It is always interesting to watch the trends in the plant industry, and I am very pleased to see an attraction to plants that exhibit a tropical flare, as well as ornamental grasses, low maintenance succulents, and a resurgence of interest in Heirloom plants.

The line up of plants at Sprouts Greenhouse will reflect these trends this spring, as we are always looking to try new things, and finding ways to bring something new & interesting to our clientele.

These are a few varieties that I am particularly excited to be trying this year, and hopefully you will be too!

Last year we tried a black leafed Alocasia which was a fantastic hit in shade containers with it’s large dark velvety leaves making a rich tropical statement, so we definitely will be repeating it again this year. Cannas with their tall stature and large shiny leaves have become a standard item for creating a tropical feel, and we will be adding a Cyperus to this year’s lineup of tropical looks. It gives the feeling of something just arrived from the Nile, with a thinner almost palm-like feel to it. Sure to be a showstopper in containers. Another tropical will be Musa, which belongs to the Banana tree family. Don’t expect to harvest any bananas this summer, but do expect your neighbors to be asking, “what is that plant?” Rounding out the topical line up, Rhoeo Tricolor promises to add a splash of tropical rainbow color with its striking foliage anywhere you choose to use it.

Grasses such as Agropyron, or “Blue Wheat Grass” reputed to be the bluest of all grasses, will be a nice contrast to “Fireworks” Fountain Grass with it’s purple variegated blades and seed heads. Both of which will make a beautiful focal point in any container or landscape.

Succulents have always been a hit at Sprouts Greenhouse with many unusual, but non-winter hardy varieties, but this year we will be showing several different varieties, which are hardy here, and look forward to utilizing them in unusual container combinations and rock garden suggestions.

“Heirloom” is a buzzword that is being heard more and more lately, although they are hardly “new”, but merely being re-discovered. As per usual here at Sprouts, we will be offering many varieties of plants in this category, including some wonderful and unusual vegetable plants and tomato varieties with names like “Mule Team,”  “Silvery Fir Tree” and “Purple Calabash.” How can one not want to try them just to see what they look and taste like?

What else can you expect to see this year? Lots of silvery foliage plants along with purple tinged foliage (one of my favorite combinations!) and a host of beautiful flower colors, tones, hues and shapes. Can’t wait for spring!