Christensen's has added two products this year that make it easier than ever for you to improve both the beauty and functionality of your client projects: EZ-Straw® Wildflower Mix and the NDS Downspout Defender™ Shield.

The EZ-Straw® Wildflower Mix from Michigan based company, Rhino Seed®, is a simple, all-in-one solution for starting a wildflower garden. With over 30 types of annual and perennial seeds, including Poppies, Shasta Daisies, and Marigolds, this Wildflower Mix creates a diverse mix of blooms with continuous color, texture and visual interest throughout the growing season. The added processed straw mulch helps to retain moisture, reduce soil erosion and protects seeds during germination to increase chances of success.

Environmentally conscious homeowners are driving the increasing popularity of pollinator gardens. EZ-Straw® Wildflower Mix is a great product to introduce to your clients interested in supporting bees and butterflies.

For the healthiest plants and better blooms, Rhino Seed® recommends that EZ-Straw® Wildflower Mix be planted before June, allowing the seeds to germinate and establish strong roots while temperatures and moisture levels are still favorable.

For those completing drainage projects, Christensen's will now carry the Downspout Defender™ from NDS. Designed specifically for 9-inch and 12-inch drain basins, the Downspout Defender™ acts as a protective shield, preventing debris such as leaves, twigs and other material from clogging the system. It helps maintain proper water flow and reduces the need for frequent maintenance.

Easily installed on top of a catch basin, the Downspout Defender™ is a convenient upgrade with the potential to prevent blockages and damage to the drainage infrastructure.

Make sure to ask about these new products while you're at Christensen's, picking up the trees, shrubs and perennials we've highlighted the past month. 

Here's to a successful 2026!!

First the trees bud and then bloom. Then shrubs start to wake up. But, when perennials emerge from the ground, it says SPRING!!

Hellebore are some of the first flowers to bloom. They can even be seen blooming out of the snow! Bloom time often coincides with Tulips and Daffodils, and can add more color to the garden. Hellebore tend to produce single, cup shaped flowers in a large variety of colors ranging from white, pink, red, purple and yellow. The foliage is evergreen - dark green and glossy.

Phlox subulata is another great spring bloomer beginning in early April-May. They come in lots of cultivars: pink, blue, white, purple, and even candy striped.

Featuring a dense, mat-forming habit, these guys make a great groundcover! Creeping Phlox flower best in full sun, but do prefer some dappled shade once the heat really sets in. Known for being drought and deer tolerant, this would be an excellent choice if water or deer are a problem in your landscape.

Phlox divericata 'Blue Moon' is a stunning spring bloomer. They bloom along with the late-blooming tulips in late spring. This impressive native is perfect for a woodland garden, rock garden, border fronts or native plant gardens. With overlapping fragrant flowerheads, this violet-blue perennial really stands out. Phlox 'Blue Moon' is also a pollinator plant, so if you are looking to attract bees and butterflies, this would be a great choice. 

Looking for a fragrant, early bloomer? Check out Anemone sylvestris. Dainty, yellow-centered, white flowers flow up to 18” above soft textured foliage. This plant prefers shade and is ideal for woodland borders under large trees. Anemone sylvestris are known to spread in loose soils, and can be considered a groundcover in the right spot.

“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” (Stephen King, The Colorado Kid)

Isn’t that true?!! Much of what’s new at Christensen’s this year is new varieties of existing plants or improved versions of plants that have been available for years.

Christensen’s will also have some Illuminati Sparks® (Philadelphus coronarius ‘SMNPVB’),

with its smaller 3 x 3 size. All in the series are well maintained, and all

have deliciously sweet flowers in late spring.

Is it weird to be excited about a new Cornus sericea? “Redtwig” Dogwoods do have a place, looking fashionable in the winter, all dressed up in red. For years the nicest and most colorful was ‘Baileyi’ (6-10 x 6-10'). A true nativar, ‘Baileyi’ was found in a wooded area

and is considered a naturally occurring cultivar. 

The new one, Arctic Fire® (Cornus sericea ‘Farrow’), is bred to only grow about 3-4’ tall and lacks the colonizing habit of the species, therefore it doesn’t spread.

If you haven’t guessed from prior articles, I am a Viburnum FAN. There are a couple of new ones Christensen’s will carry this year. My new favorite is the Sugar n' Spice™ (Viburnum carlesii ‘Select S’). It is a small sized Viburnum (4-6’ x 4-6’) with pink buds, opening to an excess of white flowers. It is a Korean spice bush, so it has a sweet-spicy scent when it blooms in mid-May.

And just because Viburnum are such an awesome plant, this one morphs

to a brilliant red in the fall to add to the show.

Check back next week for the last in the series... Molly will introduce us to the Perennials.

Christensen's Plant Center has added several new (or new to us) varieties of trees to the availability list this season.

Ivory Spear® (Malus 'JFS KW214MX') and Raspberry Spear® (Malus 'JFS KW213MX') Crabapples

Both of these trees will grow to be 18’ tall and 7’ wide. They are a very narrow and dense form of crab apples and highly disease resistant. The Ivory Spear® has pink buds that open to white flowers, dark green leaves and bright cherry red fruit. The Raspberry Spear® has magenta pink flowers, dark purple leaves, and deep red fruit. They both will thrive in full sun.

Cornus Stellar Pink® Dogwood (Cornus x 'Rutgan') 

The Stellar Pink® Dogwood will grow to be 20’ tall and wide. It has pink flowers that are just slightly lighter than the Rubra Dogwood, making it a great subtitle. Stellar Pink® has green foliage that changes to a bright red in the fall.  While Stellar Pink® isn't new to Christensen's, we will only have the clump variety this year, in an 8’-10’ range.

This is a small highlight of what's new at Christensen's this season. Stop by for a look at all on offer.

Tune in next week to see the selection of new shrubs.

Every year, there’s a moment when the season turns—not on the calendar, but in the yard. The gates open a little wider, the trucks start rolling in a little faster, and the familiar rhythm of spring returns. At Christensen’s Plant Center, that moment carries a little more weight this year as we welcome you back for our 95th season. Since 1931, this yard has been more than a place to source plants and materials—it has been a place where relationships are built, projects begin, and seasons take shape.

If you’ve been with us for years, you know the feeling. That first walk through the yard after a long winter. The smell of fresh soil, the sight of new arrivals lined up and ready, and the quiet confidence that everything you need to get your season started is right here. And if you’re new to Christensen’s, welcome—you’re about to discover what so many in the industry already know: when you can source everything in one place, with people who know the business, the work just goes smoother.

Ninety-five seasons doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of you—our customers, partners, and friends—who continue to trust us year after year. Like we’ve said before, it’s not easy to put that appreciation into words, but it’s something we feel every day. The yard may change, inventory will evolve, and new opportunities will come along, but the goal remains the same: provide the quality, consistency, and service you rely on to do your best work.

As we open the gates on another season, we’re excited for what’s ahead. New material will arrive daily, trucks will come and go, and projects across the region will take shape—many of them starting right here. Whether you’re picking up a single load or planning out an entire season, we’re ready when you are. 

Welcome back—we’re glad you’re here.