Brugmansia, Lantana and other not-so-winter-hardy plants offer gardeners seasonal interest, while spurring repeat buyer sales potential.
Lantana
During the past few years, I have observed that more garden centers are carrying many plants that are not reliably winter hardy in the Pacific Northwest. Often referred to as tender perennials, some of these plants could be said to be “pushing the zone,” and many just will not survive our winters.
Of course, there are always some exceptions. Given the many microclimates throughout our area, and depending on how severe the winter temperatures are, some plants may indeed survive if they are given some winter protection. But as a general rule, many of these tender perennials cannot be expected to survive in our climate from year to year.
Many gardeners are always on the lookout for new plants, and many of these tender perennials would probably be new to them. In my own garden, I like to add some plants that are new to me. Sometimes these new plants are just new to my garden and not unknown, but at other times they can be plants that I have not heard of. I always strive to get a few of these. After all, having a plant in my garden that no one else in the neighborhood has is definitely a delight.
I believe that a garden center selling tender perennials has a responsibility to the customer to make it known, with adequate signage, that the plant is tender and not likely to survive the winter. However, there is nothing wrong with being creative and perhaps telling the customer that the plant is a perennial, but “treat it as an annual and you will not be disappointed.”
For many years, I have grown Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, commonly referred to as the red leaf banana. It is fast growing, and even starting from a 5-gallon size, it can easily reach 12 feet. At that size with the red leaves and stalks, it makes a spectacular foliage specimen.
For the first few years, I tried to overwinter them in a sheltered location with no positive results. This was frustrating. Then mentally, I decided that it was an annual, although I know it is not, and that is how I treat it. It performs well all summer. In the fall it dies with the first frost, but I know that I will purchase another one in the spring.
Many of these tender perennials are subtropical or tropical plants and will take a location with full sun during the summer. Some actually seem to prefer a hot, sunny location and will bloom all summer.
While I mentioned having adequate signage for customer education, do not assume that your customers realize that some plants, Brugmansia for example, are not winter hardy. Brugmansia is fairly widely planted, and many gardeners know that it is not winter hardy. But some of your customers may believe that it will be a perennial shrub and be disappointed when it dies.
Here are some favorites of mine that I treat as annuals. If they survive the winter, then it is a pleasant surprise in the spring.
Brugmansia
I previously mentioned this plant and it is a very good summer blooming plant. It likes the sun, grows fast and the leaves can be green or variegated. The flowers come in many colors and most are very fragrant. It is excellent in containers.
Iochroma
This plant has tubular flowers in shades of purple and red that appear in late spring and continue into fall. It is a good hummingbird attractant and relishes full sun. I have found that this plant performs best with some summer pruning to keep it compact, which encourages new growth and flowers.
Mandevilla
This plant is a very fast-growing vine with different cultivars available which display various colors from red to pink to white. There are both single and double flowered forms. Being a vine, it needs some support and will quickly cover an arbor during the summer.
Begonia luxurians
This is a spectacular foliage plant that produces clusters of white flowers. While the flowers are present, it is the foliage that makes this plant stand out in a garden. It needs some shade especially from the afternoon sun. This begonia is a wonderful container plant for a deck or patio.
Lantana
Commonly grown in Southern California, Lantana likes full sun and does very well in our summers. It is a constant bloomer with flowers that are multicolored and attract butterflies. There are some cultivars that I have seen labeled as “hardy,” but I have never had success with plants surviving a winter. Lantana is very easy to grow and does well in containers and planter boxes. I planted a container with Lantana in the middle and bacopa trailing down the sides and both plants bloomed all summer.
Cuphea
Cuphea is another excellent summer container plant for a hot sunny location. With tubular red to yellow shaded flowers that look similar to some fuchsias, it is a non-stop bloomer and a good hummingbird attractant. Plants will probably be in flower when they are sold and they never stop blooming until cold weather arrives.
Citrus
Meyer lemon is probably the most commonly grown citrus that I see in containers in many gardens. It is easy to grow in full sun and is evergreen, with very fragrant flowers that will usually set fruit. During the wintertime, it will adjust quite well indoors if given enough light.
This list is just a sample of some of the plants that fit into the category of tender perennials. It is just the tip of the iceberg on what is available. Many of the plants mentioned would not have been available in garden centers in the Pacific Northwest 20 years ago.
As I previously mentioned, I believe that adequate labeling is crucial so that the customer realizes the limitations of
these plants.
What a wonderful selling opportunity these tender perennials are for a garden center. Imagine selling a plant in the spring, it thrives all summer and the customer is happy. Then the plant dies in the fall and the customer comes back in the spring for more! Does it get any better than that?
