Ice Punch tops North Carolina State poinsettia trials

Results are in from North Carolina State University’s portion of the 2006 National Poinsettia Trial Program. For the first time a non-poinsettia plant was included -- Anigozanthus Reindeer Paws from Bodger Botanicals. For 2006 NCSU also grew some poinsettias in mixed containers.

The university’s consumer open house was attended by 200 people who viewed 104 cultivars.

The favorites were:

* Overall: Ice Punch from Paul Ecke Ranch.

* Red: Metro Red from Dummen.

* Pink: Enduring Pink from Paul Ecke Ranch.

* White: White Christmas from Selected First Class.

* Marble: ‘Marblestar’ from Fischer USA.

* Jingle: ‘Sonora White Glitter’ from Fischer USA.

* Novelty: Ice Punch from Paul Ecke Ranch.

“The talk of the trials was Ice Punch,” said John Dole, NCSU horticulture professor. “This cultivar had a striking new color pattern with a blaze of pinkish white in the center of each bright-rose-red bract. The plants were easy to grow.”

Ice Punch is sold exclusively through Home Depot stores.

The National Poinsettia Trial Program is a cooperative effort with NCSU, Homewood Nursery and Garden Center, Purdue University and University of Florida.

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For more: John Dole, North Carolina State University, (919) 515-3537; john_dole@ncsu.edu.