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    Press Releases: First Look! New Proven Winners Perennials for 2021-2022 Announced 

    • Amsonia ‘String Theory’

      (Bluestar) People have loved ‘Storm Cloud’ and we are now pleased to offer a complementing threadleaf Amsonia to the Proven Winners program. ‘String Theory’ can be described as a compact version of the industry standard Amsonia hubrichtii. The compact habit is covered with light periwinkle blue flowers in late spring, flowering later than ‘Storm Cloud’. While other Amsonia can often display chlorotic leaves, ‘String Theory’ displays healthy dark green leaves throughout the summer. We have observed the same brilliant golden orange fall color as you would expect from A. hubrichtii.

      Height: 18-22” Spread: 32-36” Zones 4-9

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=AMSSY

       Clematis ‘Stand by Me Lavender’

      (Bush Clematis) Riding on the coattails of the much-talked-about ‘Stand by Me’ comes a new color for the Bush Clematis type! This variety has the same performance as ‘Stand by Me’ but with a lavender shade of flowers to join the original’s blue. Dark purple buds open to lavender purple, bell-shaped, nodding flowers. Attractive cream thread-like seed heads follow. Broad, green foliage. This plant benefits from staking, cages, or neighboring plants for support.

      Height: 34-38”  Spread: 24-36”  Zones 3-7

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=CLESL

       Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’

      (Hardy Geranium, Cranesbill) This perennial certainly does have a chocolatey look! This Geranium pratense hybrid has rich, dark bronze leaves and an upright habit, with blue-purple flowers covering the top of the habit, starting in early summer. Compared to older genetics, 'Boom Chocolatta' is more vigorous, and has a very refined habit. Use it as a contrast with green-leaved plants in your sun garden!

      Height: 24-26”  Spread: 28-30”  Zones 4-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=GERBO

       Heuchera DRESSED UP™ ‘Evening Gown’

      (Coral Bells) ‘Evening Gown’ is the inaugural member of a new series of Heuchera for Proven Winners that is prized for its incredible ruffled leaves, a feature that makes it a welcome texture for any landscape or container. Huge 6”, glossy black leaves have ruffled margins and form a substantial mounded habit. Best color and performance in part shade. Substantial flower scapes hold pink buds that open to white flowers.

      Height: 12-14” Flower Height: 18-20”  Spread: 20-24”  Zones 4-9

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=HEUEG

       Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® ‘Edge of Night’

      (Rose Mallow) One of our most hotly anticipated additions to the SUMMERIFIC® lineup in recent years! At only 3-3.5 feet tall, this is our most compact Hibiscus to date. 7-8” bubblegum pink flowers have overlapping petals and darker pink veining for a dramatic 3D effect. Jet black foliage is the darkest we’ve seen on a Hibiscus and contrasts nicely with the green flower calyxes and red veining and petioles. Compared to ‘Evening Rose’, this has darker foliage, a more compact habit, and brighter pink flowers. Best color and performance will be in full sun.

      Height: 3-3.5'  Spread: 4-4.5'  Zones 4-9

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=HIBEN

       Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Hope Springs Eternal’

      All gardening is an exercise in optimism, and ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ is appropriate name for a hosta that will bring joy year after year. Heart-shaped, blue horizontal leaves have a crisp creamy white margin and form a formal habit. Its most notable feature are the incredible ruffling on the leaves that undulate all the way to the pointed tips. Near white flowers in midsummer.

      Height: 22”  Scape Height: 24-32”  Spread: 47”  Zones 3-9

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=HSHSE

       Hosta SHADOWLAND® ‘Miss America’

      A majestic, variegated large hosta that will capture the hearts of any gardener who showcases it in their garden. Medium green, heart-shaped leaves have white centers and light green intermediate streaking between the center and margin. The contrast between the margin and the center is dramatic and refined. Near white, tubular flowers have a lavender pattern in the center of the petals are borne on thick, upright, tall stems. The flowers were notably the most attractive we’ve seen on a hosta.

