March 2023 - 30

VAUGHN'S VIEW
1
DISTINCTIVE AND RESILIENT
PERENNIALS
With Visual Impact
PART 1
New and current perennials are showing off in trials, meeting
the demands of consumers with extraordinary retail appeal.
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.
30
began my 2022 summer trial visits
and plant evaluations in early March
and finished in mid-September. The
perennial trial sites I visited were Costa
Farms, Dallas Arboretum, Colorado
State University, Walters Gardens,
Raker-Roberta's, Penn State, Metrolina,
University of Georgia/Athens, Aris/Green Leaf
and the Trials at Ball. There were hundreds of
varieties in the summer trials. In this and the
following article next month, I will highlight
current and new perennials that were in multiple
trial sites and demonstrated myriad attributes
including uniformity, durability, unique flower
colors and stability, improved habits, extended
flowering period, and heat tolerance.
My evaluation and description of these varieties
was in mid-to-late summer at the pinnacle of
their development and maturity. Many of them
fall into the classification of stand-alone varieties,
precursors to a new series or new colors within
a series. My first GPN article on new perennials
was six years ago, and since that time the number
of perennial trial entries and new introductions
has expanded significantly. Perennial breeders
MARCH 2023 GPNMAG.COM
are augmenting and diversifying their perennial
portfolios to meet the demands of the consumer by
providing differentiated new and improved perennial
introductions with exceptional retail appeal.
1. HELIOPSIS 'LUNA ROJA'
Concept Plants
There were numerous heliopsis (false sunflower)
varieties in the trials last summer from multiple
breeders. This has become a popular genera
for its hardiness, durability, drought and heat
tolerance, extended flowering, and pollinator
attraction. The end of season performance ratings
were outstanding for all trial entries, and I was
particularly enamored by the new 'Luna Roja'
for many reasons. This is the shortest variety in
the market, maturing at 14 to 16 inches with a
compact, rounded habit. The fiery bicolor orange/
red flowers, strong stems and dark foliage are what
distinguishes this variety from the competition. This
variety is hardy to Zone 3 and flowers from July
to October. It has consumer application in sunny
perennial beds and large patio containers. The
accompanying photograph is from the Metrolina
trial in late August 2022.

http://www.GPNMAG.COM

March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2023

March 2023 - 1
March 2023 - 2
March 2023 - 3
March 2023 - 4
March 2023 - 5
March 2023 - 6
March 2023 - AA1
March 2023 - AA2
March 2023 - AA3
March 2023 - AA4
March 2023 - 7
March 2023 - 8
March 2023 - 9
March 2023 - 10
March 2023 - 11
March 2023 - 12
March 2023 - 13
March 2023 - 14
March 2023 - 15
March 2023 - 16
March 2023 - 17
March 2023 - 18
March 2023 - 19
March 2023 - 20
March 2023 - 21
March 2023 - 22
March 2023 - 23
March 2023 - 24
March 2023 - 25
March 2023 - 26
March 2023 - 1A
March 2023 - 2A
March 2023 - 3A
March 2023 - 4A
March 2023 - 5A
March 2023 - 6A
March 2023 - 7A
March 2023 - 8A
March 2023 - 9A
March 2023 - 10A
March 2023 - 11A
March 2023 - 12A
March 2023 - 13A
March 2023 - 14A
March 2023 - 15A
March 2023 - 16A
March 2023 - 17A
March 2023 - 18A
March 2023 - 27
March 2023 - 28
March 2023 - 29
March 2023 - 30
March 2023 - 31
March 2023 - 32
March 2023 - 33
March 2023 - 34
March 2023 - 35
March 2023 - 36
March 2023 - 37
March 2023 - 38
March 2023 - 39
March 2023 - 40
March 2023 - 41
March 2023 - 42
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/new-varieties-digital-guide-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2024-guide-to-cannabis-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/new-varieties-digital-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2023-guide-to-hemp-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2023-guide-to-cannabis-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/gpn-new-varieties-digital-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/newvarieties-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/newvarieties-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/californiaspringtrials-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/californiaspringtrials-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/undercontrol-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2019
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