December 2021 - 29

VAUGHN'S VIEW
excitement in the trials with its abundance
of vibrant mini flowers, and petunia 'Itsy
White' has duplicated that performance with
exceptional color coverage, dense branching
with a controlled habit. I grew 'Itsy White' in
my container trial this year, and as of early
October it is still blooming prolifically. 'Itsy
White', based on similar flower size, color and
form, will have application as a sub for sutera.
This Kwik Kombo was one of the most colorful
basket combinations in the Metrolina trial in
early August.
3. TRIXI SKY'S THE LIMIT
Selecta One
This mono species combination, composed
of petunias 'Headliner Night Sky', 'Headliner
Sky Blue' and 'Headliner White', is not new but
is a top seller and continues to perform and
flower profusely throughout the summer in
many regions. It combines the incomparable
Night Sky with the Sky Blue, creating an
exciting monochromatic color scheme, and
adding the Headliner White with its high value
and reflective power ties the Trixi together
creating a dynamic and bright recipe. The
accompanying photo was from the Mast Young
Plants trial on the last day of August.
4. BLACKBERRY TART MIX
Westhoff
Westhoff offers three calibrachoa
Chameleon mixes for 2022: Fairytale
Improved Mix, Rapunzel Mix and Blackberry
Tart Mix, which I highlight here. It was one
of the most floriferous, durable and heattolerant
combination baskets in the Metrolina
trial when I visited in mid August. This recipe
incorporates the components Blackberry
Pie and Tart Deco. These varieties were
represented in multiple summer trials in beds,
containers, and baskets in the southern and
northern trial sites. Both varieties flowered
prolifically and were strong performers in
these trials with outstanding flower coverage.
Tart Deco, with its vibrant and multicolored
pattern, is one of the top sellers in the
series and demonstrated exceptional heat
tolerance and color stability. Blackberry Tart
manifested outstanding flower coverage in
the Metrolina trial beds and in container trials
in the northern regions. The breeding and
introduction of polychromatic and diverse
flower patterns in calibrachoas has been fast
and furious since Westhoff introduced the
Chameleons in 2016. There are now more
than 18 Chameleon varieties available with
iridescent and unique tones that change
with differing environmental conditions. The
summer performance of the Chameleons and
new calibrachoa introductions from multiple
breeders is improving every year. This series
gives you the opportunity to offer creative
color combinations with incredible retail
appeal. The photo is from the Metrolina trial
in mid August.
5. LADY LIBERTY
Suntory Flowers
This Suntory Mixer comprises three Soirée
Kawaii catharanthus varieties: Red Shades,
White Peppermint and Blueberry Kiss. It
manifested what we expect from this series:
balance, timing, low maintenance, excellent
flower coverage, and unparalleled heat and
drought tolerance. This series is adaptable
in extremely hot conditions with extended
flowering during the lower light conditions and
decreasing night temperatures in the fall. The
series is currently utilized in mixed containers
and beds. However, the catharanthus Suntory
mixes, Lady Liberty and Berry Blast, expand
the production application of this series and
will provide the consumer with a colorful
combination with an upright and controlled
growth habit, a prolific flower canopy, and
- most importantly - a mix that will go the
distance. The photo was taken at the Metrolina
trial in August.
6. MIXMASTER BIG FLIRT
Ball FloraPlant
This multi-species sun combo MixMaster
is a top seller in the program and for good
reason. It combines the AAS winner verbena
'Endurascape Pink Bicolor', petunia 'ColorRush
Blue' and the interspecific petchoa 'SuperCal
Pink Ice'. The deep blue of the petunia
provides a striking contrast with the pink
shades of the verbena and the petchoa. The
soft and cool components were well balanced
and manifested durability, foliage integrity,
exceptional flowering and summer hardiness
on the last day of August in the Mast Young
Plants trial. The Big Flirt components have
been in many summer trials the past few
years and were prominent in many sites this
summer. Their performance was consistent
in all regions as you would expect from these
exceptional varieties.
7. CONFETTI GARDEN SPARKLE
PURPLE
Dümmen Orange
This monochromatic multi species Confetti
recipe contains petunia 'Surprise Sparkle
Purple', petunia 'Origami Burgundy', and
calibrachoa 'Aloha Kona Sky Blue'. This is
a stunning combination that manifests the
texture and dark hue of 'Origami Burgundy',
the speckled pattern of 'Sparkle Purple', and
the tricolor flower petals of Kona Sky. These
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December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2021