      Height: 19”  Scape Height: 55-61”  Spread: 55”  Zones 3-9

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=HSMIA

       Leucanthemum superbum AMAZING DAISIES® ‘Banana Cream II’

      (Shasta Daisy) This improvement on the classic ‘Banana Cream’ takes all the characteristics that gardeners love and kicks it up a notch. Just like the original, flower buds are lemon yellow and eventually brighten to creamy white. Improvements include being more floriferous, holding the yellow color longer, a more appealing habit, and earlier to start flowering. Growers will love that the vernalization week requirements are much shorter—we recommend 4-6 weeks for best performance, although we have observed flowering without vernalization.

      Height: 20-24”  Spread: 20-22”  Zones 5-9

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=LEUB2

       Leucanthemum superbum AMAZING DAISIES® ‘Marshmallow’

      (Shasta Daisy) A new and unique look for Proven Winners® Shasta Daisies, ‘Marshmallow’ has a puffy look just like the sweet treat. Large, 3.5” fully double, bright white flowers absolutely cover the medium-sized habit. Growers will love that the low vernalization requirements: we recommend 4-6 weeks for best performance, although we have observed flowering without vernalization.

      Height: 18-20”  Spread: 20-22”  Zones 5-9

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=LEUMR

       Leucanthemum superbum AMAZING DAISIES® ‘Spun Silk’

      (Shasta Daisy) Like the beautifully intricate creations of arachnids, ‘Spun Silk’ brings a wild new look to the classic Shasta Daisy. Narrow petals with fringed edges create the “spider” look, with the 4.5” graceful white flowers topping a medium-sized habit. The perfect choice for bringing new and interesting texture to the garden. ‘Spun Silk’ requires vernalization to bloom; we recommend 6-8 weeks minimum.

      Height: 22-24”  Spread: 20-22”  Zones 5-9

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=LEUSP

       Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’

      (Bee Balm) Bee Balm typically bloom in midsummer, but 'Leading Lady Amethyst’ leads the way in early summer, flowering earlier and forming a more compact clump than other Bee Balm. This variety typically blooms from early summer (first week of June in Michigan) into midsummer and grows just a foot tall. 'Leading Lady Amethyst’ produces light amethyst purple flowers with darker interior spots on its petals.

      Height: 10-14”  Spread: 22-28”  Zones 4-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=MONLA

       Monarda ‘Leading Lady Pink’

      (Bee Balm) Bee Balm typically bloom in midsummer, but 'Leading Lady Pink’ leads the way in early summer, flowering earlier and forming a more compact clump than other Bee Balm. This variety typically blooms from early summer (first week of June in Michigan) into midsummer and grows just a foot tall. 'Leading Lady Pink’ produces bright pink flowers with lighter interiors that clearly show off the spots on its petals.

      Height: 10-14”  Spread: 22-28”  Zones 4-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=MONPI

       Monarda ‘Leading Lady Razzberry’

      (Bee Balm) Bee Balm typically bloom in midsummer, but 'Leading Lady Pink’ leads the way in early summer, flowering earlier and forming a more petite clump than other Bee Balm. This variety typically blooms from early summer (first week of June in Michigan) into midsummer and grows just a foot tall. 'Leading Lady Razzberry’ produces bright raspberry purple flowers on dark green leaves that have a purple cast and dark bracts.

      Height: 10-14”  Spread: 22-28”  Zones 4-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=MONRZ

       Monarda ‘Pardon My Lavender II’

      (Bee Balm) An improvement on the original, ‘Pardon My Lavender II’ replaces ‘Pardon My Lavender’ in the catalog. Compared to the original, this has more vigor, is more polished, and has better disease resistance. No room for the tall, bushy, traditional Bee Balm in your garden?  Now there’s a compact selection that’s easy to tuck into the front of your sunny border and combination containers.  Reaching just a foot tall at maturity, this compact selection forms a well-branched clump of deep green, glossy foliage. In midsummer, lavender purple flowers sit just at the top of the foliage. Though the plant may be smaller, the flowers are the same size as taller selections, measuring a full 2½-3" across. They add a cool splash of color to the border in high summer.

      Height: 14-18”  Spread: 22-28”  Zones 4-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=MONL2

       Monarda ‘Pardon My Rose’

      (Bee Balm) No room for the tall, bushy, traditional Bee Balm in your garden?  Here is a compact selection that’s easy to tuck into the front of your sunny border and combination containers.  Reaching just a little over a foot tall at maturity, this compact selection forms a bushy, well-branched clump of medium green, semi-glossy foliage. Slightly running, but controlled and refined habit. In midsummer, intense rose pink flowers sit just at the top of the foliage. Though the plant may be smaller, the flowers are the same size as taller selections, measuring a full 2½-3" across.  They add a bright splash of color to the border in high summer.

      Height: 14-18”  Spread: 22-28”  Zones 4-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=MONRO

       Pennisetum alopecuroides PRAIRIE WINDS® ‘Lemon Squeeze’

      (Fountain Grass) A brilliantly colored ornamental grass that’s perfect for contrast in your sun garden. ‘Lemon Squeeze’ behaves like other Fountain Grass but boasts chartreuse gold leaves. One of the best for vigor that we’ve seen in gold-leafed Pennisetum with absolutely no burning in the sun. Copper panicles appear above the foliage in midsummer and provide additional interest to this three seasons grass.

      Height: 3-3.5’  Spread: 4-4.5’  Zones 5-9

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=PENLS

       Phlox ‘Opening Act Romance’

      (Hybrid Phlox) It keeps getting better and better for Opening Act Phlox. This new variety is the pinnacle of refinement, with a low-wide habit that’s nearly dome-like, a unique look for Hybrid Phlox. Rich lavender pink flowers have a small white halo at the centers. Just like its predecessors in the Opening Act series, ‘Opening Act Romance’ blooms 2-3 weeks earlier than Tall Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) and is mildew and disease resistant. ‘Opening Act Romance’ blooms later (1-2 weeks) than ‘Opening Act Ultrapink’. If sheered back, these plants will rebloom later in the season. Spreads slowly by stolons. 

      Height: 20-22” Spread: 32-36” Zones 4-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=PHLOR

       Phlox paniculata LUMINARY™ ‘Backlight’

      (Tall Garden Phlox) Joining the other members of the LUMINARY™ Collection, ‘Backlight’ brings a highly sought-after flower color. Pure white flowers are produced in well-defined panicles at the top of a perfect habit. The dark green leaves resist mildew that often plagues Tall Garden Phlox, even in hot, humid conditions. Try this with other white-flowering plants to create a moonlight garden.

      Height: 28-30”  Spread: 20-24”  Zones 3-8

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=PHLBA

       Sedum ROCK ‘N GROW® ‘Back in Black'

      (Stonecrop) New to the ROCK ‘N GROW® collection comes an upright Sedum with near black leaves. Enjoy the dark leaf foliage throughout the summer, and when late summer rolls around, flowers with deep garnet red centers and cream petals will appear. Great for adding a dark color to the middle of the border!

      Height: 20-24” Spread: 26-30” Zones 3-9

       

      More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=SEDBL

       Sedum ROCK ‘N GROW® ‘Coraljade’

      (Stonecrop) This new member of the ROCK ‘N GROW® collection is a perfect counterpart to ‘Lemonjade’. It has the same rich green foliage as the former, but instead of yellow flowers, the citron green buds bloom soft coral pink. A beautiful mix of green and coral when both buds and flowers are present. It holds its beautiful dome of flowers well even when other Stonecrop lodge.

      Height: 16-18” Spread: 28-30” Zones 3-9

       More Information: www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=SEDCJ



      The nation's leading grower of bare root perennials
      Walters Gardens specializes in perennial starter plants, including plug liners and bare root material. We have grown to be one of North America’s largest wholesale perennial growers with a reputation for superior quality, excellent service, and cutting edge new varieties. Our breeding program works with almost 100 different genera of perennial and has introduced hundreds of cutting edge new perennials to date. This combination of high quality product and unique plant introductions has led to a partnership with Proven Winners® as the home of Proven Winners® Perennials.


      The Walters Gardens, Inc. story began in 1942 when Dennis Walters and his new bride, Harriet, took over the family perennial business from Dena Knoll, Harriet's mother. With the help of his four brothers, Dennis expanded the company to include bare root, potted, and packaged perennials, and built one of the industry's first tissue culture labs at Walters Gardens, Inc. in the mid 1970s.

