December 2017 Variety Info, Vaughn's View

Proven Summer Performers By Vaughn Fletcher

In this article I will focus on the annual introductions for 2018 from Proven Winners and their performance in summer trials this year. The Proven Winners organization is committed to university and public trials throughout the United States and sends new introductions to each and every trial for testing and evaluation.

This year I visited the trials beginning in Florida in early May at Costa Farms and finishing in late September at Colorado State University. This gave me the opportunity to evaluate the new introductions all season and in many different regions of the country. I returned to many of the same trials at the end of season to evaluate performance in extreme summer conditions.

As a sales representative, I have sold Proven Winners since the program began more than 20 years ago. My focus and confidence in selling the product was based on uniqueness, performance, flower stability, consistency and eye-catching color. These attributes are inherent in the introductions for 2018, and I will describe briefly many of the new varieties and my observations.

Argyranthemum ‘Golden Butterfly’

Proven Winners has expanded its argyranthemum series with ‘Golden Butterfly’ (pictured above). The golden is a much deeper and vibrant yellow than the traditional Yellow Butterfly and demonstrates prolific flowering through fall. Vanilla, Improved White and Golden all possess incredible flower power, color retention, uniformity and low maintenance as they “bury their dead” with minimal deadheading and impressive heat tolerance through fall. This series matured at 30 to 36 inches, and very few other plants in the trials provided the profuse color canopy of these argyranthemum from early summer through fall. This is an excellent series for quarts, for mixed containers as a thriller, and specifically as a background planting in landscape sites.

Bidens ‘Campfire Fireburst Improved’

This is a competitive genus with exceptional varieties from Ball, Danziger, Selecta, Kientzler, Suntory and the new bidens ‘Campfire Fireburst’. This variety has been improved for 2018 with a more controlled growth habit and, combined with striking bicolor orange and yellow flowers, is an excellent addition to the program. ‘Campfire Fireburst’ provided color throughout summer and fall, which is expected with this genus. This bidens is an excellent complement to ‘Goldilocks Rocks’, which is a compact and double flowering variety. The choices are many, and grower decisions on varietial selection are based on programs, habit and flower color.

Calendula ‘Lady Godiva Orange’

We had the introduction of many outstanding calendula varieties this year from Syngenta, Kientzler and Danziger. Proven Winners introduced Lady Godiva, which has exceptional heat tolerance, large double flowers, vibrant flower color and uniformity. Traditionally we have considered this a spring plant, but with this improved breeding the flowering window has been expanded to late summer. When I saw it in late August and early September, the flower size had not diminished and the flower color maintained a vibrant nonfading orange.

Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Over Easy’

This variety was entered in multiple trials last year, and it demonstrated the floriferousness, vigor, flower stability and habit you have come to expect with the Superbells Series. The white with a yellow throat was extremely vibrant and enhances the entire program of 34 varieties. Deadheading is minimal, and heat tolerance was excellent throughout the summer. Over Easy will have application in quarts, combinations and basket programs.

Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Double Orchid’

Proven Winners introduced two double calibrachoas for 2018. In an earlier article this fall I discussed the outstanding performance of Double Ruby in the southern trials. At that time, I thought Double Orchid was less impressive compared to Double Ruby for color saturation and vibrancy, but as I visited trials in late August I was equally impressed by Orchid. It was comparable to Double Ruby for its floriferousness, vibrancy and distinct double lavender-pink flowers. Both varieties possess the Superbells semi-trailing habit with short internodes and a heavy canopy. They will be functional in monocultural and mixed baskets in addition to quart programs.

Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Rising Star’

We have polychromatic calibrachoa series available in the industry and the grower choices are multitudinous. The Star series, comprised of Cherry, Morning, Evening and Rising Star for 2018, offer a very distinct, stable star pattern that is eye catching in basket production. Rising Star maintained its nonfading color and typical Superbells semi-trailing habit throughout the summer.

