June 2022 - 38

VAUGHN'S VIEW
8
Salvia 'Blue Chill' was one the
first plants that caught my eye
as I entered the Costa trial.
The free-flowering, light blue,
multiple inflorescences rose
stately above the foliage in the
trial bed. This longispicata x
farinacea variety inherits the
large inflorescences of the
longispicata species and the
excellent branching which is
characteristic of the farinacea
species. If you grow Mystic
Spires, you will appreciate the
value of this new introduction.
It is vigorous and well-branched,
and has dark foliage with
striking bicolor flowers. The
Ball FloraPlant salvia portfolio
is wide-ranging, with multiple
interspecific and guaranitica
varieties for multiple
production applications.
8. PENTAS 'STARCLUSTER
CASCADE PINK BICOLOR'
Syngenta
We are familiar with the
9
vegetative Starcluster series
that provides vigor, a large
star-shaped floral inflorescence,
heat tolerance, and an upright
habit with application in mixed
containers and landscape
beds. Now the series has been
augmented with the new pentas
Starcluster Cascade series for
baskets, which will replace the
pentas Falling Star series. This
new series has larger flowers,
increased vigor for a faster finish
and a pronounced spreading
and mounded habit. There are
four colors available: Blush, Red,
White, and Pink Bicolor, which
was my favorite in the trial with
well-defined and striking bicolor
petals. This series will withstand
the summer environmental
pressures and will flower and
perform through early fall.
10
38 JUNE 2022 GPNMAG.COM
9. VINCA 'BLOCKBUSTER
BLUE'
Syngenta
When we think of Syngenta
vinca, what comes to mind?
Cora XDR and Cora Cascade,
and for good reason. These
highly disease-resistant series
provide quality, reliability and
excellent garden performance.
The Blockbuster F1 vinca series
was acquired by Syngenta from
Floranova a few years ago. I have
followed the development and
trialing of this series since its
introduction. It has been tested
and trialed throughout the
country and has demonstrated
excellent branching, vigor, extra
large flowers, outstanding form
and earliness. There are now
10 colors and two mixes in the
series for 2023, and the new
addition is 'Blockbuster Blue
Improved', which was the most
attention-grabbing vinca in the
trial. We have a limited number
of blue-colored vinca, and this
new variety was stunning and
impactful in the trial. This variety,
with its unique blue tones,
will have strong retail appeal.
Blue is a versatile color, rare in
nature, and it works with other
analogous and complementary
colors to offer creativity,
versatility and adaptability in
mixed combinations.
10. VERBENA 'LASCAR
ORANGE LAVA'
Selecta One
Selecta One has been busy in
verbena breeding. We saw the
introduction of the Compact
Beats series in 2021, and for
2023 three Lascar varieties
will be introduced: Blue+White,
Purple+White and Orange
Lava. All three varieties were
in the field trial at Costa. They
demonstrated strong color
retention, a prodigious flower
canopy and vivacious colors.
There are a limited number of
orange-colored verbenas in the
market, and this new stimulating
and vibrant verbena was highly
visible in the trial. There are
many adjectives to describe the
color orange. It is the color of
heat and energy, stimulating
and vibrant, and it demands
attention. Orange Lava was my
favorite in the Costa trial, as well
as at the CAST trial this year.
This is a medium-vigor, mounded
and uniform variety, which will
make a striking accent in mixed
containers.
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2022
