I love all coneflowers, but must admit a preference for the single form. Echinacea ‘Double Decker’ is supposed to be just what it sounds like – a coneflower on top of a coneflower. It is usually single in the first year; becoming double in subsequent years. Although this is its fifth year in the garden, so far this year it is single in form and looks much like the species. Pretty, but perhaps somewhat disappointing. In previous years the double form appeared infrequently.
Echinacea 'Double Decker'
Echinacea ‘White Swan’ was planted in 2007 and is outperforming all the other coneflowers in the perennial trial garden at the Calgary Zoo; most likely because it is getting the most sun. It has single white flowers which are beautiful in their simplicity.
Echinacea 'White Swan'
Echinacea ‘Coconut Lime’ is new in the perennial trials this year. It has just started to bloom; the flowers are not fully formed yet. The flowers have been described as double and green-white in colour. There does appear to be a bit of a second layer of petals starting on this flower.
- Echinacea ‘Coconut Lime’
Echinacea ‘Big Sky Sunrise’ and E. ‘Double Delight’ were planted in 2007, but unfortunately have not survived at the Calgary Zoo site. There is one Echinacea ‘Rubin’s Glow’ remaining in the garden from a previous trial (planted in 2005). It has buds, but no flowers yet. I’ll post a photo once it blooms.
© Alberta Perennial Trials, 2010
I have been away for two weeks and what a difference in the Calgary trial garden in that time. It is just bursting with colour!
- August 18, 2009 Alberta Perennial Trial garden at the Calgary Zoo
The heleniums are putting on quite a show. A new variety planted this year, Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’, is covered in golden-orange blossoms streaked with red.
Helenium 'Mardi Gras'
This is a more compact helenium than H. ‘Moorheim Beauty’ which is in the same bed. I also still love the Euphorbia ‘Bonfire’ which can be seen in this picture as well. All the Bonfires survived their first winter in the trial, they were covered in bright yellow blooms in early spring and the burgundy foliage has been spectacular all season long.
Helenium 'Moorheim Beauty' with Euphorbia 'Bonfire'
Delphinium ‘Pagan Purple’ is really quite spectacular. It is shown here with Achillea ‘Terracotta’.
Delphinium 'Pagan Purples'
Leucanthemum ‘Broadway Lights’, a new shasta daisy from Proven Winners, has just started to bloom. I think it is going to be a real favourite. The flowers start out a beautiful buttery yellow colour, fading to vanilla and finally to white. This is listed as a zone 5 plant, but I am hoping it will survive.
Leucanthemum 'Broadway Lights'
A large spruce tree was removed from the edge of the garden while I was away. It really opens up the view from the garden towards the gazebo and the view into the garden from the gazebo and path.
View of the gazebo from the perennial trial garden
I will be giving a talk and tour of the perennial trial garden at the Calgary Zoo on Thursday evening. See the zoo’s website at http://www.calgaryzoo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=508&Itemid=616 for more information or contact the zoo at 403-232-9300 if you would like to join me!
© Alberta Perennial Trials, 2010
Alberta Perennial Trials 