Jun 13, 2018

Trialing Premium Petunias By Jasmina Dolce

Petunias have long been and continue to be one of the most popular plant categories in the annuals market. They are easy to care for and incredibly versatile — from the landscape to baskets and planters.

And there’s no limit to the color options in petunias. From traditional purples and pinks to amazing eye-catching bicolors and tricolors. They can create an instant pop in just about any application.

That being said, breeders are bringing even more unique petunias to the market — and these beauties have premium value. We are continuously introduced to new petunia varieties at the California Spring Trials, and 2018 was no different. With all the improvements, line extensions and series launches this year, I think it is important to review some of the new offerings that can add value to your production.

You may want to stop and pay attention to these petunias. They created buzz along the California coast in April, and some have already earned awards for their performance.

‘Sweetunia Fiona Flash’
Dümmen Orange

‘Sweetunia Fiona Flash’ is the newest addition to Dümmen Orange’s Super Hero collection of eye-catching petunias. It presents fiery tones in red and pink with a semi-upright habit that will look great in hanging baskets.

‘Success! HD Rose Star’
Benary

Success! is now an umbrella brand for three Benary petunia lines. Success! HD has a tighter habit and is bred for high-density production. Rose Star has earned a Fleuroselect Gold Medal for its unique star pattern and superior performance.

‘Crazytunia Cosmic Purple’
Westhoff

There continues to be demand for interesting color patterns for custom combinations, and Westhoff is meeting the demand with new unique colors in its Crazytunia series. Cosmic Purple fits right in with its velvety black and neon purple blooms.

‘Headliner Night Sky’
Selecta One

Night Sky has been a favorite since its introduction two years ago. This year, Starry Sky Burgundy has been added to the series. It boasts burgundy and yellow colors with a new pattern or spots and stars.

SuperCal Premium series
Sakata

Sakata has introduced its next generation of its popular SuperCal hybrids: SuperCal Premium. This new line features five unique colors with large flowers and exceptional cool tolerance, making them perfect for fall presentations.

‘Sanguna Patio Radiant Dark Blue’
Syngenta Flowers

This controlled and upright series is an ideal choice for high-density production in small containers. It requires little to no PGRs or pinching. New for 2018 is Radiant Dark Blue, which boasts bright white centers that transition out to deep blue.

Are you growing or trialing any of the above varieties? Any favorites? Are there any new petunias that you would add to this list? Shoot me an email, and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

—  Jasmina