Ornamental Hops

A captivating component of the beer brewing landscape

Hops are as valuable to beer drinkers as grapes are to wine connoisseurs—they provide the bitterness that gives each brew its unique flavor and personality. As an ornamental, the Hops plant is captivating because of its complex draping structure, its flexible nature, and the sheer conversation value of growing this beer ingredient in the home garden. As a result, we decided to work with four cultivars this year from the famous Oregon USDA breeding station that delivered to the craft beer industry the fuel that ignited a revolution and changed a way of life.

Fragrant, snowy white flower spikes

Our elegant new Salvia cultivar produces an abundance of fragrant, snowy white flower spikes. We like the way the blooms seem to float above the pretty mound of bushy dark green foliage. This is a versatile plant that simply grows and grows and grows.

If you’re looking to attract hummingbirds to the landscape go with ‘Snow Nymph’—they find it irresistible, especially when they need a late-season feeding source. This is a long blooming variety that thrives in full sun in the heat and drought of a typical Cincinnati summer. 

Ethereal blooms seem to float above the foliage

‘Snow Nymph’ complements virtually any other Salvia color—it’s also low-maintenance and tolerates a range of soils. For a flurry of cool pure white, add this variety to large containers, mass plantings, and borders. It lends an ethereal, airy touch to an all-white display.

We grow ‘Snow Nymph’ in the 6-inch pot size.

Purple, orange, and green living in harmony

This charming Viola has eye-popping flowers of bright orange and deep purple set against a backdrop of verdant foliage. It all adds up to a triad of colors—violet, orange, and green—that are evenly spaced on the color wheel. When that happens the result is a spirited harmony we can use to liven up combinations and infuse the landscape with energy.

Violas are great when you want the Pansy look in a cuter package. Plus they bloom earlier than Pansies, handle the hard weather better, and truly deliver when it comes to the ever-popular carpet of color.

‘Sorbet Orange Jump Up’ is available in the 1203 flat, 306 market basket, 6-inch pot, 8-inch pot, and 10-inch hanging basket.