In this article, we look back on the year with Terra Nova Nurseries. How was the year, what were the trends, the most popular varieties and interesting novelties? Terra Nova's director of new product development Chuck Pavlich tells us all.
Chuck Pavlich at Cultivate'19 holding begonia Silver Treasure (left) and Artemesia Makana Silver (right).
How was 2020?
According to Pavlich, little changed in 2020 from a breeder's perspective. "The demand for new and novel products was enhanced by new gardeners being introduced to plants by way of COVID-19 making them involuntary homebodies. I think this is more than a temporary rise in interest. If we play our cards right, this may be the generation to sustain this industry for quite a while."
Picture: Dicentra ‘Ruby Gold’
What were the trends?
The biggest trend in horticulture was just that; horticulture, he explains. "If it had leaves or flowers, was edible or decorative, and could live in a pot or the ground - It. Was. Gone. At first, Terra Nova saw a dip in sales and indeed had cancellations that were concerning. Within a few weeks, we regained the lost sales and then the train left the station at high speed and has continued to this day."
What were the most popular varieties in 2020?
"What we found to be the most popular varieties were plants with contrasting characteristics, including Heuchera ‘Black Forest Cake’ and Dicentra ‘Ruby Gold’. Bright colors were also popular, and Echinacea Summy Days™ Lemon and Echinacea Sunny Days™ Ruby delivered."
Echinacea Summy Days™ Lemon and Echinacea Sunny Days™ Ruby
What were the most interesting novelties and why?
"Geum Tempo Rose is making growers and nursery buyers rethink the family of Geum. Notably, Tempo Rose is a novel rose color on short stems. This Geum's real claim to fame is a phenomenal reblooming habit and clean, healthy foliage. Heucherella 'Peach Tea' is quite novel and very interesting. Coral-peach, maple-like foliage, held on short petioles, forms a beautiful mound in the garden. In spring and summer, 'Peach Tea' is topped with loads of white flowers that are long-lasting and drop off cleanly."
Heucherella 'Peach Tea' and Geum Tempo™ Rose
What do you predict in 2021?
"Supply and demand will be the most challenging in 2021, as it will be for most companies. Even with this challenge, it is projected to be another great year for the industry as a whole. Terra Nova, like many horticulture companies, seems to be what many people turn to for stress relief and relaxation in times like 2020. We give hope in times of need!"
