Highlights from 2025 Field Trials: West TN AgResearch and Education Center
(Information provided by Jason Reeves, Horticulturist)
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The University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson trialed more than 150 varieties of annuals, vegetables, and herbs in 2025. Trials were planted during the month of May, and data was collected at regular intervals from June through September. Growing conditions were generally favorable, with average temperatures. Rainfall was plentiful until late July, then conditions turned dry, and supplemental overhead irrigation was used as needed in August and September. Overall, it was a good growing season.
2025 Standout Varieties at the West TN AgResearch and Education Center
The 2025 trials highlighted several standouts for vigor, color, and overall performance:
Calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrida Trixi® FunTopia Utopia (Selecta One)
Calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrida Trixi® FunTopia Utopia (Selecta One)
This semi-trailing calibrachoa trio filled an 18-inch pot and did not skip a beat in the heat and humidity. It stayed full, colorful, and well-balanced all season.
Lantana Lantana camara Heartland Blue Moon; Heartland Citrus; Heartland White (Dümmen Orange)
Lantana Lantana camara Heartland White (Dümmen Orange)
The Heartland series was the best lantana series in the 2025 trials. Plants had a lot of flower power and formed big, showy mounds. In the Jackson landscape beds, they reached 30–36 inches wide and made a huge impact in the gardens.
Lantana Lantana camara Luscious® Basket Tangeglow™ (Proven Winners)
Lantana Lantana camara Luscious® Basket Tangeglow™ (Proven Winners)
This lantana has a rounded habit and bright orange-and-yellow bicolor blooms that give a glowing effect in the landscape. It was very eye-catching in the beds and, as the name suggests, would also work well in hanging baskets and planters.
Starflower Pentas lanceolata Lucky Star® Violet Improved (PanAmerican Seed)
Starflower Pentas lanceolata Lucky Star® Violet Improved (PanAmerican Seed)
This pentas featured intense violet flower clusters and a uniform, compact habit. It bloomed heavily through the season, was a favorite of butterflies, and also made a nice cut flower.
Purslane Portulaca oleracea Cupcake Carrot; Cupcake Coconut (Dümmen Orange)
Purslane Portulaca oleracea Cupcake Carrot 2024 (Dümmen Orange)
Both Cupcake varieties formed tidy mounds covered with blooms. ‘Cupcake Carrot’ brought a warm orange tone while ‘Cupcake Coconut’ provided a bright, clean white. They fit well with a wide range of other sun-loving, drought-tolerant plants.
Fan flower Scaevola aemula Whirlwind® White Improved (Proven Winners)
Fan flower Scaevola aemula Whirlwind® White Improved (Proven Winners)
This Scaevola was covered in white, fan-shaped flowers and performed well through heat and into fall. In full sun, it trailed over the side of the pot to about 16 inches, making it a strong option for hanging baskets and containers.
Top 30 from the 2025 Trials
The top 30 list for the 2025 season included:
- Hummingbird mint Agastache hybrid Maestro Coral (Proven Winners)
- Hummingbird mint Agastache hybrid Maestro Gold (Proven Winners)
- Begonia Begonia hybrid Surefire Cascade™ Red (Proven Winners)
- Calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrida Trixi® FunTopia Utopia (Selecta One)
- Calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrid MiniFamous Neo Coral Sun (Selecta One)
- Calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrid MiniFamous Neo Paradise Punch (Selecta One)
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans Zesty™ Scarlet (Syngenta Flowers)
- Coleus Coleus scutellarioides ColorBlaze Wicked Witch (Proven Winners)
- Coleus Coleus scutellarioides ColorBlaze El Brighto (Proven Winners)
- Coleus Coleus scutellarioides Main Street River Walk (Dümmen Orange)
- Coleus Coleus scutellarioides Main Street Yonge Street (Dümmen Orange)
- Geranium Pelargonium interspecific Calliope® Large Dark Red (Syngenta Flowers)
- Geranium Pelargonium hybrid Gerainbow™ Neon (Dümmen Orange)
- Zonal geranium Pelargonium zonale Survivor Pink Batik (Dümmen Orange)
- Jalapeño pepper Capsicum annuum San Joaquin F1 (2023 All-America Selections Winner)
- Lantana Lantana camara Luscious® Basket Tangeglow™ (Proven Winners)
- Lantana Lantana camara PassionFruit (Ball FloraPlant)
- Lantana Lantana camara Shamrock™ Lavender (Ball FloraPlant)
- Geranium Pelargonium peltatum Glory Days Pink Bicolor (Dümmen Orange)
- Zonal geranium Pelargonium x hortorum Moonlight™ Dark Red 26 (Selecta One)
- Geranium Pelargonium interspecific Santana Pink Splash (Dümmen Orange)
- Geranium Pelargonium interspecific Solera™ Dark Red (Ball FloraPlant)
- Starflower Pentas lanceolata Lucky Star® Violet Improved (PanAmerican Seed)
- Petunia Petunia hybrida SlingShot™ Purple Fantasy (Ball FloraPlant)
- Petunia Petunia hybrid Supertunia® Hoopla™ Vivid Orchid™ (Proven Winners)
- Purslane Portulaca oleracea Cupcake Carrot 2024 and Cupcake Coconut (Dümmen Orange)
- Purslane Portulaca oleracea RíoGrande™ Citrus Crush & Raspberry Lemonade (Ball FloraPlant)
- French marigold Tagetes patula Mango Tango (All-America Selections Winner)
- Beefsteak tomato Solanum lycopersicum ‘Pink Delicious’ (2022 All-America Selections Winner)
These varieties rose to the top for bloom coverage, garden presence, and their ability to handle a season that started wet and finished dry. For the full list of 2025 trial results, visit www.westtn.tennessee.edu/ornamentals.
For more 2025 field trials information and variety highlights, click here.
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