February 2006
Recommended Cultivars By John Dole, Allen Hammer and Jim Barrett

Last year's switch to evaluating cultivars according to production style was well received, and we have continued that format with this year's recommendations. We find that the best cultivar for an individual grower depends on their location, production practices, market and personal preferences, so our emphasis remains focused on the various container sizes used and how different cultivars perform in those containers.

There are a large number of poinsettia cultivars that can be produced successfully; too many for any one grower to be familiar with or even test all of them. This list of recommended cultivars is meant to aid growers in selecting cultivars to try, especially in light of the many new cultivars introduced each year. These recommendations are based on university trials and observations of commercial crops. Primarily, this list includes cultivars that have been in our trials for at least two years.

John Dole, Allen Hammer and Jim Barrett

Allen Hammer is professor of floriculture at Purdue University. John Dole is professor of floriculture at North Carolina State University. Jim Barrett is professor of floriculture at University of Florida. They can be reached by E-mail at pah@hort.purdue.edu, john_dole@ncsu.edu and jbarrett@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, respectively.