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New flower varieties

You gardeners out there will have some exciting new flowers to plant this year according to the Star Gazette:

Purchasing decisions often include selecting between “tried and true” and “new and improved” items. Where do gardeners get their information when it comes to plant seed varieties? Numerous universities provide suggestions based on research and trials. Seed variety developers report on their introductions. Another helpful source is All America Selections.

The organization’s members are firms engaged in seed variety improvement. AAS judges evaluate these varieties at test gardens throughout North America and AAS promotes superior selections with their “Winner” designation.

Recently added to the flower and vegetable categories are bedding flower and cool-season flower categories. For the year 2006 look for these award-winning, new bedding varieties from AAS:

# Dianthus “Supra Purple” bloomed early and exhibited exceptional garden performance in winning an AAS Bedding Plant Award. This interspecific cross results in hybrid vigor for improved heat tolerance and prolific bloom. The 1.5-inch single purple flowers are lacy, with highly fringed petal edges. In full sun, “Supra Purple” reaches 12 inches tall with an upright bouquet habit spreading 10 inches. The flowers may be cut for fresh arrangements or enjoyed in the garden during the long flowering period. From sowing seed to bloom, plan on about 10 to 12 weeks.

# Nicotiana “Perfume Deep Purple” is another bedding award winner. The name speaks to its delicate evening fragrance and color that charm the senses.

Fragrance is an often-overlooked characteristic in many breeding programs. Gardeners benefit greatly when nicotiana and Dianthus receive breeding attention for their aroma. The single, 2-inch star-shaped flowers of the variety are produced in abundance. Plants may reach 20 inches and spread 15 to 18 inches in a full sun garden location. The variety readily adapts to containers, or a semi-shade garden planting. Easy to grow and undemanding, “Perfume Deep Purple” seed and plants will be available this spring in seed racks, catalogs and at garden retailers.

# Diascia “Diamonte Coral Rose” is a cool-season bedding award winner for 2006. It is the first hybrid diascia. Superior traits include early flowering, branching habit, flower production and length of bloom. “Diamonte Coral Rose” flowers within 60 to 70 days of sowing. The 8- to 10-inch height and 18-inch spreading habit is perfect for mixed containers where a cascading plant is desirable. It also displays well as a low edging plant in a sunny garden. The 1-inch rosy coral blooms are produced in spikes on all sides of the plant. The frost-tolerant plants can be literally covered with blooms.

# Viola “Skippy XL Red-Gold” (Viola cornuta) is the second cool-season bedding plant winner. It is the first of the species to win AAS recognition.

Its improved qualities include flower size and colors and free blooming habit. The 1.5-inch, round flower is large enough to resemble a pansy, but it is a viola (the presence of whiskers are a viola’s distinguishing attribute).

The genetic artists created a stunning canvas of colors. They are ruby red, with violet red shading below the golden yellow face that contains penciling or whiskers. AAS judges noticed the strong, dense plant exhibited heat tolerance as well as winter hardiness with protection. These two traits result in improved freedom of bloom and length of the flowering season. When mature, the plants will spread 8 inches and remain dwarf, about 6 inches tall.

Protection from winter desiccation is the primary key to wintering over pansies and violas. Cold temperatures and wet feet are not as fatal as drying wintry winds. Cover plants with either a light layer of mulch or fabric row cover and they will return, continuing their growth in the spring.

A combination of new and familiar flowers is likely the best choice. Rely on personal experience for most of what you plant, but try one or two new varieties based on a reliable recommendation. The new one may quickly become a favorite. Thanks to AAS for providing background descriptions.

Tags: Flowers, Fresh Flowers

Written by Bobbie on January 9th, 2006 with comments disabled.
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