Top Performers From the University of Tennessee’s 2022 Plant Trials
December 15, 2022 Note: Information for this trials report was provided by Jason Reeves, Research Horticulturist at the University of Tennessee’s West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center.
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The University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson trialed more than 225 varieties of annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs in 2022. Trials were planted during the month of May, and data was taken near the end of the months of June through September. Overall, the growing season was good. Temperatures were above average in June and July and rainfall was average. Supplemental overhead irrigation was used as needed.
This year we grew the petunias, begonias, torenia, and Scaevola in grounds as well as in containers while calibrachoa was only grown in pots. Container-grown plants were fertilized three times with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Full trial results are available at west.tennessee.edu/ornamentals. For more 2022 trials coverage, click here.
Best in Show
Begonia ‘Spreading Hula Pink’ (PanAmerican Seed) – Trailing well branched with lots of small flower in portion to the foliage, begin flowering early and went right to frost. Six plants from a cell pack filled out a 14-inch tall and wide square pot with a thriller in the center in a short time, making a beautiful skirt. ‘Spreading Hula Pink’ was our favorite followed by ‘Hula Red’ and ‘Hula Blush’.
Begonia ‘Surefire Cherry Cordial’ (Proven Winners) – Rich burgundy leaves with deep-green undertones are complemented with cherry red blooms. This 18- to 24-inch begonia is sure to hold your attention. ‘Surefire White’ was also a favorite, with an upright arching habit. Bright-green leaves had pronounced veins and were frilled around the edges adding to the appeal. The large white flowers showcased the bright yellow pompom like centers.
Bracteantha ‘Strawflower Granvia Gold’ (Suntory Flowers) – Plant reached 18 to 20 inches tall and were well branched. The glowing yellow 1.5-inch blooms last for weeks and were produced up until a killing freeze. The foliage remained mildew free unlike most strawflowers. The plant would benefit from deadheading but continues to flower producing new blooms above the old. The paper-like blooms make the flower perfect for dried arrangements.
Celosia plumose ‘Flamma Orange’ (2022 All American Selection) – Intense, fiery orange flowers were produced in profusion on strong plants that matured to 2 feet tall. Flamma “The Flame” flowers did not fade. Well branched with the older spikes continuing to elongate and flower. Late in the summer the mature spikes curve down with new flowers continuing to form at the tips growing up, reminiscent of a festive Chinese dragon head.
Cyperus Papyrus ‘Graceful Grasses Queen Tut’ (Proven Winners) – Slow to get stared in the 3-inch pots, but once planted into the ground it took off. The plant produced around 100 18-inch stems by the end of the season topped with a cute explosion of tuffs. Works great in the ground as well as in containers where a smaller thriller is needed. Cut stem makes a nice addition to flower arrangements.
Ipomoea Sweet Potato Vine ‘Sweet Caroline Upside Black Coffee’ and ‘Sweet Caroline Upside Key Lime’ (Proven Winners) – Both cultivars possess a strong climbing habit and make an impactful statement. Three plants of each cultivar were planted at the base of a 10-foot tall by 4-foot wide trellis. Black Coffee overtook the trellis faster, but the combination was beautiful with kits of Key Lime shining through. The trellis was completely covered by the end of July. For future planting, the ratio of Key Lime should be greater than Black Coffee.
Lantana ‘Little Lucky Lavender’ (Ball FloraPlant) – Flowers open to a soft yellow and age to a beautiful lavender. Plants matured to 18 inches tall and 28 inches wide, making uniform dense mound of flowers all summer long. ‘Little Lucky White’ was also a winner. It had the same attributes as Lavender but in pure white.
Lantana ‘Luscious Royale Lemon Tart’ (Proven Winners) – The Luscious series of lantana has performed exceptionally well over the years with its nonstop flower power and ability to perform in heat and drought. The yellow flowers of Lemon Tart are perhaps the brightest sunny yellow we have ever grown and stand out against the deep green foliage. Plants grew to 2½ to 3 feet tall and wide.
Petunia ‘SureShot Blueberries & Cream’ (Ball FloraPlant) – What a great name for a petunia that does indeed evoke blueberries and cream. Plants produced lots of deep-blue blooms edged in white all season long. It did well in the ground until August and looked great spilling over the side of the pot until frost without deadheading. Unlike most multi-colored petunias we have trialed in the past, the cream edge remained consistent throughout the season.
Plectranthus Coleus ‘ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon’ (Proven Winners) – Wow! Wow! Wow! Want a coleus that does not look tired at the end of September? Mini Me Watermelon takes the prize. Chartreuse-edged leaves are burgundy with a watermelon center and transition to a bright watermelon in August, still providing a beautiful contrast. They almost glowed in the landscape. The plants were well-branched having as many as 30 stems and reached 3 feet tall and almost as wide. A few plants produce one or two branches that had no red in them at all but did not take away from the overall beauty. Plants produce no flowers to take away from the beautiful foliage throughout the entire season.
