Chicago Gardening: 5 Great New Perennials for 2017

Chicago Gardening Gets Better Every Year Thanks to New Hybrids

I love sharing ideas about Chicago gardening news, and I use this time of year to look at some of the new varieties that will be available in spring. That being the case, I thought I’d share with you some of the newest perennial plants I’m most excited about.

My Top 5 Favorite New Perennials for 2017 Chicago Gardening

1. Meet Salvia Windwalker™ Royal Red

This variety has been selected as one of the top plants for USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 5 and can tolerate cold down to -20 degrees F. Windwalker begins flowering in June, is heat-tolerant, prefers full sun and spreads easily. It’s a very tough but vibrant hybrid that adopts to loam, clay and sandy soils that drain well.

Reaching a majestic 4′ tall if not cut back, this variety is great at the rear of sunny beds or in the middle of massive containers. It’s deer, rabbit and drought resistant, and it attracts:

• Butterflies
• Hummingbirds
• Birds

Windwalker’s flowers are great for cutting, and with a month-long blooming season, you’ll have lots of opportunities to add vibrant color to your home and outdoor spaces.

---

2. Sedum ‘Firecracker”—SUNSPARKLER® Series

This medium-fast growing ground cover adapts well to average to poor soil. It is rabbit resistant and drought tolerant with average-to-low water needs. Because it needs full sun, it works well in rock gardens and sunny-spot containers. Firecracker’s lush denseness is a distinctive characteristic. And it also attracts butterflies!

---

3. Helleborus Dark and Handsome—Hellebore

This early bloomer (early to late spring) is eye-popping with its iridescent center surrounded by a deep, matte purple.

Rabbit and deer resistant, these make great cut flowers and are especially pretty floating in clear glass bowls.

One reason gardeners love this variety is because they are evergreen. Helleborus makes great ground cover in all but too-sunny or wet spots.

---

4. Achillea millefolim Laura—Song Siren Series™

This variety is a type of yarrow and is a medium-height grower (20-24 inches).  A sun lover, this heavy bloomer tolerates normal, clay or sandy soil and blooms late spring to late summer. Deer resistant, Achillea millefolium attracts butterflies and tolerates hot, dry and salty sites with both high humidity and wind.

---

5. Primo™ ‘Black Pearl’ Coral Bells Heuchera hybrid

Looking for something dramatic in both sun and shade? I love this black, new-for-2017 variety of Coral Bells.  A low grower, Primo Black Pearl is very easy to care for. Like most Coral Bells, this variety thrives more in shade, but feel free to bring it out into the sun. It will attract butterflies and hummingbirds (while resisting deer). It’s perfect for our Zone 5b, and looks spectacular in borders and containers.

 

Most of you may realize that I have a soft spot for container gardening. That said, these plants would make exceptional choices for containers.