Plantpeddler Variety Day Features Stand-Out Begonias and More

Posted by Brian Sparks|August 28, 2018

Plantpeddler, based in Cresco, IA, held its annual Variety Day on Friday, Aug. 3. The event showcased nearly 1,200 varieties of vegetative annuals in large containers, baskets, planters, and beds from a global array of breeders.

Growers, breeders, brokers, and retailers spent the day touring the greenhouses and listening to seminars presented by industry professionals. Dr. Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University discussed strategies for dealing with whitefly and broad mites. Christine Nowicki of Selecta One; Scott Valentine, Amy Briggs-Macha, and Ryan Hall of Syngenta Flowers; and Mike Fernandez of Danziger talked about their respective companies’ recent variety releases. Gary Fay of H. E. Anderson explained the benefits of chemical injectors for control of pH and fertility.

Attendees had the opportunity to view the trial gardens and vote on their three favorite varieties. The top 25 favorites were:
• Begonia ‘Solenia Yellow’ (Benary+)
• Begonia ‘Hiemalis Vermillion’ (Beekenkamp)
• Begonia ‘Fragrant Falls Peach’ (Beekenkamp)
• Begonia ‘Solenia Apricot’ (Benary+)
• Salvia ‘Skyscraper Pink’ (Selecta)
• Begonia ‘Fragrant Falls Lemon’ (Beekenkamp)
• Petunia ‘Headliner Night Sky’ (Selecta)
• Begonia ‘Waterfalls Encanto Red’ (Beekenkamp)
• Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks Golden Gate’ (Dümmen Orange)
• Begonia ‘PedSemps Cherry Blossom’ (Plantpeddler)
• Verbena ‘Temari Patio Blue’ (Suntory Flowers)
• Begonia ‘Hiemalis Valentino Pink’ (Koppe)
• Begonia ‘Hiemalis Evi Bright Pink’ (Beekenkamp)
• Verbena ‘Lanai Premium Twister Watercolor’ (Syngenta Flowers)
• Geranium Interspecific ‘Calliope Large Rose Mega Splash’ (Syngenta Flowers)
• Begonia ‘Waterfalls Angel Falls Champagne’ (Beekenkamp)
• Verbena ‘Lanai Red Star’ (Syngenta Flowers)
• Salvia ‘Sallyfun Deep Ocean’ (Danziger)
• Begonia ‘Summerwings Dark Elegance’ (Kientzler)
• Verbena ‘Lascar Hot Rose’ (Selecta)
• Lantana ‘Bandana Cherry Improved’ (Syngenta Flowers)
• Angelonia ‘Alonia Big Snow Ball’ (Danziger)
• Lobelia ‘Techno Heat Upright Cobalt Blue’ (Syngenta Flowers)
• Begonia ‘Hiemalis Eva’ (BBA)
• Begonia ‘Solenia Orange’ (Benary+)

The next Plantpeddler events are its Poinsettia Variety Day on Dec. 6, and the 2019 Variety Day on Friday, Aug. 2, which will be a celebration of Plantpeddler’s 40th Anniversary.