Terra Nova perennials prove performance in leading U.S. trial programs

Terra Nova Nurseries announced it received top marks across three major U.S. garden trial programs — Raker-Roberta Trial Gardens, JC Raulston Arboretum and the University of Georgia (UGA) Trial Gardens — for several of its perennial varieties.

Terra Nova reported that 13 introductions earned 5.0 ratings for season-long vigor, color and hardiness at the Raker-Roberta Trial Gardens. Among the top garden performers were agastache ‘Peach Pearl’ (photo, above), agastache ‘Pink Pearl’, echinacea ‘Delightful Lace’, echinacea ‘Delightful Sunshine’, heuchera ‘Iridescent’, heuchera ‘Rosewood’ and heucherella ‘Pink Stardust’.

Four additional Terra Nova cultivars that scored 5.0 at Raker-Roberta were also recognized for cut-flower performance: echinacea ‘Fresco Apricot’, echinacea ‘Supreme Cantaloupe’, echinacea ‘Supreme Lime’ and kniphofia ‘Poco Butter Brickle’.

The JC Raulston Arboretum’s newly released 2024-2025 trial results, covering 2023 and 2024 plantings, reported that several of Terra Nova’s 2023 varieties delivered exemplary multi-year performance:  echinacea ‘Prima Berry’, kniphofia ‘Rocket Jr.’ and Geum ‘Tempo Rose’ (shade planting), each achieving 100% survival after two winters.

In the 2024 plantings, echinacea ‘Fresco Apricot’, echinacea ‘Kismet Pink Lemonade’, phygelius ‘Colorburst Rose’ and phygelius ‘Colorburst Yellow’ reached 100% survival after one winter.

“Seeing our plants perform this well across three very different trial environments is a strong validation of our breeding team’s work,” said Chuck Pavlich, director of new product development at Terra Nova Nurseries. “It demonstrates that the plants perform as intended — the growing traits and habits are reliable; performance is consistent; and growers, retailers and home gardeners can depend on these varieties to maintain quality and landscape value in real-world conditions.”

Terra Nova’s varieties also stood out at the 2025 UGA Trial Gardens. Echinacea ‘Prima Spider’ received a “Plant of Distinction” award, and five additional entries earned overall ratings above 4.0: coreopsis ‘Nova Opal’, coreopsis ‘Nova Sunstone’, echinacea ‘Revelation Coral’, echinacea ‘Delightful Lace’ and echinacea ‘French Tips’.

Coreopsis ‘Nova Sunstone’

Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries.