Everyone wish an upgrade . Whether it ’s a faster railway car or a more efficient cellular telephone earphone , it ’s grueling to wrench down a better variation of something you already like . Plants are much the same . If you already love that gorgeous catmint that flowers all time of year long , what not judge one that not only has all the same with child attributes but also has an improved riding habit ? Today we ’re talking about plants we have a great affinity for but that works breeders have made just that much better . Perhaps it ’s a longer bloom time , or stronger winter hardiness , or even a dissimilar color to the leaf . Whatever the alteration may be , it ’s an advance that has made us return even more in love with these definitive plants .
Expert testimonial : Irvin Etienne is curator of herbaceous plants and seasonal garden conception for The Garden at Newfields in Indianapolis .
Danielle’s Plants
classical : Persian iron tree ( Parrotia persica , Zones 4–8 )
Upgrade:‘Lamplighter ’ Persian ironwood ( Parrotia persica‘Lamplighter ’ , Zones 5–9 )
Classic : Holly - leaved genus Mahonia ( Mahonia aquifoliumsyn . Berberis aquifolium , Zones 5–8 )
Upgrade:‘Charity ’ genus Mahonia ( Mahonia ×media‘Charity ’ , Zones 7–9 )
Classic : Bowles ’ fortunate sedge ( Carex elata‘Aurea ’ , Zones 5–9 )
Upgrade:‘All Gold ’ Nipponese forest locoweed ( Hakonechloa macra‘All Gold ’ , Zones 5–9 )
Carol’s Plants
Classic : Variegated weigela ( Weigela florida‘Variegata ’ , Zones 4–8 )
advance : MY MONET ® weigela ( Weigela florida‘Verweig ’ , Zones 4–6)
Classic : Langsdorff ’s florescence tobacco ( Nicotiana langsdorffii , Zones 10–11 )
Upgrade:‘Bronze Queen ’ flowering baccy ( Nicotiana langsdorffii‘Bronze Queen ’ , Zones 10–11 )
Classic:‘Walker ’s Low ’ catmint ( Nepeta racemosa‘Walker ’s Low ’ , Zones 4–8 )
Upgrade:‘Kitten Around ’ catmint ( Nepeta faassenii‘Kitten Around ’ , Zones 3–8).Photo : Walters Gardens , Inc.
Expert’s Plants
Irvin Etienne is conservator of herbaceous plant and seasonal garden design for The Garden at Newfields in Indianapolis .
Classic:‘Flamenco ’ ruby-red - hot poker ( Kniphofia uvaria‘Flamenco ’ , Zones 5–9).Photo : David J. Stang , via Wikimedia Commons
Upgrade:‘Mango Popsicle ’ reddened - red-hot salamander ( Kniphofia‘Mango Popsicle ’ , Zones 6–9).Photo : Irvin Etienne
Classic:‘Fireball ’ hardy hibiscus ( Hibiscus‘Fireball ’ , Zones 5–9).Photo : courtesy of David J. Stang , via Wikimedia Commons
Upgrade:‘Holy Grail ’ unfearing hibiscus ( Hibiscus‘Holy Grail ’ , Zones 4–9 )
Classic:‘Storm Cloud ’ lily of the Nile ( Agapanthus‘Storm Cloud ’ , Zones 7b–10).Photo : © Armitage / Hip Labels , LLC
Upgrade:‘Galaxy Blue ’ lily of the Nile ( Agapanthus‘Galaxy Blue ’ , Zones 6–10).Photo : Irvin Etienne
Classic:‘Black Knight ’ butterfly bush ( Buddleia davidii‘Black Knight ’ , Zones 5–9 )
Upgrade:‘Grand Cascade ’ butterfly bush ( Buddleia‘Grand Cascade ’ , Zones 5–10).Photo : Irvin Etienne
Classic:Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica, Zones 4–8)
Classic : Mimosa ( Albizia julibrissin , Zones 6–9).Photo : Simon Garbutt , via Wikimedia Commons
Upgrade:‘Summer Chocolate ’ mimosa ( Albizia julibrissin‘Summer Chocolate ’ , Zones 6–9 )
Get our latest point , how - to articles , and instructional television institutionalize to your inbox .
Classic:Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica, Zones 4–8)
Signing you up …
Related Articles
Episode 97: Native Alternatives to Common Plants
Episode 91: Drought-Tolerant Plants
Episode 88: Memory Plants
Episode 87: Plants to Build a Bed Around
Join Fine Gardening for a free operate alive webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a noted plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical coach …
When I spotted a fussy sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I have it off I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …
When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape painting needs , each time of year is filled with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinching , tearing , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …
Upgrade:‘Lamplighter’ Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica‘Lamplighter’, Zones 5–9)
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access members get more
Sign up for afree trialand get access to ALL our regional content , plus the rest of the appendage - only content depository library .
Start Free Trial
Classic:Holly-leaved mahonia (Mahonia aquifoliumsyn.Berberis aquifolium, Zones 5–8)
Get complete site access to expert advice , regional content , and more , plus the print magazine .
Start your FREE trial
Already a member?sign in
Upgrade:‘Charity’ mahonia (Mahonia ×media‘Charity’, Zones 7–9)
Classic:Bowles’ golden sedge (Carex elata‘Aurea’, Zones 5–9)
Upgrade:‘All Gold’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra‘All Gold’, Zones 5–9)
Classic:Variegated weigela (Weigela florida‘Variegata’, Zones 4–8)
Upgrade:MY MONET®weigela (Weigela florida‘Verweig’, Zones 4–6)
Classic:Langsdorff’s flowering tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorffii, Zones 10–11)
Upgrade:‘Bronze Queen’ flowering tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorffii‘Bronze Queen’, Zones 10–11)
Classic:‘Walker’s Low’ catmint (Nepeta racemosa‘Walker’s Low’, Zones 4–8)
Upgrade:‘Kitten Around’ catmint (Nepeta faassenii‘Kitten Around’, Zones 3–8).Photo: Walters Gardens, Inc.
Classic:‘Flamenco’ red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria‘Flamenco’, Zones 5–9).Photo: David J. Stang, via Wikimedia Commons
Upgrade:‘Mango Popsicle’ red-hot poker (Kniphofia‘Mango Popsicle’, Zones 6–9).Photo: Irvin Etienne
Classic:‘Fireball’ hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus‘Fireball’, Zones 5–9).Photo: courtesy of David J. Stang, via Wikimedia Commons
Upgrade:‘Holy Grail’ hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus‘Holy Grail’, Zones 4–9)
Classic:‘Storm Cloud’ lily of the Nile (Agapanthus‘Storm Cloud’, Zones 7b–10).Photo: ©Armitage/Hip Labels, LLC
Upgrade:‘Galaxy Blue’ lily of the Nile (Agapanthus‘Galaxy Blue’, Zones 6–10).Photo: Irvin Etienne
Classic:‘Black Knight’ butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii‘Black Knight’, Zones 5–9)
Upgrade:‘Grand Cascade’ butterfly bush (Buddleia‘Grand Cascade’, Zones 5–10).Photo: Irvin Etienne
Classic:Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin, Zones 6–9).Photo: Simon Garbutt, via Wikimedia Commons
Upgrade:‘Summer Chocolate’ mimosa (Albizia julibrissin‘Summer Chocolate’, Zones 6–9)
