Plantipp can be found at IPM in a new place but will traditionally show enough novelties, with this time the emphasis on special flower and foliage colours. As many as five novelties have been signed up by Plantipp for the novelty inspection. Five other novelties, also represented by Plantipp, have been signed up by licensees. A lot of attention is paid to new introductions of Agapanthus. No less than three special varieties are introduced at IPM. Agapanthus Ever Sapphire ('Andbin') and Agapanthus Ever White ('WP001') are two compact varieties that are about 35 cm high and wide. They flower in spring and have a second flowering in summer. These two Agapanthus like a spot in the sun in a well-drained soil and are hardy to approx. -15 ºC. Ever Sapphire has a beautiful, deep blue colour and Ever White has a bright white colour. Both are beautiful in a pot on the terrace or balcony but can also be placed in the perennial border. The third Agapanthus is Poppin' Purple ('MP003'). The flowers of Poppin' Purple are intense purple and there are many! Poppin' Purple grows faster than other varieties and becomes about 60 cm high and 45 cm wide. This Agapanthus also has a long flowering period and likes to stand in the sun in a well-drained soil. It is a great plant for the perennial border, for mixed containers or for in a pot on terrace or balcony. The big advantage of this Agapanthus is that it is resistant to crown rot (Erwinia). These three Agapanthus are all found by De Wet Plant Breeders from South Africa. Easy to grow and resistant to heat and cold is Rhododendron Encore® Autumn Fire ('Roblez'). Year round you can enjoy this dwarf azalea which is about 75 cm high and wide. Encore® Autumn Fire flowers twice a year (spring and autumn) with bright red flowers. In winter, the foliage colours from shiny dark green to purple-bronze. Encore® Autumn Fire grows well in a moist, well-drained soil in the sun or semi-shade. Due to its compact growth, Encore® Autumn Fire is very suitable for mass planting or for balcony or terrace. It is also a wonderful addition to the shrub border. Encore® Autumn Fire is hardy to -20 ºC and is found by Robert 'Buddy' Lee of Plant Development Services Inc. from the United States. For a Mediterranean touch in the garden, choose Juniperus scopulorum Blue Ivory ('Klaverjun') by breeder Arie van Klaveren from the Netherlands. This conifer has new, cream-coloured shoots that contrast very nicely with the blue leaf. Blue Ivory has an upright growth habit to 2.50m high and 50 cm wide and is hardy to -30 ºC. It's a beautiful plant for a hedge because Blue Ivory doesn't need to be pruned. Also very nice as a solitary or accent plant. Foliage plants are still the trend. Plantipp responds to this with the introduction of Lomandra longifolia White Sands ('Roma 13'). This Lomandra looks like a grass but is an evergreen perennial of approx. 70 cm high and 100 cm wide. This is the first variegated Lomandra with its grey-green leaves, white stripe in the middle and white along the edges. White Sands is a fast growing, easy-to-grow plant that is drought- and heat resistant. Lomandra White Sands has been signed up for the novelty inspection by Hoogeveen Plants from Hazerswoude-Dorp and is found by Robert Harrison from New Zealand. Astelia Red Shadow ('A1') and Cordyline australis Little Red Star ('FILIRESTA') both have striking red foliage. Red Shadow has a compact, ascending growth habit and becomes about 80 cm high and wide. Hardy to -5 ºC. An excellent pot plant or beautiful for the Mediterranean urban garden. At IPM, Astelia Red Shadow is introduced by Hoogeveen Plants from Hazerswoude-Dorp and is found by Lindsey Hatch from New Zealand. Cordyline Little Red Star is found by Garraith from Ireland and is Red Star's ‘little sister’ with its size of 60 cm high and 50 cm wide. Little Red Star is drought-resistant and heat resistant and has been signed up for the inspection by About Plants from Zundert. Another introduction from breeder Plant Development Services Inc. is Viburnum odoratissimum Coppertop ('Brant01') with striking, bronze-coloured new shoots between the shiny green foliage. This strong shrub is introduced by Piante Faro from Italy. Last but not least, Lavandula heterophylla 'Meerlo' is introduced in collaboration with Concept Plants. This shrub has special, serrated, grey-green leaves with a cream-colored border. The light blue flowers smell sweet. 'Meerlo' is about 90 cm high and 120 cm wide and is very resistant to drought, heat and moisture. Hardy to approx. -9 ºC. 'Meerlo' comes from breeder Louis Meerlo from New Zealand. Visit us at stand no. 2D19! IPM is held from 28 to 31 January 2020 in Essen, Germany.