Horticulture: Extension: Gold Medal Plants

1997 Gold Medal Winners at a Glance

• Annual flower spreading to a 15-inch mat of vine-like stems.
• Plant height may reach 4-6 inches; leaves are small and inconspicuous.
• Foliage covered with dime-sized blue and white fan-like flowers.
• Looks great with other annuals having complementary flowers, such as petunias.
• Can be used in planters and hanging baskets.
• Best in full sun and amended soils high in organic matter.
• Needs irrigation during times of prolonged drought.
• One plant of 'New Wonder' Scaevola can spread 3-4 feet by September.
• Low fertilizer requirements; three to four applications throughout the season.

• Three-lobed coneflower is a hardy perennial growing up to 36 inches.
• Starts blooming in early August and continues through September.
• Drought, heat and pest tolerant; well-adapted to poor soils, requiring little care.
• Best used as a background plant in the perennial border.
• A clustered planting of 15-20 plants is striking.
• Overwinters in landscape and germinates in spring.
• Plant in full sun on 20-inch centers.
• Apply 10-10-10 at planting and again mid-summer (1 lb. per 100 sq. ft.).
• Too much fertilizer causes it to become leggy.
• Cut back flower stems to 3 inches after flowering.

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub in the Witchhazel family, growing to 6-10 feet in height and spread.
• Available in a wide variety of foliage and flower colors; excellent background plant.
• 'Burgundy' -- bronze-purple evergreen foliage and dark pink flowers.
• 'Blush' -- hot pink flowers and light bronze new foliage turning dark olive-green with age.
• Major flowering in spring (March) with sporadic flowers throughout the season.
• Heat and cold hardy, excellent drought tolerance and pest resistance.
• Flowers best in full sun; can handle partial shade.
• Prefers well-drained soil; low maintenance with light fertilization in spring and mid-summer.
• Prune after bloom if necessary to reduce size and increase branching.

• Dense, evergreen tree growing 50-60 feet with spread of 20-30 feet.
• 'Yoshino' cultivar selected for cold hardiness.
• Pyramidal tree with short, bright green needles about 3/4 inch.
• As tree ages, it produces cones on branch ends.
• Excellent alternative to Leyland cypress (doesn't grow quite as fast).
• Shade tolerant, unlike Leyland cypress.
• Tolerant of most soils; prefers rich, moist soil.
• Best planted in fall and early winter; spring OK.
• Fertilize once in spring with a complete slow-release fertilizer.
• No pruning required; leave low branches intact.

top