Grobe's Nursery and Garden Centre

Coneflowers

Blanketflowers

Hellebores

Hellebores (or Lenten Roses) have many interesting legends and stories associated with them (with links to witchcraft, Greek history and Christianity), but years of careful and painstaking breeding have given rise to an astounding array of colours and bloom types.

Itoh Hybrid Peonies

Itoh Hybrid Peonies (also known as Intersectional Peonies) are a cross between a Tree Peony and a Herbaceous Perennial Bush Peony. They offer bigger blooms, a wide range of new colours, and a longer bloom cycle. They also have better foliage to see during that part of the season when they are non-blooming.

Other New Perennials


	Fire Spinner Ice Plant Delosperma 'Fire Spinner' Ice plants are well known very drought tolerant ground cover perennials, and this one is no exception. What is exceptional, however, is the orange/magenta flowers that cover this plant in the springtime! It spreads to 12-18” wide by 8" tall, and it just loves hot, dry conditions!


	Gladiator Lupins Lupinus 'Gladiator' This stately plant offers unusual and striking yellow and orange-red columns of flowers. It grows to 24” tall with the flowering spires towering above even that.


	Little Star Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia 'Little Star' This perennial Black Eyed Susan has pretty bright yellow blossoms with dark brown eyes and blooms all summer! Unlike many of its larger growing cousins, it grows only ‘knee-high’ (14-16” tall and wide), and grows best in full sun.


	Tiny Padyhe Lily Lilium 'Tiny Padyhe' Five distinct petals to each flower – half fiery red/half pure white! Grows only 14” tall and 12” wide for sun or part shade.


	Apple Crisp Coral Bells Heuchera 'Apple Crisp' Coral bells are reliable and easy to grow plants that offer a host of colours to the garden. This new variety offers frilly green leaves and short stems of white flowers in late spring. It grows 6 to 8” tall by 14-16” wide. While it will take a little sun, it's happiest in partial shade to shady conditions.


	Pear Crisp Coral Bells Heuchera 'Pear Crisp' Like its sibling above, but with frilly yellow leaves and short stems of white flowers in spring. A compact grower to 7” tall by 11” wide. Best planted in partial shade to shady gardens.

Grass Favourites

Grobe's selection of perennial grasses changes throughout the season, as does the sizing of plants that may be available. Grasses are available in 1, 2, 3 and 5 gallon sizes (although not every variety is available in every size). This section indicates only a few of interest of the many that are available.


	River Mist Sea Oats Chasmanthium 'River Mist' Wow! This hardy new grass is quite the show off, with bright green and white variegated bamboo-like foliage and showy drooping flower/seed heads in the summer. It grows to 30 inches tall by 18 inches wide and does best in partial shade.


	Fubuki Japanese Forest Grass Hakonecholoa m. Fubuki ‘Briform’ Forest grasses are popular gently spreading clumps that are suited for shady gardens. This is the first ever white forest grass, offering shimmering foliage that is creamy white striped in pale green. The tips become tinged pink as it ages. It grows 15 to 18 inches tall and will spread 12-15 inches wide.


	Silver Mist Mondo Grass Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Silver Mist’ This narrow bladed low growing mondo grass features sparkling white foliage. It grows to 12 inches tall and will spread to approximately 36 inches wide in part sun to light shade. Winter mulching of this plant is recommended, as it is hardy to zone 6 (and therefore should be sited in a protected location in K-W).

Dust Devil Switch Grass

Panicum virgatum ‘Dust Devil’
Switch grass gets its name from the gentle sounds it makes in the wind. Growing to in a upright dense clump to 4 feet tall by about 32 inches wide, this new variety is one of the most durable and easy of grasses to grow. It is very durable, tolerating drought and other imperfect conditions, and in the fall the tips of its leaves show a hint of deep purplish red that complement the burgundy wine coloured seed heads that form in late summer, and turn tan as they age. It grows best in full sun, and will provide cover for birds in the winter.

