Oct 15, 2010

Monrovia’s Edibles Collection Gains 22 New FruitsSource: Monrovia

The newest introductions from Monrovia’s Edible Collection include two exclusive varieties, five new wine grape varieties, as well as apples, peaches, cherries, pears and plums.

Monrovia is adding an array of fruit trees, shrubs and vines to its edible collection. “In recent years, the consumer demand for edibles has exploded,” explained Nicholas Staddon, director of new plants. “The edibles that we grow are all chosen for taste, beauty and for being easy to grow.”

Two new exclusive introductions are improved varieties and antioxidant-rich. ‘Angel Red Pomegranate’ was bred to produce soft seeds that are pleasant to eat, and its juice content is much higher than other pomegranates. Its prolific bright-red fruit appears in early September, before most other pomegranate varieties.

Blueberries are the hottest hedge plant, and Monrovia grows a dozen varieties that offer options for warmer and colder regions. The new, exclusive ‘Bountiful Blue Blueberry’, named for its blue-green summer foliage, offers year round interest – dainty white flowers in spring, a huge crop of tasty berries in summer and purple-tinged fall color.

For 2011, Monrovia will offer five new varieties of wine grapes. These selections have a heavy fruit crop, interesting twining habit and attractive scarlet fall foliage. “Plus, we’ve added an array of apples, peaches, cherries, pears and plums to our edible collection,” Staddon said. “All are smaller-sized plants with an abundance of fruit, many with lower chill requirements, guaranteed to provide a big harvest of quality fruit all season long.” More new varieties for Monrovia include a kaffir lime, strawberry, gold raspberry and Asian pear.

To see Monrovia’s newest additions, visit www.monrovia.com/retail.