Suntory Flowers: Make spirits bright

Photo courtesy of Suntory Flowers

How are Princettia varieties different from traditional poinsettias?

Although all poinsettias are euphorbias, we tend to refer to Princettias and others like them as “euphorbia types.” The main differences are heat tolerance/requirement, vigor and the way the bracts are shaped. I lovingly refer to Princettias as “the tropical cousin of poinsettias.”

Princettias were bred to be more compact and tighter in habit, so the standard use of PGRs (plant growth regulators) is not needed. On the flip side, in most regions, Princettia won’t size up to a great big church altar-style 12-inch pot, either. Princettia Queen is the subseries we have focused introductions on in the past couple seasons. This is our twist on the more “normal” vigor and bract size, but with super vibrant pinks and crisp colors.

Can I grow Princettia with my poinsettia crop?

Yes, and most growers do. The difference would be that Princettia may require more heat toward the end of the crop versus the other varieties.

Which Princettia varieties are you most excited about for 2024?

There has been a lot of buzz around our new variegated introduction, Sparkling Rouge, which I loved from the first trial. However, one that may fly under the radar at first, but is my favorite, is the new Princettia Queen Shell Pink. The name was inspired by that pretty pink/salmon color you often see on the inside of a conch shell. I think as consumers are decorating in all different styles and colors for the holidays now, this adds a very fun color to maybe have a beach-themed Christmas décor.

What are the pot size recommendations for Princettia and Princettia Queen?

As mentioned before, Princettia was, and still is, bred to be compact and branching and need less PGR. Because of this, the Princettia line does well in 2-inch mini production up to 6.5-inch pots in most regions. Princettia Queen is a little more vigorous and in most regions can be grown in anything from a 4-inch to an 8-inch. Some Southern growers have been successful sizing Princettia Queen into a 10-inch pot.

Do you have any recommendations for combos, mixing Princettia varieties with each other or component plants?

The beauty of Princettia is that it is a true family. This means that anything within the original Princettia line (Pink, Dark Pink, Hot Pink, Red, Pure White, Pure Red, Sparkling Rouge and Sparkling Rosé) can all be mixed together for any bicolor or tricolor combination that will time and grow the same. Likewise, anything in the Princettia Queen category will mix with one another. The natural compactness of Princettias makes it a great fit for tabletop and foliage mix bowls as well. You won’t have to fight the plant to size up nicely with the foliage bowl, and the mature height is perfect for a centerpiece bowl for parties and holiday dinners.