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Sizzling Plants For The Summer Of 2001

© Sheri Ann Richerson

Have you ever wondered what some of the "hottest" plants to have this year are? We've all seen the magazine covers with Lycoris Lilies and black colored flowers on them this year, but what do the majority of people prefer to grow?

You may be a bit surprised by this list. Some of the plants are common and others aren't, but they are without a doubt the hottest plants so far this summer.

For water gardens people are grabbing up Nymphaea spp. (Waterlilies) in various colors as well as Nelumbo spp. (Lotus) and Canna spp. There doesn't seem to be a particular preference on color either. The Cannas are being grown as water plants instead of in the ground.

Flowering shrubs seem to be another hot item this summer, especially Rose-Of-Sharon. The favorite species of these include Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphrodite', Hibiscus syriacus 'Minerva' and Hibiscus syriacus 'Diana.' 'Aphrodite' has dark pink flowers with dark red eye spots. 'Minerva' sports lavender flowers with dark red eye spots while 'Diana' has white flowers.

Other flowering shrubs that are popular this summer include Hydrangea species with pink or blue flowers. Rhodendrons are also quite popular. The favorite ones seem to be ones that sport orange, red, pink, lavender or multi-colored blooms. Daylilies are also quite popular this year and again there is not a particular preference for color.

Other popular perennials include Ratibida pinnata (Grey-Headed Cone Flower), Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine), Rudbeckia hirta (Common Black-Eyed Susan), Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed), Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit), Rudbeckia maxima (Great Coneflower), Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed), Clematis spp. and Monarda didyma (Bee Balm).

Another trend this year has been Conifers. Everyone wants them, but which ones are they growing? Here is an idea of the ones that seem to be getting chosen. They include Chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki False Cypress), Lagerstroemia fauriei, Lagerstroemia fauriei 'Kiowa' ('Kiowa' Crape Myrtle), Pinus flexilis 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' ('Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Limber Pine) and Fagus sylvatica 'Red Obelisk' ('Red Obelisk' European Beech).

Bonsai is also red-hot. What plants are trendy this summer for making a bonsai? Well, you have quite an option here and they aren't all trees or shrubs! Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort), Stokesia laevis 'Blue Danube' (Blue Danube Stoke's Aster), Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's Root), Lagerstroemia fauriei, Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird' ('Blue Bird' Rose-of-Sharon) and Hypericum frondosum 'Sunburst' ('Sunburst' Golden St. John's Wort).

Finally, what we've all been waiting on, the hottest tropical and exotic plants for the summer of 2001! They are Clethra fargesii, Poliothyrsis sinensis, Dianthus japonicus, Koelreuteria paniculata (Goldenrain Tree), Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia), Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush) and Datura inoxia (Angel's Trumpet).

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