When planning your cutting garden, do include some yarrows and Inca lilies. A number of new varieties are available.


Seduction Yarrows

This group includes several varieties of the common yarrow. They were released by Blooms of Bressingham. The seed-grown series includes three wonderful flower colors. Nearly two feet in height, the plants have a spread of about 1½ feet. Like other yarrows the Seduction plants have very finely cut fern-like leaves. Hardy to zone four, these plants need full sun.

Peachy Seduction has pinkish-peach blossoms. Opening in huge clusters, these begin flowering in mid-June.

Saucy Seduction has vivid, neon pink blooms. As time passes, these become somewhat lighter in color. Throughout the summer, new blooms will continue to appear, giving the plant a two-toned effect.

Sunny Seduction has lovely bright yellow flowers. As these age, they become a lighter yellow. There is also one other Seduction variety called Strawberry Seduction that was released earlier. This has strawberry-red blooms with distinctive yellow eyes. As the flowers age, they become more of a medium yellow.


Pineapple Mango Tutti Frutti Yarrow

Hardy to zone four, this wonderful perennial is the same size as the Seduction series. Pineapple Mango is very floriferous, and begins flowering in mid-June. The flower clusters contain a mix of colors. As they open, they’re initially pink and then later turn salmon, yellow, and finally pale yellow.

Tutti Frutti plants are vase shaped and very full with lots of stems for cutting. Pineapple Mango is a new introduction from Blooms of Bressingham. Four other colors of Tutti Frutti were released earlier.



New Alstroemerias

There are a number of new alstroemerias or Inca lilies available. These are among the most popular cut flowers.


Inticancha Dark Purple Alstroemeria

The Dark Purple Inca Lily is only one color in this wonderful new series of alstroemerias. The plants are tolerant of heat, and have attractive foliage. If enough space isn’t available in the cutting garden, grow these in containers.


X-Treme Alstroemeria

This award winning series has distinctive blooms. Popular in the Netherlands, the plants are very free flowering and produce lots of stems for cutting.

X-Treme is different because the blossom are shaped like freesias rather than the usual Inca lilies or alstroemerias. In addition, the blooms are free of the usual spots or splotches. The petals are pastel, mostly cream or ivory with slight tinges of pink. There are parallel green lines that add additional color. However, if you want to change the flower color, these can be dyed.

X-Treme stems have a very long vase life. The leaves remain healthy and green after the stems are cut.