Top Performers and Other Favorites From Cornell Summer Plant Trials
December 22, 2022 
Note: Information for this trials report comes from Kendra Odelia Hutchins in the Research Support Specialist, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section at Cornell University.
No two years are ever alike, but this summer couldn’t have been more different than last year. Last year, we had much higher precipitation levels than normal, whereas this year we verged on drought conditions. Our planting week was unusually hot with very little cloud cover, and the weather continued to be dry with much lower precipitation than average throughout the course of the season. Keeping things watered was a challenge, but we had some really outstanding plants this year and it was a pleasure to be able to showcase some true beauties for thousands of visitors.
Some of my personal favorites include:
- Cyperus ‘Graceful Grasses Queen Tut’ from Proven Winners. It’s very versatile, adding visual interest in garden beds or in mixed containers. I love the fireworks effect of the flowers, and the compact nature of the plant.
- Lantana ‘Shamrock Butterscotch Glow’ from Ball FloraPlant. The warm, buttery color of the flowers on this lantana somehow has a calming effect. It’s a tidily mounding plant and thrived in the summer heat. It also attracted bees and butterflies.
- Zinnia ‘Zydeco Fire’ from Syngenta Flowers. Talk about eye-catching; the fiery flowers really pop against the dark green of the foliage. These had abundant flowers and bloomed late into the season.
- Catharanthus ‘Soiree Cheeky Pink’ from Suntory Flowers. I love the unusual texture of the super-glossy leaves and the frilly edges to the flowers. They are delicate and bold at the same time!
Top Performers:
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow’ (Proven Winners)
- Angelonia ‘AngelDance Fuchsia Bicolor’ (Ball FloraPlant)
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Mini Vista Midnight’ (Proven Winners)
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Vista Jazzberry’ (Proven Winners)
- Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Prism Pink Lemonade’ (Proven Winners)
- Tagetes patula ‘Safari Red’ (Benary)
- Cyperus ‘Graceful Grasses Queen Tut’ (Proven Winners)
- Coleus ‘Peach Frizzle’ (Ball FloraPlant)
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Mini Vista Scarlet’ (Proven Winners)
- Angelonia ‘AngelDance Violet Bicolor’ (Ball FloraPlant)
- Zinnia ‘Zydeco Deep Yellow’ (Syngenta Flowers)
- Helianthus ‘Suncredible Saturn’ (Proven Winners)
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Mini Vista White’ (Proven Winners)
- Zinnia ‘Zesty Yellow’ (PanAmerican Seed)
- Catharanthus ‘Soiree Flameco Cheeky Pink’ (Suntory Flowers)
Field Day Favorites:
- Helianthus ‘Suncredible Saturn’ (Proven Winners)
- Echinacea ‘Pollynation Mix Year 2’ (Benary)
- Zinnia ‘Zesty Purple’ (PanAmerican Seed)
- Helianthus ‘Suncredible Yellow’ (Proven Winners)
- Scaevola ‘Surdiva Purple’ (Suntory Flowers)
- Ipomoea ‘Medusa Green’ (Proven Winners)
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Mini Vista Midnight’ (Proven Winners)
- Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Prism Pink Lemonade’ (Proven Winners)
- Portulaca ‘Mojave Yellow Improved’ (Proven Winners)
- Cyperus ‘Graceful Grasses Queen Tut’ (Proven Winners)
- Heliotropium ‘Augusta Lavender’ (Proven Winners)
Visitor Favorites:
- Helianthus ‘Suncredible Saturn’ (Proven Winners)
- Petunia ‘Saguna Mega Purple Vein’ (Syngenta Flowers)
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Mini Vista Midnight’ (Proven Winners)
- Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Double Twilight’ (Proven Winners)
- Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Prism Pink Lemonade’ (Proven Winners)
- Echinacea purpurea ‘Pollynation Mix’ (Benary)
- Petunia ‘Shortcake Raspberry’ (Syngenta Flowers)
- Helianthus ‘Suncredible Yellow’ (Proven Winners)
- Petunia ‘ColorRush Pink Star’ (Ball FloraPlant)
- Petunia ‘Supertunia Persimmon’ (Proven Winners)
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