Produce these plants for profit past spring

The late-spring season plant shopper is looking for larger plants and color since she thinks she’s getting a late start. Serious gardeners are still active in late spring, although they’ve purchased most of the basics and are now looking for specific items to add on to what they’ve already done.

For late spring, you should move into larger pots, topiary and other specialized forms or artistic mixed containers. Experiment with some new crops that prefer warmer growing conditions. In general, late-spring consumers are less forgiving and want plants in flower that stand out.

Late-spring performers abound

These plants are not only good performers in late spring, but they will grow better for consumers than they would in early spring. Remember flower color mixes should include softer spring colors. Save bolder high-contrast items for summer sales.

Phlox. The Intensia and Astoria series are similar interspecific crosses that shouldn’t be brought in too early as they don’t like cold, wet early-spring conditions. Provide good air circulation and higher late-spring temperatures and they will thrive all summer. They offer vibrant colors perfect for mixing.

Deutzia. Deutzia gracilis Chardonnay Pearls has great lime-colored foliage with flowers similar to lily-of-the-valley. The foliage enables this plant to be worked into mixed containers. Flowers give it additional interest.

Kolkwitzia. Kolkwitzia amabilis Dream Catcher, although not as floriferous as the species, is a great accent plant in the landscape or as a component in mixed containers. Arching, 10- to 24-inch, lime-colored shoots hang out over the tops of smaller plants in combinations. It does best in partial shade.

Angelonia. The so-called summer snapdragon has many colors and habits to choose from. This plant does better as temperatures rise. As you sell out of spring snapdragons, promote this wonderful plant as the next in line.

Gaura. Its common name (whirling butterflies) can mislead consumers since it doesn’t attract butterflies. Its flowers look like small butterflies. This is a tough plant for mixed containers or landscapes. It can be scheduled for near-continuous flowering throughout summer.

Lamium. Lamium is a little-known plant that can be grown for its interesting-looking foliage in mixed containers or for its small, white, purple or pink flowers. It’s easy to produce, provides seasonlong interest and is hardy in many regions.

Chrysocephalum.Chrysocephalum apiculatum Flambé series and other cultivars are drought-tolerant plants. They prefer higher temperatures and high light levels. Plants produce thousands of small, yellow or orange, globe-shaped flowers that provide a distinctive texture and color all summer.

Cleome. Cleome is a good choice whether you like the old-fashioned types (Sparkler and Spirit) or the interspecific crosses such as Linde Armstrong and Senorita Rosalita. They are easy to produce quickly and provide a large shot of color above shorter plants. Linde Armstrong and Senorita Rosalita are sterile so they flower longer through the season without setting seed like the more traditional types.

Dahlia. Dahlias can be grown from tubers or seed. This group of plants has some amazing new forms. The Mystic series and Happy Singles have black foliage and bright-colored flowers held high above foliage. They are heat tolerant and large and don’t work in early spring. They’ll stop traffic later in the season. If you prefer smaller types, check out Goldfisch’s Goldalia series. Plants produce bicolored anemone flowers on smaller plants.

Keep sales going through summer

Historically, plant sales slump during summer because people aren’t gardening so much as they are filling in holes in their gardens. The most common complaint is that it’s too hot to garden. Your plants are now competing with vacations. Most of your sales become event- or holiday-based (like in winter).

Even if consumers don’t necessarily want to garden, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to enjoy their gardens. Novelty or artistry is now more important. Large pots and hanging baskets with fresh material will catch their eye. They are also going to be interested in larger plants to replace the ones they lost while on vacation.

Summer is for mixed containers, large specimen plants and marketing to promote the instant gratification of bringing home something beautiful.

Plants for summer sales programs

Go for flash and high-contrast mixes that will stand out against older spring plantings. It’s also a good time to highlight fragrance.

Coleus. Coleus is always a quick crop with high-impact color that makes mixed containers pop. I’m a big fan of the red-backed leaf types like Amora, Royal Glissade and Perilla Magilla. Magilla is a coleus for all intent and purposes, though it shares some Perilla genetics. They have good impact and give the plants around them a more rosy tone as light passes through their leaves. Don’t forget the 55 mph drive-by plants, including Dark Star, Limelight, Gage’s Shadow, Ruffles and the Glasshouse Works series.

Banana. Ensete Red Banana or any other bananas will do. They are fast growing and dramatic. You can bring in small plants in late spring and still offer consumers some spectacular foliage impact by early summer.

Begonia. The Dragon Wing series is the best for drop-dead summer begonias. These vigorous plants don’t like to be planted too early, but they perform all summer. Full sun or partial shade, heat and humidity are not problems.

Grass. Red fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ and Pennisetum macrostachym) is still the standard for ornamental grasses. A few cultivars, including the compact ‘Red Riding Hood’ and ‘ Eaton Canyon’ or the more upright ‘Burgundy Giant,’ are tough, dramatic and work well in mixed containers. Use caution in non-freeze areas since this plant has been reported to spread in the West.

Euphorbia. Diamond Frost euphorbia can be grown year-round. Even into summer when spring plants start to fade, this plant is going strong. It can be used like gypsophila in a cut flower arrangement or to bring the other plants in a mixed container together.

Brugmansia. Brugmansia is another plant that grows too big in spring and takes up valuable production space. However, during summer its huge, fragrant flowers are standouts. I think ‘Inca Sun’ from Logee’s Greenhouse is the best variety available. It hardly ever stops flowering.

Ipomoea. Ipomoea batatas works in all mixed containers. With its high-impact foliage color, it makes consumers feel like successful gardeners.

Sambucus. Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ is a true standout that most people don’t think of. A 2- to 3-gallon-size plant in the center of large containers can tempt even the hardened NASCAR fan to bring one home.

Papyrus. Consumers love Cyperus papyrus King Tut because everyone who sees it wants to know what it is. Growing to 6 feet tall, it takes full sun and lots of water (made for water gardens and that’s still too dry for it). It certainly delivers the Wow factor.

Lantana. Lantana is still the best plant to promote butterfly gardening. There are hundreds of cultivars, allowing you to select the colors you need for mixed containers or holiday sales.

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- Rick Schoellhorn

Rick Schoellhorn is director of new products, Proven Winners L.L.C., (352) 226-0006; rick@provenwinners.com; www.provenwinners.com.