Highlights from Raker-Roberta’s 2024 Plant Trials

By Brian D. Sparks|September 4, 2024

One of the host sites for the 2024 Michigan Garden Plant Tour, which took place across multiple plant trial locations in early August, was Raker-Roberta’s in Litchfield, MI. Each year, the company focuses on a few large trials, as well as a representative offering of trialed cultivars.

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Marigolds
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Scented Foliage

Basil 'Everleaf Emerald Towers' (PanAmerican Seed)
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Peach Fuzz Trials

Dahlia 'Darlin Radiant Peach' (Danziger)
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Cut Flowers
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Comparison Baskets
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Angelonia Trials
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All-America Selections Displays

Petunia 'Sophistica Lime Bicolor' (PanAmerican Seed)

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Marigolds

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Scented Foliage

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Peach Fuzz Trials

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Cut Flowers

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Comparison Baskets

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Angelonia Trials

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All-America Selections Displays

This year’s comparison row trials featured Angelonia (the National Garden Bureau’s “Year of” plant), scented foliage, salvia (annual), French Marigold, and cuphea. Raker-Roberta’s also showcased Pantone’s Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz.

The 2024 Specialty Cut Flower Trial bed displayed the most expansive snapdragon comparison trial in the country, along with showcase rows of all the newest and greatest by some of the best breeders in the market.

Variety evaluations will continue through the summer, with more information to come from the Raker-Roberta’s team once the trials end. In the meantime, Greenhouse Grower Editor Brian Sparks was able to visit Raker-Roberta’s in early August. Check out the photo gallery above to see just a few of the highlights.