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Oriental Lily ‘After Eight’   Greenhouse Product News February 2010   By Paul Pilon With a sweet, heady scent and enticing pink blooms, this Oriental lily will delight consumers at all hours of the day. Saxifraga arendsii Touran Series   Greenhouse Product News December 2009   By Paul Pilon With a compact habit, long bloom time and stunning flower power, this perennial works wonders in cool climates. PDF Version Cyclamen ‘Something Magic’   Greenhouse Product News November 2009   By Paul Pilon They aren’t just for the holidays anymore: Cyclamen are winter hardy and a great addition to many perennial gardens. PDF Version Heuchera ‘Melting Fire’   Greenhouse Product News October 2009   By Paul Pilon Propagated from seed, Fleuroselect’s Novelty Award winner makes gardens smolder with bright crimson, maroon and purple foliage and bold white coral bell–shaped blooms. PDF Version Dianthus ‘Coconut Punch’   Greenhouse Product News September 2009   By Paul Pilon Ideal for container, border or mass plantings, this deep-red member of the Fruit Punch family packs a wallop in the garden. PDF Version Penstemon barbatus Pinacolada Series   Greenhouse Product News August 2009   By Paul Pilon Showy flowers and a compact habit make the six colors in the penstemon Pinacolada series an intoxicating pick for containers and border plantings. PDF Version Veronica x hybrida ‘Christy’   Greenhouse Product News July 2009   By Paul Pilon With lovely blue-violet blooms and low mounds of highly serrated foliage, this fernlike plant is perfect for border plantings, along walkways and in patio planters. PDF Version Dryopteris erythsora ‘Brilliance’   Greenhouse Product News June 2009   By Paul Pilon This showy autumn fern loves to be the center of attention. And its dazzling tricolor fronds provide season-long interest your customers won’t be able to resist. PDF Version Prunella hybrid ‘Summer Daze’   Greenhouse Product News May 2009   By Paul Pilon Count on ‘Summer Daze’ to deliver irresistible appeal for retail shoppers. PDF Version Lavandula angustifolia Ellagance Series   Greenhouse Product News April 2009   By Paul Pilon These lavenders’ outstanding garden performance and rich flower colorations have earned the Ellagance series numerous awards. PDF Version Dicentra ‘Burning Hearts’   Greenhouse Product News March 2009   By Paul Pilon This classic fern-leaf bleeding hearts series is sure to lighten up landscapes for years to come. PDF Version Aubretia hybrida Axcent series   Greenhouse Product News February 2009   By Paul Pilon With its flower power and early bloom, the Axcent series is an impressive complement to any perennial program. PDF Version Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’   Greenhouse Product News January 2009   By Paul Pilon Nothing brightens up a landscape quite like this ornamental grass’ cascading foliage — reminiscent of golden waterfalls — and varying, vibrant leaf colors. Already a popular category, this striking series is sure to inspire your customers. PDF Version Geum coccineum ‘Cooky’   Greenhouse Product News December 2008   By Paul Pilon With its cheerful burst of color and ease of production, ‘Cooky’ offers untapped potential to jump start your early sales. PDF Version Dianthus barbatus Barbarini Series   Greenhouse Product News November 2008   By Paul Pilon With its compact habit and consistency, this popular series of Sweet William always delivers. PDF Version Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’   Greenhouse Product News October 2008   By Paul Pilon This attention-grabbing series is sure to set the landscape ablaze with its bright-yellow, uniquely fluted blooms. PDF Version Papaver nudicaule ‘Garden Gnome’   Greenhouse Product News September 2008   By Paul Pilon Gardeners and retailers alike have been warming up the Iceland poppy’s appeal in recent years. With its undeniable fl ower power, compact habit and ease of production, ‘Garden Gnome’ is quickly gaining popularity. PDF Version Perfecting Perennial Production   Greenhouse Product News August 2008   By Allen R. Pyle As perennials continue to grow in popularity among consumers, you must be prepared for the specific challenges associated with perennial production. Agastache ‘Raspberry Summer’   Greenhouse Product News August 2008   By Paul Pilon This summer staple series is a breeze to produce and boasts an abundance of colorful flower clusters. Once established, ‘Raspberry Summer’ is also fairly drought tolerant. Controlling Perennial Plant Height by “Watering In”   Greenhouse Product News July 2008   By Paul Pilon Learn the dos and don’ts of this promising application method, which eliminates the high labor costs of traditional pot-to-pot applications but poses some volume variability challenges. Monarda Didyma ‘Pink Lace’   Greenhouse Product News July 2008   By Paul Pilon With an enticing aroma, burst of lipstick-pink flowers and compact habit, this old-fashioned garden perennial manages to remain fresh and exciting. ‘Pink Lace’ is a perfect candidate for the current container craze. Hemerocallis ‘Ruby Stella’   Greenhouse Product News June 2008   By Paul Pilon This red-blooming daylily has earned a reputation for its stamina, reliability and tough nature. Like its well-known sister, ‘Stella D’Oro’, ‘Ruby Stella’ is a surefire winner. PDF Version Polemonium ‘Bressingham Purple’   Greenhouse Product News May 2008   By Paul Pilon Compact and colorful, Jacob’s ladder’s vibrant purple foliage adds oomph to any landscape. Myosotis sylvatica ‘Rosylva’   Greenhouse Product News April 2008   By Paul Pilon As a cool-season plant, this cultivar does not tolerate extreme summer heat or extended dry periods. But when produced for early spring programs, this familiar border plant provides an unforgettable burst of color in the landscape. PDF Version Arabis caucasica ‘Little Treasure Deep Rose’   Greenhouse Product News March 2008   By Paul Pilon With its abundance of rose-pink blossoms and reliable garden performance, this cool-season rock cress radiates strong flower power. PDF Version Leucanthemum maximum ‘Broadway Lights’   Greenhouse Product News February 2008   By Paul Pilon With its artistic look and marketing versatility, this chameleon-like cultivar stands out from the competition. The recent introduction is capturing the admiring gaze of gardeners and growers alike. PDF Version Geranium ‘Rozanne’ Hybrid   Greenhouse Product News January 2008   By Paul Pilon This versatile perennial exhibits an extended bloom time and can withstand intense heat, allowing the prize-winning hybrid to thrive continuously in diverse climates across the country. PDF Version Campanula glomerata Bellefleur Series   Greenhouse Product News December 2007   By Paul Pilon This compact and colorful series loves to show off and is ideal for production in small containers. With its first-year flowering, floriferous nature and uniform growth habit, it is sure to breathe new life into any perennial program. Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Perennials   Greenhouse Product News November 2007   By Paul Pilon Steering clear of these common pitfalls can enhance your perennial program and lead to a more profitable crop. Caryopteris divaricata ‘Snow Fairy’   Greenhouse Product News November 2007   By Paul Pilon ‘Snow Fairy’, an herbaceous perennial that grows and performs like a shrub, can be beneficial for growers. With its striking green-and-white foliage, few cultural problems and ease of production, it’s a must-have in the landscape. Just keep them away from wet sites. Achillea millefolium Tutti Frutti Series   Greenhouse Product News October 2007   By Paul Pilon The heat-loving and low-maintenance Tutti Frutti series is easy on the eyes and easy to grow. Beneficial attributes include uniform flowering, a long bloom time, great plant habit for container production and robust, disease-resistant foliage. Perennial Solutions: Panicum virgatum ‘Prairie Fire’   Greenhouse Product News September 2007   By Paul Pilon ‘Prairie fire’, a perennial red switch grass, is expected to catch on like wildfire. Learn how to propagate, produce and protect this increasingly popular species. PDF Version Vernalizing Perennials   Greenhouse Product News September 2007   By Erik Runkle For some cold-hardy perennials, a cold treatment is the key to initiate flowering. Here are tips for successful vernalization treatments of cold-hardy perennials that are propagated by seeds or cuttings. PDF Version Verbascum x hybrida ‘Southern Charm’   Greenhouse Product News August 2007   By Paul Pilon Formerly recognized only as a weed, verbascum is gaining popularity with gardeners and growers. ‘Southern Charm’ will bloom the first year when started from seed without the need for vernalization. PDF Version Turning Your Production Space   Greenhouse Product News June 2007   By Paul Pilon Adding an additional turn of production space can bring many benefits to your business. Read on to learn how to effectively produce a second perennial crop. PDF Version Salvia x sylvestris ‘Marcus’   Greenhouse Product News June 2007   By Paul Pilon This dwarf meadow sage is well suited for container production. Avoid crown and root rots by refraining from excessively moist or wet conditions. PDF Version Primula Acaulis Harlequin Series   Greenhouse Product News March 2007   By Paul Pilon Breeding efforts throughout the past few decades have helped produce primula varieties with improved attributes, such as those in the Harlequin series. PDF Version Asiatic Lily: Lily Looks Series   Greenhouse Product News February 2007   By Paul Pilon Lily Looks, a new series of Asiatic lilies, contains numerous dwarf cultivars with various flower colorations that are all well suited for commercial production. PDF Version Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’   Greenhouse Product News January 2007   By Paul Pilon Thanks in part to ease of production and landscape appeal, nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ has been named the 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. PDF Version Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Pot Of Gold’   Greenhouse Product News December 2006   By Paul Pilon This black-eyed Susan is an improved selection of a proven cultivar. These cold-beneficial plants feature long-lasting, daisy-like flowers and can be used as accent and border plants and in mass plantings. PDF Version Viola ‘Starry Night’   Greenhouse Product News November 2006   By Paul Pilon This cool-season perennial has great landscape appeal and no vernalization requirement, which means producing flowering plants is mostly a function of temperature and time. PDF Version Growing Cool Perennials   Greenhouse Product News September 2006   By Art Cameron, Cathy Whitman and Sonali Padhye, Michigan State University Growing perennials in cool conditions is becoming more inviting to growers as energy prices continue to climb. Michigan State University researchers detail the culture for some of the best cool-season perennials. PDF Version Doronicum orientale ‘Little Leo’   Greenhouse Product News September 2006   By Paul Pilon This cool-season perennial does not tolerate heat well but is commonly produced for early spring sales because of its abundant semi-double, bright-yellow flowers. PDF Version Perennial Solutions:Heucherella ‘Burnished Bronze’   Greenhouse Product News August 2006   By Paul Pilon This versatile, clump-forming perennial is best produced in partial shade and will flower from late spring until mid summer. PDF Version Crop Culture Report: Dianthus F1 Polar Series   Greenhouse Product News August 2006   By Julia Paul This series has robust plants that are bred to maintain their shape and balance and have a spicy fragrance. Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Sunfire’   Greenhouse Product News June 2006   By Paul Pilon This first-year flowering coreopsis will grow best under full sun and produce an abundance of large, yellow blooms. PDF Version Sensational Salvia   Greenhouse Product News April 2006   By Luis Masvidal and Jack Williams This relatively under-utilized group of salvia is available in a range of colors and has low water requirements, so why aren’t more of these salvia being produced and sold? PDF Version Platycodon grandiflorus: ‘Miss Tilly’   Greenhouse Product News December 2005   By Paul Pilon This tender perennial is first-year flowering, even without vernalization. Perennials: The New Frontier   Greenhouse Product News November 2005   By Joyce Latimer PGRs are used as a last resort for those difficult crops and even then on a prescription basis. As Doong explained, one group of impatiens may be treated with a PGR, while another group with the same planting date will not be treated. PDF Version Cool Campanula   Greenhouse Product News October 2005   By Sonali Padhye, Cathy Whitman, Erik Runkle and Art Cameron Cooling and daylength can regulate flowering of some campanula species and cultivars. PDF Version Sedum x hybrid ‘Black Jack’   Greenhouse Product News October 2005   By Paul Pilon PDF Version Perennial Solutions: Delphinium elatum Guardian Series   Greenhouse Product News September 2005   By Paul Pilon PDF Version Grower 101: Rooting Hormones   Greenhouse Product News August 2005   By Christopher Cerveny and James Gibson Rooting hormones can improve the visibility of temperate and tropical annual and perennial species by increasing propagation success. PDF Version Perennial Solutions: Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions’   Greenhouse Product News August 2005   By Paul Pilon Visions’ is not a patented cultivar and can be propagated