 AGERATUM
Ageratum houstonianum Everest Blue from Kieft-Pro-Seeds offers a unique, true blue color and fragrant blooms. It has sturdy 20- to 26-inch tall stems that make it especially suitable for mixed bouquets. In landscapes, Everest Blue spreads 8 to 12 inches and delivers strong color and season-long flowering. It blooms from spring through summer.
 ALSTROEMERIA
Propagated from tissue culture, Inca Ice (‘Koice’) from Walters Gardens is a vigorous plant that produces loads of flowers over a long period. It forms a full, bushy, upright clump of linear, green leaves. The top quarter of the plant becomes covered in flowers. The flowers have alternating petals of soft apricot pink and creamy yellow with brown speckling, giving an overall look of light peach when viewed from a distance. Incredibly full umbels carry 20 or more flowers each. Though the plants in the Inca series were bred specifically for garden use, the stems are long enough for fresh cuts. It reaches 2-3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Hardy in Zones 5-9.
 AMARANTHUS
Amaranthus cruentus Tower Green and Tower Red from Kieft-Pro-Seeds have unusual “towerlike” flower spikes that work well both fresh and dried in mixed bouquets. This very fast growing crop only takes 12 weeks sowing to flowering. They produce 85 percent or more useable stems. Striking colors accentuate the distinctive flower form. Plants have a columnar upright habit reaching 40-48 inches tall and 6-10 inches wide.
 ASTER
The new Callistephus chinensis Bonita series from Sakata Ornamentals has 2-inch, fully double pompon flowers that color completely through the centers and remain attractive while aging. The flowers are held at a perfect angle for maximum display. The series is available in five colors (Blue, Pink, Rose, Scarlet and White) and formula mix. The series has similar resistance to Fusarium as Sakata’s Matsumoto series. Bonita fits easily into a program with Matsumoto. Plants have the same lighting requirements, Bonita’s crop time is one week longer. The Bonita series is exclusively available from Fred C. Gloeckner & Co. Inc.
Pink is the latest addition to American Takii’s Nina spray-type series that features an abundance of semi-double blooms on vigorous plants. Excellent for mixed bouquets. Other colors include Rose, Salmon Pink and White.
 CALLA
Golden State Bulb Growers has added to its selection of Callafornia Callas (Zantedeschia). Ice Dancer is naturally compact producing long lasting 1½- to 2-inch white flowers with a distinct dark eye and glossy deep green leaves. Plants are robust and well-branched. Lolly Pop is naturally compact with 1- to 1¾-inch pink bicolor flowers and maculated (spotted) leaves. Individual flowers last two to three weeks. Vigorous and well-branched Natural Bouquet produces an abundance of 2¼- to 4-inch soft yellow flowers above caladium-like maculated green leaves. Pink Cloud produces broad 2¼- to 4-inch recurved pink flowers. The plants are full-bodied, well branched and durable. Pink Melody is a robust, full-bodied plant that really stands out with 2¼- to 4-inch pink/rose and white bicolored flowers. It is well-branched and durable.
 COREOPSIS
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Sweet Marmalade’ from Blooms of Bressingham is a sport of ‘Crème Brulee’. It produces stunning flowers that open deep orange and mellow to soft apricot-yellow through the season. Bushy mounded plants grow 12 inches high and 18 inches wide. It has mid-green, narrow, linear foliage. Plants bloom summer into early autumn. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9. A summer cutback encourages a new flush of growth and bloom for fall.
 CELOSIA
Kieft-Pro-Seeds ‘ Celosia cristata Bombay series produces large, triangular comb-shaped flower heads. The series features round stems, flat combs and a wide range of appealing colors. New colors include Filemon, Bordeaux, Candy, Sunshine and Red Dark. The upright plants reach 28-40 inches tall and 5 inches wide. Bombay adds an exclusive touch to any bouquet, whether alone or mixed.
