Feb 8, 2016

Spring Trials Preview – Part 2 By Jasmina Dolce

And the countdown continues! In just 60 days, breeders, growers and suppliers will come together to showcase their latest product offerings along the California coast. This week-long event is a chance for attendees to check out and compare new varieties that will be available next season.

The Spring Trials exhibitors have so many new introductions in the pipeline, and they have been kind enough to fill me in on some of the new and exciting varieties that will be on display this year. In my last newsletter, I shared some sneak peeks and I’m going to continue the preview today…

Calibrachoa Calitastic series (Westhoff)

Incredibly uniform in habit and flower timing, these calibrachoa are perfect for quarts, 6-inch pots and hanging baskets. Very early to flower, all varieties flower at 11 hours critical day length and stay open and in flower under low light conditions, making these a great line for retailing from early spring throughout the season.

Coleus Under the Sea ‘Sea Urchin Neon’ (Hort Couture)

This true dwarf coleus variety is perfect for small container gardens and terrariums. Its unique mop head shape gives great texture and eye-catching color to combinations.

Begonia Megawatt series (PanAmerican Seed)

Megawatt is a super-uniform and programmable begonia that glows with premium, easy color in landscapes, baskets and big tubs from spring through fall. Its sturdy stems hold flowers above the foliage for superior show.

Gazania Enorma series (Hem Genetics)

The new Enorma series is comprised of six colors (Red with Ring is pictured). It has a large-flowered, moderate plant size with glossy, dark green foliage. It is more disease resistant than fuzzy leaf types in humid climates because the foliage does not trap water.

New Guinea impatiens Sunstanding series (Dümmen Orange)

The Sunstanding series has been hand selected for uniformity without PGR requirements. Brand new, vibrant color selections for 2017 complement the already diverse color assortment. The series is flexible in application and thrives in a variety of planting locations.

Gerbera ‘Fundy’ (Florist Holland)

Patio gerbera ‘Fundy’ is ideal for large patio containers with compact, uniform plants that carry beautiful pink and white bicolored flowers. It is also an excellent cut flower; blooms measure up to 5 inches in diameter and will last for two weeks in a vase.

Pentas BeeBright series (Syngenta Flowers)

The new BeeBright compact pentas series provides great performance in high-density production. With its uniform, well-branched habit, the series works well in 4-inch pots, quarts or gallons. BeeBright flowers early and continuously, attracting pollinators as well as consumers at retail.

Petunia ‘Surfinia Heartbeat’ (Suntory Flowers)

‘Surfinia Heartbeat’ is a charming novelty that will stand out in hanging baskets, containers and window boxes. White flowers have a pink heart pattern, which grows with care under mild temperatures and enough fertilizer. Plants have a compact mounding and trailing habit and offer excellent rain tolerance.

What do you think of these new varieties? What traits do you look for in new genetics? Shoot me an e-mail anytime at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com; I’d love to hear from you.

— Jasmina