ELMA, WASH. – Briggs Nursery has been accepted into the United States Nursery Certification Program (USNCP), the new USDA program that’s an audit-based approach to plant production, allowing nursery stock to be shipped to Canada without an export inspection.
The certification program is intended to ensure that plants remain pest-free during production. Inspections by state agriculture officials or by the USDA of all plants leaving the nursery will be unnecessary.
“This program made sense for us,” says Dave Jarzynka, president of Briggs Nursery. “The certification allows us to inspect an order and write our own phytosanitary certificate for shipments to Canada where we do a significant amount of our business, annually."
The acceptance into the program came just in time for shipping the new 2009 products.
- Rhododendron ‘Trocadero’ is a Hachmann hybrid. It is a cross of ‘Torero’ X ‘Erato’; both of these plants proved to be hardy into the minus 20 range and beyond. ‘Trocadero’ is greatly improved over its parents and should be given consideration as a hardy red production plant. The ‘Trocadero’ flowers in June and can reach 3’x 4’ in 10 years. USDA Zone 5
- Hosta ‘Trifecta’ is the off-spring of Hosta ‘Little Sunspot’ which was a Briggs' introduction. ‘Trifecta’ has three distinct colors: green, fading to pale yellowish green, fading to cream. The pale lavender flowers it produces in mid- to late-summer truly complement the leaves. ‘Trifecta’ forms a low mound, making it ideal for edging shady borders and is drought tolerant. 6” X 12” USDA Zone 3
- Hakonechloa ‘Beni-kaze’ is a grass for the shade garden with soft texture and a natural wind-swept look. Attractive green foliage turns brilliant red in the fall. Excellent mass planted with ferns, hostas or other shade loving perennials. ‘Beni-kaze’ is a deciduous, very hard to find, Japanese forest grass. The cultivar name can be translated as “red wind” which describes this plant’s autumn look perfectly. ‘Beni-kaze’ is left alone by deer and ideal even for open meadow and woodland settings. This 24-36” X 24-36” plant is ideal in USDA Zone 5.
- Rhododendron ‘Polarnacht’ is almost twice the width as its height. Nearly black flower buds open to frilly deep dark purple blooms with spotted red throats are held in trusses of 12-14 with dark green leaves. Foliage remains clean and is resistant to the typical purple foliage leaf spot. This plant is root rot resistant as well. This Hachmann hybrid is easily H2; parentage suggests that it may be H1. Mid- to late-season, compact plant. 3’ X 6’ USDA Zone 6
Briggs Nursery 2010 Coming Attractions:
Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’, a hexaploid highbush, is the first pink blueberry to hit the market. It has mid-late to late-season ripening; moderate yields; medium-sized, glossy fruit; bright pink fruit-color; and mild, pleasant flavor and good firmness.The bush of ‘Pink Lemonade’ is vigorous, upright and full (1.5 m high x 1.6 m wide). Leaves are glossy green and lanceolate, with a serrated leaf margins. Leaf surface texture is smooth, very similar to that of V. ashei. Wintertime twigs are dusky reddish-brown in color. USDA Zone 4.
Kalmia ‘Firecracker’ is ideal for gardeners. With a mature height of 3’ x 2’ in 10 years, the Firecracker is a compact plant that is great for foundational plantings or to complement broadleaf evergreens. The deep red flower buds open to near white blossoms that bloom simultaneously. This plant is deer resistant and resistant to leaf spot. It blooms from late spring to early summer and is best in full sun in a cool, moist, well-drained, acidic soil. ‘Firecracker’ also performs well in partial shade. USDA Zone 5 and USDA Zone 4.