Lantana ‘Luscious Royale Cosmos’

This new introduction to the Luscious collection may be the most impressive lantana in all the trials this summer. Cosmos continues the legacy of the series with an excellent rounded and uniform habit. Unique vibrant multicolored pink, yellow and magenta flowers continue to progress all summer from yellow to a large, rounded, mature magenta flower that is unlike any color in the lantana palette. This was one of the most consistent plants all summer for habit and color. Flowers were positioned above the foliage, which sets it apart from many lantanas later in the season. In the fall, the plants maintained their uniform habit and short internodes, unlike many lantanas that develop long internodes and irregular growth.

Osteospermum ‘Bright Lights Double Moonglow’

This is the first double osteospermum from Proven Winners. This variety was in multiple sites this summer and manifested a stable intense sunny yellow flower with a darker yellow center. The upright, mounded architecture with strong peduncles positioned the flowers above the canopy creating a colorful impact. Based on the performance this summer and continued demand for more unique flowers in the marketplace I expect more introductions in future years.

Petunia ‘Supertunia Hot Pink Charm’

There are very few petunia series in the industry that offer the floriferousness and overall summer performance of this series. There are nine colors, including this new Hot Pink Charm. All colors manifest profuse blooming power, exceptional heat tolerance and multiple applications in quarts, baskets and mixed containers. Even though the flower size is smaller than the standard Supertunia varieties, the prolific blooming power and garden performance offsets the flower size. Hot Pink Charm was in multiple trials this summer and performed exceptionally well through late September. In selling this series throughout the years, growers questioned the flower size, but when utilized in mixed containers and baskets the Charm varieties offer a high performing component with incredible floriferousness.

Petunia ‘Supertunia Lovie Dovie’

Proven Winners introduced the pinstripe, bicolor Violet Star and Pink Star in 2016 and for 2018 introduced ‘Supertunia Lovie Dovie’. This is a pinstriped pink and white novelty petunia with frilly margins. It demonstrated vigor, floriferousness and most importantly for bicolor flowers, color stability. The pattern was well defined and non fading throughout the summer. This will be an excellent component for multiple applications in quarts, mixed containers and baskets.

Phlox ‘Intensia Red Hot’

This variety was introduced by EuroAmerican as Candied Apple in 2016 but now becomes a part of the Proven Winners program as ‘Intensia Red Hot’. This is an extraordinary bright red color with instant impact. It was one of the best reds in the diverse color palette of the summer trials. This is an excellent addition to the Intensia series with heat tolerance, compact uniform habit and a prodigious flower canopy.

Salvia ‘Rockin’ Deep Purple’

‘Rockin’ Deep Purple’ is a colorful addition to the Proven Winners annual salvia program. This variety has purple flowers with a black calyx creating a striking inflorescence above the foliage. The plant has a strong upright architecture through the summer, and the dark green foliage created an excellent contrast with the flower color. This variety bloomed continuously without deadheading through fall, and at many trials was populated by hummingbirds and butterflies. This plant will be an outstanding thriller for large containers or a background plant in landscape beds.

Salvia ‘Rockin’ Playin’ the Blues Improved’

This was one of the most impressive eye catching varieties in the summer trials. It has been improved for 2018 with darker blue-purple flowers and a calyx that remains dark blue as the flowers fade. It requires no deadheading. The inflorescence is longer than salvia ‘Deep Purple’ and rises above the foliage for a more colorful presentation. The plant architecture is upright with strong peduncles to support the flower canopy. This variety is a fragrant butterfly magnet and will provide striking color as a thriller or landscape plant until frost.

Verbena ‘Superbena Stormburst’

We have many excellent choices from breeders when it comes to verbena. Proven Winners continues to upgrade and improve the Superbena series with this outstanding lavender and white bicolor. Throughout the summer it maintained a mounded, tight habit with excellent flower stability. It bloomed continuously into late September in northern trials. I have been a container gardener for 25 years, and as I write this article the last day of September my Stormburst trial sample is blooming prolifically in full sun. This is will be an excellent addition to the Superbena program and a unique color component in baskets and containers.