Day 1 of California Spring Trials – Vista, Calif., custom color combos and Kickin asters

Friday took us to Vista, Calif., where young plant producer Plug Connection played host to Suntory Flowers, which had previously displayed at Jackson & Perkins facility in Somis, Calif. A new participant in this year’s trials was seed breeder Ameriseed, which exhibited its Christy and Helena marigolds. And Benary, which did not have its own trial site this year, exhibited its new Thriller pansy series and Glorious celosia series.

Plug Connection introduced two new programs: Latest Plug-Ins, which used to be the company’s New
Horizons program, includes Buzz buddleja, Kickin aster and several erysimum series. The Tropical Surge program includes a variety of plants that can be used to extend the summer selling season, including acalypha, tibouchina and baleria.

Suntory Flowers, set up next door, pared down its 160 offerings to just 100 in an effort to make it easier for growers to choose which varieties to produce. The company’s new Bouquet series features plants with a compact, mounding habit that produce long-lasting flowers that cover the entire plant. The Bouquets include the Million Bells calibrachoa, Summer Wave torenia, Surfinia petunia and Summer Splash nierembergia.

Suntory is also offering its Breeder Choice mixed combinations which were developed to match color, habit and soil pH. The colors do not have to be bundled and can be purchased separately, allowing growers to change ratios in the combinations.

Click here to view video coverage of the Spring Trials.