Blog

Cheerful, sun-loving and easy to grow – what’s not to like? Award-winning British breeder David Tristram (UK) gave the world’s gardeners many lovely varieties in multiple species. These two are probably his best-known and most widely-distributed work.‘Butterfly Blue’ was the Perennial Plant Association’s choice for Perennial Plant of the Year in 2000. ‘Pink Mist’ was bred specifically to keep it company. Both perform best in full sun, and in slightly moist but well-drained soil. Once establ

The word “Low” does not describe the height of this lovely, fragrant perennial. It stands 2½ – 3’, which makes it a good fit mid-border, or even back-of-the-border in smaller settings. It brings a cheerful, informal look to plantings of any size. Rather, the name honors the owner of the Irish garden where ‘Walker’s Low’ originated – where its soft mounds of gray-green foliage and loose spikes of lavender-blue flowers, from late spring well into summer, were first appreciated. ‘Walker’s

Back in 1997, Emerald Coast Growers was just six years old. Bill Clinton was in the White House. A new Honda Civic cost $10,000. The Marlins beat the Indians in the World Series, the Packers whupped the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, and Princess Diana went for her last car ride in Paris. Au revoir, England’s Rose. But the big news that year? The Perennial Plant Association chose Salvia May Night as its Perennial Plant of the Year. All other phenomena were just fighting for silver.May Night i

The color gurus at Pantone have anointed “Very Peri” as THE color for the coming year.In its usual flowery prose, Pantone describes Very Peri as a “red violet infused blue hue” that inspires “carefree confidence” and “bold curiosity.” It’s so cool, it’s “a symbol of the global zeitgeist.” Wow!At ECG, we pay attention to this annual decision. Why? Because your customers do. Confidently, curiously or unconsciously, home gardeners will see, and buy, Veri Peri even if they’ve never heard of the Col

Amsonia xButterscotch™ brings a fresher, richer, healthier glow to a famous native perennial genus.Like A. hubrichtii, Butterscotch™ is in constant graceful motion in the slightest breeze. It, too, has starry blue flowers in spring. And like its more famous sibling, its billowy masses of fine, rich green foliage segue to a beautiful golden autumn color.So how is it different? Let us recount the ways:■ Leaf Color: Butterscotch’s slim leaves take on a deeper, richer golden hue in fall.