More importantly, what the heck will they call it?
There I was at a local, releatively speaking, nursery minding my own business (like that's ever happened) and what should I spy but a table full of these.
New from
Hort Couture (get it?) is this "Absolute Showstopper" of a primrose called 'Blue Zebra.'
This coloration reminds me of the Crocus vernus
'Pickwick' but without the subtlety of the crocus. It certainly caught my eye but at several times the price of a run of the mill primrose, it didn't catch a ride home with me. This is a new introduction for 2013 so you can be the first on your block to have a bed of 'em.
You'll be delighted to know that Hort Couture has also released 'Glamoflage Grape,' the "must-have petunia for 2013" It's got variegated foliage and solid purple flowers. I must dig out my "Friends don't let friends buy annuals" T-shirt from Plant Delights Nursery!
Again, I digress! Let's forget for now diabetes-causing names like "Pink-A-Boo" and "Glamoflage Grape." What do you think of this new primrose introduction?
A fun gift similar to a flower arrangement but otherwise a bit on the cute side like the dyed orchids.
ReplyDeleteHortCouture has some stunning coleus and potato vine introductions I would love to have though.
If one enjoys consuming annuals and does so responsibly then why not add a few to the garden?
I noticed their coleus and they are gorgeous! I'll go back and look for the potato vines.
DeleteOh,I see where your arguement is going, young lady and don't think we haven't heard it before! After all, this is one of the states that just legalized the use of a certain, heretofore illegal, annual (it's an annual, right?) If you get your way, soon people would be transporting large amounts of nasturtiums, schizanthus, cosmos, calendulas, an poppies all over the place. Would this be considered trafficking annual substances (Annie's Annuals?) or driving under the influence?
Seriously, though, I am crazy about a lot of annuals and plop them aound my garden with abandon.
Oh that old thing!? Heck I've had that growing in my garden for years. It's so yesterday. The really cool kids are growing the blue striped Cannas this year.
ReplyDeleteOh really? You've got the Glam O Rama Canna? You Portland gardeners are always a step ahead of the rest of us!
DeleteI had one very similar to that about 3 years ago and now I think of it it seems to have disappeared so probably not the most robust of plants
ReplyDeleteOh well, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all!
DeleteLovely primroses. I haven't seen primroses in that color earlier...
ReplyDeleteThey are very pretty up close. They are a new introduction this year and were new to me too.
DeleteSome of the names they come up with these days are ridiculous. I just can't imagine it, no doubt they will start planting up public places with it.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it's very difficult to be a plant producer in these days of tissue culture and try to come up with something new each year so the catchy name merchandising may be necessary to keep things moving. More power to anyone in the business who supplies our plant lust! I don't know if they'll use this one for big public installations as it is more impressive viewed up close. A driver speeding past a huge bed of these might only see a light lavender blurr.
DeleteCrazy... I can't wait to see primrose rainbow bright.' Shutter. Who knows, maybe that already exists.
ReplyDeleteLouis, I think you should start a primrose polination program to create just such a plant. You know you'd love it! You could create a whole line of them. I can hear the headlines now...Precious Parallel Primroses Program is proud to present it's most prodigious progeny presently.
DeleteAt the mere mention of 'Hort Couture' my eyes glazed over. I need me one of those t-shirts! I guess when you're in the annual business, it has to be the latest, greatest flash in the pan because you've got a short season, and come next year, its not likely to be there, or there is something else to replace it with. I seriously do not understand the interest in annuals!
ReplyDeleteI've had crushes on annuals like Petunia 'Pretty Much Picasso.' (got over that one after a few years of growing it. Nothing beats annuals for a long lasting and happy burst of color. Some (snapdragons, because they talk to you if you squeeze them, nigellia, cosmos, calendulas, schizanthus, nasturtiums, tagetes, and many more) usually make an appearance in my garden from time to time. They also make great temporary filler for spaces between plants that haven't matured yet.
DeleteHey, I actually like the blue zebra. But not enough to pay a premium to buy one. Also, not withstanding Glamoflage Grape, I do not sneer at annuals. I like Cleomes, Cosmos, Zinnias, etc. for all-season color, and also to fill in holes as the perennials spread, wax, and wane.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Jason. I like it too just not enough to pay big bucks for it. I like annuals too, just poking a little fun at em.
DeleteNow I know what the dropouts from Project Runway have been up to.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be busy!
DeleteThis new primrose is quite striking to be sure but I still prefer the double english primroses.
ReplyDeleteI agree on both counts. The plants of the doubles increase in size each year for me and take all kinds of abuse in stride.
DeleteWow, those are spectacular!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them!
DeleteWell, I'm not wild about the primrose. It looks kind of diseased to me. But I need the T-shirt!
ReplyDeletePlant Delights has some fun T-shirts!
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