Poinsettia Variety Day 2024
At the annual December event, industry members descended upon Cresco, Iowa, for Plantpeddler’s 2024 Poinsettia Variety Day. This trial has become a must-attend event for breeders, brokers, growers and retailers, as trial attendance and the plant trial collection grow each year. Over 200 commercial varieties awaited review and evaluation by more than 150 attendees in 2024, with people from 18 states and two European countries.
Genetics for the 2024 trial were submitted by Beekenkamp, Dümmen Orange, Graff, InBlume, Lazzeri, Rinehart Poinsettias, Selecta One and Suntory Flowers, and Plantpeddler is a licensed grower of poinsettia liners.
Plantpeddler is committed to educating growers on best practices in the horticulture industry.
“The Poinsettia Trial and Variety Day event emphasizes our commitment to the industry by showcasing genetics under northern U.S growing conditions. It is important to do a commercial production trial for poinsettias as a way for the industry and growers to evaluate variety performance and improve their selections,” said Mike Gooder, president of Plantpeddler.
New this year at Poinsettia Variety Day: 2024 Best of Class Red — 5 Year Challenge. This was a blind vote contest pitting the six varieties, which had earned first and/or second place over the past five years in Plantpeddler trials. The winner of this challenge: ‘Noel Red’ bred by Selecta One.
This year’s trial results had nontraditional varieties dominating in both the red and non-red categories. This reflects the industry’s drive for innovation of this holiday classic to boost consumer interest and sales. Scan the QR code to watch the 2024 Variety Day video.
Trial attendees voted using a three-flag system for “Best Red Variety” and “Best Non-Red Variety” with a 3, 2,1 point scoring. The results are as follows:
Best red variety
- Sky Fantasy — Selecta One
- Red Ribbons — Dümmen Orange
- Christmas Aurora Red — Selecta One
- Roccostar Red Novita — Lazzeri
- Christmas Morning — Selecta One
- Tapestry — Dümmen Orange
- Draco Red — InBlume
- Kayla Red — Beekenkamp
- Christmas Chorus — Selecta One
- Astro Red — Beekenkamp and Ruby Red — InBlume
Best non-red variety
- Giulia — Lazzeri
- Ice Punch — Dümmen Orange
- Princettia Queen Rose Punch — Suntory
- Alaska White — Lazzeri
- Pink Champagne — Selecta One
- Superba New Glitter — Lazzeri
- Brilliant White — Selecta One
- Christmas Aurora Queen — Selecta One
- JAdore H826 — Dümmen Orange
- Alpina — Lazzeri
Mark your calendar for Plantpeddler Poinsettia Variety Day trial event on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Plantpeddler’s Variety Day trial event showcasing annuals and 45th Anniversary Celebration is Aug. 1, 2025.
For more information contact Plantpeddler at (800) 827-1654, plantpeddler.com, info@plantpeddler.com.
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