Click here for the extensive Photo Report of the California Spring Trials that we have published earlier this month.
For several years, the 200,000 square foot facility of Speedling is home to the California Spring Trials.
In San Juan Bautista it all started; in 1983 it was Speedling’s first venture in California.
The Speedling facility is certified organic, producing primarily vegetable plugs.
Thompson and Morgan
Sarah Dodsworth of Thompson and Morgan presenting the Cosmos Cupcakes. The first variety was introduced three years ago and this year, they added a new color, the Blush. Currently the series consists of 3 colors; white, pink and blush.
Clockwise: Viola 'Bunny Ears' are violas that retain that classic pansy face beneath unusually long 'rabbit ear' top petals. It is a compact plant with a height and spread of 8 inches. It had been introduced last year and new colors are in the pipeline. Tropaeolum majus 'Orchid Flame' is a new color added to the 'Orchid Cream'. The flowers are bicolored; red and yellow and mature to rich burgundy. The final garden height is 12 inches. Viola hybrida 'Fou Frou Blue' has frilly blue flowers. According to Dodsworth, there are not much of these kind of pansies on the market. It was first showed last year, but the seeds are available this year. Calendula 'Crown Orange' is a Fleuroselect novelty winner and has, unlike many other calendulas fully double blooms.
ABZ Seeds
Adri Gillissen of ABZ Seeds with the team of Florensis, who were visiting the trials. Adri is holding the Delizz. This year, the Delizz will be fully introduced in the USA. In 2016, strawberry Delizz was decorated as National Winner at All America Selections (AAS). Delizz is the first ever strawberry plant to receive this prestigious prize, due to its outstanding outdoor performance in many climate zones of North America.
Clockwise: The Toscana is a medium compact strawberry plant with deep rose flowers. This variety belongs to the large flowered series of ABZ seed and is a FleuroStar award winner. Ruby Ann is, according to Gillissen, the only red flowering strawberry plant with fruits. Gasana has large pink flowers and a medium compact growing habit. Montana has large white flowers and has a medium compact growing habit.
Plant Source International
Troy Lucht of Plant Source International. They grow other breeders’ genetics and on the picture, the Constellation petunia of Westhoff.
Cuphea Floriglory Diana is a variety of Westhoff. This series has five times the flowers and is available in three colors. The Impacio Soft Pink is a new addition to the Impacio series of PAC. It is a unifor series with a wide variety of colors available. Impacios can be produced a few degrees cooler then traditional New Guinewa Impatiens. Portulaca 'ColorBlast Mango Mojito' of Westhoff is part of the ColorBlast series, which is drought tolerant. The series is divided into three categories: solids, doubles and stripes. The Mango Mojito belongs to this latter category; stripes.
Vista Farms
Jerome O'Neill of Vista Farms, holding the new bougainvillea Sunstone Red. It is heavy branching and a heavy bloomer.
Clockwise: Bougainvillea Sunstone White will be introduced in 2018. It has the same characteristics as the Sunstone red, only a different color; white. Topaz Gold was introduced in 2016, the Fire Opal in 2015 and Ruby in 2014.
More novelties of the California Spring Trials participants will follow soon.