Released: February 27, 2004

Four Plants named ‘Pride of Kansas’ for 2004

MANHATTAN, Kan. –The Pride of Kansas plants for 2004 are official. The Kansas Nursery and Landscape Association has named the butterfly bush, fan flower, hosta, and the redbud as this year’s winners.

Each of these plants has passed testing for outstanding qualities by Kansas State University Research and Extension. All Pride of Kansas plants are selected specifically because they can survive in the changing Kansas climate.

* The shrub of the year is the butterfly bush (Buddleia) which provides a light texture to the landscape. Its leaves are a dull green with a grayish underside. They are small and narrow, only one-half to 4 inches long with a willowy appearance. The fragrant flowers appear in midsummer on panicles, which attract bees and butterflies.

“This shrub comes in many varieties, colors and sizes,” said Emily Nolting, K-State horticulturist. “But all the varieties fit into the landscape with grace and an abundance of flowers.” The butterfly bush prefers a sunny location and well-drained, moist soil. Once the shrub is established, it can tolerate heat and drought, Nolting said.

* The fan flower (Scaevola) is the Pride of Kansas 2004 annual of the year. Its foliage and flowers are small and its leaves are pointed. Fan flower is identified by its trailing branch habit adorned with deep blue flowers in the shape of a hand held half fan

“This annual is part of the proven winner menu of fast-growing, prolific-blooming plants,” Nolting said. “Fan flower works great in hanging baskets, in combination pots or as a groundcover in the flower bed.”

Each plant can spread 2 to 3 feet with long running stems, Nolting added. Dense flowers and deep colors add to this high-performance annual. The tough plant prefers full sunlight.

*The 2004 Pride of Kansas perennial award went to the wide range of hostas, which have several uses, depending on leaf shape and size.

“There are hundreds of varieties, each with distinctive characteristics. They come in an array of colors and variegation with shades of green, white, chartreuse and blue-green,” Nolting said.

The plant can range from a very short ground cover, to mid-size edging varieties, to large specimens. Hostas prefer partial shade, but some varieties can adapt to more sun.

* The redbud (Cercis Canadensis) is the Pride of Kansas tree of the year. It grows to about 25 feet with a rounded head and an open branching habit. Nolting said this winner is one of the favorite native trees. Its flowers, which are magenta or white, appear on dark, bare twigs weeks before the foliage appears. The leaves that emerge are medium-size (3-5 inches long and wide) and are distinctively heart-shaped.

“The redbud is known for its beautiful flowers that adorn the landscape early in the spring,” Nolting said.

In Kansas, native redbud are an undergrowth tree in wooded areas. They also are useful, however, for naturalizing or using as foundation trees, because their vertical taproot isn’t invasive to the surroundings. Redbud are versatile and adapt well to the soils and climate of Kansas, Nolting added.

Cultivars of the redbud include Alba, which has white buds; Forest Pansy with its purplish foliage; and Oklahoma, which has thick, waxy, dark-green foliage.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Crystal Rahe
cer5665@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News