As garden trade experts, growers, brokers and industry partners travel the state of California for CAST 2019, breeders have to do more than just show the new varieties for 2020. CAST can be a great opportunity for everyone to learn. “Every year, at CAST and at other trade events in North America, we learn more about what our customers need, the challenges they face and the opportunities they’re looking to take advantage of,” says Ori Danziger, deputy CEO at Danziger. “This year was no exception. We take what we learn and use the information to drive solutions for our customers.”
Nearly one thousand visitors stopped by the Danziger display in Gilroy, CA. This year, in addition to new varieties, the Danziger display focused on highlighting grower solutions and plant usage. “Our mission is to develop inspiring plants that deliver top-notch performance for the grower and the home gardener,” says Mike Fernandez, market manager, Danziger North America. “We’re working hard to make growing our varieties easier and more profitable. Part of that is knowing the best use for each plant.”
Here are Danziger's top takeaways and important grower comments from CAST 2019:
Growers are looking for a petunia that performs well in propagation with minimal intervention
Danziger’s Capella Petunia series turned heads at CAST, and not just because of the new colors like Neon Pink and Ruby Red. Growers say they love Capella because it meets all their needs:
- Performs well in propagation
- Blooms early enough for any program
- Creates a tidy quart with minimal PGR
- Available in eight colors, creating beautiful baskets and combos
- Continues to grow and perform in the home garden
Growers are looking for varieties that look good in quarts with little or no PGR use
Danziger is bringing easy-care color back with the Vanessa Compact verbena series. This new compact series stays compact with minimal PGR use, providing color in quarts. Just like Danziger’s Vanessa series, Vanessa Compact is tested for mildew tolerance and cycling of color. Through extensive breeding work and testing around the globe, both series show excellent mildew resistance. But, the most exciting attribute may be that both Vanessa and Vanessa Compact won’t cycle out of flower. Each color in the series was tested for bloom cycling. The plants consistently push out new blooms to ensure long-lasting color.
Novelties need to really deliver
Novelty petunias were on display at just about every CAST stop, but Danziger was the only one to have Elvis singing the praises of Amore petunias. The surprise visit by the King of Rock and Roll kicked off the start of the Spring Trials event, highlighting the newest variety in the unique petunia series, Amora King of Hearts. This stable, uniform series features blooms with five heart shapes. Growers told the breeder they like the fact that Amore fits well with any petunia program. The Amore series is well matched in flowering response, so it creates outstanding retail displays.
Was it the Year of the Nemesia?
Several visitors told the breeder that there were quite a few new Nemesia varieties at CAST stops. Nesia Denim was a standout because of its blue color. The Nesia series is heat tolerant and flowers early. It’s a blooming machine that performs best in quarts and gallons.
Not Your Grandmother’s Variety
The breeder’s passion to improve a favorite variety led to Goldstar. This is definitely not the Jamesbrittenia of long ago. Goldstar is well behaved and has enhanced resistance to foliage disease. It’s also day-neutral and extremely heat tolerant. Growers liked the way it was performing in combos. The sunny-yellow blooms go with everything, making it a go-to trailing variety for any hanging basket or combination.
For more information:
Danziger
www.danzigeronline.com