by any grower. There are two fairly new introductions with the Visions name, ‘Vision in Pink’ and ‘Vision in Red’; these are patented cultivars. PDF Version FloraStar Elite Performer   Greenhouse Product News August 2005   By Jim Barrett and David Hartley PDF Version Factors Affecting PGR Liner Dips   Greenhouse Product News July 2005   Rebecca Schnelle, Christopher Cerveny and Jim Barrett Liner dips are a useful new technique that make the production of mixed containers and vigorous crops in baskets and other containers much easier and that allow for more efficient use of PGR chemicals. PDF Version Coreopsis: A Great All-American Genus   Greenhouse Product News July 2005   By Sonali Padhye and Art Cameron Typically, we recommend that ‘Sunray’ seedlings have an average of at least 16 leaves, or eight nodes, before the beginning of vernalization. PDF Version Aster dumosus ‘Sapphire’   Greenhouse Product News July 2005   By Paul Pilon Best in Show   Greenhouse Product News June 2005   By Carrie Burns, Catherine Evans and Bridget White The following 22 items represent some of the best new vegetative introductions this year. Look for these varieties to be widely marketed for the 2006 growing year and for our seed coverage in next month’s issue. PDF Version Breeding Breakthroughs   Greenhouse Product News June 2005   By Carrie Burns, Catherine Evans and Bridget White As we said, there were many varieties that were amazing; these five aren’t by any means the only varieties worth mentioning; you can find the other great Pack Trials introductions on page 38. PDF Version Echinacea purpurea ‘Little Giant’   Greenhouse Product News June 2005   By Paul Pilon This American native is used as an aromatic border plant to attract hummingbirds and butterflies into the gardens. Echinacea is widely used as an herbal medicine to stimulate the immune system and fight off various viral and bacterial infections. PDF Version Grower 101: Scheduling Perennials   Greenhouse Product News June 2005   By Leonard Perry If you wish to do your own vegetative propagation, keep in mind this is easiest when the plant itself wants to be vegetative and not flowering. This is often in spring for divisions and various times of summer for cuttings. PDF Version Making the Cut   Greenhouse Product News June 2005   By John Dole, Frankie Fanelli, William Fonteno, Beth Harden and Sylvia Blankenship Pack Trial Lessons   Greenhouse Product News June 2005   By Rick Schoellhorn 2005 Pack Trials held many lessons, including the standard crop introductions, marketing ideas and more. PDF Version Perennial Solutions: Geranium ‘Rozanne’   Greenhouse Product News May 2005   By Paul Pilon ‘Rozanne’ is an easy, carefree cultivar with finely cut, slightly marbled, deep-green foliage that turns reddish-brown in the autumn for added interest. Pushing Penstemon   Greenhouse Product News May 2005   By Rick Schoellhorn If you haven’t seen one before, penstemon looks a little like a gloxinia flower on an angelonia chassis; with a pale or white throat and rich colors on the outside of each flower. I think the releases of the vegetative types are really going to open the market for this genus. PDF Version Winner’s Circle   Greenhouse Product News May 2005   By Mackenzie Gaffney PDF Version Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona Sun’   Greenhouse Product News April 2005   By Paul Pilon The common name, blanket flower, came about since the striking three-colored flowers of gaillardias resemble the colors commonly found in Indian blankets. Osteospermum Cultivar Trial 2004   Greenhouse Product News March 2005   By Monica Kmetz-González and Claudio Pasian The Ohio State University Learning Garden evaluated 26 entries during its greenhouse trial to find the top performing osteospermums. PDF Version Cybister Amaryllis   Greenhouse Product News March 2005   By Camila Paula and Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida We forget how much longer Europe has been working in horticulture and what incredible diversity their market offers. PDF Version Nepeta ‘Blue Ice’   Greenhouse Product News March 2005   By Paul Pilon This new variety is an exception in its species, making it suitable for use as a groundcover or in rock gardens, borders and containers. PDF Version Grower 101: Propagating Herbaceous Perennials   Greenhouse Product News March 2005   By Sinclair Adam Jr. Plants that have a vertical growth pattern can usually yield stem cuttings. PDF Version Pulmonaria'Polar Splash'   Greenhouse Product News February 2005   By Paul Pilon This variety, which tolerates more sun than other pulmonarias, works well as a specimen plant and a ground cover. Helleborus x hybridus   Greenhouse Product News January 2005   By Paul Pilon It has gained such popularity that the members of the Perennial Plant Association have voted Helleborus x hybridus the 2005 Perennial Plant of the Year. PDF Version Cold Storage of Colocasia   Greenhouse Product News January 2005   By Jim Faust, Kelly Lewis and Jeff Adelberg As a result, most cultivars are propagated by division and can be purchased as bareroot plants. PDF Version A State of Phlox   Greenhouse Product News January 2005   By Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida All phlox groups are native to the North American continent, so they can offer additional sales if marketed as native plants. PDF Version Holiday Companion Plants   Greenhouse Product News December 2004   By Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida Sure, poinsettias are the holiday crop, but is there a market for other holiday crops to accentuate poinsettias or even just stand alone? PDF Version Digitalis purpurea‘Camelot’   Greenhouse Product News December 2004   By Paul Pilon This digitalis provides high germination rates, uniform growth and more reliable first-year flowering. PDF Version Growing Tall   Greenhouse Product News December 2004   By Bridget White To my surprise, there were tons of options — everything from tropicals to trees and foliage to flowering. PDF Version Lobelia cardinalis‘Fan Scarlet’   Greenhouse Product News November 2004   By Paul Pilon This award winner works well as a container plant or in the landscape. PDF Version Echinacea - Celebrate Diversity   Greenhouse Product News November 2004   By Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida I'm hoping this is the beginning of not only some fantastic new hybrids but also increased awareness of some of the lesser-known species. PDF Version Hardy Hibiscus   Greenhouse Product News October 2004   By Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida Connoisseurs of the hibiscus will know about some of the great species forms floating around in the industry, and for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about we’ll do a little history and get you caught up… PDF Version Gaura