New Varieties Excel at Michigan State Trials Despite Inconsistent Weather

By Greenhouse Grower staff|November 20, 2024

Note: Information for this trials report was provided by Abby Makowski, Annual & Trial Garden Manager at the Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens.

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Ageratum 'Monarch Magic' (Ball FloraPlant); all photos: Michigan State University
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Argyranthemum 'Grandaisy Dark Pink' (Suntory Flowers)
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Begonia 'Space Age Black Hole' (Proven Winners)
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Buddleia 'Little Rockstars' (Dümmen Orange)
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Cuphea 'Enchantia White' (Ball FloraPlant)
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Helianthus 'Sunfinity Double Yellow' (Syngenta Flowers)
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Petchoa 'Supercal Premium Pink Mist' (Sakata Ornamentals)
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Vinca 'Soiree Double Pink Imp' (Suntory Flowers)

The 2024 trial season went well at the Horticulture Gardens. We trialed a total of 343 varieties, which included in-ground trials, container trials, annual trials, and perennials trials. In general, all the plants performed very well considered we had very inconsistent weather conditions for the season. Our June was drier than normal, and we struggled to keep up with watering, but our July was so wet we thought things would start to rot. Overall, it seemed like there were no long stretches of consistent temperatures. If we had extremely hot weather one week we would have below average temperatures the next week. The cycle continued that way for most of the summer.

While many of the plants we trialed did well, there were a few that really stood out to us. Ageratum ‘Monarch Magic’ from Ball FloraPlant performed perfectly in both the landscape and container while attracting so many Monarch butterflies that everyone who saw it could not help but stop to watch them. We also really liked Helianthus ‘Sunfinity Double Yellow’ from Syngenta Flowers. This plant looked amazing all summer long and even survived a storm that produced hurricane force winds.

Here are some of our other top performing varieties for the season: