US (CO): CSU’s Annual Flower Trials reveal this year’s winners

Help home gardeners identify annual bedding plants that are most likely to succeed. It is one of the aims of the Colorado State University’s Annual Flower Trial Garden and this year, they again came up with a list of winners. The trial garden, which spans nearly three acres on the east side of the Fort Collins campus, is a Northern Colorado showpiece with a focused research and outreach purpose. Each year, the Annual Flower Trial Garden tests and analyzes the performance of more than 1,000 varieties of annual bedding plants in Colorado’s harsh growing conditions. Dozens of expert evaluators rate the plants for vigor, growth pattern, bloom and other characteristics.

2018 gardening season
“The Annual Flower Trial Garden – also a vital training ground for CSU horticulture students – is a part of a network of trial gardens at land-grant universities nationwide,” said Jim Klett, faculty coordinator and professor in CSU’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. “It’s the largest garden of its kind west of the Mississippi River.” Winners from the 2017 evaluation are now available at area nurseries and garden centers for the 2018 home gardening season. For more detailed descriptions and photographs, visit www.flowertrials.colostate.edu.

About the Trial Garden
CSU’s Flower Trial Garden, which draws thousands of visitors each year, relies on student gardeners, volunteers and industry supporters and experts who help provide a detailed analysis of plant performance. Colorado State Extension Master Gardeners play an essential role in planting and maintenance of the garden. The outcome of this research is valuable to the industry and home gardeners alike because the Rocky Mountain region has unique growing conditions, characterized by high altitude, intense solar radiation, drying winds, severe hailstorms, large fluctuations between day and night temperatures and a season-long need for irrigation.

The Trial Garden receives no direct public funding. It is funded primarily by fees from plant-breeding companies that submit entries to the trials. The garden also receives donations from industry associations, foundations, nurseries, plant producers and other companies in the green industry.

Evaluation
The trial evaluation day was held on August 1, 2017. Approximately 150 judges consisting of industry representatives, master gardeners, university employees and trial garden advisory committee members evaluated the plant varieties for performance using a combination of criteria. Click here for the criteria.

‘Best of’ Annual Flower Winners from the 2017 CSU Trials

Best of Show – Calibrachoa ‘CHAMELEON® Indian Summer Improved’ from Westhoff
The top award for the 2017 flower trial had eye-catching color combined with great vigor for exceptional flower power. Varying shades of red, rose, pink and yellow were ever changing to create a dynamic appearance. The flowers of the CHAMELEON® series are selected for their ability to change color as environmental conditions change which was evident in this selection. Blooming continued strong all summer and into September. Plants maintained a uniform growth habit that enveloped the container as a ball of flowers.

Best Novelty – Millet ‘Copper Prince’ from PanAmerican Seed
This plant is an excellent selection for the senses and texture in a garden. It had stout, large, fuzzy panicles of dark rose/bronze rising high above the plant. The arching foliage had wide blades and plants were very uniform with a unique caramel/copper color during the summer. This plant would create a very dramatic look in the landscape or in a large container.

Best New Variety – Lantana ‘Luscious® Royale Cosmo’ from Proven Winners
These plants resulted in a great overall appearance with a very uniform rounded growth habit and strong flowering all over. Flowers had a unique color and were on top of the foliage for maximum flower power.

Click here for all winners.