The California Spring Trials is a week-long event held at various locations throughout California, from April 9-14. Breeders, growers and suppliers will showcase their newest varieties and products.
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.
Hishtil - Scabiosa ‘kudo’
Cultivated in Japan, this Scabiosa ‘kudo’ of Histhtil is a perennial that flowers all summer long. Its flower heads have a pin-like core rounded with light pink petals. The ‘kudo’ is a First year flowering perennial that produces compact mounds of foliage and stems, a feature that makes it ideal for beds and borders. It grows up to 40-50cm (16-20") height and spread to 50-60cm (20-24") and prefers a sunny exposure. It is a magnet for bees and butterflies. (Visit Hishtil to see more novelties at Pacific Plug & Liner 750 Casserly Road, Watsonville, CA 95076, Click here email the company for more information)
Westhoff - Calitastic™ Calibrachoa Mango
The Calibrachoa Mango is a new variety in the Calitastic series of Westhoff. This series is uniform in habit and flower time and, according to the breeder, sets a new bar for grower expectation. The plant flowers early and all varieties flower at 11 hours critical day length. They stay open and flower under low light conditions making it a good line for retailing from early spring and continuing throughout the season. The upright mounded habit makes them the good pick for quarts, 6-inch and easy shipability on hanging baskets. (Visit Westhoff to see more novelties at Floricultura, 25425 Esperanza Road, Salinas, CA 93908, Click here to email the company for more information)
Suntory Flowers - ‘Surfinia Heartbeat’
The Surfinia Heartbeat is a new addition to Suntory's collection of annuals. This new petunia has white flowers and a pattern of pink hearts. The hearts grow under mild temperatures and adequate fertilizer. The plant has a compact mounding and trailing habit and offers excellent rain tolerance. Heartbeat is charming in hanging baskets, containers and window boxes. This new petunia is part of the Sufrina series, which continues to be the flagship brand for the Suntory Collection of annuals. The petunias in this series are vigorous and known for their weather tolerance and ability to go the distance all season, from early spring until frost. Some varieties tolerate a light frost. (Visit Suntory Flowers to see more novelties Grolink at 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036. Click here to email the company for more information)
Varinova - Magnia
The Magnia is one of the three new cyclamen series that Varinova will present at the California Spring Trials. This robust cyclamen with extra large flowers has solid flower stems and a uniform green coloured leave type. Magnia has a plant density of 8-12 plants/m2, dependant on the pot size used (6”-8”; 15-20 cm is recommended). Because of its abundant flowering Magnia has high decorative value with possibility for use as a tub plant or in flower boxes on the terrace. There are currently 6 Magnia colours available. All Varinova Cyclamen varieties are representing the company’s policy of continual upgrading and are presented in the Hortus trials at the Headstart location in Gilroy. (Visit Varinova to see more novelties at Headstart Nursery, 4860 Monterey Road, Gilroy, CA 95020, Click here to email the company for more information)
ABZ Seeds - Delizz
The Delizz is a new concept of ABZ Seeds. With a Delizz® strawberry plant, a consumer can grow their own strawberries at home in an easy way. When they have purchased a Delizz® plant, the first red fruit is ready to be picked. With a couple of tips, they can easily grow more of their own delicious strawberries. The presentation of Delizz® with a specially selected Tamara pot in a fancy purple colour and a colourful transport sheet and pot cover makes it a good gift to someone you love. 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. (Visit ABZ Seeds to see more novelties at Speedling, 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045. Click here to email the company for more information)
Ball FloraPlant - Petunia ColorRush™
The new Petunia ColorRush™ of Ball FloraPlant is a new vegetative petunia series with big vigor and with even bigger garden performance. ColorRush provides mounds of color and holds up in the heat and rain. Good for landscapes and large baskets. (Visit Ball FloraPlant to see more novelties at PanAmerican Seed, 335 S. Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060. Click here to email the company for more information)
Selecta - Calibrachoa StarShine™
The Calibrachoa StarShine is the new calibrachoa series of Selecta. This series features novelty colors that are truly striking in hanging baskets. StarShine has a stable star pattern and strong garden performance. It’s grower-friendly, too. (Visit Selecta to see more novelties at PanAmerican Seed, 335 S. Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060. Click here to email the company for more information)
PanAmerican Seed - Begonia Megawatt™
The Begonia Megawatt of PanAmerican Seed is a uniform and programmable begonia that glows with premium, easy color in landscapes, baskets and big tubs from Spring through Fall. Its sturdy stems hold flowers above the foliage for superior show. (Visit PanAmerican Seed to see more novelties at, 335 S. Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060. Click here to email the company for more information)
Kieft Seed - Perovskia Blue Steel
At the California Spring Trials, Kieft Seed will introduce a new seed perovskia. This new perovski has aromatic, silvery foliage that carries clouds of small blue flowers. Its sturdy, controlled landscape habit is comparable to the vegetative market leader. (Visit Kieft Seed to see more novelties at PanAmerican Seed, 335 S. Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060. Click here to email the company for more information)
Burpee® Take 2 Tomato Combos
The new Take 2 Tomato Combos of Burpee is a hardworking container solution for small-space gardening. Each Take 2 combo has a slicing type and a small-fruited type tomato that have been trialed together for habit and fruit timing. Three selections are available for 2017 retail sales. (Visit Burpee to see more novelties at PanAmerican Seed, 335 S. Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060. Click here to email the company for more information)
Darwin Perennials - Coreopsis UpTick™
The UpTick series of Darwin Perennials has a tidy, mounded habit that makes it easy to ship. It offers bigger flowers and longer blooming for more color at retail and in the garden. (Visit Darwin Perennials to see more novelties at PanAmerican Seed, 335 S. Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060. Click here to email the company for more information)
Ball Ingenuity - Strawberry Sweet Kiss
The Strawberry Sweet Kiss a a novelty of Ball Ingenuity. It is a ever-bearing strawberry that yields large, dark red fruit from June until frost. (Visit Ball Ingenuity to see more novelties at PanAmerican Seed, 335 S. Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060. Click here to email the company for more information)
There is no fee to participate, but when visiting a company making a reservation is recommended (and sometimes required). Click here to visit the online reservation system to schedule your appointments at www.horticultureevents.com.
The official dates are through April 16 but the closing date may vary at some locations (as noted). Most locations are open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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.