How to Plant Smarter with Plant Select
By Jodi Torpey
Ever since I discovered Plant Select plants, I’ve been a better gardener.
That’s because I know if I choose any of the plants recommended by the program, they’ll grow well in my low-water garden. I didn’t think Plant Select could get any better, but this year the collaboration between Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens, growers, landscape pros and garden centers has exceeded even my expectations.
After careful research, Plant Select envisioned a new branding strategy to make the plants in the program even more accessible to gardeners. The new message emphasizes how Plant Select helps gardens simply “Plant Smarter.”
Everything about this new approach articulates what I’ve felt were the benefits of the program all along. The new marketing materials sum it up. “Wind. Hail. Snow. Sun. Bring it on.”
Plant Select understands that all of those weather events can happen in our gardens, and sometimes in the course of just one day. The bold statement speaks to the resiliency of both the plants and the gardeners who plant them.
The more than 100 plants Plant Select has tested and introduced to Rocky Mountain gardeners are tough, adaptable, easy to care for—and beautiful. When gardeners purchase and plant the perennials, trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses and vines, they can feel confident in their choices.
One of my favorite Plant Select plants is a perennial called Red feathers (Echium anoenum). This plant starts as a small rosette of dark green leaves that shoots up tall plumes of red-flowers every spring. It’s planted in a dry garden with sandy soil, and it’s a reliable performer year after year.
Another favorite in my landscape comes from the Petites division of the program. These are smaller plants meant for rock gardens, patio gardens and permanent containers. Oxlip primrose (Primula elatior) is the first flowering plant in my garden each spring. It’s a tough little primrose that shows up when the weather is still cool and blooms with soft yellow flowers on 6-inch stems.
When I planted my xeriscape garden in 2001, the first Plant Select offering I chose was a white Prairie Jewel penstemon (Penstemon grandifloras). The light-green foliage shows up early and then tall stalks grow with large flute-like flowers. The shape of these blossoms makes for a perfect landing pad for bees.
The next time you’re shopping at Nick’s Garden Center, I hope you’ll seek out the Plant Select plants by looking for the special sunrise logo on the plant stakes. Try a few in your garden and I’m sure you’ll become a better gardener just as soon as the plants take root.
