Attached is a revised Van Veen order list.
Hearing some grumbling about the lack of information (i.e., color & hardiness) on the version previously sent, I've done a good amount of data entry to produce the attached version. Most, but not all plants now have bloom color and hardiness data. Use this version rather than the previous version. You should be able to open this document via Microsoft Word. For those that have already sent their order, feel free to send me additions based on this version.
This year there are MANY new varieties not previously available. I have not entered color/hardiness data on some of these, but many of the names will be familiar to many of you. Also, the selection of species this year is the best I've seen. If you are into species/foliage plants, make sure you take a look at this list.
The end of the report contains the RareFind plants that are still available.
Some ordering suggestions based on my experience:
- August Lamken - I saw a large plant of this recently and was impressed by the foliage. It is on my list.
- Seven Dwarf series - these are all Yak hybrids, and all are nice plants. My favorite is Grumpy - very nice foliage. The others are Dopey, Sneezy, Doc, Bashful, Sleepy.
- Grace Seabrook, Taurus & Jean Marie de Montague - these are among the very best reds you can find in terms of the quality of the color. They are a bit tender for my zone 5b garden, but I grow them anyway, and when we have a -5F or warmer winter, the blooms our outstanding.
- Vivacious - this was Dick Brooks' favorite red. The quality of the color isn't quite up to the Grace Seabrook group, but it is the best of my hardier reds. It grows low and wide.
- Red River - this is a hybrid using the famous Mt. Mitchell "red maximum". The red blooms open after the main bloom season. Mine bloomed for the first time this year and I was very impressed.
- Atroflo - another plant that is a bit tender for me in a real zone 5b winter, but lately it has bloomed its head off. Superb foliage - long and indumented. This is the first time available from Van Veen.
- Cupcake - I recommend this based on nice foliage. Flowers are pink.
- Furnivall's Daughter & Mrs. Furnival - if you like striking blotches in lighter colored flowers, these two are among the very best. Again, a bit tender for zone 5b, but this past spring mine looked outstanding.
- Gloxineum - HUGE trusses that open just after Memorial day, after the main crush of blooms. Strong grower and very hardy.
- Janet Blair & Scintillation - these two are often mentioned in the same breath as the best hybrids for New England. Hardy, floriferous and very showy.
- Mardi Gras - great foliage plant with nice flowers. Compact, an overall nice plant, hardy.
- Neat-o - One of the most fantastic foliage plants I've seen. A little tender, but any winter leaf damage is quickly covered over with the new growth. Underside is covered with an orange/red indumentum.
- Any of the Yaku hybrids (Yaku Picotee, Queen, etc.) - can't beat yak hybrids for foliage, compactness, and in most cases at least a little indumentum.
- Cinnamon Bear - another foliage plant on my "top 10" list. Looks good in every season. Has been rock hardy for me.
- April White - early blooming, pure white lepidote.
- Ken Janeck & Mist Maiden - two purported varieties of yakushimanum that are thought to actually be hybrids. Both have heavy indumentum and fantastic foliage. Mist Maiden is more compact than KJ.
To paraphrase the late Hank Shannon "what everyone really wants is Mist Maiden, except in every color".
- Phyllis Korn - my plant has not yet bloomed, but the glossy foliage is beautiful, and trusses I've seen exhibited are impressively huge - a very pale cream/yellow.
- Percy Wiseman - this is a (tri?) color (yellow, pink, white), that changes color from bud to mature flowers. It is stunning in bloom. Sets buds heavily every year. I have well drained soil and have never had a problem with root rot as some have reported. If you can site this in a well drained area, give this a try.
- Blewbury - a roxieanum hybrid with unusual foliage - rather longish. Very hardy for me.
- Golfer - another of my top 10 foliage plants. This one is distinguished by the current year's growth being heavily frosted with white tomentum (hairs on the upper leaf surfaces) which in some years lasts well into the summer.
Hope this is a help.
Email your order directly to me at: jpbruso@aol.com
Joe Bruso
