Tradewinds hibiscus
Aris Horticulture started breeding the Tradewinds brand 35 years ago. According to Kelleher, the hibiscus in this range are characterized by their compact plant habit, glossy green foliage, blooms in fluorescent colors, good branching genetics and high bud count for abundant flowering all season long. Aris supplies finished plants to retailers and starter plants to growers all over the US and Canada. "We offer the growers different liner size options to fit their needs, like 1-cutting, 2-cutting liners and a larger 4” quick start form. These are pinched 1-2 weeks before shipping for a faster crop time on the bench."
Field shot of Sunny Wind
Increasing demand hibiscus
Tropical plants, and the hibiscus in particular, seem to be growing in popularity over the last few years. This is also recognized by one of Aris' retail customers Colloways Nursery in Texas; "‘Tradewinds’ Hibiscus are our best-selling single item in this category", says Sandy Pool, Buyer at the Nursery. Kelleher is not sure about the reason of this increase in demand, "but I think the big and bright flowers give consumers a touch of spring in their homes and afterwards in their gardens, especially in the areas that are still quite 'dark' these days."
Calypso Fire
Calypso Fire
The Calypso Fire is one of Aris' novelties and is considered to be a breeding breakthrough in tropical hibiscus. It is a variety bred for hanging baskets with rosy red colored flowers that cascade and was introduced in 2016. "The flowers on this plant are smaller than on the regular Tradewinds, but the amount of flowers on the plant is higher", explains Kelleher.
They presented this relatively new hibiscus variety at their Keepsake Plants booth at the TPIE show in Florida in 2016 and 2017. "This year in particular, the Calypso Fire caught the eye of many visitors."
H2 Bali Sunrise
H2
In 2016, Aris also introduced another 'special' hibiscus range; the H2 double flowered forms. The two plants in this range are the H2 Bali Sunrise - in shades of orange with pink undertones, and the H2 Java Sunrise - in shades of orange with red overtones. "As the flower is heavier than that of the regular hibiscus, they often flop from the weight of the blooms. So in order to prevent this, we focused in our breeding on strong stems."
High expectations
According to Kelleher, new varieties often start to sell one year after its introduction. "It takes time for the growers to try and trial the plant before planting many. So, in 2016, we have not sold that high numbers of these plants, but we expect them to be in higher demand this year. Hopefully the growing popularity of the hibiscus in general will contribute to the demand for these novelties", concludes Kelleher.
For more informatio
n:Aris Horticulture
Christine Kelleher
Email: Chris.Kelleher@arishort.com
www.ArisHort.com