Green Fuse Stunners
Each month, industry expert and consultant Vaughn Fletcher shares his take on various plant trials throughout the country. Sometimes he focuses on one specific trial, other times he focuses on one plant category, and sometimes he evaluates one breeding company in particular.
In recent months, Fletcher has written about petunia performance, mixed combinations, standout begonias from the Southern plant trials, and new introductions from various companies such as Dümmen Orange, Darwin Perennials and Selecta One. In our most recent issue, he shares his favorites trial performers from Green Fuse Botanicals.
He says Green Fuse has made significant wide ranging annual and perennial vegetative introductions since its formation in 2009. The partnership with independent breeders has given them the opportunity to promote and market a diverse annual and perennial product line. The company is committed to participating in regional trials and utilizing trial results for marketing and promotion.
Entered into numerous trials across the country last year, here are some of Vaughn’s top picks from Green Fuse Botanicals. This is just a handful; for his full report, click here.
Delosperma Delmara series
Introduced in 2018, Delmara is part of the First Light perennial program of first-year flowering plants. It is comprised of four varieties and characterized by large, vibrant, eye-catching flowers with a mounded, dense habit. The series was ever blooming from early spring in the south through autumn in the north.
Gaillardia ‘Lunar Honeymoon’
With its bright yellow ray flowers and deep yellow cone on a strong, mounding, tight habit, this was a top performer throughout the summer. In trials from south to north, from May to early September, it demonstrated excellent heat tolerance and no evidence of splitting.
Calibrachoa Cruze Control series
The Cruze Control series, comprised of 16 colors, features earliness, heat tolerance, short internodes, uniformity, large flowers and a varied color palette. In regional trials, it exhibited excellent flower stability and retention from spring through autumn.
Leucanthemum ‘Darling Daisy’
The leucanthemum assortment includes singles, doubles and recurved flower varieties. ‘Darling Daisy’ was in regional trials last summer and was in continuous bloom from late spring until frost. While not new, it is a top performer and an outstanding early bloomer with pure white ray flowers and a striking yellow center. It is low growing, maturing at 6 to 8 inches with a strong upright habit.
Salvia splendens ‘Grandstand Red-Pink Lipstick’
The award-winning Grandstand series was introduced in 2015 and has been recognized for outstanding performance. In spring quart programs, mixed containers and landscape beds, this series provides uniformity, a strong vertical habit and a vivid inflorescence. Red-Pink Lipstick is one of the most striking varieties with a distinctive red calyx and pink/white corolla.
Are you growing any of the above varieties? How have they performed for you? Are there any particular plant categories or breeder companies you would like Vaughn to focus on in a future article? Feel free to send me any suggestions at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com.
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