Apr 12, 2015

Day One Recap: 2015 California Spring Trials By Jasmina Dolce

The 2015 California Spring Trials are officially underway! Team GPN traveled to four exhibits on Day 1, and we managed to make all our appointments on time… which is no easy feat.

We’re already seeing lots of new colors and exciting trends that we can’t wait to share with you! Our day started in Santa Cruz where Proven Winners showcased their new intros and shared some insights on their consumer marketing initiatives. Then we made our way down the twists and turns of Hecker Pass to Syngenta Flowers, where we saw some amazing combination concepts. Next was Danziger right down the road at Headstart Nursery. Our final stop of the day was the “World Tour” at Speedling.

It was definitely a busy and action-packed first day, but we saw some really interesting new varieties. Here’s a small glimpse for now. But remember to check out the June and July issues for more in-depth coverage. And we will also be posting tons of photos on Spring Trials gallery on www.californiaspringtrials.com.

Nemesia ‘Sunsatia Blood Orange’ (Proven Winners)

An underutilized plant in fall, nemesia is now available in this vibrant orange hue that will look great in gardens in fall. This is a tough plant with great cold and heat tolerance. It can be used from early spring to frost.

Verbena bonariensis ‘Meteor Shower’ (Proven Winners)

A flowering thriller with dusty lavender flowers, ‘Meteor Shower’ is more vigorous than other compact Verbena bonariensis varieties. It has strong roots and stems and will really stand out in the landscape.

Petunia ‘Sanguna Salmon’ (Syngenta Flowers)

Salmon is an intriguing new addition to the Sanguna series. It offers a modern color that pairs well in combinations.

Gerbera Bengal series (Syngenta Flowers)

Available in six core colors, the brand new Bengal series will add an interesting touch to interior and patio decorating. The big brother to the Jaguar series, Bengal will work well in 6-inch pots, gallons and larger containers.

Calibrachoa ‘Noa Violet Glint’ (Danziger)

This eye-catching calibrachoa features light violet flowers with dark veins. It has a nice mounding habit and will perform well in baskets.

Coreopsis ‘Solanna Glow’ (Danziger)

‘Solanna Glow’ boasts a bright light yellow color and a controlled habit. It is a hardy perennial that is hardy to Zone 5.

Marigold Chica series (Hem Genetics)

Chica is a new dwarf French marigold series that features larger flowers and uniformity between colors. It performed very well in trials last year. Available in Yellow, Gold and Orange, a new color (Flame, pictured) will be added next year.

— Jasmina