West Coast stars

Editor’s note: The 2016 California Spring Trials week was filled with so many great new varieties, creative marketing ideas, plant trials and innovations from breeders that we couldn’t fit it all in this issue. This is the first article in a two-part series. Stay tuned to read the second part in our July issue, with highlights including perennials, succulents, edibles and more.

Bringing the trials back to Spring Trials

Our first stop was to EuroAmerican Propagators, located south of Los Angeles. The company set up a trial garden at its home base this year in order to bring the trialing aspect back to Spring Trials, according to EuroAmerican’s trial garden manager Amanda Flint. There, we got a sneak peek at some of the varieties that we would be seeing later in the week, but planted in the ground or in containers near comparable varieties. In addition, we saw an example of the company’s efforts to bring more color back to water-wise plants in the landscape, as we saw with Sassy Grassy, an aloe with bright orange flowers. EuroAmerican hopes the trials will encourage other breeders to return to their southern home bases again for future Spring Trials.

At Headstart Nursery, Danziger’s stop, we also saw a more traditional trials set-up — a cyclamen showcase of all shapes, sizes, colors and brands, arranged in a way that made it easy for attendees to compare and contrast plants.

Catering to growers

As usual, we saw several examples of breeders striving to help growers find success through different efforts.

HGTV HOME Plant Collection and EuroAmerican Propagators announced a partnership in which growers can order HGTV liners directly through EuroAmerican, streamlining the process.

Over at Syngenta Flowers, growers were able to consult double-sided informational posters outlining both research done and differences between varieties, as well as key cultural information growers should know. The idea was to simplify the learning process and provide attendees with the information they needed in an easy-to-read format.

Another breeder providing growers with useful tips was Suntory Flowers. A poster showing its new addition, Surfinia Heartbeat, showed how easy it was for both growers and the final consumers to verify that their growing conditions are optimal. Too little fertilizer or too much heat will result in the lack of the “heartbeat” (pink heart) pattern on blooms and a whiter petunia, while too much fertilizer or cold temperatures will distort it.

Green Fuse Botanicals brought another season-extending plant to the table for growers looking for a plant that will appeal to consumers and flower from spring until the first frost. Grandstand salvias (right) flower throughout the entire season and are part of the Compatibles program, making them ideal for mixed combos. They feature shorter, tightly stacked internodes, creating a fuller, more attractive plant.

Benary’s new pink tuberous begonia, Funky (right), has a unique look and is easier to grow and ship, making it a good option for growers. It also boasts a high germination rate.

Creative marketing

PlantHaven’s newly rebranded Pinks by Whetman line offers a more “fashion-forward” look, with a minimalist logo that subtly calls out the new colors. The marketing for the newest Pinks dianthus, Pinball Wizard, includes magic-infused signage and a completely redecorated pinball machine (pictured below) that played on the wizard theme, and that attendees could try out.

Over at American Takii, we stopped dead when we saw the rebranding for their celosia, Armor. The zombified signage gave a tongue-in-cheek nod to the celosia, which has a brain-like look, as an alternative meal for brain-eating zombies.

Rethinking combinations

As usual, there was no shortage of unique container combinations at Spring Trials. Here are a few of the many excellent examples we saw that encouraged us to think outside of the typical groupings, including several interesting thrillers.

Garvineas from Florist Holland are the uncommon, but striking, thrillers in this container (1) that also includes the more traditional petunia and verbena.

This combo from Sakata Seed America (2) and one from American Takii (3) showcased celosias — Dragon’s Breath and Armor, respectively — as one of the thrillers in their mixes.

This combination at Dümmen Orange’s Edna Valley Vineyard stop (4) is aptly named — Sunset Canyon. The warm-hued combo could appeal to a different crowd than those who like cooler colors and those looking for something different.

Gomphrena Ping Pong stole the show as a thriller in this brightly colored planter at Sakata Seed America (5).

Golden State Bulb Growers was thinking outside of the box with their calla lily combinations (6).

We saw the versatility of grasses in these combinations from Pacific Plug & Liner (7).