New Varieties 2007

  • Pure seed
    Product Details GONIOLIMON collinum  'Sea Spray'


    Goniolimon (Limonium) is a genus of approximately 120 species of annuals and perennials that extend from Western North America across Europe, through the Balkans and into Asia. Noteworthy representatives include a few that are widely grown cut flowers and valuable hardy perennials. Different species have been commonly referred to as Sea Lavenders or Statice. Some grow on sea cliffs and tolerate the salty sea spray. Jelitto's novelty 'Sea Spray' raises expectations on the commonly grown Goniolimon tataricum (Limonium tataricum) - long considered one of the most popular choices for garden use and cut flowers. The blue-green, healthy foliage, and long-blooming white flowers, are unlike anything else seen before in this genus.

    The versatile 'Sea Spray' has beautiful, thick, tidy, basal rosettes with linear to rounded paddle-shaped, blue-green leaves that remain attractive the entire season. The foliage combines magnificently with the sinewy, twisting sprays of tiny star-shaped white blossoms. Plants look beautiful in containers, the front of the border or the rock garden with Scabiosa 'Moon Dance', Sedum forsterianum 'Silver Stone' and Stachys 'Silky Fleece'. The flowers make beautiful long-lasting fresh cut bouquets. 'Sea Spray' grows 50 cm ( 20") tall and is easy-to-grow, drought resistant and cold hardy from Zones 5-9.


  • The Canada Columbine has a wide natural distribution from cold areas of Southern Canada, and the Northern USA, to the hot and humid summer parts of the Southeastern USA, and across the Great Plains of the Central USA. It is one of the most durable columbines. The North American species can be found in dry woods, rock ledges and peat bogs. It has been in cultivation since 1640 and the American Indians allegedly used Canada Columbine to prepare a ''love'' potion.

    Every bit as versatile, the new 'Pink Lanterns' has dainty, curving short-spurred, nodding pink blooms - with straw-colored inner petals - that rise 30 cm (12") on wiry stems above basal rosettes with handsome, three-lobed leaves. Plants are hardy in Zones 3-8.

    We are honored that the lovely Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston, Kansas would share this wonderful pink-flowering seed strain with us. They have been growing it for a number of years and 'Pink Lanterns' has easily withstood the cold and hot extremes of the central Great Plains.


  • Arabis is one of the top selling perennials worldwide. Different species have produced flowering strains in white to near red, but Jelitto has extended the range to pale yellow, with 'Pixie Cream'. Few early flowering perennials provide a floral show in March and April for so little effort; and fill-out 10 cm (4") pots with so little difficulty. Jelitto's 'Pixie Cream' will flower the first year and has dozens of distinctive creamy-colored blooms, accented with prominent bright sulphur yellow centers.

    Widely adapted for dry soils, 'Pixie Cream' forms thick evergreen cushions of velvety grey-green leaves. Plants are hardy in Zones 3-7 and will grow 10 cm (4") tall and can be spaced 20 cm (8") apart in average garden soils with Primula veris 'Sunset Shades', Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Blaue Glocke' (Blue Bell) and Viola cornuta 'Alba Minor'. The late winter and early spring blooms produce a darling miniature bouquet. Butterflies and honeybees love the flowers, too.

    The wild species, found on cliffs and dry, gravelly soils from Europe through mountainous areas in Central Asia, have long been used in gardens for containers, edging paths, mass plantings or on the ledges of rock gardens.


  • Agastaches have become popular container and garden plants in the last few years - in all sizes and colors. But the true Agastache mexicana has been difficult to find and Jelitto is proud to present 'Sangria'. This wonderful perennial is a magnet for the fluttering, migratory, nectar-hungry, hummingbirds - and butterflies and honeybees, too.

    'Sangria' has elliptical, lemon-scented leaves and clusters of arching, red-purple blossoms - one stacked on top of another - whorled around the 45 cm (18") flowering stems. Plants grow 120 cm (48") tall and are hardy through Zone 7-10. The wild species grows in arid Northern Mexico, and in the Southwestern USA. 'Sangria' will thrive in the dry garden. When grown in average garden soils, a single pinching will keep plants compact and branching.

    Drifts of half-dozen plants or more make a stunning impression and can be elegantly combined with Andropogon 'Prairie Blues', Gaillardia 'Amber Wheels'Amsonia hubrichtii. 'Sangria' is a great choice for mixed containers, too. The wine-colored flowers are edible and are a decorative addition when sprinkled on fresh summer fruit. The aromatic leaves are used in lieu of Melissa officinalis in parts of Mexico for flavoring and herbal tea. 'Sangria' is easy-to-germinate, and a lovely and useful perennial that will flower magnificently the first year.

  • Pure seed
    Product Details ANDROPOGON scoparius  'Prairie Blues'


    Jelitto's ongoing breeding work with ornamental grasses has produced the consistent 'Prairie Blues' seed strain. This greyish-blue, medium-sized grass has thin ribbon-like leaf blades, and late summer blooms that fade to fluffy, silvery seed heads. These mingle in autumn, with vibrant, reddish-orange leaf tones. Large plantings of 'Prairie Blues' stand stout and regal throughout spring and summer before gently arching under the weight of the stem's zigzagging flowers. The foliage and flowering stems grow to 100 cm (24'').

