Jun 27, 2018
Southern Charmers By Jasmina Dolce

Summer trials are in full swing, and now is a great time to evaluate plants for their summer performance. Across the country, universities, growers and public gardens are displaying new plant introductions as well as benchmarks for comparison.

Three trial grounds in particular recently hosted the Southern Garden Tour. Between June 5 and 7, Young’s Plant Farm in Auburn, Alabama; Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, North Carolina; and University of Georgia invited growers, retailers, brokers, students and other industry professionals to attend their trial gardens to evaluate thousands of varieties.

Young’s Plant Farm’s trial garden consists of 26,400 square feet of raised beds for both sun and shade. The garden also features more than 300 combinations in containers, hanging baskets and landscaped beds, and more than 400 in-ground comparison trials with new varieties.

The trial garden at Metrolina features 1,200 varieties of annuals planted in ground and in containers, an extensive perennial garden that is overwintered for two years, and 450 combinations in hanging baskets and containers.

University of Georgia’s garden is located in a unique setting in the heart of the campus with 23 raised beds, a shade garden, bog garden, water garden, sun garden and eye-level garden. Some features include 190 stone cast containers, 150 hanging baskets, a perennial collection, and more than 100 rose cultivars.

Were you able to attend this extensive garden tour? If not, we’ve got the scoop here for you. University of Georgia asked members of the industry to vote for their favorites in their trial on June 6. Here are some of the top plants they picked. To learn more about the trial, go to ugatrial.hort.uga.edu.

Also, keep an eye out for the August issue of GPN where industry consultant Vaughn Fletcher will provide his full report on the Southern Garden Tour.

Petunia ‘Dekko Red’
Syngenta Flowers