 Delphinium New Millennium
‘Moonlight Blues’ |
DELPHINIUM
Jelitto Perennial Seeds has added two varieties to its F1 hybrid New Millennium series. ‘Moonlight Blues’ has semi-double medium blue flowers with a blue and black striped bee. Plants reach 48 inches tall. ‘Black Eyed Angels’ produces brilliant white semi-double flowers with a black bee. Plants reach 64 inches tall. Both varieties have palmate-shaped leaves, strong flower stems and bloom from June through September. They are hardy in Zones 3-8 and are tolerant of heat and humidity.
 DIANTHUS
PlantHaven has added several new varieties. The Devon Cottage series adds two varieties. Bright Eyes (‘Amethyst’) is a repeat bloomer that produces glaucous, blue green foliage fragrant large double crisp white flowers with a bright burgundy eye on sturdy stems. It has a compact mounding habit reaching 14-18 inches tall by 10-14 inches wide. ‘Waterloo Sunset’, also a repeat bloomer, produces masses of fragrant double blooms carried on sturdy stems with glaucous, blue green foliage. It has a compact mounding habit, reaching 12 inches tall and wide. Both varieties require no vernalization for blooming and are hardy to Zone 5.
Four varieties have been added to the Scent First series. All four require no vernalization, are repeat bloomers and are hardy to Zone 5. Romance produces spicy fragrant, salmon-pink double flowers with a carmine eye, carried on sturdy stems. This compact mounding plant grows 9 inches tall and wide. Sugar Plum has a compact mounding habit growing 10 inches tall and wide. It produces spicy fragrant double flowers with wavy petals of maroon edged in pink-white. Passion has spicy fragrant velvety red double blooms carried on sturdy stems It has a compact mounding habit growing 11 inches tall and wide. Candy Floss (‘Devon Flavia’) produces spicy fragrant sugar pink double flowers with a subtle rose pink eye carried on sturdy stems. It has a compact mounding habit growing 11 inches tall and wide.
 ECHINACEA
Terra Nova Nurseries has introduced three new varieties. ‘Aloha’ produces fragrant flowers with wide, cantaloupe yellow petals surrounding orange cones. This all summer to frost bloomer has the perfect landscape habit. It can be used en masse in a border, in a mixed bed or as a cut flower. It looks stunning as a cut flower in a tall glass or crystal vase.
‘Leilani’ has very large clear, non-fading yellow flowers that bloom late into the fall. Its strong upright habit doesn’t require any staking. It reaches 36 inches tall and 30 inches wide. Hardy in Zones 4-9.
‘Secret Joy’ produces fragrant, 3-inch wide pale yellow, double flowers. It reaches 24 inches tall and 28 inches wide. It is hardy in Zones 4-9. All of varieties in the Secret series make beautiful cut arrangements.
 EUSTOMA (Lisianthus)
American Takii has released several new varieties.
II Apricot, III Apricot and III Green have been added to the Arena series. The series is less sensitive to rosetting in plug cultivation and is less sensitive to short stem length under long-day conditions. Plants have very double flowers on strong stems. The colors that make up the series are classified by group, with group I being the earliest to flower, group IV the latest.
I Green expands the F1 Vulcan series to six colors. The series is less sensitive to short stem length under long-day conditions and is less sensitive to rosetting in plug cultivation. It has thick, cup-shaped flower petals which improves its transportability.
GOMPHRENA
White joins Bicolor Rose, Pink and Purple Red in American Takii’s Audray series. The series can be used both for fresh and dried arrangements. Plants, which reach 30-40 inches tall, withstand hot and humid conditions.
 HELLEBORUS
‘Amethyst Gem’ from Terra Nova Nurseries has opalescent double flowers margined in amethyst. The deer-resistant plants show outstanding vigor growing to 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide. Hardy in Zones 5-8. It can be used in mixed cut arrangements or as a single cut flower in a small bud vase.
HYDRANGEA
PlantHaven has introduced two H. macrophylla varieties. Romance and Passion produce double flowers at first giving a typical lace cap look, filling to create full double blooms. Soft pink in color or blue when treated with aluminum sulfate and the growing medium pH is maintained at 5.2-5.5. Their deciduous, glossy dark foliage contrasts well with the soft flower colors. They have a sturdy upright growth habit growing 48 inches tall and 36 inches wide. Both are hardy to Zone 5.
