Sedums are ideal plants for Alberta gardens. They prefer full sun and are drought tolerant. Sun and drought are certainly two things we can provide!
Many sedums are hardy in Alberta. In the Alberta Perennial Trials there are five sedums currently being trialed and several more graduate plants remaining in the garden.
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ has been in the garden since 2006 and has formed a solid mass of bright yellow foliage. It pairs perfectly with plants with dark red foliage, such as this Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’. Angelina sedum is also very effective in containers. If you wish to propogate it, just one little piece will root very easily in new soil.
Sedum 'Angelina'
Sedum cauticola ‘Lidakense’ is a low-growing sedum with beautiful blue foliage. All five plants at the Calgary site have survived. They haven’t spread much, but make a nice mound of blue leaves.
Sedum 'Lidakense'
Sedum alboroseum ‘Frosty Morn’ is an upright sedum with variegated green and white foliage.
Sedum 'Frosty Morn'
Sedum ‘Autumn Charm’ is similar to S. ‘Frosty Morn’, but with green and yellow variegation and more vigorous and compact growth. All plants have survived so far and are thriving.
Sedum 'Autumn Charm'
Sedum ‘Maestro’ is a tall bushy plant with gorgeous dark red leaves. All plants have survived so far. It is planted beside S. ‘Autumn Charm’ in the Calgary garden and they are certainly visitor favouites.
Sedum 'Maestro'
Sedum ‘Garnet Brocade’ is a Proven Winners introduction and is the only new sedum introduced into the trials this year. Both the foliage and flowers are burgundy. It had a bit of a slow start, through no fault of its own, but it is now growing well and should bloom soon.
Sedum 'Garnet Brocade'
© Alberta Perennial Trials, 2010
Summer has finally arrived in Alberta and the new plants in the perennial trial gardens are starting to take off. We have had lots of visitors to the garden at the Calgary Zoo. It is great to talk to people about gardening in Alberta and all around the world. One couple this week were visiting from Glasgow, Scotland. They were amazed that we can grow many of the same plants. They were also amazed at our sun and warm temperatures. I didn’t tell them that we were amazed as well.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ was the Perennial Plant Association’s perennial of the year for 2008.
Geranium 'Rozanne'
Geranium ‘Jolly Bee’ is similar to G. ‘Rozanne’, but is reported to be a bit more blue in colour and more compact in shape. Both are reblooming geraniums and should flower from early summer into the fall. They have been blooming at the Calgary site for a couple of weeks now.
Geranium 'Jolly Bee'
Sedum ‘Autumn Charm’ and Sedum ‘Maestro’ are well-worth growing for their striking foliage alone. Here they are with Papaver orientale ‘Double Pleasure’ in the background.
Sedum 'Autumn Charm' (front) and Sedum 'Maestro' (back)
If you are visiting the Calgary Zoo and looking for the Alberta Perennial Trial Garden site, look for the gazebo in the Dorothy Harvie Gardens. The trial garden is behind the gazebo to the left.
Gazebo in the Dorothy Harvie Gardens at the Calgary Zoo
© Alberta Perennial Trials, 2010
It is finally starting to feel like summer in Calgary. There are so many plants in bloom in the perennial trial garden that it is hard to choose which to include in this post.
One of the most spectacular plants in the garden right now is Papaver orientale ‘Double Pleasure’. This is a graduate from a previous trial.
Papaver orientale 'Double Pleasure'
Delphinium ‘Green Twist’ is also a real visitor favourite right now. It’s more white than green, but it’s gorgeous no matter what colour!
Delphinium 'Green Twist'
We were very happy to see Penstemon palmeri overwinter and bloom this year. This plant was donated by Calgary horticulturist Lyndon Penner.
Penstemon palmeri
The Chinese pagoda primula (Primula vialii) had a slow start this spring, but it is finally blooming. It has such a cool-looking flower!
Primula vialii
Beautiful new planters have been added to the entrance to the perennial trial garden, designed by zoo horticulturist Corinne Hannah. Hopefully they will attract even more visitors to the garden.
Entrance to the Alberta Perennial Trial garden at the Calgary Zoo
© Alberta Perennial Trials, 2010
Alberta Perennial Trials 