Our perennial expert, Kathy Pinnell, has a thing for Plantain Lilies - or Hostas (their latin name). She loves their ease of growth, varied hues, incredible range of styles, sizes and textures and innate ability to brighten any shady nook. There truly is a place for one in every yard. In addition to the Award Winners found on the first tab, here is a small list of Kathy's Picks - her top Hosta choices for your garden.

Hostas


	Appletini Plantain Lily Hosta 'Appletini' Bright yellow spring leaves turn apple green by summer. A dwarf variety that grows only 6” tall x 14” wide.


	Autumn Frost Plantain Lily Hosta 'Autumn Frost' This striking plant has blue leaves with an distinctive cream margin. It grows 12” tall x 24” wide.


	Blue Mouse Ears Plantain Lily Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' This dwarf hosta has rather thick round grey-green to blue-green leaves - they almost look like they are dusted. It grows only 8” tall x 12” wide.


	Blueberry Muffin Plantain Lily Hosta 'Blueberry Muffin' This durable new plant for a full shade garden has pale lavender flowers that appear over broad blue leaves that are part of a well shaped clump. It grows 14 inches tall and spreads 36 to inches wide.


	Cracker Crumbs Plantain Lily Hosta 'Cracker Crumbs' Leaves have green margins around bright gold centers. Grows 5” tall x 19” wide.


	Designer Genes Plantain Lily Hosta 'Designer Genes' An unusual hosta variety that has a bright chartreuse leaf contrasted with a bold red stem. It has lavender purple flowers in July, and grows to just 10-12 inches tall in the shady flower bed.


	Irish Luck Plantain Lily Hosta 'Irish Luck' Ruffled shiny dark green leaves, lavender flowers. Grows 18” tall x 36” wide.


	Lemontini Plantain Lily Hosta 'Lemontini' This dwarf hosta has fleshy leaves that are a bright yellow colour. While compact growing, if planted together will be a striking shady groundcover. It grows 7” tall x 18” wide.


	Little Miss Sunshine Plantain Lily Hosta 'Little Miss Sunshine' A new compact plantain lily, it has narrow yellow leaves with purple flowers appearing in summer. It grows 11” tall x 20” wide.


	Mighty Mouse Plantain Lily Hosta 'Mighty Mouse' This is a brand new dwarf charmer for the shade garden. Blue green leaves with creamy white edges are highlighted with lavender flowers in mid-summer. It grows a mere 8 inches tall and spreads to just 12 inches wide, and offers an opportunity for a splash of brightness in any small shady nook.


	Pandora's Box Plantain Lily Hosta 'Pandora's Box' Leaves have a streaky green edge around white centers. Grows only 4-6” tall x 10-16” wide.

Trifecta Plantain Lily

Hosta 'Trifecta'
This is another very cool new miniature Hosta. A three coloured blend of creamy white centre with yellow and green margins to the leaves makes this a petite stand out. It blooms with smallish lavender blossoms in mid-summer, and grows to just 4-8 inches tall in the full or partial shade.


	Frosted Mouse Ears Plantain Lily Hosta 'Frosted Mouse Ears' This dwarf plantain lily has leaves with creamy edges around bluish green centers. It grows only 8” tall x 16” wide.

Vulcan Plantain Lily

Hosta 'Vulcan'
It would be illogical to consider any other plant that is as perfect as this one for brightening up the shady garden. Found as a naturally occurring mutation from the popular 'Captain Kirk' Plantain Lily (must be the Romulans!), the leaves have a pure white center and a dark green edge. The pale lavender flowers that appear in summer also have distinctive white stems. It grows to 15 inches tall by 24 inches wide in full sun to partial shade.


	Tropical Storm Plantain Lily Hosta 'Tropical Storm' A compact new plantain lily that has bright golden margins that surround dark green centers. It grows 12” tall x 26” wide.


