Okanagan Plant Trends

The question gardeners most often ask Brent MacDonald of Kelowna's West-Wind Nurseries and Landscaping Ltd. is, "If I buy a bunch, can I get a deal?" Deal or no deal, the real bargain is in the staff's expert advice. Recently, MacDonald shared with us the hottest trends for Okanagan gardeners this season.

Perennials/Annuals
At the top of the perennial list is lewisia, but with annuals, MacDonald says you can't go wrong with the Proven Winner series, which ranges from petunias to basket stuffers.

Trees
Small-flowering trees are most sought after, as not many are available in the Okanagan due to orchard restrictions. Flowering plum and cherry do not grow well here, but check out the flowering hawthorn and crabapple instead.

Shrubs
The popular barberry (Berberis) was recently allowed into Canada. It can be host for wheat stem rust, but the fast-selling imported varieties have proven resistant.

Greens
"I'm becoming more and more fond of green plants," says MacDonald, "as opposed to all the violently coloured ones that have been in vogue these last few years. I'm becoming an advocate and fancier of plants with different textures - different textures or shades of greens rather than yellow, blue and purple foliage."

The Must-Have Plant
This year, says MacDonald, it's the blue-blooming 'Endless Summer' hydrangea introduced by Bailey's Nurseries, which unusually for a hydrangea, blooms on first-year wood and thrives in the north, the prairies and the Okanagan. "If they freeze to the ground, they will still regrow and bloom the following season."

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