Plant Inventory | Klein Introductions | Plant Development | Plant Evaluation | Horticulture

With so many new plants coming onto the market every day, it is no wonder gardeners and professionals alike are clamoring for information on new plant performance. Yew Dell is evaluating new and existing varieties to determine their relative performance in the Kentucky climate. Many of the new plants are evaluated in garden settings on the grounds where they can be viewed by visitors. Future plans include providing opportunities for visitors to help evaluate some of our new plant offerings. Below are a few of the evaluation projects currently under way.

Hosta With thousands of Hosta varieties on the market today, Yew Dell is working to determine which work best in the local climate. The Yew Dell collection, currently numbering over 500 varieties, was initiated through the generous donation of Dr. Jerry Meyer who offered Yew Dell his entire collection of stock plants. Volunteers and staff will be working to track performance of these wonderful plants throughout the season.

Tiarella Often called foam flower, the Tiarellas gain in popularity every year. There are dozens of cultivars that have just come onto the market in just the last couple of years. Through donations from Terra Nova Nursery, and Fieldstone Gardens, Yew Dell is currently beginning an evaluation of these outstanding shade plants.

Fothergilla The genus Fothergilla consists primarily of three species. F. gardenii, (dwarf fothergilla), F. major (large fothergilla) and F. monticola (mountain fothergilla). While there is a fair amount of debate on the true identity and difference among these species, there is no debate that they have become enormously popular landscape plants. Yew Dell has worked to put together one of the largest cultivar collections in the US with an aim toward a comprehensive cultivar evaluation project.

Helleborus As Perennial Plant Association plant of the year for 2005, H. x hybridus has sparked a tremendous amount of interest among gardeners in recent years. There is much breeding and selection work going on throughout the US and Europe. Yew Dell, with leadership by the Louisville Rambler Garden Club, has planted more than 70 hellebores in the last year as part of the Secret Garden rehabilitation. Staff and volunteers will be tracking performance of these winter beauties over the next few seasons.

Yew Dell Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.