In this edition, we show the top products from the 10 companies of Ball Horticultural Company. At their PanAmerican Seed Research Facility (335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060), they will have the following companies presenting their products from April 14-17: Ball FloraPlant, Ball Ingenuity, Burpee®, Darwin Perennials, Kieft Seed, Morel Diffusion, PanAmerican Seed, Selecta One, Star® Roses and Plants, Wave®.
Ball FloraPlant -Verbena Firehouse
This new series is a medium-mounded basket verbena. It has good garden performance in the heat – less cycling means more color in the garden. Firehouse launches with 9 colors in the series. Each has good Powdery Mildew resistance and makes a great combo component.
PanAmerican Seed -Dianthus Corona
"Wow ’em with the biggest blooms of any dianthus of this type." According to PanAmerican Seed, the exceptional flower form and a palette of showstopping color choices makes Corona a regal choice for cool-season landscapes, gardens and patio planters. It features uniform flowering time and habit. Plant Corona along with other spring annuals, such as pansies."
Burpee® - Beefsteak Tomato Atlas
Atlas lets you pick big, tasty beefsteak flavor right outside your door. According to Burpee, the plant’s bushy, compact habit easily shoulders bountiful loads of 1-lb. tomatoes. "Atlas is vigorous but grows neatly in patio containers – modern performance with old-time flavor."
Selecta One - Calibrachoa MiniFamous® Uno Double Pinktastic
The MiniFamous Uno series is an early-to-finish, medium-compact calibrachoa with uniform flower timing across the series. "They grow well in quart and gallon containers, but also thrive in hanging baskets as part of Trixi® combos. Pinktastic features heavily contrasted double flowers and a ball-shaped habit that is half trailing." Besides, it was the Fleuroselect winner for 2017.
Ball Ingenuity - Hydrangea Kanmara®
"A new generation of hydrangea with large, majestic blooms in unique shades and elegant foliage. It radiates glamour and is sure to steal the show!" According yto Ball Ingenuity, Kanmara is ideal for the terrace, doorstep or balcony. "The beautiful colors of this pot hydrangea guarantee an unrivaled display until well into late Summer or Fall."
Wave® - Spreading Petunia Easy Wave® Red Improved
Red gets a big-time upgrade for 2019, which moves six eye-catching mixes to the next level, too! Always a standout in the petunia market, bold and creative Easy Wave lets you bring in a wide array of decorator colors. Upgrades include improved seed quality, a denser plant with more branching, and shorter peduncles for a more controlled, holdable plant structure.
Kieft Seed - Coreopsis Double the Sun
This bright newcomer is two to three weeks earlier than Kieft Seed's Early Sunrise and other comparable varieties. "Get this favorite perennial class into the store before any other compact, semi-double yellow coreopsis. Clear golden yellow flowers are large. Ideal for quart and 1-gallon production in Spring and Summer with 13-hour critical daylength."
Darwin Perennials - Salvia Sky Blue Marvel
Sky Blue is a light-blue addition to the Marvel family of Darwin Perennials, with the same habit as Blue and Rose Marvel. "It has the largest flowers of any Salvia nemorosa on the market. Enjoy the stunning display of color in Spring and Summer. Little to no maintenance required in the garden. Hardy zone 4-9."
Star® Roses and Plants - Bushel and Berry™ Southern Bluebelle
This petite, low-water and low-chill blueberry plant displays bright red foliage that turns emerald green as it matures. According to Star Roses and Plants it is perfect for small-space gardens or patios in warmer climates Zones 6-10. Plant grows 2-3' high with a mounded habit. Offers medium-sized berries in the Summer with a mild, sweet flavor.
Morel Diffusion - Halios Select Victoria 50 Rose With Eye
The crowned flower. Large pink-to-pale-pink petals with eye feature a prominent ruffle effect and contrasting deep magenta edges. Compact growth with abundant highly centered blooms, these varieties have 50% fringed and 50% standard blooms.
Of course, more will be showcased. During the four days, the Ball stop in Santa Paula the 10 brands will showcase hundreds of products that represent all corners of the industry. Eager to see all the products, please register your appointment online, or contact our Spring Trials concierge Janessa Bender at +1 630 588-3187 (springtrials@ballhort.com) with questions. If you need to connect while onsite in Santa Paula, please call +1 805 525-3348.
It is important to notice that the closing date may vary from the official dates at some locations (click here to see the entire list of locations). Most locations are open 8 am - 5 pm, but if you are interested in visiting any of the locations, it is recommended (and sometimes required) that you make a reservation. Unlike last year, AmericanHort does not host the registration this year, for a selected number of companies one can register on www.springtrialsregistration.com.
There is no fee to participate, but the trials are not open to the general public (only for businesses and their employees associated with the horticulture industry) and transportation and logistics are the responsibility of the attendee.
Is your company also participating in the California Spring Trials and would you like to put one of your products in the spotlight? Feel free to send us an email.