Valentine's Day is just over a week away and if a dozen roses is not on your radar, let me share with you some cool suggestions that anyone with a passion for plants would love now and for years to come.
One of the best newer perennials is a dicentra (bleeding heart) appropriately named Valentine. Developed in B.C., it has a very unique red colour and is a strong, vigorous cultivar. Before you think "I don't have a shady spot," the famous Tony Avent from Plant Delights in North Carolina told me it's a sun-loving variety and in fact, it will do better in the sun. No other bleeding heart comes close to this deep red colour and I would put it on my must have list. It might be a little hard to find at this time of year, but it's worth the effort.
Not all primulas are created equal and one that really caught my eye is a hardy (zone 5) Belarina variety called Valentine. It is the deepest, darkest black-red you can imagine and is fully double. It's an eye-popper. It can be enjoyed inside for a few days before planting it in the garden or on the patio. Its garden performance is amazing.
The lily-of-the-valley shrub (Pieris japonica) is such a great plant with buds ready to pop now and continuous flushes of foliage colour all summer long. Many folks ask for darker flowers each year and guess what? Valley Valentine has a very dark red flower that will bloom in late February/March. It's a stunner that will tolerate partial shade or sun and is a plant with year-round interest - another must have.
There's also a very nice red and white bi-colour climbing rose, called Valentine's Day. Right now, all new roses are in the process of being potted, packaged and shipped, so it may be a week or two before they are ready, but they are well worth the wait.
New this year is a great hardy Canadian prairie rose called Never Alone. It has been endorsed by the CFL Alumni Association (those retired football greats) and the CNLA (Canadian Nursery Landscape Association) as a fundraiser to help those with cancer get to and from hospital for critical treatments. On Valentine's Day, gifting this rose would be a nice way to support anyone who may be alone or struggling with illness.
If your sweetheart is a foodie, there's a newer rhubarb called Valentine and yes, it has deep red stalks. Planted now - especially if it's an established plant - you just might get to enjoy an amazing dessert next spring and for years to come!
There are also interesting heart-shaped ivies and ferns that are quite apropos for this occasion, and they do well as indoor or outdoor plants. They make a cheerful gift and are inexpensive.
Gifting a plant is a wonderful idea and one that will make folks feel great. If it's a special plant they can enjoy for a long time, like the ones I've mentioned, all the better.
It will be a gift that is truly appreciated.
