35 Top Performing Plant Varieties From 2015 Field Trial Results
November 7, 2015 Wet, cool weather, lingering well into the spring season, seemed to be the theme this year for several field trials across the country. Consequently, trial managers affected reported delayed planting times and stalled plant development. Thankfully, when the sun finally came out, the plants recovered nicely.
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Greenhouse Grower asked trial managers to share which varieties stood out above the rest from the hundreds of plants they trialed, along with details about the weather conditions at their location. Twenty-six trial managers responded to the call.
A number of cultivars appeared on top performer lists at least twice this year, with several appearing more than three times (starred in the list below). Two in particular appeared five times: Coleus ‘Campfire’ (Ball FloraPlant) and Coleus ‘ColorBlaze Apple Brandy’ (Proven Winners).
Keep in mind that this is a non-scientific poll, because not every location trialed every variety, and plants listed here are in no particular order, as many of them were not ranked specifically. Also, note that the photo gallery does not include all of the 35 varieties listed.
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■ Basil ‘Balsamic Blooms’ (EuroAmerican Propagators)
■ BeeDance ‘Painted Red’ (Suntory Flowers)
■ Begonia ‘BabyWing Bicolor’ (Ball Seed)*
■ Begonia ‘BIG Red Bronze Leaf’ (Benary)
■ Begonia BIG Series (Benary)
■ Bidens ‘Campfire Fireburst’ (Proven Winners)
■ Catharanthus Soiree Kawaii Series (Suntory Flowers)
■ Celosia ‘Dragon’s Breath’ (Sakata Seed)
■ Coleus ‘Campfire’ (Ball FloraPlant)*
■ Coleus ‘ColorBlaze Apple Brandy’ (Proven Winners)*
■ Coleus ‘Flamethrower Chili Pepper’ (Ball FloraPlant)
■ Coleus ‘Under the Sea Fish Net’ (Hort Couture)
■ Dahlia ‘Mystic Illusion’ (Proven Winners)*
■ Dianthus ‘Jolt Pink’ (PanAmerican Seed)
■ Garvinea Gerbera Series (Florist Holland)
■ Gerbera ‘Hello! Miss Scarlet’ (Proven Winners)
■ Impatiens SunPatiens Series (Sakata Ornamentals)
■ Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Spreading Shell Pink’ (Sakata Ornamentals)
■ Ipomoea ‘SolarPower Black’ (Ball FloraPlant)*
■ Ipomoea ‘SolarPower Red’ (Ball FloraPlant)*
■ Lantana ‘Luscious Pinkberry Blend’ (Proven Winners)
■ Lobularia Lavender Stream Series (Danziger)
■ Lobularia ‘Yolo Top Lavender’ (Dümmen Orange)
■ Portulaca ‘Mojave Red Improved’ (Proven Winners)
■ Portulaca ‘Mojave Tangerine’ (Proven Winners)
■ Petunia ‘Easy Wave Silver’ (PanAmerican Seed)
■ Petunia ‘Easy Wave Yellow’ (PanAmerican Seed)
■ Petunia ‘SuperCal Light Yellow’ (Sakata Ornamentals)
■ Petunia ‘Surfinia Sumo Pink’ (Suntory Flowers)
■ Petunia ‘Tidal Wave Red Velour’ (PanAmerican Seed)
■ Petunia ‘Tidal Wave Silver’ (PanAmerican Seed)
■ Salvia ‘Hypnotic Purple’ (Green Leaf Plants)
■ Sedum ‘Lemon Coral’ (Proven Winners)
■ Vinca Valiant Series (PanAmerican Seed)
■ Zinnia ‘Double Sahara Fire’ (PanAmerican Seed)
*Varieties appearing more than three times
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