January 2022 - 36

vaughn's view
BY VAUGHN FLETCHER
Colorful & Durable
CALIBRACHOAS
Breeders continue to develop impactful calibrachoa varieties with impressive attributes
such as increased plant size and daylength neutrality.
I
Vaughn Fletcher
is president of
Fletcher Consulting.
He has been in the
horticulture industry
since 1971, working in
many areas including
landscaping, garden
center and greenhouse
production, greenhouse
and nursery sales and
sales management.
He can be reached at
vfletcher9@gmail.com.
have highlighted many calibrachoa introductions
in my previous articles for their unique flower
patterns and summer performance. The current
plethora of calibrachoa varieties offers a multitude
of patterns, colors and plant habits. The attributes
include daylength neutrality, heat tolerance, flower
stability and floriferousness. We now have multiple
series, collections and standalone varieties from a
multitude of flower breeders that provide application in
bench-run production programs, multiple container sizes,
combinations and basket programs.
The varieties I am highlighting in this article include
current and new calibrachoas and were entered in many
of the trials I visited in August and September last year.
My main focus was varieties that demonstrated bright,
vivacious and impactful colors and, most importantly, durability
and prolific flowering throughout the summer trial season. It is
axiomatic that we will continue to see breeder developments in
color patterns, increased flower size, disease resistance, plant
habits, daylength neutrality and improved summer performance.
1. 'BUMBLE BEE HOT PINK'
Ball FloraPlant
The calibrachoa Bumble Bee series - comprising Blue, Pink,
Orange and the new Hot Pink for 2022 - offers a distinctive
star shaped pattern, vibrancy, durability and a densely branched
trailing habit. Pink and Blue were formerly part of the Can Can
series, which was discontinued in 2020. This new series is
differentiated by ostentatious and colorful new patterns resulting
in outstanding retail appeal.
'Bumble Bee Hot Pink' was in multiple trials, and was a
standout with its conspicuous yellow star-shaped throat and
bright pink petals. It was in beds, containers and baskets, and
I was impressed by its consistency, color stability, uniformity,
floriferousness and durability in the southern trials in early April
in Florida and later in August and September in North Carolina
and northern trials. This series has production application in
36 JANUARY 2022 GPNMAG.COM
quarts, hanging baskets and combinations. The accompanying
photo was taken in the container trial at Metrolina in early
August, and it was one of the most eye-popping calibrachoa
varieties in the trial.
2. 'RAINBOW TIGER TAIL'
Dümmen Orange
Dümmen Orange continues the recent development and
introduction of polychromatic and iridescent calibrachoas with
the new Rainbow series. There are seven multicolored varieties
available for 2022: Bermuda Blue, Calypso Coral, Flamingo Flair,
Orange Oasis, Parisian Pink, Pink Pepperberry and Tiger Tail.
All the varieties were well represented in trial sites throughout
the country last summer. The flower colors are impacted by the
interplay of light, humidity, temperature, and day length as you
would expect in different regions. I highlighted the unique color
pattern of Parisian Pink in my Costa trial article last summer, and
all of the varieties manifested sharp contrasting multicolored
flowers in the trials.
Tiger Tail was one of my favorites with its hot, vibrant petals
with orange tones. This is a vigorous, early-flowering series
with application in mixed containers and baskets. The timing of
the series is consistent with the Hula and Aloha Classics. The
photograph was taken at the Plantpeddler trial in mid August.
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January 2022

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