October 2023 - 30

VAUGHN'S VIEW
9. KWIK KOMBO ITSY
TRIFECTION MIX
Syngenta
I lauded the beauty and
performance of this new Kwik Kombo
on Facebook and Instagram all
summer. The Itsy Petunia series,
comprised of Itsy Magenta, Itsy White
and the new Itsy Pink, is one of the
most unique and resilient Petunia
series introduced in many years. The
flowers are small but prolific, the
habit is mounded to semi-trailing,
the drought and heat tolerance is
exceptional, and PH sensitivity is
minimal. This was best of show in the
Dallas Arboretum container trial and
it has matched that performance at
Colorado State University.
10. INSPIRATION
SWEETSUNSHINE MIX
Selecta One
This is a combination of three new
introductions for 2024: Geranium
Sunrise Purple+Big Eye, Petunia
SweetSunshine Pink+Red Vein and
Petunia SweetSunshine Blueberry
Vein. This is an experimental recipe,
but I have added it to the article to
highlight the flower structure, stable
flower color and performance of the
SweetSunshine double Petunias in
the summer trials. SweetSunshine
Magenta and Provence were
introduced last year and Pink+Red
Vein, Blueberry Vein and Magenta Sky
are new for 2024. I was impressed
with the durability, the well branched
habit, the stable flower color and the
consistent doubleness. I highlighted
the attributes of Blueberry Vein in
my southern plant trial article in
August. SweetSunshine Magenta Sky
is the first speckled double Petunia
in the market and maintained its
pattern throughout the summer in the
northern region. I had Pink+Red Vein
and Magenta Sky in my trial pack this
year, and they flowered prolifically
all summer in containers. We have a
limited number of double Petunias in
30
OCTOBER 2023 GPNMAG.COM
11. FLETCHER COMBINATION
Danziger
I receive many of the new varieties
in my breeder trial samples every
spring, which I plant in my container
trial. I have been container gardening
for well over 35 years and this year
I planted 50 22-inch containers. I
have many favorites, but one of the
most impressive was the Danziger
container consisting of the following
new varieties for 2024: Angelonia
'Alonia Big Pink Bicolor', Lantana 'Gem
Lemon Quartz' and Petunia 'Amore
King of Hearts' improved. The Alonia
Big series now offers eight varieties,
and the Improved Big Pink Bicolor was
the most floriferous and eye-catching
in summer trials that I visited. It was
the top Angelonia performer in my
container trial. The Gem series has
expanded rapidly with the addition of
Citrine and Diva Pink in 2023 and the
new Pearl and Lemon Quartz for 2024.
The Amore Petunia series needs no
introduction and the popular King of
Hearts has been improved with greater
color stability.
12. LAKE TAHOE
Proven Winners
This experimental recipe is not
in the Bundled Combination Kit
program for 2024. The components
are Salvia 'Rockin' Purple Improved',
Euphorbia Diamond Snow and Petunia
Supertunia Priscilla. I have included
this combination to demonstrate the
improved compact habit of Salvia
'Rockin' Purple Improved'. It is one
of the most popular Salvias on the
market for many reasons. It is heat
tolerant, flowers profusely, possesses
long deep purple flower spikes, is
an outstanding pollinator magnet
and has consumer application in
landscape beds and large patio
containers. The more compact habit
the market, and this series, based on
performance this spring and summer,
is worthy of your consideration.
9
Dallas Arboretum
trial in early July
10
Costa trial in late February
11
12
makes it more manageable as a
thriller in container programs.
The combinations you choose
must provide satisfying results. Most
combinations deteriorate over time;
they become unbalanced and plant
quality and performance decreases.
The goal of breeders and growers is
to produce a recipe that maintains
balance, floriferousness, weather
tolerance and sustainability as it
evolves throughout the summer.
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October 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2023