.jpg) KNIPHOFIA
‘Elvira’ from Blooms of Bressingham has single bright orange narrow spikes on thick stems above the foliage. It forms clumps of upright, evergreen, narrow strap-shaped leaves. Plants grow to 30 inches tall and 24 inches wide. ‘Elvira’ blooms summer into early autumn and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Hardy in Zones 5-9.
 LEUCANTHEMUM
Reblooming ‘Bridal Bouquet’ from Terra Nova Nurseries the yellow to white flowers have lightly ruffled, double, broad petals. It has a compact habit and requires no plant growth regulators. It grows 6 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Hardy in Zones 5-8. As the name indicates, perfect for cut bouquets alone or with harmonized blooming varieties.
 LIMONIUM (Statice)
Limonium sinuatum QIS Apricot from Kieft-Pro-Seeds is suitable for greenhouse and outdoor production. QIS (Quality in Seed) is a considerable improvement over standard varieties in uniformity, color, flower size and stem quality. The plants produce clouds of tiny, non-shattering flowers that deliver shipability and long vase life. The upright plants grow to 30-35 inches tall and 8-10 inches wide.
 Lupinus ‘Manhattan Lights’ |
LUPINUS
Blooms of Bressingham has released two varieties (‘Manhattan Lights’ and ‘Masterpiece’) that were bred by Westcountry Nurseries. ‘Manhattan Lights’ features single flowers with a light fragrance packed on tall spikes of deep purple with contrasting orange hearts. ‘Masterpiece’ has deep purple flowers.
Both plants have upright, clumping foliage that is soft green to grayish in color. The finger-like leaves make whirls at the top of the leaf stems. Plants are 30-32 inches tall by 27 inches wide. They bloom late May through early June (flowers last three to four weeks). Hardy to Zone 5.
 RUDBECKIA
‘Little Henry’ from Terra Nova Nurseries produces the same charming blooms of ‘Henry Eilers’, but one-third shorter. Plants reach 36 inches tall and 24 inches wide with flower stems to 48 inches tall. It makes a great cut flower filler in arrangements or used as a single cut stem in small bud vases.
SNAPDRAGON (Antirrhinum)
The F1 Chantilly series from American Takii is an open-faced, Group I-II snapdragon, with a longer vase life than other varieties. It is extra early and blooms 110-130 days after sowing. Stem length is 4-4½ feet. White Improved has brighter white flowers placed more densely on the stem than the previous White.
 Matthiola Katz Crimson |
STOCK (Matthiola)
PanAmerican Seed has added Crimson and Purple to its Matthiola incana Katz series. The series has a shorter crop time, is uniform in flowering for stem length and timing between colors, and is more heat tolerant than European or traditional field types. The series can be grown earlier and later in the season, and even year-round in some climates, allowing for Christmas through Valentine’s Day flowering when traditional stocks are hard to produce. Plants grow to 12-32 inches tall and 4-7 inches spread. About 55-60 percent of the plants are double-flowering, with some selectability possible. High tunnel production is recommended for overall improved quality and for weather protection so that programming is not affected by rain.
NEW CUT FLOWER CONTACTS:
American Takii, (831) 443-4901; www.takii.com.
Blooms of Bressingham, (800) 232-9557, Ext. 2512;
www.bloomsofbressinghamplants.com.
Fred C. Gloeckner & Co. Inc., (800) 345-3787; www.fredgloeckner.com.
Golden State Bulb Growers, (831) 728-0500; www.goldenstatebulb.com.
Jelitto Perennial Seeds, (502) 895-0807; www.jelitto.com.
Kieft-Pro-Seeds, (630) 231-1400; www.kieft-pro-seeds.com.
PanAmerican Seed, (630) 231-1400; www.panamseed.com.
PlantHaven, (805) 569-9179; www.planthaven.com.
Sakata Ornamentals, (408) 778-7758; www.sakataornamentals.com.
Terra Nova Nurseries, (800) 215-9450; www.terranovanurseries.com.
Walters Gardens, (800) 925-8377; www.waltersgardens.com.
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