2016 Texas A&M University Field Trials Results

Texas A&M trialed more than 500 entries with more than 70 species represented, most of which were annual and bedding plant ones, along with a significant number of herbaceous perennials. The trials were planted in the field starting in late April for crops like trailing petunias and through late May for crops like vinca. The weather conditions were seasonably cool with good rain through May. June was warm with not as much rain. July began a long period with no significant rainfall and near record-high temperatures. The middle of August was wet with warm, mild temperatures. Late August and September were seasonably hot with long periods between rain events. More weather details can be found on the Texas A&M University website.

Best of Show (in order of performance)

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Ipomea ‘Green With Envy’
Ipomea ‘Flora Mia Rosso’
Begonia ‘Doublet Rose’ (in shade)
Alternanthera ‘Purple Prince’

Top Performing Varieties

Basil ‘Balsamic Blooms’
Begonia Jurassic Series (in containers)
Canna ‘Cannova Mango’
Canna ‘Toucan Rose’
Coleus ‘Main Street Riverwalk’ (in sun)
Coleus ‘Inferno’ (in sun)
Hibiscus ‘Honeymoon Light Rose’
Lantana ‘Evita Compact Yellow’
Lantana ‘Luscious Citrus Blend’
Lantana ‘Lucky Red’
Pepper ‘Ornamental Hot Pops’
Purslane ‘Color Blast Limon Twist’
Purslane ‘Cupcake Cherry Baby’
Salvia ‘Amistad’
Salvia Summer Jewels Series (planted in shade)
Verbena ‘Endurascape Pink Bicolor’
Verbena ‘Endurascape Magenta’
Verbena bonariensis ‘Finesse’

Top Articles
What Was New From Sakata, Takii, and Others at California Spring Trials

Trial Manager Comments

Some tried-and-true varieties also looked good such as the Cora Vinca Series, the Whopper Begonia Series in shade, Pepper ‘Basket of Fire,’ Petunia ‘Tidal Wave Silver,’ Petunia ‘Supertunia Vista Bubble Gum,’ New Guinea Impatiens ‘Bounce White,’ New Guinea Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Spreading Shell Pink’ and ‘SunPatiens Variegated Spreading White,’ and Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks Burgundy’ and ‘Wedding Train.’

Consumer Favorites

Visitors chose the People’s Picks Awards for 2016 at the June 23 Field Day at the Overton Center. Below are the selections that received nine or more votes. You can see the complete vote count, including counts by gender on the Texas A&M University website.

36 Votes: Purslane ‘Cupcake Cherry Baby’
25 Votes: Echibeckia ‘Summerina Brown’
18 Votes: Basil ‘Balsamic Blooms’
18 Votes: Zinnia ‘Solmar Scarlet’
17 Votes: Petunia (trailing) ‘Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’
17 Votes: Verbena ‘Finesse’
16 Votes: Hibiscus ‘Honeymoon White with Eye’

Male Votes
13 Votes: Purslane ‘Cupcake Cherry Baby’

Female Votes
23 Votes: Purslane ‘Cupcake Cherry Baby’
21 Votes: Echibeckia ‘Summerina Brown’
16 Votes: Basil ‘Balsamic Blooms’

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