Day 3 at the Trials — American Takii, Sakata and Floricultura
Day 3 of the California Spring Trials was spent with all the companies exhibiting in Salinas. We began our day at American Takii, where they showcased their expanded salvia, canna and petunia lines. We also got to see displays by HMA Plants and HilverdaKooij.
Next, we visited Sakata and joined them in celebrating SunPatiens’ 10th birthday. They had fun displays showing all the ways SunPatiens can be used and even introduced some new colors to the line.
Our final stop of the day was at the Floricultura facility, where we got to check out displays by Westhoff, Beekenkamp, PAC and Plug Connection. We loved the variety of eye-popping petunias, celosias and geraniums, especially all the mixed combos.
Here are some of the highlights from Day 3, and don’t forget to check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages where we’ve been posting regular updates each day.
Salvia ‘Summer Jewel Lavender’ (American Takii)
American Takii introduced Lavender to its popular Summer Jewel line. Just like its predecessors, ‘Summer Jewel Lavender’ is also an All-America Selections winner. The series is extremely uniform and compact with a good garden height.
Echinacea Mooodz series (HilverdaKooij)
The Mooodz series of echinacea requires no vernalization and produces beautiful, full plants within a shorter period of time. Five colors are available, with more on the way.
Gerbera Majorette series (Sakata)
One of Sakata’s biggest introductions this year is the Majorette series. The series was bred for complete uniformity and is perfect for quarts and larger containers. Eight colors are currently available; we love the true white flowers on Bright White Dark Eye.
Petunia ‘Hells Flamin’ Rose’ (Westhoff)
Westhoff continues to expand its line of electrifying petunias. Growers love the series for its tight, mounding habit and, of course, the color. Pictures really do Hells petunias no justice, but when you see them in person the colors are amazingly bright. New this year is ‘Hells Flamin Rose’.
Celosia Kelos Atomic series (Beekenkamp)
Last year, Beekenkamp introduced the Kelos Fire series; this year, they now have the Kelos Atomic series. These celosia can be grown year round in natural days. They are versatile in use and gardeners will love that they can be indoor or outdoor plants.
Geranium ‘Darko Soft Pink’ (PAC)
Darko is a dark-leafed geranium that is easy to ship and reliable. PAC introduced four new colors this year. One of our favorites is ‘Darko Soft Pink’; the light blooms really pop and contrast well with the darker foliage.
Do you have any favorite new introductions so far? Any varieties you can see being added to your production lineup? Let me know at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com.
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