Kelly Jackson
Christian County Extension Office
What to Plant in 2018
Winter is great time to plan projects and look online for garden ideas. This article highlights a few plants that have proven themselves worthy in gardens across the US and come highly recommended by the experts who grow them. Several plant associations select a plant of the year to bring focus to their organization and to encourage people to plant something new. Here are just a few.
Herb of the Year
The International Herb Association has named a special herb every year since 1995 to bring more attention to these versatile and useful plants. They make their selection for plants that they deem outstanding in at least two of three major categories: medical, culinary, or decorative. The 2018 winner is Hops (Humulus spp.). This North American native is most noted for its use in making beer, it also has a rich heritage as a medicinal herb and its vines have been used in making crafts. This herb is root hardy and the rhizomes send out shoots starting in early spring which rapidly reach a height of 18 to 25 feet by late summer. At that point, small flowers appear which give way to the iconic papery cones. It’s the cones that have found use as flavoring in food, tea and beer. This is a unique, fast growing plant that could make a quick screen and add lots of interest to your garden.
Hosta of the Year
“World Cup” is the 2018 American Hosta Growers Association winning hosta. A large hosta growing 23 inches tall by 43 inches wide, it is most prized for its deeply cupped and corrugated bright gold foliage. When grown in a dapple shade garden, its bright color will certainly attract attention. Pale purple flowers appear in early summer to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Holly of the Year
The yellow-fruited American Holly (Ilex opaca f. xanthocarpa) was selected by the Holly Society of America as its 2018 winner. While most people think of red-fruit on holly trees, this much rarer native sports yellow berries. Because the yellow trait doesn’t transfer reliably from seed, growers have selected over 50 cultivars of the yellow-fruited holly with variances in size, shape, fruit-density, pest-resistance and many other qualities. These are all propagated with cuttings and sold under various cultivar names such as ‘Canary’, ‘Princeton Gold’ and ‘Goldie’. American hollies as a group perform well in our area, growing best in full sun (although they can tolerate some shade) as a tall hedge or specimen tree. Plus, birds love the fruit.
Urban Tree of the Year
The Society of Municipal Arborist have selected the Tulip Tree (aka Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera) as the 2018 Urban Tree of the Year. As you know, this is Kentucky’s state tree and is native to most of the eastern United States. As such it performs well in our area and is a great addition to all but the smallest of landscapes. Fast growing in youth, then slowing in growth, it eventually reaches heights of 60 to 90 feet. Its leaves are unique having a somewhat tulip shape and the bright yellow blooms although attractive are often hidden among the foliage.
There are so many great plants to learn about. For help in choosing plants for your landscape, contact the Christian County Extension Office at 270-886-6328.