August 2023 - 34

VAUGHN'S VIEW
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vigorous habit and heavy branching
with low seed set resulted in a vibrant
canopy. This selection is larger than
'Campfire Flame' and produces a
dense mounded habit. I received
samples of 'Campfire Marshmallow'
this spring, and I incorporated the
plants with other components in
22-inch containers. They flowered
early, prolifically and have continued
to flower profusely. I did trim them
occasionally to maintain a balance of
color in the mixed containers.
11. PETUNIA 'DISCOBALL
PURPLE'
Westhoff
The unique flower patterns in
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the Westhoff petunia portfolio
are well-known, and the Discoball
series expands the diversity of color
patterns and offers three compact and
mounded plants for quarts, mixed
containers and mixed baskets. I was
impressed by the performance of
'Discoball Purple' following a period
of wet conditions at the Metrolina
trial. The plants were flowering
prolifically, the flowers were upright
and possessed a deep purple color
and the white speckled pattern was
quite pronounced. Westhoff has
introduced many distinctive petunia
series over the past 10 years, and
these three Discoball colors - Pink,
Violet and Purple - provide another
choice for petunias with the speckled
flower pattern.
12. SALVIA 'RED HILL'
Hem Genetics
This seed variety was exceptional
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AUGUST 2023 GPNMAG.COM
in the Young's Plant Farm and
Metrolina trials, and is a vigorous
variety, maturing at 20 to 24 inches
with strong durable branching,
exceptionally long dense flower
spikes and dark green foliage. It is
day length neutral and displayed
outstanding heat and rain tolerance in
the trials. 'Red Hill' was stunning and
eye-catching in the salvia trial beds.
Production and consumer application
includes quarts and gallons, a thriller
in patio containers, and background
plantings in landscape sites.
13. PETCHOA 'CALIBURST
YELLOW'
PanAmerican Seed
This standalone petchoa seed
introduction was eye-catching in late
April with bright, highly saturated
flowers, dense habit and a prodigious
flower canopy. This consistency
continued in the southern plant trials
where 'Caliburst Yellow' was grown
in baskets and trial beds. I was
impressed by the flower recovery and
plant performance under extremely
wet conditions. I am growing this
variety in my container trial, and what
is striking is the tight internodes,
dense habit, color intensity and the
strong color retention. This is a high
impact and stunning introduction
with production versatility in quarts,
mixed baskets, containers and
landscape sites.
14. PETUNIA 'SWEET
SUNSHINE BLUEBERRY VEIN'
Selecta One
Sweet Sunshine was on display
in baskets at Young's Plant Farm,
containers and baskets at UGA, and
trial beds at Metrolina. This series is
advertised as durable and tough and,
based on performance in all three
trials, it " walked the talk. " 'Sweet
Sunshine Blueberry Vein' is semitrailing
with midsize double flowers
that are positioned above the foliage.
Conspicuous in the trials were the
color retention, flower texture,
double stability, durability, tight
internodes and a well pronounced
flower pattern. There are now seven
varieties in the series: Blueberry
Vein, new Pink+Red Vein, Burgundy,
Light Pink, Magenta, Provence
and Magenta Sky. This series has
excellent application in quart and
basket production.
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August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023
