Plant Trials

Plant Performance, Southern Hospitality Set to Shine at Southern Garden Tour

The 2019 Southern Garden Tour is set to take place June 4-6, in Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. This is your chance to check out the trial gardens of some of the leading growers and... more »

Walters Gardens: Summer Trial Highlights

One of the most significant and exciting developments in the past few years has been the participation of perennial breeders in the summer trials programs. This increased presence is the result of intensive perennial breeding... more »

Sizzling Summer Combinations

I attended the Southern Plant Tour in June and returned to North Carolina in mid-August to evaluate summer performance. Metrolina Greenhouses trialed more than 250 sun combination baskets with minimal shade under a pergola structure.... more »

Darwin Perennials’ Trial Performance: 2019 Introductions

Perennial breeders have recognized the value of the summer trials for testing plant performance, exposure to the industry, and using the information for marketing and promotion of current and new introductions. Darwin Perennials has increased... more »

Top Perennial Performers at CSU

Earlier this year, I was able to attend Colorado State University's trial garden. I shared some of the favorites in the annuals category a few weeks back, but today I'd like to focus on the... more »

Top-Performing Basket Begonias

As you're well aware, advancements in begonia breeding have been explosive in recent years. Breeders have been expanding all the major classes, including semperflorens, tuberosa, boliviensis, hiemalis, masoniana, rhizomatous, rex and hybrids. This summer, GPN... more »

Summer Trial Performers from Dümmen Orange

Dümmen Orange is committed to the trials program, and its extensive annual and perennial portfolio was well represented this year throughout the country. In this article I will focus on current and new annual introductions... more »

Poinsettia Open Houses Set to Take Place

'Tis the season for poinsettia open houses ... The Millstadt Young Plants/N.G. Heimos 2018 Poinsettia Trials and Open House is set to meet on Nov. 15, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. in Millstadt, Illinois.... more »