Monrovia surprises Spring Trials attendees

The California-based plant company brought SunBelievable Brown Eyed Girl to Floricultura.

Monrovia exhibited at Floricultura at the 2019 California Spring Trials.
Michelle Simakis

2019 California Spring Trials attendees may have been surprised when they walked into Floricultura to see Monrovia exhibiting this year, as the company was not on the original lineup.

Jonathan Pedersen, vice president of sales and business development, said Monrovia decided to attend recently to showcase SunBelievable Brown Eyed Girl, a Helianthus annuus they say will produce 1,000 blooms in one season that was introduced in 2018. Many of the displays incorporated the seedless, sterile sunflower that grows up to 32 inches tall and 40 inches wide.

Pedersen said first sales of the sunflower went to garden centers in Los Angeles and Houston and that more than 300,000 have been sold. Plans are in the works to introduce sister for Brown Eyed Girl next year for 2021 – Golden Girl.

For more coverage of the 2019 California Spring Trials, click here.