Top 15 Varieties

Last year, Greenhouse Management published its first research study on 15 popular varieties in the marketplace, and this year we’re at it again. Some people may wonder why these particular varieties are chosen over others, but one person who responded to our survey said it best.

“The perennials listed in the top 15 are there for a reason,” says Wendy Becker, wholesale account manager for Green Gate Farms in Augusta, Mo. “They are easy for the end-consumer to grow and enjoy, there are many varieties of each to choose from, and both sun and shade conditions are represented.”

That also goes for the annuals, but there you have it: summed up about as succinctly as possible. These are important varieties to the greenhouse industry but also to the consumer. They’re tried and true and represent large sales volumes year-in and year-out. As such, we surveyed growers to see what their plans are in 2013 for producing these popular varieties. The results are mostly encouraging compared to last year.

In the 2011 survey, only three varieties garnered at least 30 percent of responders indicating they would increase production the next year. This year, that number doubles to six of the 15, and four others are in the 20 to 30 percent of responders range.

Hostas are one of those varieties that 32.4 percent of growers plan to produce more of next year.

“We are planning to produce more of the top perennials simply because they sell,” Becker says. “They look good in a pot, so they are appealing in a retail environment but are also standards in the landscaping. We have a knack for growing hostas well, so we have to keep up with the demand for those.”

Other varieties at least 30 percent of responders said they would produce more of next year included petunias, begonias, geraniums, calibrachoas and echinaceas. Bill Calkins is a business manager for independent garden centers at Ball Horticulture Co. and he believes there are begonia varieties for everyone and urges growers to embrace begonias next year.

“There are so many ways to use different types of begonias, and when you simplify it for customers, they will buy multiples and keep coming back for more,” he says.

He also offers tips for how to sell begonias next year.

“If you are growing for landscapers, sell them green in 4-inch pots, but if you are targeting home gardeners, try gallons or lager to really sell the drama,” Calkins says.

He says there’s a lot of exciting things going on when it comes to this popular variety, and hopefully you can explore those and introduce customers to them as well.

“Hopefully seeing some of the new innovations in begonia breeding from around the world gets you excited to bring some of them in and pass along the enthusiasm to your customers,” Calkins says. “With a whole new generation of growers buying homes and looking for flowers and plants to fill indoor and outdoor spaces, now is the time to show them how cool begonias are and all the different ways they can be used.”

The other big factor that could be playing into so many growers planning to produce more of our top 15 varieties this year is the impatiens downy mildew issue. Of those surveyed, 39.2 percent said they planned to produce fewer impatiens next year.

“[Sales] will slightly decrease next year, but as time goes on, more people, and in particular growers, will adjust their buying habits,” says Tim Pollak, an outdoor floriculturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Even those who don’t grow impatiens see the stress the downy mildew issues cause.

“We don’t grow annuals, so the downy mildew issue on impatiens doesn’t affect our growing procedures, but we are hoping new varieties of impatiens will be found and improved that resist downy mildew because we know this is a serious issue,” Becker says.

Until that happens, as a grower, it’s important to educate your customer about alternative options so they don’t purchase plants that will ultimately fail for the end-consumer.

“Landscapers will cut back 75 to 90 percent on their installs,” says Jim Clesen, vice president and owner of Ron Clesen’s Ornamental Plants Inc. in Maple Park, Ill. “Garden centers are dealing with it like it isn’t an issue. This is a great disservice to our industry. Why, once again, do we allow a great percentage of our customers to expect to fail with the products we provide?”

To combat the problem and keep customers from failing, he plans to produce more of many other varieties next year to combat the impatiens downy mildew problem.

And while the industry has had its share of challenges during the last few years, some growers are looking at next year as an opportunity to increase sales by growing more of these classic, bread-and-butter varieties.

“We all have controlled costs long enough,” Clesen says. “Now, with all of the rising fixed costs, we just need more revenue.”

So as you head into 2013, take a look at these varieties and see how your plans fit with our survey results. Are they off? Are they similar? If you’re trying to figure out which varieties to grow more of next year, this may be able to help you plan. Pollak has advice for growers as it relates to the top 15 varieties as well.

“Try them,” he says. “Learn which ones perform the best for you and in your microclimate.”