      Today, the company is run by the second and third generations of Walters aided by numerous other family members and dedicated employees including plant health experts, skilled horticulturists, capable customer care and marketing staff, and a pool of sales representatives and brokers nationwide. Our company has grown from a small farm of less than five acres worked by just a few men to a multimillion dollar corporation with over 200 employees, 1,500 acres of land, and 500,000 square feet of greenhouse space. Over 18 million perennial liners are shipped annually to independent garden centers, wholesale growers, landscapers, and municipalities across the US and Canada. Each year, approximately 100 new items are added to our catalog of over 1,000 bare root and plug perennial liners.

      Address:     1992 96th Ave. PO Box 137 Zeeland, MI 49464
      Email:    sales@waltersgardens.com    
      Contact:   Laura Robles
      Phone:    616-772-4697   FAX:  616-772-5803

                   




      Bare Root Perennials

      Walters Gardens is the largest wholesale grower of bare root perennials in North America with a wide selection of varieties. Most are grown for one season and sold as #1 grade transplants. Daylilies, Hosta, and select perennials are grown for two seasons.

      Walters Gardens is the largest wholesale grower of bare root perennials in North America with an incredibly wide selection of varieties. Most are grown for one season and are sold as #1 grade transplants or divisions. Hemerocallis, Hosta, and select perennials are grown for two seasons. Our most popular varieties are offered in economically priced #2 and #3 grade divisions.

      #1 Grade (G1)

      Most #1 grade perennials are one year plants or generously graded divisions of a one year plant. #1 Grade Hemerocallis and Hosta are sold as 3-5 eye/fan divisions of a two year field clump depending on the variety. Intersectional peonies are sold as divisions of a two year field clump.

      Count: sold in multiples of 25

      Minimum order: 1 box of 25

      #2 Grade (G2)

      Most #2 grade perennials are one year plants or divisions of a one year plant. #2 Grade Hemerocallis and Hosta are sold as smaller 2-3 eye/fan divisions of a two year field clump.

      Count: sold in multiples of 100

      #3 Grade (G3)

      Select Hemerocallis varieties are sold as a #3 Grade division. These are some of our most popular varieties offered in an economical 1-3 eye/fan division of a two year field clump.

      Count: sold in multiples of 250



      Plug Liners

      Most of the plants offered in our catalog are grown in plug form. Our plants are grown in four tray sizes: 20, 30, 72, and 128 count. The majority of our plugs are easy to transplant Elle Plugs, while others are traditional loose fill plugs.

      Most of the plants offered in our catalog are grown in plug form. Our plants are grown in standardized tray sizes, including 20, 30, 72, and 128 count. The majority of our plugs are easy to transplant Elle Plugs, while others are traditional loose fill plugs. The type of plug used is based upon the specific needs of the plant.

      Larger 20 and 30ct plugs are best suited to customers looking for faster turnaround times and sales the same season. Smaller 72 and 128ct plugs are better suited for growers looking to produce larger quantities at a lower input cost. They are typically planted in summer for sales the following spring.

      We offer a number of perennials in economically priced 72 and 128ct plugs which are ideal for growers looking to produce larger quantities of their best selling items at a lower input cost. Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for? We accept custom orders for 72s and 128s (minimums apply). Please contact us for details.

      One of the most common questions we hear is why Deep Cell vs. Elle? We trial every perennial in both trays to determine which option provides the best product for our customers. Our Elle trays hold plug liners that have been wrapped in a thin paper sleeve designed for ease of transplant. The sleeve is biodegradable and in a healthy environment does not hinder root development. Deep cell trays hold loose fill plug liners and have the added depth some perennials need to encourage better root development.

      Mangave Production Tips
      Mangave is a relatively new phenomenon, as a cross between the genus Manfreda and Agave. These rare hybrids combine the best of both worlds: the better growth rate and the interesting patterns of Manfreda, and the habit and refinement of Agave. Join Laura, our trials manager, to learn some Mangave production tips.


      Hosta Greenhouse Production Tips | Walters Gardens
      We grow and ship a lot of Hostas here at Walters Gardens, and we've been doing it for over half a century. Some greenhouse and growing practices have changed, while others have stayed the same. Join Laura, our Trials Grower, as she talks about some of our experiences and recommendations for getting the best crop at retail!


      New Perennials for 2021
      Join Laura as she talks through some of our most exciting new plants, including the latest and greatest from Proven Winners Perennials. These plants will be professionally released in 2020 and available at retail in 2021.