lindheimeriBallerina   Greenhouse Product News October 2004   By Paul Pilon This series performs well across a wide portion of the United States in containers, mass plantings and as accent plants. PDF Version Sedum spurium‘Voodoo’   Greenhouse Product News September 2004   By Paul Pilon Containers, landscapes, mass plantings — this is a versatile sedum. PDF Version Talk of the Summer Trials   Greenhouse Product News September 2004   By Rick Schoellhorn and Marc Frank, University of Florida In common with other year’s results we saw a few common markers that separate performance in the Sunbelt from performance in more Northern regions of the state. PDF Version Phygelius Possibilities   Greenhouse Product News August 2004   By Matt Moyer and Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida There are about 15 cultivars of the two species commercially available, many of which are interspecific hybrids. PDF Version Campanula punctata ‘Bowl of Cherries’   Greenhouse Product News August 2004   By Paul Pilon This variety is a showy spreading campanula that is receiving a lot of attention from growers. PDF Version Managing Perennial Stock Plants with Florel   Greenhouse Product News August 2004   By Janelle Glady, Suzanne Lang and Erik Runkle Michigan State research determines whether Florel can be used as a tool to keep perennial stock plants vegetative and increase the number of cuttings harvested for six perennial species. PDF Version Elite Performer: A greenhouse production trial for bacopa, petunia, verbena and scaevola.   Greenhouse Product News July 2004   By Jim Barrett and Erika Berghauer The Elite Performers award level is reserved for only those varieties that are the easiest to grow, have excellent marketability and perform well in different situations and container sizes. PDF Version Hosta‘Sum and Substance’   Greenhouse Product News July 2004   By Paul Pilon There are many reasons this hosta is an award winner; here are just a few. PDF Version Dianthus   Greenhouse Product News June 2004   Paul Pilon As 2004 has been dubbed “the year of the dianthus,” here is one to consider. Tender Perennials   Greenhouse Product News June 2004   By Art Cameron, Beth Fausey, Cathy Whitman and Erik Runkle Even when perennial plants are not rock hardy, some can still have great market potential for northern growers. PDF Version Pennisetum orientale ‘Tall Tails’   Greenhouse Product News May 2004   By Paul Pilon This ornmental grass lives up to its name, reaching 8 feet high, but can also be controlled by different methods. PDF Version WINNER'S CIRCLE   Greenhouse Product News May 2004   By Neda Simeonova GPN’s annual Winner’s Circle introduces the best of the best chosen by AAS, AARS, Fleuroselect and FloraStar. PDF Version A Cut Above the Rest   Greenhouse Product News April 2004   By John Dole Most of the trialers are commercial cut flower growers, while a few are universities, seed suppliers and other folks interested in supporting field cut production. PDF Version Delphinium grandiflorum ‘Summer Nights’   Greenhouse Product News April 2004   By Paul Pilon This early-blooming, well-branched, dwarf delphinium can be grown and forced easily. PDF Version Aquilegia x hybrida Swan   Greenhouse Product News March 2004   By Paul Pilon The cultivars in the Swan series produce an abundance of large, spurred blooms above mounds of attractive, medium-green foliage. PDF Version Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’   Greenhouse Product News February 2004   By Paul Pilon PDF Version Gaillardia compositae 'Fanfare'   Greenhouse Product News January 2004   Paul Pilon Occasionally a really exciting plant comes along that can easily be placed into mainstream perennial production. Gaillardia 'Fanfare' is one of those plants that has caught my eye and is receiving rave reviews from countless growers, retailers and avid gardeners alike. Tiarella 'Jeepers Creepers'   Greenhouse Product News December 2003   Paul Pilon Growers often consider tiarella cultivars prime candidates for their product mix for shady locations. Tiarella 'Jeepers Creepers' is no exception. With its large, bold, well-marked foliage, abundance of cream-colored flowers and eye-catching winter contrast, this cultivar is sure to perform well in today's perennial marketplace. PDF Version Festuca glauca ‘Boulder Blue’   Greenhouse Product News November 2003   Paul Pilon Festuca 'Boulder Blue,' an outstanding cultivar of ornamental grass, has been produced regionally for quite some time but just recently became available to growers throughout the country. PDF Version Hedera helix 'Duck Foot'   Greenhouse Product News October 2003   Paul Pilon A sport of Hedera helix 'Merion Beauty' isolated in New Jersey in 1976, 'Duck Foot' gets its name from its small, 1-inch, three-lobed leaves that resemble the foot of a duck. Due to its distinguishing characteristics, ease of production and marketability, the American Ivy Society has named Hedera helix Duck Foot the 2004 Ivy of the Year. PDF Version Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'   Greenhouse Product News September 2003   Paul Pilon With so many landscape uses, ease of production and wide availability, it is no wonder Athyrium nipponicum ‘Pictum’ is gaining popularity and receiving national recognition. Pictum was the recipient of the 2002 Growers’ Choice Award by the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association and most recently selected by the Perennial Plant Association as the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year. PDF Version Clematis 'Inspiration'   Greenhouse Product News August 2003   Paul Pilon This variety, with its unique flower color, long bloom time and exceptional vase life, has received rave reviews in European markets, earned numerous awards including the 1999 Award of Recommendation by the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society, The Netherlands, and was selected as the best introduction at the 17th Salon Végétal, France in 2002. PDF Version Grower 101: Handling Unrooted Perennials   Greenhouse Product News August 2003   John Friel Last month's Grower 101 outlined how to handle bare root perennials; this month goes a little farther back in the process and describes how to handle unrooted perennials. PDF Version Travels on Highway 101 Part II   Greenhouse Product News July 2003   Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida This second article on new crops displayed at Pack Trials 2003 will contain a bit less on production information and more on crops that struck me as interesting and worthy to note, especially for growers looking to develop a niche for the unusual. Hibiscus moscheutos 'Pyrenees Pink'   Greenhouse Product News July 2003   Paul Pilon Hardy hibiscus is an old-time garden favorite riding a new wave of popularity. Hibiscus moscheutos