June 2020 - 40

VAUGHN'S VIEW
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petunia series the past few years, and the
new Flash Forward milliflora seed series
was impressive in the trial beds for its
earliness, colorful flower canopy, uniformity
and heat tolerance. This series improves
upon and replaces the Picobella Cascade
series. The flowers are mid-size, the habit
was spreading but maintained short
internodes and all the colors manifested
durability and resilience in the beds
following 10 to 12 weeks of heat, humidity
and rain. The series is day length neutral,
maturing at 18 inches. There are 11
varieties and three mixes for 2021.
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11. OSTEOSPERMUM
'TRADEWINDS SUNSET'
Syngenta Flowers
I have followed the breeding and
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introduction of osteospermums for over
20 years, observing series and specific
varieties that provide versatility with heat
tolerance, controlled growth habit, bold and
bright colors, and minimal vernalization.
The garden performance is improving
every year, and many series are moving
from shoulder months to the prime selling
season. I have been impressed with the
Tradewinds the past few years, specifically
Lemon Zest, which was my favorite last
year for its heat tolerance and vibrant
flower color late into the summer. Sunset is
new for 2021, and it was outstanding in the
trial with a prodigious flower canopy and
distinctive flowers with a violet center and
transitional ray petals of yellow and bronze.
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12. VERBENA 'VANESSA BICOLOR
INDIGO'
Danziger
Danziger introduced three new Vanessa
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colors for 2021: Dark Pink, Red and
Bicolor Indigo. This is the most vigorous
series in their verbena offering and is now
composed of nine semi-trailing varieties
with wide ranging solid and bicolor flowers.
This series has been trialed extensively
in regional and European trials since its
introduction. I have evaluated the series in
regional trials since its inception, and their
multiple attributes have been consistent
throughout the summer. Many of the
colors have been top verbena performers
in southern and northern trials. They
have mildew tolerance, minimal flower
cycling, early excellent color retention
and impressive heat tolerance. There are
three bicolors in the series, and they are
characterized by sharp and defined color
separation, which creates flowers that
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CORRECTION |
pop. Bicolor Indigo maintained excellent
vigor, floriferousness and flower stability.
Production application includes gallons,
combinations, baskets and landscape beds.
13. PETUNIA 'SPLASH DANCE
PURPLE POLKA'
Danziger
Last month I highlighted 'Splash Dance
Bolero Blue', one of three speckled flower
introductions for 2021 from Danziger
that manifested a colorful canopy with
defined patterns. In my March evaluation,
'Splash Dance Purple Polka' demonstrated
a mounded habit, outstanding speckle
pattern retention, large flowers and
excellent heat tolerance. Magenta Mambo
is the third variety in this series, and they
will be represented in regional trials this
summer. Danziger trialed many speckled
petunia experimentals throughout the
United States and Europe last year,
and these three met the criteria for
introduction.
14. CALIBRACHOA 'SUPERBELLS
CORAL SUN'
Proven Winners
Proven Winners offers multiple
calibrachoa series including Superbells,
Table Tops, Doubles, Punch types, Holy
and Stars. Coral Sun is the new Superbells
introduction for 2021, and it is remarkable
with tight internodes and a multitude of
flowers consisting of yellow centers and
bright pink petals transitioning to light
coral. In regard to flower timing, this
variety falls into the early category.
15. PETUNIA 'DURABLOOM HOT
PINK'
Dümmen Orange
Many international flower breeders have
added a vigorous landscape series to their
petunia collections in the last few years to
expand the production application choices
and provide another resilient petunia
series for large baskets, patio containers,
and landscape beds. Dümmen Orange
introduced the interspecific 'DuraBloom
Royal Pink' this spring and will add six
additional varieties for 2021. The colors
demonstrated excellent branching, day
length neutrality, a vigorous mounded
habit, large flowers and a prolific flower
canopy in the trial. 'DuraBloom Hot Pink'
was especially vibrant and eye catching.
The entire series will be trialed throughout
the country this summer to test its
landscape and garden performance.
In my May article, " Precocious Annuals, " I mistakenly identified petunia
'Easy Wave Rose Fusion' as Pink Fusion. I apologize for any confusion.
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June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2020
