Good Points
North Carolina State University Trial location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. (Trial is part of the National Poinsettia Trial Program in cooperation with Purdue University, University of Florida and Homewood Nursery and Garden Center). |
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Best In Show/Best New Variety ‘Ice Punch’ scored the highest in consumer marketing studies. It is an easy-to-grow cultivar with good axillary shoot development and uniformity. Most novel color pattern since ‘Cortez Burgundy.’ |
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Best Old Variety ‘Prestige Maroon,’ released last year, offers uniform, sturdy growth, excellent breaking and great color. |
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Top Performers Rounding out the top three in consumer preferences along with ‘Prestige Maroon’ were ‘Metro Red’ and ‘Premium Picasso.’ This year, ‘Metro Red’ was the No. 1 red. Both performed well in the grower trials, also. For a bright red, ‘Red Dragon’ did very well. ‘Christmas Star’ is another favorite. The dark red bracts are on the small side but nicely arranged in a star pattern on uniform, well-branched plants. |
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The Ohio State University Trial location: Howlett greenhouses (OSU campus); Bostdorff Greenhouse Acres (Bowling Green, Ohio); A.J. Rahn Greenhouses (Cincinnati, Ohio); Dill’s Greenhouse (Groveport, Ohio); Barco and Sons, Inc. (Medina, Ohio) |
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Best In Show/Best New Variety Best In Show was ‘Sonora White Glitter,’ a marble on red jingle type, and Best New Variety was ‘Premium Picasso,’ with fine, deep pink spots on white reminiscent of ‘Monet Twilight.’ |
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Best Old Variety ‘Orion Red,’ an early red. |
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Top Performers As rated by 242 consumers, most of whom bought poinsettias at a sale held in conjunction with the trial: |
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Top 5 scored on 1 to 5 scale: |
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Top 5 based on number of times selected as a favorite: 1. ‘Sonora White Glitter’ 2. ‘Premium Picasso’ 3. ‘Peppermint Twist (1124),’ a Winter Rose type with peppermint coloration. 4. ‘Avantgarde Red,’ an oak-leaf type with deep red color. 5. ‘Chianti Red,’ an oak-leaf deep red. |
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Penn State Trial location: Dan Schantz Farm and Greenhouses, Zionsville, Pa. |
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Best New Variety ‘Early Prestige’ was judged the best new variety because of the overall quality of the plant and flower/bract presentation, V-shaped branching structure and Prestige-type strength of stems. |
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Best Old Variety Ecke’s ‘Freedom Red’ still gets top grades for flower size and flower power. Its contrast between dark foliage and red, red flowers makes Oglevee ‘Festival Red’ received votes in habit, bract presentation and size. Stem strength and structure put this variety in the top five reds, also. |
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Top Performers Selecta First Class’ ‘Cinnamon Candy’ offers strong stems and structure. Fischer USA had, in addition to ‘Hot Pink,’ three other Cortez varieties in the top 25: ‘Cortez Electric Fire,’ ‘Cortez Burgundy’ and ‘Cortez Red.’ The strength of Prestige is bred into ‘Prestige Maroon,’ giving this Ecke family a good complement. |
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Tennessee State University Trial location: Tennessee State University, Nashville |
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Best In Show ‘Sonora White Glitter’ was the most popular novelty type. |
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Best New Variety ‘Ecke 15-02,’ a traditional red with upright habit and prominent cyathia. |
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Best Old Variety ‘Cortez Electric Fire’ was the most popular red. |
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Top 5 Performers ‘Novia Red, ‘ ‘Festival Rose,’ ‘Nutcracker White,’ ‘Metro Red’ and ‘Pink Cadillac.’ |