is a marshland native of the eastern United States and has hardiness in USDA Zones 4-9. With new developments in plant breeding, today's hibiscus cultivars offer improved flower sizes and colors, more appealing plant habits and extended bloom times. Finishing Bedding Plants and Perennials   Greenhouse Product News July 2003   Roger C. Styer It's time to recap problem areas. My top five encompass the growers' greatest concerns. These top issues are where I spend most of my time with clients. PDF Version Lamiaceae Response to PGRs   Greenhouse Product News July 2003   Joyce Latimer, Holly Scoggins and Velva Groover With the small number of ornamental members of the Lamiaceae family, this article contains PGR information on the primary ornamentals in this family and will provide you with a good starting point for using PGRs in your operation. PDF Version Grower 101: Bare Root Perennials   Greenhouse Product News July 2003   Neda Simeonova Bare root perennials are dormant plants with the soil removed from the roots. They are typically field grown for a period of time, usually one year, and harvested. Once the plants are dug, the tops are trimmed down to approximately 1 inch from the crown with the exception of evergreen perennials such as iberis, lavender, dianthus, Phlox subulata and yucca. These bare root plants are then shipped to finish growers or end users. PDF Version Pick of the Pack Trials, Part II   Greenhouse Product News July 2003   Carrie Burns, Catherine Evans and Bridget White The seed market's advancements, showcased in this year's Pack Trials, have brought unique traits and improvements to seed varieties that are frequently found in vegetative varieties. Now we are graced with unique crops such as seed hibiscus and double aquilegia. So, without delay, check out these and other innovative seed varieties we saw as we traveled the coast. Enjoy! PDF Version Editors' Pick of the Pack Trials, part I   Greenhouse Product News June 2003   Carrie Burns, Catherine Evans and Bridget White If you were there, you might have missed something or maybe you just need a refresher, and if you weren't able to attend Pack Trials this year, here's your chance. Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles'   Greenhouse Product News June 2003   Paul Pilon Veronica 'Royal Candles' is a clump-forming, bushy cultivar often utilized in rock gardens, as a border plant or in containers. This cultivar has many distinguishing characteristics such as a compact growth habit, reaching only 10-12 inches tall; clean leafy foliage topped with numerous vertical flower spikes; and deep blue-purple flowers, lasting from late spring to midsummer. With these characteristics, it is well suited to production in small container sizes and for marketing alongside bedding plants. PDF Version Travels on Highway 101, Part I   Greenhouse Product News June 2003   Rick Schoellhorn Pack trials this year seemed a lot like our national outlook: cautious and playing to its strengths. There was a lot of wonderful material, but it was toned down a bit from last year. Sorting out differences between plants became even more important this year, as I was touring with the editors from GPN, some of which were getting their first exposure to the diversity of our industry. PDF Version Fall Crops: Making A Brighter Season   Greenhouse Product News May 2003   Catherine Evans Growers are producing pansies, snapdragons, perennials, cyclamen, dianthus and more -- not only in the spring, but in the fall as well. In the past, selection was a very small part of the fall crop; however, as time goes by, trends are changing and people are becoming more interested in color and variety and focusing less on tradition Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Superior'   Greenhouse Product News May 2003   Paul Pilon Lavender 'Hidcote Superior' is an improved version of the very popular cultivar lavender 'Hidcote'. The improvements over its predecessor include enhanced uniformity, consistent quality and improved flower power. This cultivar of English Lavender remains compact and is very suitable for container production or in border plantings. Hemerocallis 'Little Missy'   Greenhouse Product News April 2003   Paul Pilon Hemerocallis 'Little Missy' is a new diploid daylily that was recently introduced by DeVroomen Holland Garden Products. This cultivar reaches 2 feet tall, bearing beautiful, purple-red flowers with fine, white edges and a contrasting yellow throat. Little Missy is considered a rebloomer, which means it produces a flush of flowers in late spring to early summer and bears flowers again later that same summer. PDF Version Japanese Hydrangeas   Greenhouse Product News April 2003   Rick Schoellhorn Many growers produce and are familiar with the common Hydrangea macrophylla hybrids, and some are also producing lace cap types for spring sales. However, there is a newer group of hybrids that have received little attention; those are the hybrids of H. macrophylla and H. serrata. These newer forms offer different flower types and some foliage color options as well. PDF Version New Cut Flower Introductions   Greenhouse Product News April 2003   John Dole Cut flower growers are always searching for the latest in new cuts to jazz up their product line. To provide that information, the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) conducts an annual National Seed and Perennial Trial Program. We had a number of great selections in the trials this year. The top performers in the trials are entered in the ASCFG Cut Flower of the Year contest. PDF Version Asteraceae Response to PGRs   Greenhouse Product News March 2003   Joyce Latimer, Holly Scoggins and Velva Groover Using information from our own research or other published sources, this month's article will look at the currently known responses of perennial plants from the family Asteraceae (Compositae) to PGRs. PDF Version Flowering Poppy Anemones   Greenhouse Product News March 2003   Meriam Karlsson Poppy anemones have been grown for years as cut flowers either in fields or greenhouses. Another marketing opportunity is as flowering potted plants. In areas with moderate climates, poppy anemones are also suitable as early spring-flowering bedding plants. PDF Version Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Perennial Solutions)   Greenhouse Product News March 2003   Paul Pilon Salvia 'Caradonna' is a unique cultivar of the reliable genus and species Salvia nemorosa. The violet-blue flowers are similar to other cultivars of this species except they are held on purple stems that provide an added element of texture. In the landscape, it is often used in borders and cut flower gardens where there is full sun to partial shade. PDF Version Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'   Greenhouse Product News February 2003   