    The blooms are exquisite in floral arrangements - either fresh or dried. The clumping Little Blue Stems have a natural range over a wide part of North America and Northern Mexico and are adapted to poorly nourished acidic or alkaline soils; and they easily withstand heat and humidity. The Little Blue Stems are a great haven for wildlife habitat and the North American Indians used dried leaves for winter insulation in their moccasins.

    'Prairie Blues' is easy-to-germinate and easy-to-grow in containers. And it is ideally suited for the border or in large, natural groupings, planted together with Agastache 'Sangria', Penstemon 'Sunburst Ruby' and Gaillardia 'Amber Wheels'. It is hardy in Zones 3-9 and is remarkably tolerant of dry soils.


  • Evening The magnificent, upright foliage of the widely distributed Northern Hemisphere species has often been compared to the Biblical story of Jacob laying his head on a stone pillow in the desert and dreaming of a ladder ascending to heaven. Alternating compound Polemonium leaflets look like dozens of little ladders and led to the common name, Jacob's Ladder.

    We've waited a long time but we are very excited to introduce 'Filigree Skies' and 'Filigree Clouds'. Jelitto began breeding work nearly fifteen years ago, envisioning a new ladder for Jacob. The pinnatifid foliage on the typical species is appealing, indeed, but the challenge of producing a consistent seed strain of double split pinnatifid leaves intrigued us. Our dreams eventually came true. An extra bonus came with separate flowering colors of violet-blue and white. Plants form thick clumps with lovely foliage that resembles fern fronds. The beautiful leaves remain attractive all season.

    The exquisite foliage will easily command attention but the terminal clusters of charming, rounded flowers in either violet-blue of 'Filigree Skies' or white of 'Filigree Clouds' - accented by bright yellow centers - are a welcome bonus in June and July. Jelitto's new lacy gems are fast germinating, easy to finish-off and they provide a wonderfully frilly accent in the garden or mixed containers. The versatile Filigree twins are cold hardy from Zones 3-8.


  • Jelitto is proud to introduce 'Moon Dance', the consistent seed strain version of 'Lemon Sorbet' - the University of Georgia's lovely, patented, tissue cultured selection. Both 'Moon Dance', and its clonal Georgia (USA) cousin, are neater and lower growing than the species, and have proved cold hardy in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They have also passed muster with Professor Allan Armitage, of the University of Georgia, after withstanding the heat and humidity of the Southeastern U.S.A

    Short wiry stems carry dozens of long-flowering hemispherical light yellow blossoms with stamens that look like tiny pins on a pincushion. Gone are the tall rangy flowering stems, common to so many Scabiosas. Jelitto's seed strain is compact growing, drought resistant and it does not need a lot of care. 'Moon Dance' is happy in normal well-drained soils.

    Use the flowers from early summer on for small bouquets and 'Moon Dance' will continue to flower until frost. 'Moon Dance' grows to 40 cm (16") and can be spaced 40 cm (16") apart. It is ideally suited for containers, the rock garden or the front of the border with Penstemon 'Sunburst Ruby', Goniolimon 'Sea Spray' and Stachys 'Silky Fleece'. Plants are cold hardy from Zones 5-8.


  • Evening The magnificent, upright foliage of the widely distributed Northern Hemisphere species has often been compared to the Biblical story of Jacob laying his head on a stone pillow in the desert and dreaming of a ladder ascending to heaven. Alternating compound Polemonium leaflets look like dozens of little ladders and led to the common name, Jacob's Ladder.

    We've waited a long time but we are very excited to introduce 'Filigree Skies' and 'Filigree Clouds'. Jelitto began breeding work nearly fifteen years ago, envisioning a new ladder for Jacob. The pinnatifid foliage on the typical species is appealing, indeed, but the challenge of producing a consistent seed strain of double split pinnatifid leaves intrigued us. Our dreams eventually came true. An extra bonus came with separate flowering colors of violet-blue and white. Plants form thick clumps with lovely foliage that resembles fern fronds. The beautiful leaves remain attractive all season.

    The exquisite foliage will easily command attention but the terminal clusters of charming, rounded flowers in either violet-blue of 'Filigree Skies' or white of 'Filigree Clouds' - accented by bright yellow centers - are a welcome bonus in June and July. Jelitto's new lacy gems are fast germinating, easy to finish-off and they provide a wonderfully frilly accent in the garden or mixed containers. The versatile Filigree twins are cold hardy from Zones 3-8.


  • Jelitto's extensive offering of Sedum species and strains continues to grow in 2007. Easy-to-germinate, our Sedum assortment provides a vast, colorful opportunity for dry gardens with an unmatched variety of foliage types and flowering colors. There are few genera that are as drought resistant and durable in so many climates (Most can go without watering for 60 days with no consequences!). 'Silver Stone' has thick, attractive rosettes that are closely packed with blue green, very narrow, flexible flat leaves - sometimes tinged pinkish-purple. The tightly congested foliage resembles the new growth of a blue spruce. Dozens of gently nodding flowering buds open to flat-topped corymbs of bright starry yellow blooms.

    Jelitto's low-growing selection 'Silver Stone' is vigorous- perhaps too strong for the smaller rock garden - but perfectly suited for larger containers, green roofs or for dry, inhospitable, poor soils where rapid coverage is desirable. Cold hardy from Zones 4-9. 'Silver Stone' tolerates semi-shade and complementary low-growing perennial companions are Campanula poscharskyana, Thymus serpyllum 'Magic Carpet' and Stachys byzantina 'Silky Fleece'.

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