March 2022 - 32

6
VAUGHN'S VIEW
6. ECHINACEA 'SUNMAGIC
VINTAGE PINK'
Bull Plant Genetics
This series, introduced by German
7
breeder Hartwig Bull and represented
in North America by Flamingo Holland,
was outstanding in the Raker-Roberta's
and Colorado State trials last summer.
The series has six varieties for 2022:
Fuchsia, Lavender, Pink, Red, Ruby and
White. The trial varieties demonstrated
superb upright branching, uniformity,
floriferousness and vibrant colors. The
Pink was indicative of the series with a
daisy-shaped flower with a larger brown
central cone, a deep pink halo, and light
pink ray petals. The photo was taken at
the Colorado State trial in mid-September.
This series was new to the trial last year
and received the newly created " first year
flowering " excellence award. Multiple liner
suppliers offer this series.
8
7. ECHINACEA 'LOVELY LOLLY'
Must Have Perennials
I saw this standalone variety at Costa in
9
late April and again in the Penn State trial
in late August, and in both trials Lovely
Lolly exhibited large double dark pink pom
pom flowers with recurved petals, deep
purple upright stems, vigor, durability,
minimal spent flowers, and - what was
most impressive - a prodigious flower
canopy. Sinclair Adam, Penn State trial
manager, considers this variety a " Must
Have Perennial. " This variety matures at
20 to 24 inches. We have a multitude of
outstanding echinacea varieties to choose
from, and Lovely Lolly is definitely garden
worthy, offering instant impact and having
exceptional retail appeal. The photo is from
the Penn State trial in late August.
10
8. HELIANTHUS 'SUNCATCHER'
Bull Plant Genetics
This hardy helianthus was trialed last
summer in the Plantpeddler container trial
and the Penn State perennial field trial. It
is a hybrid derived from the native species
decapetatus, and offers improvements
in flower size, flower color, branching,
and production programmability. The
characteristics in the trial were dark
green foliage, mildew resistance, layered
branching, continual bud development,
prolific flowers, and flowers positioned
above the foliage. This variety has also
undergone extensive trialing in 1-gallon
production programs with outstanding
results. The plants were uniform and
no pinch was required. This variety is a
32 MARCH 2022 GPNMAG.COM
hardy late spring and summer perennial that will
thrive in extreme summer conditions, flower until
early fall and is an excellent pollinator perennial.
The photograph was taken at Penn State in sun
ground beds in late August. The stock is produced
at InnovaPlants with unrooted availability, and liners
are available from multiple perennial liner suppliers.
9. HIBISCUS 'SUMMERIFIC
EVENING ROSE'
Walters Gardens
This genus was well represented in the 2021
summer trials at Metrolina, Dallas Arboretum,
Colorado State University and Penn State. I visited
these trial sites in August and September and,
as you can imagine, many varieties were in the
zenith of splendor. The breakthrough breeding,
testing and introduction of new vegetative hibiscus
varieties from Walters Gardens and other breeders
is extraordinary. I remember selling Lord and Lady
Baltimore in the 1970s and '80s, and now, with the
development of standalone varieties and the Proven
Winners Summerific Collection, we have well over
17 distinctive varieties offering different mature
heights, habits, foliage color and single, bicolor,
and multicolored flowers. These hibiscus selections
provide the consumer with hardy perennials with
a tropical flair, heat and drought tolerance, stately
architecture, varying degrees of foliage color, and,
most importantly, elegant and gorgeous flowers. As
I reflect on the many varieties I saw in the trials last
summer, Hibiscus 'Summerific Evening Glow' at the
Penn State trial in late August was incredibly eyecatching,
as seen in the photo. The hot pink flowers
contrasting with the dark black foliage, the dense
branching, and the rounded habit were imposing.
This is one perennial I look forward to observing
and enjoying in my own garden in early summer. The
best opportunity to see the entire collection in its
glory, including new varieties, is Summerific Week at
Walters Gardens Aug. 2-8.
10. MONARDA 'BEEMINE PINK'
Darwin Perennials
Darwin Perennials has augmented and diversified
its monarda program for 2021-22 with the
introduction of the BeeMine series. The colors
are Lavender, Pink and Red. They were entered
in multiple summer trials and received excellent
performance scores. This is an early flowering,
medium-sized series maturing at 15 to 18 inches.
The BeeMine complements the more compact Balmy
series in the Darwin portfolio. Both series are firstyear
flowering, extremely uniform, long day obligate
and hardy to Zone 4a. This series was developed and
introduced from the same breeding program as the
Balmy series. What impressed me was its uniformity,
timing, branching and prolific flower canopy. Darwin
now offers the Balmy, BeeMine and the Sugar Buzz
series developed by Walters Gardens. The photo was
taken at the Metrolina trial in late August.
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2022
