We always do our best to let you know what’s new, and when you can expect to see the plants you’ve been looking for. To make it a little easier this year, we’ve compiled a list of some of our most asked about plants, and when you might be able to get them here at the Garden Center. Keep in mind that most of these plants are very weather and temperature-dependent, so sometimes a shipment may have to be delayed.

Don’t see the plant you’re looking for? Just give us a call. We’re always here to help!

Check back often to get the latest dates and ETAs.

GREENHOUSE

Citrus, Figs, Olives, Madrid Purple Lavender: Last week of April/First Week of May
Summer Annuals: Million Bells, Lantana, Torenia, Verbena Black-Eyed Susan Vine, Lysimachia, Lobelia, Dahlietias, Bacopa, Salvia, Cosmos, Portulaca, Snap Dragons, Sweet Potato Vine, etc. will all start to show up around Mid to late April. Many of these items will need to be kept above 50 degrees.
Cool Weather Annuals (can take occasional cool nights to 40-45 degrees: Petunia, Snapdragons, Stock, Alyssum, Geranium, Osteo Daisy, Nemesia, Marigold, Dusty Miller
Warm Weather Annuals that like it HOT. Waiting to plant these will make them happy: New Guinea Impatiens, Portulaca, Vinca rosea, lantana, Cuphea, Ageratum, Gazania, Celosia, Cosmos, Zinnia, Scaevola, Dahlia, Begonia, Persian Shield, Penta’s, Angelonia, Sweet Potato Vine
Geraniums: Mid-April…needs to stay above 45 degrees to keep outside
New Guinea Impatiens: First week/second week of May needs to be above 60 degrees at night.
Herbs: Mid-March Some herbs can handle cooler night to 40 degrees, but Basil especially needs to wait till warmer nights about 60 degrees
Cool Weather veggies like Lettuce, Peas, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts Chard, Arugula, Kale, etc. will be available end of March/Beginning of April.
Warm Weather Veggies like Tomatoes, Eggplant, Cucumber, Peppers, Squash, will start to be available in the middle/end of April however they need to be grown in a greenhouse or kept warm till the middle/end of May. These veggies do not want to go below 60 degrees.
Tropicals: Hibiscus, Mandevilla, Gardenia, Palms, Jasmine, Bird of Paradise, Alocasia, etc. We will start to see Tropicals arriving in the middle of April and continuing through the Middle of May however they do not want to go below 50 degrees at night. The warmer the better.
Big palms Closer to Beginning of May

PERENNIALS

Roses – last week of April
Grasses – limited after Mother’s Day, full selection by Father’s Day.
Hostas & Ferns – limited by the first week of May, full between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day
Groundcover flats – Third week/ Last week of April
Peonies – First week of April… they will be sprouted and growing out of the pot but not bud and bloom till closer to May.

TREES AND SHRUBS

Hydrangea: (dormant) week of 3/29. We will not have bud and bloom Hydrangeas till later in May. They do not like cold nights. Because of the low temps for Thursday and Friday night, hydrangea macrophylla won’t land until next week.
Butterfly Bush: (dormant) Beginning of April. Again, we will not have bud and bloom butterfly bush till later in May. They do not like cold nights
Lilacs: Mid-April/Third week of April depending on a cold night in the forecast
Rose of Sharon: Mid to end of May… they like it WARM!
Spring Flowering deciduous Shrubs: Spirea, viburnum, winterberry, deutzia, weigela, etc. week of 3/29
Privet Hedge: 1st wave 3/25. 2nd wave week of 3/29
Japanese Holly: Friday 3/26
Dogwood trees: 1st wave 3/23 2nd wave week of 3/29
Green Giant Arbs: The first wave landed 3/22, 2nd wave 3/29, 3rd wave week of 3/29 or 4/5.
Large Evergreens: White Pine, Blue Spruce, and Norway Spruce week of 3/29
Jr. Giant Arbs: #5 potted will be available mid-spring (VW GROWN 10 gal ready mid to later summer)
Blue Holly: 3/24
Blue Mist Shrub: arriving summer (June)
Specimen Trees: Week of 3/29 and 4/5.
Cherry Laurel: week of 3/29
Coral Bark: Maple’s week of 3/29.

SOD

It can be cut starting the week of 3/22 and is available for drop-ships. Sod will still have dormant color.
The Garden Center will have sod most likely mid-April, Maybe sooner if the weather stays warm and it greens up.

This time of year we are all itching to get in the garden. All it takes is a few warm days, some sunshine and we are all ready to dig in the dirt. At the garden center we get asked all the time, what can I plant now? There are many choices for early spring perennials, and with proper planting, you too can have beautiful blooms this time of year. Just be sure to amend your soil with Van Wilgens Premium Planting Mix and add Jump Start to push root growth so your perennials have a healthy start. Top with mulch so your blooms stay nice and cozy and your good to go! Here a few of my early spring favorites.

Hellebore- Great shade-tolerant deer-resistant perennial that comes in a rainbow of colors
Candytuft (Iberis)- profuse white blooms and neat mounding habit make for a perfect early season edging plant
Columbine (Aquilegia)- Eastern US Native with distinctive show-stopping flowers
Creeping phlox- Gorgeous mounding groundcover with pastel flowers giving way to mossy green foliage
Forget me not (Myosotis)- Long-lasting, true blue flowers make for an unforgettable plant
Rockfoil (Saxifraga)- a super cold hardy plant with early blooms that’s at home in any alpine planter or garden
Yellow Alyssum (Aurinia)- traditional cottage garden border plant that’s also at home in alpine gardens or as a border groundcover
Windflower (Anemone)- The early spring entry in this broad plant family provides huge blooms in an array of colors to brighten up any spring landscape

Will O’Hara

Perennial Manager

Spring is in bloom in our greenhouse! All you have to do is walk through the greenhouse doors and the aroma of spring hits you. Just stop, take a big breath in, it’s good for the soul.

The greenhouse is full of so many springtime favorites right now.

The colorful pansies are probably the first thing you will notice. Though pansies are tiny, they are also tough. Go ahead and plant your pansies outside and get your spring on, they can handle temps down to 28 degrees.

With Easter right around the corner, we have all your true Easter favorites in stock and ready to find a forever home.

Easter lilies
Hyacinths
Tulips
Daffodils
Hydrangeas
Oriental lilies
Asiatic lilies
Martha Washington geraniums
Osteospermum daisies
Calla lilies
Orchids

Easter was one of my favorite holidays as a kid. Although the candy was always good, the thing that I remember most is actually the flowers. The smell of the Easter lilies and the hyacinths in particular are forever burned in my memory. So now, when I smell the sweet aroma of Easter I can’t help but think back to all the wonderful memories I had with my family.

I hope when these Easter plants find their forever home with you, they will help you create memories as memorable as mine.

Happy Spring/Easter Everyone!!!!!

As if a greenhouse full of pansies wasn’t enough for our spring season, we’ve crafted some fun spring Custom Containers as well! We filled our favorite little twig baskets with outdoor spring favorites, like pansies and forget me nots, and violas with bright English daisies. With a festive pick and a dash of green moss, they make a great gift for on the go! And don’t worry, we’ve got twig baskets for indoors too! Spring plants are a great way to say happy spring to a neighbor, thank your holiday host, add a splash of color to your porch, or simply plop on your kitchen table as a festive decoration!

Grab a basket of spring at our Guilford Garden Mart or our North Branford store right next to the potting bench in our greenhouse. Come visit me at the potting bench for container tips and tricks, or even a custom planting, big or small, of your own. I’d love to help you add a splash of spring to your home!