Top Performers
Angelonia ‘Sungelonia Deep Pink’ (Suntory Flowers) – This Angelonia cultivar has a bushy full upright growth habit. Plants consistently produced elegant, deep pink flower spikes. They proved heat and humidity tolerant, grew to 16 inches tall and wide, and bloomed continuously from planting until frost without taking breaks like other Angelonias.
Calylophus Ladybird Series Lemonade and Sunglow (Proven Winners) – We first trialed the Ladybird series in 2021 and couldn’t say enough good things about them. These came back in the garden and we were just as impressive this year as last. The feathery foliage provides a soft texture for the garden and is complemented by beautiful, yellow blooms. The cultivar Lemonade produces pale, lemon-yellow flowers that fade to a complementary peach color, while Sunglow produces bright, sunshine-yellow flowers that fade to a deeper, mustard yellow. Use the compact 4 to 8-inch tall plants that spread 18 to 24 inches at the front of your flower bed or in containers spilling over the edge, and these cheery flowers will brighten your day until frost.
Heliotropium ‘Augusta Lavender’ (Proven Winners) – When we received this heliotrope in 2021 we thought, “This will be a disappointment.” Well, ‘Augusta Lavender’ proved us wrong. “Don’t hate me because I’M BEAUTIFUL” is Proven Winners’ tag line for it, and it is indeed beautiful. We were impressed even more when it returned in the spring and flowered until frost. The lavender flowers were produced in abundance on the upright mounding plant. It did not skip a beat in our heat and humidity and worked great at the front of the border and in pots too. It is always a joy to be surprised by the toughness of a plant in a genus that has not performed in the past. ‘Augusta Lavender’ takes the prize for that again this year.
Nemesia ‘Aromance Mulberry’ (Proven Winners) – From the time we transplanted the plugs into 3-inch pots in the greenhouse in March, in the garden bed in May, and until a killing freeze, it was a winner. They reached 10 inches tall and 2 feet wide We alternated them in the bed with Juncus ‘Curly Wurly’ thinking it would be a fun combination, and it grew so well it almost covered up Curly Wurly. Despite our heat, it continued to flower with the temps in the 90’s with no deadheading or cutting back. Oh, and let’s not forget the fragrance, a mix of vanilla and baby powder.
Plectranthus Coleus ‘Premium Sun Ruby Heart’ (PanAmerican Seed) – Perhaps the most impressive seed-grown coleus we have grown. Tops of leaves are red while the underside is yellow-green, making long-lasting colors for use as a landscape or garden component. Older leaves on plant growing in full sun fade to a rust color. Plant begins to flower in late September.
Salvia ‘Blue Chill’ (BallFloraPlant) – Provides a light blue hue in the garden. Well-branched, free-flowering from spring through summer. Pale-blue 10- to 14-inch flower spikes were produced in an abundance from time of planting until a killing freeze on bushy plants that reached 3 feet tall. The tubular pale-blue flowers emerging from dense pastel green calyxes are a favorite of pollinators. Unlike most of the newer salvias produced by cuttings, it does not cycle in and out of bloom over the course of the summer.
Solanum melongena Eggplant ‘Icicle’ (2022 All-America Selections Winner) – Robust 4-foot tall well branched plants produced an abundance of white Asia type eggplants right up until frost despite flea beetle damage. Surprisingly plants remained vigorous and did not require staking during the growing season.
Vinca ‘Soiree Kawaii’ (Suntory Flowers) – We love all the Soiree Kawaii vinca and can’t say enough good things about them. They are like no other vincas on the market. Plants were covered from time of planting until frost with flowers half the size of standard vinca. The plants were bushy and extremely well branched. We were particularly fond of Blueberry Kiss, Coral Reef, Red Shades, and White Peppermint. They looked great in containers as well as planted in the ground in a sunny location and in well-drained soil.
Zinnia ‘Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor’ (2021 All-America Selections Winner) – These plants start the season with a profusion of vibrant, bicolor flowers with a red center and yellow outer petals. The bright 2-inch flowers impressed by darkening to a mix of magenta, salmon, and soft golden petals adding variation and allure. Growing 8 to 14 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, these plants make a statement at the front of a garden bed.
Petunia ‘Supertunia Vista Jazzberry’ (Proven Winners) – The electric fuchsia pink flowers almost glow in the garden. Jazzberry did great in the ground as well as spilling over the side of the pot and continued to bloom until frost without deadheading. Like its cousins, Bubblegum and Silverberry, Jazzberry has excellent vigor and just keeps on going, but it is smaller, reaching 16 inches tall and 2 feet wide.
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