allows it to be used in the front of a mixed perennial border or as a turfgrass alternative in areas of low traffic and hot, droughty conditions. 18 inches high, 18 inches wide. Hardy to zone 4.
2008 GreatPlants Releases
Prairie Gold Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides 'NeArb'.
This fast-growing tree grows in everything from moist sandy soil to shallow rocky soils and clay. It has attractive cream-colored bark, beautiful silvery catkins in early spring, and lustrous dark green leaves that flutter in the slightest breeze, finally turning yellow in fall. Quaking aspen is normally a relatively short-lived ornamental tree for the landscape, often plagued by a host of diseases at an early age, including canker, leaf spot, and borers. Prairie Gold has performed well, even in the heat and high humidity of eastern Nebraska, and appears to resist the diseases that usually plague this species. It should perform well in other parts of the Great Plains and the front range of the Rockies as well. Best planted in a confined bed or surrounded by turf grass to minimize suckering. Grows to 35-40 feet high and 20-30 feet wide.
Dwarf Chinkapin Oak, Quercus prinoides.
This handsome native is one of the best shrub oaks available. The height of this tree rarely exceeds 15 feet with equal width, perfect for the smallest yard. This is an oak for eye level with its lustrous, dark green leaves and sulphur-yellow spring catkins. In fall the chestnut-like leaves turn a yellow-brown to bronze highlighted with clusters of tasty acorns, very attractive to wildlife, and forming on trees only 3-4 feet tall. This tree can be grown as a large shrub with picturesque branching or it can be pruned into a single trunk to expose its attractive bark. It grows best in full sun and deep, well-drained soils but will also thrive in clay and rocky soils. Hardy to zone 4.
Dianthus 'Wink'.
This exciting selection makes an excellent groundcover, forming neat, blue 4 inch high foliage mounds that remain evergreen in winter. The plant is covered with delicate soft pink flowers from mid-spring to early summer. Shearing plants after flowering promotes new growth and additional flowers in the summer. This dianthus has been a dependable performer, very drought-tolerant and not subject to the centers dying out as with other Dianthus selections. Grows to 6 inches high, 15 inches wide. Hardy to zone 4.
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http://ianrnews.unl.edu/static/0803250.shtml
Contacts: Bob Henrickson, (402) 472-2971
Karma Larsen, (402) 472-2971
Dan Moser, (402) 472-3007
