July 2023 - 39

VAUGHN'S VIEW
2. BEGONIA 'MEGAWATT
BRONZE LEAF RED' AND
ASPARAGUS 'FUZZY
FERN FRIZZ'
PanAmerican Seed
This basket recipe combines
begonia 'Megawatt Bronze Leaf
Red Improved' for 2024 and the
new asparagus 'Fuzzy Fern Frizz.'
The purpose of this experimental
combination is to demonstrate the
improved bronze foliage color, shorter
internodes and improved habit
of the Megawatt begonia and the
revolutionary new 'Fuzzy Fern Frizz'
asparagus. What is so revolutionary
about this new asparagus? Seed
availability and seed quality has been
problematic for many years with the
current asparagus 'Sprengeri' on
the market. 'Fuzzy Fern Frizz' offers
multiple features including reliable
high quality seed, finer texture,
shorter internodes and bright green
needle-like foliage. The economic
benefit is a higher germination rate
resulting in a lower input cost. 'Fuzzy
Fern Frizz' will provide a versatile
accent and foliage plant for sun or
shade in baskets, combinations and
indoor use. Based on the performance
in the Costa trial, this variety will
become a staple in many spring
programs in 2024. This combination
also generated the most interest on
my Facebook page.
3. KWIK KOMBO
TRIFECTA MIX
Syngenta Flowers
This new Kwik Kombo incorporates
petunia 'Itsy Magenta', 'Itsy White'
and the new 'Itsy Pink' for 2024.
The balance, consistent flower size,
color retention, weather tolerance
and floriferousness of this Trifecta
Mix was impressive. When 'Itsy
Magenta' was introduced a few years
ago, I was awed with the uniformity,
tight internodes, branching, color
stability and exceptional flower
coverage. The 'Itsy White' and new
'Itsy Pink' match the 'Itsy Magenta'
in presentation and performance.
They have been utilized in mixed
containers and baskets the past
two years as fillers and spillers and
have demonstrated outstanding
flower power and durability. I have
grown them in my summer mixed
containers and they have flowered
profusely until early autumn.
4. CRIMSON AND IVY
COMBINATION
Proven Winners
This recipe is not in the bundled
kit program for 2024, but it was an
outstanding combination in the trial.
The components were plectranthus
'Proven Accents variegata', petunia
'Supertunia Really Red', and lantana
'Luscious Basket Tangelo.' This
combination demonstrates the
importance of plectranthus variegata
to add contrast in both color and
form. The 'Supertunia Really Red'
manifested vigor and large, stable
flowers, which is reflective of the
entire Supertunia line. The lantana
'Luscious Basket Tangelo' was
introduced in 2022 for the 2023
season as a trailing, mounded
selection with large multicolored
umbels, and it manifested these traits
with its prodigious, eye-catching
flower canopy.
5. MIXMASTERS JUST
MY LUCK
Ball FloraPlant
This new MixMasters recipe for
2024 consists of lantana 'Shamrock
Peach Improved', 'Shamrock
Orange Flame Improved' and the
new 'Shamrock Butterscotch Glow',
which was introduced for the 2023
season. What comes to mind when
I think about this lantana series is
the exceptional uniformity, uniform
timing, well branched and mounded
habit, and the large multicolored
inflorescences as exemplified in this
new MixMaster recipe.
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GREENHOUSE PRODUCT NEWS 39
July 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2023
