California Spring Trials

A Sneak Peek at Spring Trials – Vol. 1

Can you believe the 2019 California Spring Trials are almost here? In exactly two months, breeder companies from around the world will gather along the California coast to showcase their latest and greatest new variety... more »

Comparing a Whole Lotta Dianthus

Since 2016, Pacific Plug & Liner changed our efforts to focus solely on the perennial market. We have a large listing of perennial products but also have eight focus crops as part of our grower... more »

Up and Comers for 2019

In last month’s Spring Trials report, we covered some of the overall trends we observed in California this April. On the following pages, we’ll give you a breakdown of some of the head turners from... more »

Hardy Introductions

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to visit the Gardens at Ball in West Chicago, Illinois, for Darwin Perennials Day. I'm lucky enough to have this beautiful garden practically in my backyard, so... more »

Tell Me a Story

I hope that by now, you have received your June issue of GPN and that you’ve had a chance to read it. In case you haven’t had an opportunity to check it out yet, be... more »

Storytelling at the Trials

No two California Spring Trials are ever the same. Each year sees its trends and opportunities. Certain plant classes have their moment to shine; breeders follow consumer trends and change up their focus each season.... more »

Trialing Premium Petunias

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... more »

Crazy for Calibrachoa

Now that the 2018 California Spring Trials have wrapped up, I have thousands (yes ... thousands) of photos to go through and dozens of pages of notes to attempt to decipher (I tend to write... more »