This year’s Great Plants line up has proven itself off the field, but can it perform in the heat as it now takes center stage? Only time will tell but thus far, these players have shown great ability to tough it out here in the midst of the great plains.
The prairie player this year sizes up to it’s competition at a mature height of 2-3’ and width of 1-2’ making it a smaller competitor but just as tough, ready for zone 5 and all it wants to throw at it. This little guy is as tough as he looks with his spiky seed heads he holds his vibrant green complexion most winters. Even his true colors show forth in light shade and wet soils. Welcome Grey’s sedge to the scene!
The perennial player this year sizes up at 3’-4′ in the sunniest locations and boasts blooms June through October and is a native Nebraskan to boot. She stands tall along her sister players blooming longer with less need for water in the tough summer heat. She is both strong and beautiful, welcome Showy Black-Eyed Susan to the field!
The peak shrub player this year measures in at a 3-5’ height and 4-6’ width through the blazing sun, but shows off her stuff just as well in partial shade. This girl never stops as she blooms lilac buds down her draping branches consecutively followed by bright purple berries through out the season. She defies the dry summers ending each season with her yellow foliage and beautiful berries. Let’s welcome this stunning and steady shrub, Purple Beauty Berry!
This year’s quarterback is a giant beauty sizing in at an average height of 75’ and 40’ width. She really stands up to the name “shade tree” and goes the extra mile with her yellow and orange blooms in late spring. This beautiful lady is as determined as she is strong holding on to the cone shaped fruit into winter and will surprise you with her growth. Welcome the Tulip tree: deciduous, daring and dazzling!
The perpetual player of the year may be considered of average stature with a maturity of a 30’ height and a 12’ width. But I assure you he is far beyond average, coming to us from the distant mountain sides of South Korea. Nebraska may prove to stretch his limit in weather, but his tight growth habit helps him fit right into our scene. His flair is shown through his presence as he stands with dark green and silver needles in addition to the purple cones standing all erect along the branches. Let’s welcome this handsome evergreen to the field, Hello Korean fir!