	Delft Lace Astilbe Astilbe chinensis 'Delft Lace' This plant has deep blue green foliage with a silver lacy overlay. Clusters of salmon pink buds open to a soft pink flower. It flowers in mid-summer and grows 24 to 36 inches tall in partial shade.


	False Indigo - 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year Baptisia australis This durable perennial offers pure indigo blue pea-like flowers on stems that will grow up to 48 inches tall. It flowers in May and June in a sunny to part shady garden, and is a very easy to grow plant. In addition to its beauty, it offers attractive black seed pods, and it attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies.


	Route 66 Tickseed Coreopsis vert. 'Route 66' The flowers of this unusual Coreopsis are cool looking burgundy flowers that feather out to streaked yellow petals, sure to get you your kicks! It grows to 24 inches tall in a mounding habit, and flowers from late June through until October. It is best sited in sun to partial shade.


	Black Cherry Wild Pinks Dianthus 'Black Cherry Wild' This old time favourite has a new hot look. It sports double, deep velvety red 'pinking sheared' flower petals in June and July. It performs best in full sun to partial shade, and with a petite height of only 6 inches can find a place in any garden.


	Dragon Fruit Pinks Dianthus 'Dragon Fruit' Fully double ruffled flowers in this hot shade of bright pink-magenta is not that commonplace amongst Dianthus varieties, but Dragon Fruit delivers! It grows just 8 inches tall in full sun and partial shade, adding a splash of colour to the June and July flowering border.


	Hot Papaya Coneflower Echinacea 'Hot Papaya' These striking red-orange pompoms don't look much like a coneflower, but what an accent perennial for the border! Hot Papaya grows to 36 inches tall and flowers from July through until September. It performs best in full sun to partial shade.


	Tangerine Dream Coneflower Echinacea 'Tangerine Dream' This bright coneflower is clear orange with wide overlapping petals. It grows to 30 inches tall and flowers from July through until September. It performs best in sun to partial shade.


	Tomato Soup Coneflower Echinacea 'Tomato Soup' The juicy red tomato coloured petals of this coneflower will draw the eye wherever they are placed. Growing to 32 inches tall, this plant will bloom in July and August in sun to partial shade.


	Flame Thrower Coneflower Flame Thrower Coneflower This new coneflower has hot, hot, hot two toned orange petals with a darker spiky cone. It grows to 36 inches tall in full sun and has a very long flowering period of May until September.


	Sweet Tea Foamy Bells Heucherella 'Sweet Tea' The striking foliage of this Heucherella looks like huge cinnamon stars with an orange blended border. It grows to 20 inches tall and flowers in June and July. The best colour for the foliage comes with growth in full sun to partial shade.


	Golden Zebra Foamy Bells Heucherella 'Golden Zebra' Each bold dark red star on this striking foliage plant is edged with a bright yellow border, sure to brighten any sun to partial shade garden. This plant grows 10 inches tall and flowers in June and July.


	Onyx Hellebore Helleborus 'Onyx Odyssey' The early spring garden has another new tone shown by the fully double dark purplish black 3" diameter blooms of this brand new Helleborus. It grows 18 to 22 inches tall and flowers in the very early spring (often through the snow!), and grows best in partial shade.


	Peppermint Ice Hellebore Helleborus 'Peppermint Ice' These absolutely gorgeous blossoms are soft pink lotus cup shaped flowers with degrees of peppermint veining and a delicate picotee edge. It grows 12 inches tall and flowers in the very early spring (often before the snow is gone), and grows best in the partial shade garden.


	Sparkling Diamond Hellebore Helleborus 'Sparkling Diamond' This stunning new Hellebore is literally covered with double snow white blossoms in the very early spring. It grows 12-14 inches tall and will brighten any partially shaded garden.


	Denver Daisy Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy' This striking Rudbeckia has a deep brown flared eye with short layered yellow petals. It grows 24 inches tall and flowers from June through until September in sun or partial shade.

