Monrovia Nursery was a visual treat, with a myriad of botanical colors, textures and forms awaiting their chance to thrive in our designs.

Among the more interesting plants:

• New Cordylines, including a deep burgundy variety that forms a basal clump and no trunk. There are also some very interesting, trunk forming varieties.
• A grafted gardenia whose rootstock allows it to thrive in a wider range of soils than would otherwise be the norm.
• 'Sunshine Blue', a variety of blueberry that should produce well in our area, and is compact and semi-evergreen as well, so it can be used as an ornamental plant.
• Anigozanthus 'Royal Cheer', a bold variety of kangaroo paws, with flowers up to 3' (shown)
• New camellia varieties with different growth habits and flowering seasons.
• 'Kaleidoscope' Abelia. Semi-variegated foliage and a dramatic fall color transformation.
• A new line of carpet roses with improved disease resistance.
• Flax lilies (Dianella), sporting blue-gray, variegated or green evergreen foliage and interesting blue flowers appearing in a mist over the plant - and one dwarf variety that does not flower.
• Some excellent formal background shrubs; a blue-gray podocarpus (Icee Blue) and a compact blueberry tree (Elaeocarpus 'Little Emperor').

Plants shown (from top):

Heuchera 'Marmelade'

Agave desmettiana

Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rossa'

Anigozanthus 'Royal Cheer'