July 2023 - 28

GREEN GOODS
The recently launched program Floresta by Danziger
is providing more than 150 varieties of houseplants with
consistent availability and tested, clean stock. All plants
are produced indoors in a clean environment, using highquality
source material to ensure uniform and quality
genetics are being supplied.
Pollinator Paradise
A popular consumer buy continues to be pollinator-friendly
plants. Honeybee populations and other native pollinators
have been on the decline in the past decade, which puts our
food supply at risk. Insects are responsible for pollinating
more than one third of the food we eat and 80% of all plants,
according to the USDA. Furthermore, there are more than 100
fruit, nut and vegetable crops grown in the U.S. alone that
depend on pollination, making pollinator conservation efforts
important to everyone. Breeders are on par with the need
for more pollinator plants in home gardens and have a lot of
attractive new varieties to share.
The new generation of bidens from Danziger is wellbranched
and requires little to no plant growth regulators
(PGRs), maintaining its theme of " In Tune with Nature "
this year. 'Blazing Star' produces masses of bicolor
blossoms in deep orange outlined in bright yellow. It's
an early-flowering variety that thrives in landscapes,
containers and combinations.
Fondly called " sunset in a basket, " bidens 'Brazen
Glowing Sky' is a great option from Syngenta Flowers for
combinations with its mounding, upright habit. It has a long
season from early spring through summer with great heat
tolerance. The flowers are fragrant and show off a unique
pattern, providing great retail appeal for consumers.
Every lavender plant we looked at during the trip was
covered with bees; no doubt the No. 1 pollinator pick for us!
Available from Pacific Plug and Liner (PP&L), 'Plum
Power' was eye-catching with its fresh lilac blooms that
turn to plum with age. This compact variety will only
reach 10 to 12 inches tall and is bred for better disease
resistance. A great option for full sun in Zones 7 to 9.
Beekenkamp is adding lavender to its offerings and will
have five varieties available for 2024 including 'Aromance
Syngenta
Flowers
Westhoff
& PlantHaven
Beekenkamp
Pacific Plug
& Liner
Danziger
Silver Blue'. This lavender has an upright habit, is winter
hardy and is more resistant to botrytis. The long flowering
period provides tons of blue/purple flowers that stand out
against silver foliage.
Fragrant nemesia varieties were another popular
pollinator choice this year at CAST. The sweet scent was
unmistakable as you approached the displays, and the
bicolor choices available for 2024 make it an easy pick.
The Escential series from Westhoff (in collaboration
with PlantHaven), is bringing five new varieties and two
improvements to growers in 2024. All bred to have a strong
tolerance to heat, these nemesia can be enjoyed from early
spring through fall. The compact rounded habit is ideal
for 4-inch pots, and early season containers and baskets.
The large, bicolor flowers are available in new Cherryberry,
Elderberry Cream, Snowberry, Sunberry, Zazzleberry
(shown), and improved Blueberry Custard and Pinkberry.
Kientzler is introducing an upright, bushy nemesia with
large flowers in a more uncommon color display. The orange
bicolor flowers on 'Nessie up Mirabelle' do not have the white
lower petals like most other varieties and are selected to fill
larger containers. Mirabelle grows best in full sun, doesn't
require PGRs, and prefers 4- to 6-inch and gallon containers.
Kientzler
28 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | JULY 2023
Heather Machovina is managing editor
of Lawn & Garden Retailer's sister
publication Greenhouse Product News.
She can be reached at hmachovina@
greatamericanpublish.com.
July 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2023