Paul Pilon Brunnera 'Jack Frost' is a new cultivar of Siberian bugloss discovered at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Mich. This cultivar was the winner of the Plantarium "Best New Plant Award in 2001." Its most distinguishing characteristic is its frosty silver leaves with green veins and edges. PDF Version Bromeliads: long-lasting tropical color   Greenhouse Product News February 2003   Rick Schoellhorn The boom in orchids as flowering potted plants (now listed as the number-two flowering potted plant, just behind poinsettias) and the growing diversity of bromeliad hybrids on the market make it much easier to find reliable sources for some really exotic color. I will look more at orchids sometime in the near future, but for this month I wanted to talk about bromeliads and some of the spectacular, long-lasting hybrids coming on the market. Dianthus 'Bouquet Purple'   Greenhouse Product News January 2003   Paul Pilon Dianthus 'Bouquet Purple' has been produced as a bedding plant or cut flower for a few years, and it is still underutilized as a perennial crop. Bouquet Purple has many desirable perennial characteristics such as: quick finishing time from plugs, easy flowering that can be scheduled, hardiness in USDA Zones 4-10 and few known cultural problems. Bouquet Purple is a seed-propagated, interspecific F1 hybrid that produces lavender flowers on strong, well-branched stems. Throughout the country, it has been a terrific performer and has been named winner of the 2000 Minnesota Select Perennial award and the 2001 Mississippi Medallion award. PDF Version Producing Ravishing Ranunculus   Greenhouse Product News January 2003   Meriam Karlsson In the 1960s and 1970s, efforts were intensified to develop seed-propagated ranunculus. Plants with dwarf growth habits were also singled out during the breeding process to identify suitable seed-propagated selections for bedding and potted plant markets. In 1983, Sakata Seed America, Morgan Hill, Calif., introduced the seed-propagated F1 hybrid series Bloomingdale. PDF Version The Sixth Annual State of the Industry Report   Greenhouse Product News December 2002   Catherine Evans Year after year, the Annual GPN/Summit Plastics State of the Industry Report provides the most comprehensive data available about the past year in floriculture. And now ladies and gentlemen, The Sixth Annual State of the Industry Report. PDF Version Anthuriums Reinvented   Greenhouse Product News December 2002   Rick Schoellhorn Anthuriums are one of the crops where a lot of changes have taken place in the last 10 years. Breeding has really changed the face of this crop, but also, there are a lot of misconceptions floating around out there that have limited the adoption and use of this wonderful flower. Anthuriums remain one of the crops that most Northern nurseries bring in as pre-finished or finished, but the sparsely flowered forms of years ago are long since replaced by earlier and heavier-flowering varieties. PDF Version Fusarium in Tulips   Greenhouse Product News December 2002   Bill Miller In an earlier article in GPN ("Flower Bulb Transportation and Handling," August 2001), the relationships of Fusarium infection, ethylene production and forcing problems were introduced. In this article, we'll review some of the known information on Fusarium infection in tulip bulbs and describe some non-chemical remedies for its management. PDF Version Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky'   Greenhouse Product News December 2002   Paul Pilon Leucanthemum 'Becky' is quickly becoming one of the most common varieties of Shasta daisy in commercial production today. This long-lived variety has gained so much attention that the Perennial Plant Association has selected Leucanthemum Becky as the 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year. PDF Version Employing Communication in Employment   Greenhouse Product News November 2002   Brandi D. McNally Two years ago, Tagawa Greenhouses in Brighton, Colo. saw that their production efficiency and product uniformity could be improved through some changes in employee training. By developing a system that integrated training, research and development, and implementation management, they've seen increasing productivity since the beginning of the program. Hiring professional teachers, developing standardized procedures and spending time with individual employees to gain an understanding of their communication levels are just a few of the things they've done to make their training program successful. PDF Version Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' Hybrid Tickseed   Greenhouse Product News November 2002   Paul Pilon Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' is destined to become one of the most sought-after perennials for growers and gardeners across the country. Discovered by Mary Ann Faria of Limerock Plant Farms in Lincoln, R.I., this hybrid coreopsis with unknown parentage brings a new bright red flower to a genus that is dominated by various shades of yellow blooms. With these characteristics and ease of production, Limerock Ruby has the potential to be a classic American perennial. PDF Version University of Florida Field Trials   Greenhouse Product News October 2002   Rick Schoellhorn The spring field trials at the University of Florida this year contained 180 cultivars of vegetative annuals, both those more common to southern production and also several focus areas. The goal of these trials is to promote plants that are tolerant of extreme high heat and humidity, conditions common across the southeast sunbelt from Florida to West Texas. Obviously, the season here begins very early in the year and, for some plants, ends a lot earlier as well. The results of these trials can be used to help growers refine their late-season selections where heat and humidity have the biggest impact on crop quality. PDF Version Lamium 'Orchid Frost' Spotted Deed Nettle   Greenhouse Product News October 2002   Paul Pilon Orchid Frost is a cultivar of Lamium maculatum, which belongs to the mint family. Unlike most varieties of lamiums, Orchid Frost holds up remarkably well during the summer months, without foliage scorching or being overcome with leaf spots. It bears bright, orchid-pink flowers during both the spring and the fall over its variegated silver foliage. PDF Version Raspberries: A New Greenhouse Crop   Greenhouse Product News October 2002   Meriam Karlsson and Jeffrey Werner In an effort to extend local availability and the season for fresh raspberries, greenhouse production should be considered. The targeted local market is for high-value, top-quality, off-season, fresh raspberries, since greenhouse production is expected to be more expensive than conventional field systems. PDF Version Heuchera 'Fireworks' Coral Bells   Greenhouse Product