Highlights from 2025 Field Trials: Metrolina Greenhouses
(Information provided by Dr. Mark Yelanich, Director of Research and Development)
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The weather wasn’t the story at Metrolina Greenhouses this year. The 2025 trial season brought typical conditions with no major climate-related disruptions, allowing the team to focus squarely on genetics, garden performance, and how different crops showed in beds, baskets, and containers.
In its public trials, Metrolina grew:
- 1,961 items in annual ground beds or pots
- Dahlia, Geranium, and Osteospermum in 14-inch pots
- Fuchsia, decorative Begonia, and Lobelia in hanging baskets
- 428 plants in first-year perennial beds
- 448 plants in second-year perennial beds
- 141 combinations in 2-gallon hanging baskets
- 191 combinations in 3-gallon planters
One of the more interesting projects this season was a sun vs. shade coleus trial with 84 coleus varieties planted in both exposures. Seeing how growth and habits shifted between full sun and shade provided useful comparisons for future recommendations. Looking ahead, Metrolina plans to evaluate all perennials in the garden for three years, giving a clearer read on overwintering and long-term landscape performance.
Operationally, the biggest challenge wasn’t a pest or disease, but timing when it comes to executing the trial garden in the middle of Metrolina’s busy spring season. Even so, the program stayed on track and delivered solid reads on performance across categories.
Plants That Impressed at Metrolina Greenhouses’ Trials
Petchoa Petchoa hybrida SuperCal® Series (Sakata)
Petchoa Petchoa hybrida SuperCal® Series (Sakata). | Metrolina Greenhouses
Sakata’s SuperCal petchoas continue to perform in the garden year after year.
Impatiens Impatiens walleriana Beacon® Series (PanAmerican Seed)
Impatiens Impatiens walleriana Beacon® Series (PanAmerican Seed). | Metrolina Greenhouses
Beacon impatiens remained disease-free all season.
Geranium Pelargonium × hortorum Calliope® Large Dark Salmon (Syngenta Flowers)
This was a good geranium year in the containers. Calliope Large Dark Salmon was a standout, and the Grace Series from Beekenkamp also did very well.
Lobelia Lobelia erinus Heatopia™ Dark Blue (Ball Horticultural Company)
Lobelia Lobelia erinus Heatopia™ Dark Blue (Ball Horticultural Company) | Metrolina Greenhouses
Lobelia was moved to hanging baskets this year to give a better read on garden performance. Heatopia Dark Blue was one of the last varieties still looking good.
Begonia Begonia x hybrida Adora Emerald (Syngenta Flowers)
Begonia Begonia x hybrida Adora Emerald (Syngenta Flowers) | Metrolina Greenhouses
This was a tough year to rate begonias in hanging baskets since they all looked great, but Begonia Adora Emerald looked great all season.
Sedum Sedum hybrid SunSparkler® ‘Cherry Tart’
In the second-year perennial beds, Cherry Tart overwintered well and is doing great.
For more 2025 field trials information and variety highlights, click here.
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