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vaughn’s view
BY VAUGHN FLETCHER
PART 2
Perennials
CA PTIVATING
1
This second round of notable and colorful perennial varieties demonstrated
high impact in 2020 plant trials.
T
his article is part 2 of my evaluation of current
and new perennials in the 2020 summer trials
that demonstrated exceptional flower power
and were distinctive and eye catching. Many of the
varieties are currently in the market and many of the
new introductions are in production programs this year.
The attributes these outstanding perennials manifested
in multiple trials include flower stability, durability,
floriferousness, heat tolerance and uniqueness.
1. GAILLARDIA ‘LUNAR BLOOD MOON’
GreenFuse Botanicals
The gaillardia Lunar series is in the GreenFuse
Botanicals First Light perennials program, which is
Vaughn Fletcher characterized by day length neutrality, no vernalization
2
is president of requirement and no cold treatment. There are six varieties in
Fletcher Consulting. the vegetative series: Eclipse, Harvest Moon, Honey Moon,
He has been in the Orange Moon, Red Moon and Blood Moon, which is a new variety
horticulture industry for 2021 and 2022. This variety last summer manifested the
since 1971, working in most saturated and brightest red ray flowers I have seen in any
many areas including gaillardia series. Red Moon is a strong red in the series, but
landscaping, garden Blood Moon may have better color retention. This series has
center and greenhouse numerous attributes including a well rounded and uniform habit,
production, greenhouse strong resistance to splitting, tight internodes, flower stability
and nursery sales and and a long blooming cycle.
sales management.
He can be reached at 2. DELPHINIUM ‘DELGENIUS SHELBY’
vfletcher9@gmail.com. Bart Noordius
I saw some notable dephiniums in the 2020 summer trials,
including the new Delgenius series, which will be offered
exclusively by Pacific Plug & Liner for 2021 as a TC 72 liner. I
was impressed by the strong stems, dark foliage, vigor, bushy
habit, large double flowers, multi blooms and secondary
flower development. There are three varieties in the series:
Breezin (purple), Shelby (lilac) and Juliette (pink), and they
all demonstrated exceptional flower structure and color. This 3
series is hardy to Zone 3, and one liner is recommended for
36 APRIL 2021 GPNMAG.COM
VAUGHN’S VIEW
1.5- and 3-gallon production. No with multicolored wine and red
vernalization is needed, plants will foliage and a striking vigorous
mature at 18 to 24 inches, and the mounded habit that sets it apart
finish time is 10 to 16 weeks. An from other dark-leaf varieties. Many
April-May planting is recommended of the features of this euphorbia are:
by Pacific Plug and Liner with persistent lime-green flowers, heat
a summer finish. Technical and humidity tolerance, red stems,
information is also available enduring red foliage and foliage 4
on request.
3. SALVIA ‘BLUE BY YOU’
Darwin Perennials
This interspecific salvia,
introduced in 2019, was extensively
trialed throughout the country
Register Today At
during the past two years and has AmericanHort.org/Cultivate
demonstrated outstanding heat
tolerance, prolific flowering and
consistent reblooming throughout
the summer. ‘Blue By You’ begins
flowering in early summer and
continues blooming through
September. It was flowering at the
Colorado State trial in late July and
in mid-September, at the Raker-
Roberta’s trial in early August, and
at the Texas A&M container trial in
early October.
It is a hybrid cross of nemorosa
and pratensis, and it has durability,
winter hardiness and improved
programmability. This is a sterile
hybrid with deep violet blue flowers
Something For Everyone
that are persistent and prolific with
excellent uniformity, compactness
and a clump form habit. This Don't miss out on industry production tours,
standalone salvia matures at 18 hands-ons workshops, and 100+ education
to 24 inches and is hardy to Zone
4b. Darwin considers this a ‘May sessions specially curated for your business.
Night’ improvement and, based on
performance the past two years,
it appears to be superior in habit, New Varieties
heat tolerance, flowering and
reblooming.
