Highlights From the University of Tennessee’s 2021 Field Trials
March 1, 2022 Jason Reeves, Research Horticulturist, and Carson Brown, Research Assistant, submitted the University of Tennessee Gardens – Jackson “2021 Best and Beautiful Report.” The trial gardens included more than 200 varieties of annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs in 2021. Trials were planted during the month of May, and data was taken June to September. They report that overall, the growing season was good. High temperatures were below average and rainfall was above average. Supplemental overhead irrigation was used as needed.
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Ten of the favorites are highlighted in the slideshow above, and their observations of the Best in Show are listed below. For a complete list of everything in the trials, click here.
Calylophus ‘Ladybird Lemonade’ and ‘Ladybird Sunglow’ (Proven Winners) – We love both cultivars in the Ladybird series and can’t say enough good things about them. The feathery foliage provides a fine texture for the garden and is complemented by beautiful yellow blooms. The cultivar ‘Ladybird Lemonade’ produces pale, lemon-yellow flowers that fade to a complementary peach color, while the cultivar ‘Ladybird 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 wide at the front of your flower bed. These cheery flowers will brighten your day until frost.
Dipladenia ‘Sundenia Crimson’ (Suntory) – This proved to be a vigorous, climbing dipladenia in our trials this season. The 2- to 3-inch diameter flowers have vibrant-red petals with tubes that are yellow on the inside and white on the outside. With glossy, lush foliage, they are beautifully used in a pot with a trellis.
Lantana ‘Luscious Citron’ (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 lemon-colored flowers stand out on lush, green foliage on 3-foot tall and wide plants. Unlike other lantanas with uniform mound shapes, ‘Luscious Citron’ stands out with its random, upright spikes giving it a more natural look.
Capsicum ‘Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry’ (PanAmerican Seed) – This pepper brings a delightful blend of ornamental appeal and culinary use. With variegated green and white leaves, immature green and white striped fruit, and ripe chocolate and cherry-red fruit, these plants would make a stunning addition to your ornamental planting or your vegetable garden. The peppers are perfectly crisp and deliciously sweet. The intriguing color would be beautiful used on a vegetable tray.
Tomato ‘Red Torch’ (2019 All America Selections Winner) – A flavorful, oblong tomato with beautiful, 1.5- to 2-inch diameter, bicolor fruit. The unique skin coloration is just the cherry on the top for this high-producer of delicious fruit. The 7- to 8-foot tall indeterminate tomato also is an AAS Winner for its resistance to high temperatures and harsh conditions. You can enjoy these tomatoes early in the season until late summer.
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 two-inch diameter flowers impressed by fading 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.
Begonia ‘Megawatt Pink Bronze Leaf Improved’ (PanAmerican Seed) – Excellent performer making a bold statement in sun or shade. The large, glossy foliage is bronze-green with pink flowers in the shade and dark bronze with deep pink to almost-red flowers in the sun. The plants are upright, reaching from 18 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.
Helianthus ‘Suncredible Saturn’ (Proven Winners) – Helianthus ‘Suncredible Yellow’ was one of our top picks in 2019 and 2020, and ‘Suncredible Saturn’ is just as outstanding. The bright-yellow petals darken to bronze toward the center. The profusion of 3-inch flowers continues all summer on plants that reach three feet high and wide. ‘Suncredible Saturn’ will make a delightful addition to any sunny garden.
Coleus ‘ColorBlaze El Brighto’ (Proven Winners) – This is indeed a bright coleus when grown in the sun. ‘El Brighto’’s leaves are works of art. No two leaves are colored up exactly the same. The main body of the leaves are a wide range of shades of red — from deep red to almost pink with random splashes of green and yellow mixed in. One consistency is each leaf’s frilly edges are trimmed in gold. Plants were vigorous, reaching 30 to 36 inches tall. Note: plants grown in the shade were dull and not showy.
Verbena ‘EnduraScape Burgundy’ (Ball FloraPlant) – Unlike most verbenas in the trials, ‘EnduraScape Burgundy’ did not take long breaks in flowering during hot periods, nor did they require deadheading. The well-branched plants were vigorous, forming a dense carpet reaching a foot tall and spreading to 18 inches wide. Plants bounced back quickly after a rabbit found them to be tasty.
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