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Walter Gardens announces New Proven Winners Perennials for the 2023-2024 Season

Walter Gardens has released the list of New Proven Winners Perennials for the 2023-2024 season. These plants will be available wholesale beginning July 1, 2023, and ready for retail in 2024.

This year includes two new genera to the program as well as 16 new varieties. Below is a list of each additon to the Proven Winners Perennials.

Artemisia ‘Silver Lining’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

A hybrid of native North American species including Artemisia ludoviciana. ‘Silver Lining’ finds the best in its parentage as a spectacular, durable foliage perennial. Broadly dissected silver leaves are showy from spring to fall. The mounded, low wide habit maintains perfect form all season and resists opening up. Use this perennial as a filler in the landscape and spiller in mixed containers. Buff yellow flowers are held on tall scapes. Flowering is not significant and this plant should be considered primarily for its foliage.

Baptisia ‘Periwinkle Popsicle’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

This upright dark blue Baptisia is perfect for filling space in the landscape. The habit is taller than it is wide, with an elegant vase shape perfect for underplanting. ‘Periwinkle Popsicle’ is later to flower than most Baptisia, not showing colour until most other varieties are finishing bloom.

Bergenia ‘Peppermint Patty

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

A very unique look for Bergenia. White flowers have a pink throat with color radiating down each petal. The petals are then edged with a matching thin pink picotee margin. Individual flowers are above average in size at 1¼” wide. By the flowers, stems are bright rose pink before transitioning to green near the base. Wavy, serrated leaves are extra thick with prickly toothed edges.

Clematis ‘Stand by Me Pink

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

The latest companion to ‘Stand By Me’ Bush Clematis; varying from the original with pink flowers instead of blue. Compared with traditional vining clematis, ‘Stand By Me Pink’ is completely herbaceous and will restart from the ground each year. Flowers will appear profusely beginning in late spring, peaking in early summer, and continuing to show color until fall.

Delphinium ‘Red Lark’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

A uniquely colored Delphinium that must be seen to be believed! Coral-red flowers are held just above the foliage at a modest 2½’ tall. This variety is produced from tissue culture and has perfect uniformity compared with seed strains. Stem length and branching makes them perfect for use as a cut flower. Foliage is glossy dark green.

Eucomis ‘Princess Bride’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

A Pineapple Lily of intermediate size, this plant is perfect for use in mixed perennial borders or as a thriller in containers. ‘Princess Bride’ delights with numerous stalks of pink and cream flowers.

Eucomis ‘Purple Reign’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

The rigidly upright flower spikes offer a unique tropical flair, showing passing resemblance to a pineapple while in bloom. Members of this collection are notably compact, perfect for the front of the border or for use as a thriller in a mixed container. Expect to wait a few weeks to see these plants in spring, Pineapple Lilies (like Hardy Hibiscus) are among the last perennials to wake from their winter sleep.

Hemerocallis ‘Blazing Glory’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

‘Blazing Glory’ has 6″ golden yellow flowers with a bold burgundy red eye and matching picotee edge. Where traditional cultivars have picotee edges that bleed or fade, ‘Blazing Glory’ remains consistent with a wide margin that extends the length of the petal. Compared to ‘King of the Ages’ the flowers are ½” smaller, more golden yellow in color, and have a more pronounced eye and picotee edge; the plant is also about 6″ shorter. Well-branched scapes and high bud count will ensure a blazing display of color.

Hemerocallis ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’ is aptly named to reference the years of hard work by renowned breeder Karol Emmerich to find a truly exceptional red daylily. Massive 6″ raspberry red flowers are complemented by a wide rosy pink eye that leads to a yellow throat. A thin white margin edges each petal. Flowers are held on proportionate scapes, just above the foliage.

Hemerocallis ‘Persian Ruby’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

An easily recognizable daylily that’s a must-have for your garden! Deep purplish red, spoon-shaped flowers are massive – nearly 8″ across. The large green throat is a nice contrast to the dark petals. Compared to the popular ‘Ruby Spider’, flowers are more purple in color. ‘Persian Ruby’ demands attention when it explodes with flowers in midsummer thanks to its high bud count.

Heucherella ‘Capture the Flag’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

This large-leaved variety has deeply lobed chartreuse leaves with dramatic burgundy red centers. In late spring clouds of white flowers appear on light colored stems above the foliage. Compared with ‘Eye Spy’ the flowers are white instead of pink and the centers of the leaves are more red.

Hibiscus ‘All Eyes on Me’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

Despite its scaled down size, ‘All Eyes on Me’ keeps the trademark massive 8″ blooms the plant has become known for. The blushing pink blooms appear from the top to the bottom of a well-rounded habit of dark green leaves. Heavily overlapping petals give the impression the flowers are semi-double, particularly as each bud unfurls.

Hosta ‘Love Story’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

Long heart-shaped leaves have medium green margins with chartreuse jetting that bleeds into creamy white centers. The medio-variegation extends from leaf tip to the petiole, flaring at the base of the leaf. A gentle piecrust wave edges each leaf. Tall scapes hold large clusters of tubular white flowers in early summer, creating a Hosta that can be enjoyed for its foliage and flowers.

Phlox paniculata ‘Prismatic Pink’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

Tall Garden Phlox are a favorite in the garden, but often are plagued by powdery mildew in hot, humid conditions. These varieties are selected especially for their improved resistance over typical Phlox paniculata varieties. With beautiful colors and incredible performance, these are varieties to plant and watch them grow, with little work required.

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Brush Strokes’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

Like bristles on a paint brush the stems of ‘Brush Strokes’ stand vertical, bend gracefully with the wind, then return to their upright position. Powder blue stems take after their namesake before turning wine-red in early fall. Use this native perennial grass for its fine texture in summer then leave it standing in fall for winter interest.

Sedum ‘Midnight Velvet’

(Photo provided by: Walters Gardens)

Rich, dark purple leaves comprise the domed habit, adding garden interest from the moment they appear in spring. Beginning in late summer clusters of mauve buds cover the habit, before bursting open with rose red flowers. After bloom seedheads appear a dark red color. Leave seed-heads standing for seasonal interest and as a food source for birds in winter. UV light is required to see true foliage color; leaves will be more green in too much shade.

For more details, visit waltersgardens.com.