New Products
4. EUPHORBIA ‘MINER’S
MERLOT’
Pacific Plug & Liner
New Connections
We are all familiar with euphorbia
‘Ascot Rainbow’, which has been New Knowledge
in the market for well over 10
years, continues to be offered by
numerous perennial liner suppliers,
So you and your business can Perform
and is widely used in spring
programs. We now have another Better, Grower Faster, and Prepare
euphorbia for consideration based
for the Future.
on its attributes and performance
— ‘Miner’s Merlot’. I only saw this
in the Colorado State University
trial last summer in July and
September, but it was distinctive
We are committed to meeting safely in July.
Learn more at AmericanHort.org/Cultivate
VAUGHN’S VIEW
density. It is hardy to Zone 6, matures is a first-year flowering series and
at 18 to 24 inches, and has multiple programmable in spring and summer
applications in mixed containers and production programs.
landscape beds. It is exclusive to
Pacific Plug and Liner, and liners are 7. SALVIA ‘COLOR SPIRES
available for 2021 and beyond. BACK TO THE FUCHSIA’
Walters Gardens
5. LEUCANTHEMUM ‘SWEET There are now five varieties in the
DAISY REBECCA’ collection including the new Back to
Dümmen Orange the Fuchsia for 2021. This variety is
The Sweet Daisy collection of
seven leucanthemum varieties offers
a Proven Winners Premier Selection
and was trialed throughout the
5
a wide assortment of flower forms country last year. This is the darkest
including singles, doubles, fluted and pink variety in the collection and
recurved. Birdy was introduced last bloomed continually in trials from
year and is an All-America Selections early summer through September
winner. Dümmen Orange, not resting last year. The fuchsia-pink flowers
on their breeding laurels, has on long flower spikes were profuse
introduced Rebecca for 2021. This and were positioned above the
double-fringed flowering variety is foliage on strong, charcoal-colored
comparable to the rest of the series in stems. This collection is a cross
features and benefits. It is day length between nemorosa and pratensis
neutral, uniform, first-year flowering, and demonstrated outstanding
programmable, has no vernalization heat tolerance, basal branching, a
requirement, and flowers in 14 mounded habit, and foliage that is
weeks from an unrooted cutting. The rugose and aromatic. This series
collection has been well represented is impactful in a retail setting with
in summer trials the last few years, exceptional uniformity and prolific,
6 9
and the performance evaluations eye-catching flowers. The series
have been excellent. Rebecca was matures at 20 to 24 inches and is
in multiple trials last summer and hardy to Zone 3.
manifested extended flowering from
late spring in the South to mid- 8. EUPATORIUM ‘EUPHORIA
September in the northern trials. RUBY’
The flowering duration, habit and Darwin Perennials
durability set it apart from many other We are all familiar with eupatorium
leucanthemums in the summer trials. ‘Baby Joe’, which continues to be a
worthy variety for summer gardens.
6. ECHINACEA ‘ARTISAN SOFT The new ‘Euphoria Ruby’, however,
ORANGE’ offers many advantages over
PanAmerican Seed ‘Baby Joe’ and other eupatoriums
There has been extensive currently in the market. This variety
coverage regarding this new F1 was conspicuous in the Penn State
echinacea collection from seed, and perennial trial. It is one of the
the accolades are justifiable. This first compact and also one of the
collection is composed of Red Ombre earliest flowering eupatoriums for
and Soft Orange. Both varieties were the market and has application
ubiquitous in last year’s summer in both containers and perennial 7
trials and performed consistently beds. Ruby will begin flowering in
from late spring in the southern trials mid-July and flower through fall. It
to early September in the northern is first-year flowering, requiring no Darwin and numerous perennial award at the University of Georgia
trials. The collection manifested PGRs under high light conditions, liner suppliers. trial, and it was one of the most
uniform flowering, heavily branched and can be produced in 2.5 and colorful echinaceas in multiple
architecture and excellent flower gallon containers. It will mature 9. ECHINACEA ‘KISMET trials that I visited. There are five
size. The flowers transitioned during at 24 to 30 inches in the garden WHITE’ colors in the series, and since
the season, opening with deep red and is hardy to Zone 5a. This new Terra Nova Nurseries their introduction in 2017 many
and orange flowers that transitioned introduction is Florensis breeding This echinacea variety needs of the varieties have won top
to softer colors by late summer. but is represented by Darwin Plants no introduction to the industry. It performer recognition throughout
The varieties are hardy to Zone 4 in the North American market. It won numerous awards last year the country. I highlighted the
and mature at 16 to 24 inches. This is available in unrooted form from including the Plant of Distinction exceptional performance of
38 APRIL 2021 GPNMAG.COM
VAUGHN’S VIEW
performance in multiple trials, consumer with a wide assortment
deserves consideration in spring and that are heat and drought tolerant
summer production programs. and pollinator magnets.
