What We Know About This Year’s California Summer Trials for Ornamentals

After a hiatus last year, California trials (CAST) are back — only during the summer season. You can count on eight stops this year, along with the opportunity to make an extra stop at Benary’s Watsonville facility that is opening in April (see registration information below).

Plan on registering and reserving an appointment time for each site. Companies are taking measures to keep visitors safe by following social distancing guidelines. That includes not accepting drop-in visitors.

Most of the CAST sites are open June 23-27, with the exception of Sakata Seed America, which is open June 23-26, and the Ball Horticultural site, which GreenhouseGrower.com is open June 20-27.

Greenhouse Grower will keep you updated with the latest developments concerning California Summer Trials as soon as we hear about them, and plan on tuning in to  for all the California Summer Trials coverage you can handle.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIALS

American Takii (includes Sahin and HilverdaFlorist)

Days/Times open:  June 23-27; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
By appointment only, will not accept drop-in

Location: 301 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906

Registration: email ([email protected]); phone (Maria Martinez, 831-756-7051)

Pacific Plug and Liner (includes Flamingo Holland, Southern Living/Sunset Western Plant Collections)

Days/times open: June 23-27; 8:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m.; visits by appointment only

Location:
750 Casserly Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076

Contact(s): 831-722-5396

Registration: [email protected]

Pacific Plug and Liner is bringing back a salvia comparison trial with more than 100 varieties featured to kick off its newest addition to Planthology. Flamingo Holland will highlight its new Rudbeckia Sunbeckia series.

Syngenta Flowers (includes ThinkPlants)

Days/times open: June 23-27

Location:
2280 Hecker Pass Highway
Gilroy, CA 95020

Contact(s): 800-427-1896; [email protected]

Registration: Visit Syngenta’s registration site.

Syngenta Flowers will continue to feature its new and innovative varieties at its Gilroy site, where Goldsmith Seeds formed the first California Pack Trials. We are looking forward to seeing you again.

ThinkPlants will have new genetics from Danziger, Syngenta Flowers, Terra Nova Nurseries, Unex, and Kapiteyn.  It will be a great place to get a look at a diverse range of introductions and all displays will be outside and easy to view. 

Sakata Seed America

Days/times open: June 23-June 26; 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Location:
105 Boronda Rd., Salinas, CA 93907

Contact(s): 408-782-5379 (during event)

Registration: Jiana Escobar ([email protected]; 408-782-5379)

You don’t want to miss: New varieties including Viking Explorer begonia, Lighthouse primula, AAS Gold Medal Winner Profusion Zinnia Red Yellow Bicolor, and new colors in SuperCal petunia and SunPatiens impatiens.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TRIALS

Armstrong Growers (includes PlantHaven, Suntory Flowers, Vivero Internacional)

Days/Times open: June 23-27; 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Location:
14545 W. Telegraph Rd.
Santa Paula, CA 93060

Contacts and Registration:
PlantHaven: [email protected]
Suntory Flowers: [email protected]
Vivero Internacional: [email protected]

Ball Horticultural (includes Ball FloraPlant, Ball Ingenuity, Darwin Perennials, Kieft Seed, PanAmerican Seed, Selecta One, and Morel)

Days/Times open: June 20-27; visitors will need to register for specific time slots

Location:
PanAmerican Seed Research Facility
335 S. Briggs Rd.
Santa Paula, CA 93060

Registration: BallHort.com/cast

We’re excited this year to offer in-ground trials of our latest introductions, so guests will see inspirational displays as well as west coast trials of new plants.

Dümmen Orange

Days/Times open: June 23-27; 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Location:
6464 Ana Bay Rd.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Contact number during event: 720-670-9885

Registration: [email protected]

Green Fuse Botanicals (includes Beekenkamp, Hem Genetics, Schoneveld, and Westhoff)

Days/Times open: June 23-27; 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; visitation by appointment only, no drop-ins

Location:
15245 Telegraph Rd.
Santa Paula, CA 93405

Contact(s): 803-933-5599 (primary); 786-304-4169 (secondary)

Registration: [email protected] (primary); [email protected]
*Additional dates (if different from default) on request

Green Fuse Botanical guests should pay special attention to its complete line of First Light Perennial offerings. All the perennials shown will have no vernalization, clearly demonstrating their unique ability to flower quickly and consistently. This unique attribute allows for year-round perennial sales.

Schoneveld will highlight its new heat-loving Leopardo and Elegante Cyclamen series. Westhoff visitors should pay special attention to its new petunias, lobelia, and calibrachoas.

 

ADDITIONAL NEW VARIETY TRIALS

Ernst Benary of America California Spring and Summer Trials

Days: April – August 2021

Location:
195 Paulsen Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076

Registration: Must contact Benary for a time to visit. All visitors are required to register at [email protected]. No walk-ins will be permitted.

Danziger Open House Event
Danziger will host an open house at its Research and Development facility in Michigan to view new and future varieties. The event takes place in July and August to coincide with the Michigan Garden tour.