Why Bailey Says Its New Hydrangea Variety Will Be a Smash
January 11, 2022 
Bailey is kicking off 2022 by introducing ‘Pop Star’ Hydrangea, the newest offering in the Endless Summer Hydrangeas collection, introduced by the company’s breeding arm, Bailey Innovations. Since 2004, Endless Summer has revolutionized the bigleaf hydrangea marketplace, and Pop Star continues to deliver on and elevate the brand promise of season-long reblooming flower power, cold hardiness, and disease resistance.
“We have very high standards for every variety in the Endless Summer collection,” says Brand and Business Development Manager Layci Gragnani. “Pop Star exceeds every one of them.”
Pop Star has gone through five years of robust testing and trials to ensure it meets the rigorous standards growers, retailers, and consumers have come to expect from Endless Summer hydrangeas.
“Not only is Pop Star the most compact hydrangea we’ve developed, it’s also the strongest rebloomer we’ve ever trialed,” says David Roberts, Bailey Innovations’ General Manager and Head Plant Breeder. “Pop Star represents the new gold standard by which we will evaluate all future introductions.”
A true breeding breakthrough, Pop Star sets that new standard with four key characteristics:
- Prolific rebloomer: In addition to the full coverage of early blooms, Pop Star is the quickest Hydrangea macrophylla in trial to rebloom, with new buds appearing just four weeks after a hard cutback to remove terminal buds.
- Genetically compact: After years of trials across North America, Pop Star has maintained its small stature with short internodes that creates a tight, strong habit.
- Easy to grow: The tight internodes and floriferous nature make Pop Star a fantastic production plant. With little to no plant growth regulators needed and natural disease resistance, less touch points lead to a more profitable and easier plant to get retail ready. Additionally, the thick leaves add heat tolerance for production in warm climates and bud hardiness to protect Pop Star into Zone 4.
- Versatile: Thanks to its compact size, flower power, and ease of use, Pop Star can be planted and make a big, colorful impact in any outdoor space. Whether it’s in the garden or a decorative container, Pop Star will be a superstar in the landscape.
Pop Star is available to Endless Summer licensees in 2022 and will be available for industry-wide distribution and retail sales beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
For more information, attend a Pop Star launch webinar Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 that will include breeding and trialing background, variety benefits, and distribution and marketing plans presentations by David Roberts and Layci Gragnani.
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