2018 Southwest/West Floriculture Field Trials: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
November 26, 2018 The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden has trialed more than 1,434,492 plants over the years. This year the gardens included new cultivars of Texas favorites such as Zinnias, Salvia, and Vinca, along with new veggies and hanging baskets. With the high temps that this garden experiences regularly, its a great place to see which new varieties love the heat and can survive long, hot summers.
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Best of Show
Basil ‘Amazel’ – Delicious flavor, large green leaves, no downy mildew, sterile
Cosmos Cosmic Series – Multiple vivid Colors (Red, Orange, Yellow), blooms late fall throughout summer, wild growth habit, prolific bloomer
Catharanthus (Vinca) Cora Cascade Series – Multiple colors, blooms all summer, perfect as a spiller for containers and hanging baskets
Pansy ‘Freefall Marina’ – Trailing pansy, covered in blooms winter-spring, cute faces, great for containers and hanging baskets
Dianthus ‘IQ Purple Ice’ – Compact growth habit, covered in blooms winter-spring, will need deadheading for rebloom
Viola ‘Cool Wave Morpho’ – Trailing morpho pansy, smaller than the regular Morpho, great for containers and hanging baskets
Mandevilla ‘Sundenia Crimson’ – Flowers all summer, good for trellis for vining up, fantastic color
Plectranthus (Coleus) ‘Colorblaze Rediculous’ – Rich red color with bright green margins, flowering is minimal and small, does not lodge, uniform color
Ipomea ‘Solar Powered Red Heart’ – Interesting variation of leaf color throughout summer, fantastic foliage plant, fast growing
Catharanthus (Vinca) Soiree Ka-wa-i-i Series – Comes in many colors, small but prolific flowers, compact habit, great for container plantings
Top Performers
Plectranthus (Coleus) ‘Color Cloud Honey Pie’ – Interesting color, uniform growth habit, late to bloom compared to other coleus
Bidens ‘Bellamy White’ – Blooms all summer, perfect for cottage gardens, attracts many pollinators
Lantana ‘Citrus Blend Improved’ – Gorgeous color, uniform growth habit, attracts butterflies
Gerbera ‘Sweet Sixteen’ – Blooms throughout spring- fall, can be perennialized, smaller bloom then other gerberas
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) ‘Twinny Violet’ – Covered in blooms winter-spring, will continue to bloom into summer but needs deadheading, compact
Dianthus ‘Chiba Purple Picotee’ – Covered in blooms winter-spring, will continue to bloom into summer but needs deadheading, compact
Gerbera (Patio) ‘Great Smoky Mountains’ – Larger flower for gerberas, Deep-green foliage, blooms Spring-Fall
Viola Corina Series – Many different colors and faces, completely covered in blooms throughout winter, perfect for border plantings
Dianthus ‘Barbarina Red Picotee’ – Covered in blooms winter-spring, will continue to bloom into summer but needs deadheading, gorgeous rich color
Pentas ‘BeeBright Red Penta’ – True red color, uniform growth, does not lodge like other taller pentas
Consumer Favorites
Rudbeckia ‘Little Henry’ – Interesting texture to add to any landscape, bright yellow flowers will add a pop of color to your garden, blooms start mid-summer but last longer than other Rudbeckias
Zinnia ‘Zany Scarlet’ – Flower changes color throughout lifespan, small compact growth habit, Attracts pollinators
Cuphea ‘Tiny Mice’ – Covered in blooms all summer, bright red flowers with small black faces add to the landscape, mounding growth habit
Okra ‘French Quarter’ – Delicious produce, small for container gardens, large white hibiscus-type flower, perfect for patio gardening
Portulaca Cupcake Series – Interesting new colors in the portulaca world, flowers throughout summer, self cleaning
Gomphrena ‘Truffula’ – Smaller more compact variety compared to that of ‘Fireworks’ Gomphrena, attracts pollinators, attractive wild growth habit
Hibiscus ‘Honeymoon Rose’ – Only grows to about 3 feet in height, large saucer flowers throughout summer, adds a tropical feel to any landscape
Salvia ‘Rockin’ Golden Delicious’ – Bright chartreuse foliage, wonderful pineapple smell, gorgeous red flowers
Berried Treasure Strawberry Series – Comes in pink and red, perfect for container gardening, ornamental flowers, delicious fruit
Petunia ‘Headliner Night Sky’ – Interesting variegation, good for spiller in containers, conversation starter
2017 Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden field trial results.
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