News September 2002   Paul Pilon The Native American perennial heuchera has become one of the hottest, most must-have perennial plants for today's gardens. Fireworks is best recognized by its "explosive" display of light, coral-bell-shaped flowers on wiry stems held over the lightly ruffled bronze foliage. It is a prolific and a long-lasting bloomer that continues flowering from May-August and attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds. It has good re-blooming characteristics and can be used as a cut flower. Two From the Show   Greenhouse Product News September 2002   Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida This year's Ohio Florists' Association trade show was, as usual, a mind-boggling mix of new crops and production technology. This year there were a couple of booths with something really different and off the map in terms of crops. These wonderful plants -- Lachenalia and Scutellaria -- hold excellent potential to become high-profit specialty items that are not difficult to master. PDF Version A Primer on Hydroponic Cut Tulips   Greenhouse Product News August 2002   Bill Miller In Holland, approximately 30-35 percent of the cut tulip crop is forced hydroponically, and we have been evaluating this production method at Cornell over the past two seasons. While our experiences have been very positive, there are several important details to understand and act upon before a high-quality crop can be produced. PDF Version Primula: an all-time favorite   Greenhouse Product News August 2002   Meriam Karlsson The most important primula species in production today include English primrose or acaulis primula (Primula vulgaris, synonym P. acaulis), polyanthus, polyantha primrose or hybrid primrose (P. xpolyantha), fairy primrose or baby primrose (P. malacoides), German primrose or poison primrose (P. obconica) and cowslip (P. veris). Chinese primrose (P. sinensis) is also produced in limited numbers and some interest exists in producing drumstick primrose (P. denticulata) as a container plant. PDF Version Diseases of Perennials   Greenhouse Product News August 2002   Steve Nameth Disease control of perennials is very similar to that of herbaceous annuals. Number one is knowing what diseases are important and how to identify them. Before you plant anything, be sure that the material you are planting (seed, corm, rhizome, cutting, etc.) is free from diseases and insect pests. Purchasing propagation material from a reputable producer will help ensure high-quality starting material. Taming the Wild Calibrachoa   Greenhouse Product News July 2002   Erika Berghauer, Jim Barrett and Rick Schoellhorn As with many vegetatively propagated items, producing Calibrachoa hanging baskets does not come without challenges. Taming vigorous growth to produce a more attractive basket, facilitate shipping and keep plants untangled in a high-density growing situation are concerns. At the University of Florida, we have evaluated the use of growth regulator drench applications to slow the growth of Calibrachoa, which should make this high-value crop more appealing to growers. PDF Version Getting to the Root of It   Greenhouse Product News July 2002   Paul Pilon With the advancement of perennial production, many operations are looking at their current fertility programs only to discover the traditional practices used with greenhouse crops aren’t always sufficient with many perennial crops. With a shift in production practices, it is often helpful to review the basics of crop fertility and apply these principles to meet the needs of new crops. PDF Version Pack Trial Curiosities   Greenhouse Product News July 2002   Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida I selected the following plants because they are easy to produce or offer a very specialized look. All of these plants have a place in the component plant world and most will add something different to any container. This is by no means all of the incredible new crops I saw at Pack Trials this year but a good sampling of some new directions in crop development. PDF Version Editors’ Pick of the Pack   Greenhouse Product News June 2002   Brandi D. Thomas and Bridget White This month and next, we’ll present the Pack Trials from several different perspectives, starting right here with some of the varieties our editors thought were really outstanding. In order to get good coverage, GPN’s editors took the divide and conquer method — Brandi tackled the Northern sites and Bridget took the South. Using PGRs on Spring Bulbs   Greenhouse Product News May 2002   Bill Miller In many cases, the real issue for growth regulation of spring bulbs does not come during production but during postharvest. Spring bulb growth regulation is often a case of PGR application in the greenhouse for growth control in the low light and warm interior environment. PDF Version Winner's Circle   Greenhouse Product News May 2002   Carrie Burns and Elizabeth Pensgard As tradition dictates, the 2003 winners for next year’s growing season have been chosen from the following: All-America Selections, Fleuroselect and All-America Rose Selections. Judges for all three associations used a standardized grading system that scored how well the variety performed during the trialing period, measuring disease-resistance, hardiness, color and novelty in test gardens across the United States. Virus Diseases of Petunia   Greenhouse Product News May 2002   Steve Nameth The purpose of this article is to bring the reader up to speed on the subject of petunia viruses and the diseases they cause in this popular ornamental crop. PDF Version Forget-me-not as a Potted Plant   Greenhouse Product News May 2002   Meriam Karlsson Initial studies on the opportunity to produce forget-me-not as a flowering potted plant are promising. For best plant development and flowering, day length, temperature and light condition following the cold treatment still need to be evaluated. Consumer acceptance of locally produced flowering potted forget-me-not has been overwhelming. The demand for special occasions and the scarce availability suggest consumers are willing to pay a premium price for flowering potted forget-me-not. PDF Version Advanced Height Control of Perennials   Greenhouse Product News April 2002   Paul Pilon Unlike most greenhouse crops, perennials consist of a diverse array of plant species (literally thousands of them). Until recently, relatively little research has been conducted with perennials; therefore, the availability of high-quality cultural information is almost nonexistent. Consumer popularity, increased competition and stricter quality specifications have helped make controlling the height of perennials a real challenge for today’s growers. PDF Version Adding a Perennial Turn   Greenhouse Product News March 2002   Bridget White Sponsored