Highlights from 2025 Field Trials: West Madison Ag Research Station
(Information provided by Janet Hedtcke, West Madison Agricultural Research Station)
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The West Madison Agricultural Research Station’s display gardens in Verona, WI, were a beautiful and comforting place to be in 2025. Frequent rainfall, cloudy skies, hot and humid conditions, and periodic poor air quality due to Canadian wildfires most of the summer made outdoor life unpleasant. Thankfully, the display gardens were a relaxing and enjoyable haven.
The year started on a challenging note. A dry fall followed by a snowless, windy, and arid winter led to poor overwintering for many herbaceous perennials. Early spring brought more typical precipitation and heat units, but by mid-June the pattern shifted. From mid-June through August, it rained on more than half of the days each month, and low wind speeds kept conditions continuously warm and wet.
The annual trials handled the weather surprisingly well, with relatively few disease issues for most of the summer. By late August, even container plants began to show signs of being too wet, and slugs emerged as the most noticeable pest. Their damage was generally random and not widespread. September brought a welcome reset with mild to warm temperatures, sunny, breezy days, and low dew points, which provided ideal finishing weather.
Heat was also tough on lobelia. All lobelia entries stopped blooming in late July, but the blue selections, Laguna Series Royale Azure and Laguna Blue Pearl, rebounded and began blooming again in September once temperatures moderated.
Trial Overview
In 2025, 84 varieties of annual bedding plants and cut flowers were evaluated for industry partners. Plant ratings were taken three times during the summer: early June, early July, and mid-August.
Most annuals peaked from late July into August, while coleus, bidens, lantana, and many container plantings reached their best in late August and September. Thanks to this staggered performance, something was in bloom every week from late May through October.
From the monthly evaluation data, cultivars that excelled are listed below. Petunias were once again standouts, making up seven of the 18 selections that tied for the top ten. Impressively, all cultivars listed in the table bloomed and thrived through the entire season, well into October, providing strong displays for both visitors and pollinators.
Standout Favorites
Beyond the rating data, narrowing down favorites wasn’t easy. Below are three cultivars that particularly impressed in the garden:
Begonia Begonia benariensis Surefire Rose (Proven Winners)
Begonia Begonia benariensis Surefire Rose (Proven Winners)
In the shade bed, Surefire Rose offered a striking dual-purpose effect, combining dark green foliage with rich, dark-pink blooms that held all season. It maintained a full, attractive habit and consistent color, making it a reliable anchor in lower-light areas.
Dahlia Dahlia pinnata Venti FireBurst (Selecta One)
Dahlia Dahlia pinnata Venti FireBurst (Selecta One)
Venti ‘FireBurst’ lived up to its name, delivering bold, fiery color and a strong visual impact. Its colorful palette made it a focal point in its planting, drawing attention throughout the summer.
Lantana Lantana camara Shamrock Lavender (Ball FloraPlant)
Lantana Lantana camara Shamrock Lavender (Ball FloraPlant)
Shamrock Lavender was an outstanding performer in September, filling its bed space with abundant lavender and cream-colored blooms and clean foliage. It finished the season looking fresh and full, just as many other plants began to wind down.
2025 Top-Ranked Varieties at WMARS Gardens
(Average of three evaluations; ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 as best. New varieties for 2026 are marked **)
- Petunia Petunia hybrid Supertunia Mini Vista® Yellow 4.72 rating (Proven Winners)
- Upright vinca Catharanthus roseus Pacifica XP Pink 4.70 rating (PanAmerican Seed) **
- Dahlia Dahlia hybrida Dalaya® Purple Lace 4.65 rating (Selecta One) **
- Upright vinca Catharanthus roseus Pacifica XP Red Halo 4.65 rating (PanAmerican Seed) **
- Bidens Bidens hybrid Campfire® Marshmallow 4.63 rating (Proven Winners)
- Petunia Petunia hybrida F1 Trilogy Rose Vein 4.56 rating (American Takii)
- Petunia Petunia hybrid Supertunia Vista® Cool Jazz™ 4.54 rating (Proven Winners) **
- Petunia Petunia hybrid Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum® 4.54 rating (Proven Winners)
- Calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrid MiniFamous® Neo Rose Flash 4.50 rating (Selecta One) **
- Petunia Petunia hybrid Supertunia Mini Vista® Pink Cloud™ 4.50 rating (Proven Winners) **
- South African phlox Jamesbrittenia hybrid Safari® Dusk 4.50 rating (Proven Winners)
- Petunia Petunia hybrid Supertunia® Hoopla® Vivid Orchid™ 4.48 rating (Proven Winners)
- Calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrid MiniFamous® Neo Coral Flash 4.48 rating (Selecta One) **
- Petunia Petunia x hybrida Shock Wave® Violet 4.48 rating (PanAmerican Seed) **
- Coleus Coleus scutellarioides ColorBlaze® Wicked Witch™ 4.44 rating (Proven Winners)
- Spider flower Clemoe hybrid Señorita Rosalita® 4.43 rating (Proven Winners)
- Sweet alyssum Lobularia hybrid White Knight Imp. 4.43 rating (Proven Winners) **
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans Elegant™ Hot Mixture 4.43 rating (PanAmerican Seed) **
Janet notes that the WMARS display gardens continue to be highly valued by industry representatives and visitors who come to see how plants perform in the region. Numerous pollinators also find the diverse plantings a veritable paradise. Thanks to the national plant trials, the West Madison Agricultural Research Station’s display gardens were a special place to be and enjoy in 2025.
For more 2025 field trials information and variety highlights, click here.
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