What to expect at the California Spring Trials 2020? At this week-long event held at various locations throughout California from March 28-April 1, breeders, growers and suppliers will showcase their newest varieties and products. In the coming weeks FloralDaily.com will highlight one product from each participating company in a series of five articles.
In this edition, we show the top products from Terra Nova Nurseries, Suntory Flwoers, Hem Genetics, Benary, ABZ Seeds and Jaldety.
Brunnera ‘Alexandria’ - Terra Nova Nurseries
A new variety of Terra Nova is Brunnera ‘Alexandria’. "This brand-new variety features brilliant mirror-silver leaves with the size and vigor of Brunnera ‘Alexander’s Great’. Tiny clouds of sky-blue flowers float atop the foliage as they emerge in the spring. This perennial variety is a wonderful shade accent plant, and can be used in containers as a mass planting or as a border." The varieties of Terra Nova Nurseries will be presented at the Pacific Plug & Liner location in Watsonville, together with Quality Cuttings Team, and branded plant collections Encore, Southern Living Plant Collection and Sunset Western Garden Collection.
Catharanthus ‘Soiree Kawaii Blueberry Kiss’ - Suntory Flowers
Pucker up for the new Soiree Kawaii color, Blueberry Kiss. It is a new variety of Suntory flowers and the first blue in the series. Denim blue flowers with dark purple eyes offer a great new hue for summer landscapes and combination plantings. Proven in landscape trials, Soiree Kawaii goes the distance all summer. Get your special edition Blueberry Kiss lip balm during CAST!" This year, Suntory will present this and more of their varieties at a new location; Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria together with PlantHaven, Vivero International and several pop-up exhibitors.
Petunia Limbo GP 'blue picotee' - Hem Genetics
'Blue picotee' is a new addition to the genetically compact Petunia Limbo PG series of Hem Genetics. It will be the fifth picotee color in the series and will be, together with more varieties of Hem Genetics, on display at Speedling in San Juan Bautista, together with Ameriseed, Vista Farms, Plant Source International and Lambert.
BIG White Green Leaf - Benary
New BIG White Green Leaf is a new begonia variety of Benary. "It is making a big bang this spring. BIG White guarantees a hot new look for patio and landscape. Tested, trusted, a must-have. It is extremely well branching with short internodes and provides an earlier flower set and a more branching habit at its early stage. Later in the season it builds up a nicely shaped globe in full bloom. It is extremely heat tolerant." BIG provides now 8 colors in the series. This, other new varieties, and a “green initiative” by Benary will be featured at Benary+ in Watsonville.
Snow - ABZ Seeds
ABZ Seeds is looking forward to presenting their Summer Breeze varieties at their new location. One of their prize winner varieties on display is Snow. ABZ Seeds will be present at the Floricultura location in Salinas, together with Beekenkamp and Monrovia.
Salvia Royal Bumble - Jaldety
Salvia Royal Bumble is a new variety that will be on display at Jaldety. "This additional Salvia greggii hybrid is flowering with an abundance eye catching hot red with dark calyxes on darker stems. Drought tolerant once established, easy to care, deer tolerant, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. Use in beds, containers, mix borders, water wise garden planting, cottage and meadow gardens, mass planting, containers. Jaldety will present many of their new and existing varieties at the Suncrest Nurseries site in Watsonville, together with Hishtil, Cohen, Nir Nurseries and Kamel Plastic Pots.
It is important to note that the closing date may vary from the official dates at some locations (click here to see the entire list of locations). Most locations are open 8 am - 5 pm, but if you are interested in visiting any of the locations, it is recommended (and sometimes required) that you make a reservation. One can register on www.springtrialsregistration.com.
There is no fee to participate, but the trials are not open to the general public (only for businesses and their employees associated with the horticulture industry) and transportation and logistics are the responsibility of the attendee.
