Q. There are so many patented plants being released now.  Is there any comprehensive resource where I can find listings of all the newly patented plants?

A. There is an email service that you can subscribe to that will alert you to recently granted plant patents in the United States at www.patentalert.com/register.jsp. This site includes information on annuals, perennials, and woody ornamentals.

Q.  How difficult is it to grow native plants?  I have seen increasing demand from my customers but I don’t want to have to change my whole production cycle to accommodate them.

A. Actually many of the ornamental plants that you currently grow are probably native to North America, or are cultivars or selections of North American natives. This includes many herbaceous perennials as well as flowering shrubs. Emphasise to your clients that, in most cases, a cultivar of a native plant may be the best choice for their application. Tough, hardy, showy and attractive to birds and butterflies, just what the gardener ordered!

Q. Oriental poppies are very popular but they would sell better if they would rebloom. Is anyone working on developing reblooming Oriental Poppies Papaver orientalis?