10. DIANTHUS ‘CONSTANT 12. ORIGATUM ‘DROPS
PROMISE RED’ OF JUPITER’
GreenFuse Botanicals Walters Gardens
This series includes White, I have never highlighted an
Raspberry, Strawberry and the ornamental herb, but this new
new Red for 2021. I highlighted oregano for 2021 was in the
8 11 Strawberry in my April 2019 article
for its vibrant color, vigor, large
Walters Gardens trial when I
visited in mid August and it was
double flowers, flower presentation, absolutely stunning with resplendent
and impressive heat tolerance. The chartreuse yellow leaves and a
Red replicated that performance in multitude of mauve pink flowers with
the late spring and early summer purple calyxes. The calyxes were
trials last year. This series is in the persistent even after the flowers
GreenFuse Botanicals First Light were spent on the trial variety.
Perennials program and has day Flowering begins in mid summer
length neutrality, no vernalization and continues through fall. This
requirement and flowers early in the plant is meant to be appreciated
season. Additional features of this and enjoyed for its texture, foliage
series include fragrance, silver foliage color and prolific flowers. Additional
and uniformity. ‘Constant Promise attributes include drought tolerance,
Red’ was in flower throughout the fragrant foliage, and deer resistance,
late spring and summer, and the and it is a bee and butterfly magnet.
reblooming power was impressive. I understand the foliage is edible,
This is a Zone 4 series that matures but its main application will be in
12
at 12 to 16 inches and has production beds and containers in a full sun
application in quarts and gallons. exposure. This plant will mature
at 24 inches and is hardy to Zone
11. AGASTACHE ‘POQUITO 4. It is a Proven Winners Premier
BUTTER YELLOW’ Selection, exclusive to Walters
Terra Nova Nurseries Gardens, and requires a Proven
The Terra Nova agastache program Winners label and container.
continues to set the standard for
excellence in breeding and the 13. PHLOX ‘SUPER KA-POW
introduction of stand alone varieties FUCHSIA’
and series that provide diversity in the Darwin Perennials
market. I have focused on the Terra The Super Ka-Pow phlox series
Nova standalone varieties, Morello is new for 2021 and offers more
and Blue Boa, in previous articles and vigor than the standard Ka-Pows.
for 2020 I have highlighted the new It consists of four colors: Lavender,
‘Poquito Butter Yellow’. The Poquito Pink, White and Fuchsia. This was the
series is considered one of the most most floriferous phlox series in the
compact in the market; offers Zone Raker-Roberta and Ball trials when
5 hardiness; has a bushy habit; and I visited in mid-August last year.
10 13 has large, fragrant, prolific flowers. The varieties, especially Fuchsia,
‘Poquito Butter Yellow’ was floriferous manifested outstanding branching,
and colorful in the southern trials robust growth, a long bloom period,
‘Kismet Raspberry’ in a perennial attributes of the Kismet series are in March and continued to manifest minimal flower fading, powdery
article two years ago, and I am numerous and include a mounded durability and season long color in mildew resistance and vibrant colors.
now focusing on ‘Kismet White’ and uniform habit, vigor, long the Northern trials in mid-September. In addition, Fuchsia was a top
from last year because of its flowering cycle, flower stability, There are now four colors in the performer in the University of Georgia
dynamic flowering in multiple diverse flower forms, large series: Lavender, Orange, Dark Blue trial with exceptional humidity
trials. Terra Nova has been flowers, and, most importantly, and Butter Yellow. Many breeding tolerance. The Super Ka-Pows begin
breeding, developing, marketing, a profuse flower canopy. This companies have introduced new blooming in June and will continue to
and trialing echinacea for over 25 is unquestionably one of the and exceptional agastache series flower through August. This series is
years and the yearly introductions finest echinacea series in the the past few years, and this expands hardy to Zone 4 and matures at 18 to
get better and better. The market and, based on summer the grower options and provides the 24 inches.
GREENHOUSE PRODUCT NEWS 39
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