Our Plants | Egan Gardens of Salem, Oregon

Our goal at Egan Gardens is to do what we do really well. We figure that means we shouldn't try to do everything, because perfection is extremely hard to attain and usually one simply kills oneself trying, or at best, fails to have any fun in life.

So we have a focus, a niche. We do flowers. They're the most fun. I feel sorry for all those nurseries that just grow green bushes because we get to do the pretty stuff. We grow annual bedding plants, perennials, hanging baskets and planters. We also carry flowering shrubs and a small but elite selection of flowering trees.

What would you do if you had 55,000 square feet of greenhouses, plus a bunch of outdoor growing space? I face that question every year. Some plants we always grow every year. Then come the impulse plants -- you know, "Ooh, that looks pretty, let's try growing that." Sometimes those impulse plants end up joining the standard mix, sometimes it's a one-time-only attempt, what I call "a learning experience."

So, here's a sampling of the many plants we grow:

New Plants for 2009

The world of plant breeding is very active these days, and I've been overwhelmed with choices of plants to add to our production list. Some are new colors of things we've been growing; some are entirely new types of plants. Click here for a look at some of the ones for 2009 that are most different, or that I have highest hopes for.

Late-Summer and Fall Plants

There's so much going on in late summer and fall! From Asters to colorful Mums and Pansies that overwinter, the plant palette at this time of year is huge. For ideas on what to plant, see our Fall Plants page.

Geraniums

Why would we choose Geraniums (Pelargoniums) as one of our main crops? Because they're not just another bedding annual. They start blooming earlier, keep blooming later, bloom more continuously, grow in a wider range of conditions, require less special care, are more likely to overwinter, and generally give a gardener more satisfaction than just about any other plant.

To learn more about our Geraniums, including Zonals, Ivy Geraniums and Martha Washington types, click here.

Spring-Flowering Plants

If you come out to Egan Gardens for our Grand Reopening at the end of February, you'll find that we've grown everything we can think of that will bloom naturally in the low light of late winter and early spring. Quite a few plants can take the cold, either right out in the open, or in pots with just a little protection on your porch. Jump to our Spring Plants page to learn more about these plants.

Baskets and Planters

We grow really nice combination pots and hanging baskets. We grow three main types of mixed baskets, which are available most of the spring and summer. Besides the standards, we do special planters in nice terracotta and ceramic pots, cedar windowboxes, and anything that looks pretty. You can bring your own pots to us and we'll plant them for you. Or, make your own. Check out a recipe for one of my favorite combinations and learn more about our baskets on our Baskets and Planters page.