What you've missed at the Ball stop during CAST
Click here for the extensive Photo Report of the California Spring Trials that we published right after the Trials.
Ball FloraPlant
Eric Pitzen holding the new Cadet Upright of Ball FloraPlant. It is a new upright verbena and features the same heat performance as EnduraScape (a variety of Ball FloraPlant that is on the market already) in a compact patio pot habit.
On the left Pinkplosion Coleus. This coleus can be put indoors or outdoors and fits well in mixes. It retains its pink coloration longer into the summer. The serrated leaf edge brings out the contrast in the bicolor foliage. Flowers 1 to 2 weeks earlier than the rest of Ball FloraPlant’s coleus varieties. Vigorous habit matches Inferno and Campfire on the medium vigor end of the assortment. On the right:
Lobularia Easy Breezy Pink and White. These two are the first Lobularia varieties of Ball FloraPlant. They are generally cool season plants, are fragrant and attract pollinators. Special about these varieties is their high heat tolerance, it flowers about 2 to 3 weeks longer into the heat season. Click here for the enlarged picture.
Burpee
Tim Duffin of Burpee holding the new Sweet Pepper Confetti. This pepper, and all other varieties have a new packaging and tags. Instead of the variety name first, they say what kind of vegetable it is first. This to make it more attractive and easy for the consumer.
On the left Herb Basil Hierba Fina Albahaca Pesto Party. It is a late flowering basil from seed and downy mildew tolerant. This variety was launched last year, but is part of the Fresh Flavors herb programme that Burpee launched this year and is marketing to supermarkets. On the right Beefsteak Tomato Atlas. Atlas is part of Burpee's Space Savers collection and is well-suited for containers or in-ground production. This tomato is said to have a big yield with large tomatoes and a good disease resistance. Click here for the enlarged picture.
Ball Ingenuity
Joan Mazat of Ball Ingenuity holding the Canary Wings Begonia. The closest thing in the industry would be the Dragon Wing, but the Canary Wings prefers at least 65 percent shade.
On the left: Kelsey Fletcher holding the Morgana garden mums bred by Royal Van Zanten and offered exclusively through Ball Mums. These new Mums are suitable for cultivation outdoor and indoor (with and without black cloth) and are a true uniform family with bold colors, can be grown in any container size. The flexibility of the new Morgana Garden Mums series of Royal Van Zanten makes it a good variety to transport. The Morgana series will be available in the US through Ball. On the right: Florence Vaux of Morel Diffusion, a part of Ball Ingenuity, holding the new Smartiz Fantasia red. This year, they are looking ahead for Christmas. According to Vaux, this new red small cyclamen variety will fit the demands well of the Millennials that are living in a small apartment. Click here for the enlarged picture.
PanAmerican Seed
Birdie Lenard Fountain of PanAmerican Seed presenting Tattoo Tangerine Vinca, a new series. Each petal looks like it is inked or airbrushed with soft brush strokes of black. And to fully implement the theme at the CAST, they were handing out tattoo stickers, see the wonderful tattoo on Birdie's arm!
On the left Hot Pepper Habanero Primero Red. Special about this habanero is that it is ripening very early; as early as a bell pepper. On top of that, it is disease resistant and is said to have a good flavor. On the right 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." Click here for the enlarged picture.
Star Roses and Plants
Leah Haugh of Star Roses and Plants holding the Gardenia Jasminoldes. A low maintenance plant that has sugar fragrant flowers.
On the left Blueberry Buckle. It is a quick growing blueberry that stays compact. White bell-shaped flowers will appear in spring, leading to sweet, dark blueberries. It is a low-water and low-chill variety with glossy and dark green foliage. On the right the Drift Roses. They have been re-branded recently and they will be in retail in a new pot this spring. The aim of the new pot, logo and tags is to give the roses an elegant cottage look. Click here for the enlarged picture
Darwin Perennials
Leland Toering of Darwin Perennials holding Coreopsis Super Star. A coreopsis with large flowers (2.5-3 inches) and a rounded habit. He is standing in front of their Perennials For Fall display. With this display they inspire retailers and growers how to use perennials for the fall season.
On the left hybrid Salvia Blue by You. This is a hybrid between nemerosa and pratensis. It blooms early in the season and if it is cut back, it will reflush. "In trials we found up to five reflushes in a given season.” On the right 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. Click here for the enlarged picture.
Kieft Seed
Cor de Jong of Kieft Seed presenting Lavandula Blue Spear. This variety is bred for its beauty. “It might not be a variety that flowers the earliest in the season, but it is a very graceful product with the stems tight to each other.”
On the left Avignon Early Blue. This Lavandula angustifolia is bred for earliness in cooler season production (North). It blooms 2 weeks earlier than Ellagance Purple and one week earlier than Early Blue Scent. It has deep blue flower spikes, attracts butterflies and is hardy from zones USDA 6-8. On the right 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." Click here for the enlarged picture.
Selecta One
Gary Vollmer of Selecta One holding the MiniFamous Duo Pink Strike Calibrachoa. It is part of a simplified calibrachoa offering from Selecta One.
On the left City Lights Red. It is a brand new Dahlia series that consists of 4 colors. The dark-leafed garden dahlias comes from Dalaya breeding. The series attracts butterflies and birds and is known for having good color and branching. On the right Salvia Skyscraper. It is a completely new series consisting of annual salvias in three colors; orange, pink and dark purple. The varieties have a dark calyx and lighter flowers. Click here for the enlarged picture.
For more information:
Ball Horticultural Company
www.ballhort.com