by the Perennial Plant Association, the “June is Perennial Gardening Month” program is designed to extend the home gardening season for perennials through the promotion of summer- and fall-blooming varieties. PDF Version Plectranthus: Coleus’ Cousin   Greenhouse Product News February 2002   Richard Schoellhorn With all the well-deserved attention that coleus hybrids are receiving for their landscape and interiorscape performance, it seems like a good time to take a look at some of the closer relatives of coleus that have the same strong characteristics and solid performance. PDF Version Producing Vegetative Petunias and Calibrachoa   Greenhouse Product News February 2002   John M. Dole, Brian E. Whipker and Paul V. Nelson In the following article we will discuss how to cost-effectively grow petunias and calibrachoas with an emphasis on the areas we have been researching: propagation and growth (vine) control. Adding a Perennial Crop: The Logistics and the How-Tos   Greenhouse Product News November 2001   By Paul Pilon In your ongoing search for new crops, try adding a perennial rotation. Perennials mix well with many bedding plants and production can be much easier than you might think. PDF Version GROWER 101: Disease Primer, Part III: Fusarium   Greenhouse Product News November 2001   Jim McLaughlin An unstoppable force and dreaded opponent for any grower, Fusarium is difficult to spot and even more difficult to protect against. Fusarium can ruin a beginning grower’s love for floriculture. Not only is it hard to find the fungus, but it also strikes quickly and causes almost instant damage to your plants. The following helpful hints will arm the beginning grower with the tools he or she needs to identify Fusarium and stop its growth. PDF Version Black-Eyed Susan: A Novelty Potted Plant   Greenhouse Product News November 2001   Meriam Karlsson Rudbeckia, or black-eyed susan, is a well-known perennial garden plant. A combination of pinching and growth regulator application achieves the most uniform flower development for dwarf rudbeckia cultivars produced as potted plants. PDF Version Solving the Perennial Problem   Greenhouse Product News October 2001   Gary Hickman More and more growers are supplementing their bedding plant mix with perennials, and they are learning that with this new crop comes many of the same old problems. Research from the UC Cooperative Extension points growers in the right direction for height control on many common perennials. PDF Version Culture Tips for Anthurium   Greenhouse Product News October 2001   Maarten van der Leeden PDF Version Life After Labor Day   Greenhouse Product News September 2001   Ann Hancock In late August, September and October, there isn't a lot happening in most perennial borders PDF Version Containers Reign During "Symphony of Color"   Greenhouse Product News September 2001 PDF Version Factors Affecting Postharvest Quality of Cut Lillies   Greenhouse Product News September 2001   Susan S. Han The number of lily bulbs imported to the United States from The Netherlands for both professional forcing and garden usage is up 44 percent. To keep that number moving in the right direction, consumers need exposure to quality lillies. New research from the University of Massachusetts will ensure the quality of your cut lillies. PDF Version Figuring Out Fertilization   Greenhouse Product News September 2001   Marc van Iersel, Bodie Pennisi and Paul Thomas Understanding how to perform a few simple tests can help your fertilization program from interfering with your crop schedule and save your margins. PDF Version Size Control for Lantana   Greenhouse Product News September 2001   Jim Barrett and Rick schoellhorn Lantana may be gaining popularity with consumers, but its spreading habit is causing headaches for growers. Here are some treatments to stop lantana spread. PDF Version Herbs Amid the Foliage   Greenhouse Product News September 2001   Brandi Danielle Thomas A history of Disney-inspired experimentation led one grower off the well-worn tropical path toward a bright future in specialty plants. PDF Version Spring Season Grower Review   Greenhouse Product News August 2001   Catherine Evans and Brandi Thomas Subirrigation vs. Overhead Watering: Nutritional Effects on Poinsettia   Greenhouse Product News August 2001   By Douglas Cox In Part II of GPN’s three-part series on subirrigation, we move from comparing cost to comparing effectiveness in fertilizer delivery. Next month’s final article in the series will again focus on nutrition delivery, with emphasis on micronutrients. PDF Version Flower bulb Transportation and Handling   Greenhouse Product News August 2001   William B. Miller You may not give much thought to the journey your bulb shipment takes from the fields in Holland to your greenhouse. Being aware of the steps in the process can help you identify and prevent potential problems before beginning. PDF Version Crown of Thorns Makes a Comeback   Greenhouse Product News August 2001   By Rick Schoellhorn PDF Version Growing the Newest Poinsttia Cultivars   Greenhouse Product News August 2001   By Jim Barrett and Allen Hammer Breeders have introduced a large number of potentially important new poinsettia cultivars in the past two years, and this fall many growers will be producing some of them for the first time. PDF Version Varieties   Greenhouse Product News August 2001 PDF Version Providing Fall Pansies with Proper Nutrition   Greenhouse Product News July 2001   By Brian E. Whipker, Todd J. Cavins and James L. Gibson By testing your pansies’ root substrate, you can steer clear of unnecessary nutrient deficiency or toxicity symptoms and keep your crops on schedule. PDF Version Grower 101: Western Flower Thrips   Greenhouse Product News July 2001   By D. Casey Sclar, Ph. D. Western flower thrips are very difficult to control, particularly in greenhouse situations. Thrips are found in many crop environments, both indoor and outdoor, and can survive the harshest winters in the Northeast. PDF Version How much Light do Bedding Plants Really Need?   Greenhouse Product News July 2001   Veronda B. Holcombe, Kelly Lewis and James E. Faust Producing the best quality plants at the best possible price requires a basic understanding of light requirements – and how to compensate for less than perfect light quality. PDF Version Getting your Finished Poinsettias off to a Good Start   Greenhouse Product News July 2001   By Roger C. Styer Focus on cutting quality, proper environmental conditions and a few other crucial factors now, and you’ll have 80 percent of the work done before fall breaks. PDF Version Culture Tips for Heuchera   Greenhouse Product News October 1998   Dan Heims These tough perennials, currently enjoying a renewed wave of interest, are poised to join hostas as indispensable shade plants. PDF Version