Freckle Face Blackberry Lily

Belamcanda chinensis ‘Freckle Face’
The blackberry lily derives its name from the clusters of shiny black seeds that are exposed when its seed capsules split open. Native to the Orient, it's called a lily even though it is actually a member of the Iris family. It has fan-shaped leaves that will reach 2 to 3 feet tall, and the bright orange flower petals of the blossom have deep burgundy spots. It grows best in full sun.

Red Mountain Ice Plant

Delosperma dyer 'Red Mountain'
This outstanding selection of ice plant was chosen for its outstanding coppery orange-red to coral blooms daisy-like flowers that appear from late spring to fall, and turn bronzey as they age. It grows approximately 2 inches tall and will spread to a size of about 15 to 20 inches wide in a tight mat of evergreen foliage. In the winter the foliage will turn to bronze also. It is an ideal and easy to grow rock garden plant.


	Golden Mist Fern Dryopteris labordei 'Golden Mist' Ferns are excellent plants for the partial to full shade garden, and this one adds some funky colouring with its new growth emerging a contrasting light green colour. It grows 20 to 24 inches tall and spreads to about 2 feet wide in partial to full shade.


	Firebird Coneflower Echinacea 'Firebird' This coneflower has deep scarlet red drooping petals that surround a perky dart button-shaped cone. It will grow 31 to 36 inches tall and 18 to 23 inches wide in full sun or light shade. It is an excellent plant for hot sunny locations.

PowWow Wild Berry Coneflower

Echinacea 'PowWow' Wild Berry
This coneflower was selected as an All American Selections winner for 2010, and with good reason. It's deep rose 3 to 4 inch wide daisy-like blossoms are produced in far more abundance than other coneflower varieties, and they come continually with no deadheading required. It performs best in sunny hot locations, and will grow to 24 inches tall by about 12 inches wide.


	Secret Passion Coneflower Echinacea 'Secret Passion' Lock up your sons! This is a wild little number for your garden! Raspberry pink double cones are set upon contrasting light pink petals, and the combination will get any wandering eye in the garden. This plant will grow 24 to 28 inches tall and spread about the same wide in full sun to light shade.

Secret Romance Coneflower

Echinacea 'Secret Romance'
If you are not ready for a passionate affair (see the plant above), then start slowly and add a little Romance to your garden. This beauty has salmon pink double cones with soft pink petals found beneath, for a look that you will fall in love with. It grows to 29 inches tall by about the same width, and like all coneflowers it favours sunny hot locations.

Grape Galaxy Hellebore

Helleborus 'Grape Galaxy'
Hellebores (or Lenten Roses) have many interesting legends and stories associated with them (with links to witchcraft, Greek history and Christianity), but years of careful and painstaking breeding have given rise to an astounding array of colours and bloom types. This new variety offers long lasting deep grape purple blossoms that appear in late February or early March and last until May. It grows to 18 inches tall by the same wide in partial to full shade.


	Red Racer Hellebore Helleborus 'Red Racer' This new and unusual 'Lenten Rose' has deep velvet to burgundy blossoms with contrasting yellow stamens that appear at the end of winter (late February) and that show on the plant until into May. It grows 18 inches tall and wide in partial to full shade.

Brass Lantern Foamy Bells

Heucherella 'Brass Lantern'
This bright 'beacon in the garden' combines outstanding vigour combined with brassy gold and red spring coloured maple shaped leaves. Tall spikes of white flowers on dark stems appear in mid summer, and the foliage changes to winter colouring of olive and brown. It offers the most effective colour contrast if it is grown in some shade, and grows 18 to 20 inches tall.

Miss Lily Oriental Lily

Lilium orientalis 'Miss Lily'
This marks a real departure from what is expected with a fragrant Oriental lily - and it now arrives in the first ever double flowering lily! Icy pinkish white multiple petals form a large bloom that is 4-6 inches in diameter on a plant 24 inches tall. Lilies grow best in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. (This plant not available as a bulb).