3/03-07 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information contact: Christine Kelleher, 800-232-9557, Ext. 512, or Gary Doerr, 916-716-1889 Karen Dardick is a garden writer with more than 200 articles published in national and regional magazines and newspapers. She writes a monthly column "Simply Roses" for the Pasadena Star-News. Feel free to use this release in its entirety or in part, with or without the author’s byline.

Some plants reach the gardening public after long years of complex and painstaking scientific breeding. Others are the result of a chance discovery. Fortunately for gardeners, a Coreopsis (Tickseed) breakthrough plant is now available because of the discerning eye of a nursery owner.

Mary Ann Faria, owner of Limerock Plant Farm, a retail nursery in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has a keen eye when it comes to plants. When she spied a deep velvety-red flower on a seedling emerging beneath a bench at her nursery, she first assumed the plant was a Dianthus. On closer inspection, she realized that the plant was something else – a Coreopsis unlike anything she’d ever seen. It turned out to be a natural cross between two unknown Coreopsis varieties and the fortunate result is a true-red flowering plant with medium green, needle-like foliage that’s a welcome addition to gardens.

Faria recognized its potential value, and decided to contact a company with the resources to test, propagate and bring this remarkable plant to the marketplace. She selected Blooms of Bressingham.

“We’re constantly searching for garden worthy new plants and encourage people to contact us,” said Gary Doerr, president of Blooms of Bressingham. “ We have been evaluating and introducing new plants this way for over 50 years.”

In addition to striking color, this free-flowering new variety, named ‘Limerock Ruby’ is easy to grow provided it is planted in well draining soil and a sunny location. Daisy-like flowers are ruby red with yellow centers. They appear in early summer and continue well into fall. Faria has observed flowers as late as mid-November in her garden. The plant is graceful in appearance, 18 to 22-inches tall, self-supporting with an upright, vase-shaped habit. When bloom flush is waning, a light shearing encourages fresh growth and flowering. It has few, if any insect pests or disease problems. 'Limerock Ruby is a tender perennial that requires well-drained soils for best growth.

“True red-flowering garden plants are very rare,” said Doerr. “We’re pleased to provide this outstanding plant to North American garden lovers.”
‘ Limerock Ruby’ is available at garden centers offering Blooms of Bressingham plants. Log on to the Web site at www.bobna.com for a partial retailer list.

Pictures available