Retail displays: the top of the ladder

Michelle Simakis, Group Publisher

Published May 19, 2017

Ladders, especially rustic, antique ones, are finding new uses as shelving for towels in washrooms or even as wall accents in living rooms. A couple of breeders incorporated ladders into their displays at the 2017 California Spring Trials as well.

Dümmen Orange devoted a greenhouse area to retail inspiration during the 2017 California Spring Trials. One simple but powerful display that IGCs could replicate showcased Dümmen’s Cosmo potted mum series on worn wooden ladders.
KAREN E. VARGA
Dümmen Orange also used ladders as the foundation for shelving, made with just a few scraps of wood, to beautifully showcase succulents and tillandsia.
KAREN E. VARGA
Syngenta Flowers suspended ladders from rafters in its greenhouse showroom and used thin chains to hang its various vegetative container combinations, such as ‘America’s Mix,’ ‘Curb Appeal Mix’ improved and ‘Mom’s Chosen One Mix.’

KAREN E. VARGA

Wallflowers

Whether they were actual living walls or vertical displays, we saw plants in vertical arrangements at many stops.

At the GroLink stop, PlantHaven showcased a living wall from Greenwall Solutions, based in Australia. Plants can be grown in individual cups, similar to 4-inch pots, and installed afterward by hooking the containers to the wall. There were 90 cups filled with plants from PlantHaven’s WATERSAVER program, or plants for low-water environments, like Isotoma FIZZ N POP ‘Glowing Violet,’ Brachyscome ‘Mauve Delight’ and Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow.’
KAREN E. VARGA
Celebrating new variety introductions in the Conga Series of calibrachoa, BallFlora Plant presented 96 Conga plants in a giant wall at the Ball Horticultural stop.
KAREN E. VARGA
Typically, Plug Connection showcases only finished plants, but this year they decided to present what the company does best: plugs, set in attractive, wood-framed vertical displays at the Floricultura stop. The renewed focus on plug production is in part due to Altman Plants’ recent acquisition of Plug Connection and the decision to expand that part of the business on its Bonsall location, the former home of EuroAmerican Propagators, which filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy back in January.
MICHELLE SIMAKIS
A pallet served as the foundation for a plant wall in Hort Couture’s space at the GroLink stop.
MICHELLE SIMAKIS
Benary had several displays with containers affixed to walls, including one to highlight new introductions and previously released varieties in the SUCCESS! petunia series.
MICHELLE SIMAKIS
Read Next

A tasty addition

May 2017
Explore the May 2017 Issue

Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.

Latest from Garden Center

More from Garden Center

Coleus Lime Edge (Skeletal) named 2025-26 Flower of the Year in Japan

New SustainaGuides on lighting and water conservation from Sustainabloom available

Meet the All-America Selections AAS winners for 2026

How to grow a rainbow

Marshall Dirks announces retirement after 27 years with Proven Winners brand

University of Florida study unlocks secrets of invasive short-spined thrips

More from this author