In our earlier articles from the FlowerTrials series, we explored bee-friendly plants in part 1 and compact plants in part 2. In this third and final article, we'll focus on plants that are uniform in appearance, edible, and those that bloom early or have a long flowering period.
Uniformity
Uniformity in plant series can be challenging, but it's valuable for breeders. For growers, a uniform series—where plants have similar growth habits, color, flowering time, and size—offers significant advantages. It allows for easier planning and more efficient production since all the plants are ready for sale at the same time, eliminating the need for sorting or staggered growing. This uniformity also makes it easier to create mixed trays or pots with different colors. Retailers and consumers benefit from uniformity too. Consumers appreciate when all the plants in a series grow consistently, without unexpected differences in height, blooming time, or growth patterns.
Besties is a new Osteospermum series. According to Danziger, the series consists of good colors, is uniform, and also performs well in small pots.
Divinity series from HEM Genetics. More uniform in height, genetically compact, and a unique product from seed.
Napoli from Van den Bos flower bulbs is a uniform type that is easy to grow.
Encantada verbena series from Lazzeri. It consists of Classic and Fancy. It is a uniform series that does not require growth inhibitors.
Lewisia Sunset Glow from Kientzler is uniform, blooms for a long time, and starts as early as March. Also drought-resistant and tolerates frost well.
The Garvinea Sweet Pastry from HilverdaFlorist is quick and uniform in cultivation.
Edible plants
It's not always about the plants themselves; sometimes, the focus is on the fruit they produce. For example, ABZ Seeds offers remarkable strawberry plants known for both their delicious fruit and attractive flowers, including a double-flowered variety. There are also herbs with unique features, such as blooms, that can still be used in cooking, adding a fun twist to their traditional use.
The double-flowering Summer Breeze snow from ABZ seeds
Thymus Compact Pompon (right) from Hishtil gets white flowers in the summer but can be used in the kitchen.
Gourmansun is a tomato from HM Clause with a red stripe when ripe.
Jalapeño Baby from Prudac is compact and the jalapeños are well visible due to the small leaves.
Early and long-blooming
Plants that bloom early and have a long flowering period are particularly appealing. Early bloomers are especially beneficial for growers because they can be ready for sale sooner, allowing for a shorter cultivation period or an earlier sales opportunity. Those with extended blooming periods provide more sales flexibility and keep gardens or shop displays colorful for longer. For instance, the Geum Firestarter from Allplant blooms from April to October, while Selecta's Flash variety is available as early as February/March. This extended flowering period helps growers plan production and sales more efficiently and keeps these plants on the market longer. Ultimately, longer blooming means extended sales opportunities, maximizing their appeal for both consumers and growers.
Toscana Smart M-line Maureen from P vd Haak trading nursery is an early-blooming pelargonium.
Geum Firestarter from Allplant (center) is a prolific bloomer with many flower stems and stands out with a long bloom period from April through October. Heliopsis Bonfire Sunset (right) has a rich and long bloom that can be enjoyed from June through October.
Not only an oasis for butterflies and bees - which we wrote about earlier - but also early blooming. Calibrachoa Oasis from Beekenkamp Plants.
Petit Moulin from Morel blooms for 100 days.
Solo Con Te is a pot Dianthus from Elsner PAC's own breeding. It is very early blooming and available for the Valentine's Day season.
Vinca Titan-ium. According to Panamerican seed, this series is early and earlier than the competition regarding the flowering window.
Flash from Selecta is for the first spring sales, as it becomes available as early as February, March.