Petunias and calibrachoas made a colorful debut at DGI Propagators, bringing so much color to the trial grounds that the gloomy weather was easy to forget.

All images courtesy of Marisa Reyes

Petunia Capella Rose Ink (Danziger) was a standout at California Spring Trials, and it looked just as striking on display at DGI Propagators during the Michigan Garden Plant Tour.

It’s hard not to go absolutely batty over Cuphea Absolutely Batty (Kientzler), with bright-red tubular blooms tipped in deep purple that resemble tiny bat faces.

Large mixed displays brought together contrasting flower colors, textures, and plant forms throughout the trial grounds, making it easy to imagine how the same combinations could translate to a home garden.

Grouping varieties together made differences in color, habit, and overall presentation easier to compare across the trial.

Phygelius Colorburst Yellow (Terra Nova Nurseries) caught my eye with clusters of long, tubular yellow flowers.

Metal containers hung along the outside of the greenhouse, filled with combinations created by DGI staff.

DGI’s pallet wall paired Lofos Wine Red (Suntory Flowers) with denim-blue scaevola, the same spiller combination used in the large metal planters hanging along the greenhouse exterior.

Coleus provided a foliage-focused break from the flowering trials, with contrasting colors and patterns creating plenty of visual interest.

Beach Bum Kwik Kombo (Syngenta Flowers) blends Petunia Dekko Star Coral, Calibrachoa Cabrio Yellow and Verbena Lanai Peach for a warm mix of coral, yellow, and peach.

Calibrachoa Unique Sangria Fizz (Kientzler) looked spectacular in this hanging basket. It would pair nicely with other plants in a combination, but it makes a strong statement on its own.

Echinacea SunMagic Double Hot Pink (Bull Plant Genetics) combines oversized, fully double blooms with a compact, well-branched habit, and a high flower count that carries from summer into fall.

Violet Riot Kwik Kombo (Syngenta Flowers) pairs Petunia Itsy Magenta and Sanguna Rose Vein with Techno Large Blue Violet lobelia for a high-impact mix of pink, magenta, and violet.

A wall of tropicals and houseplants near the DGI Propagators sign showcased another part of the operation’s young plant lineup.