They Keep ’em Coming

Ellen C. Wells

There’s no denying plenty of supply. That’s exactly what the 2015 Spring Trials have given you, the retailer: a good, if not great, number of plants to fill your benches and displays. From pollinator-friendly to easy growing to beautiful blooms to delicious taste—sometimes all on one plant!—we’ve brought you the best of the best debuting at Trials this spring. The question as ever is, what are you planning to do with them to make the most of your opportunity?

The IGC Touch
Plants thrive with the time, attention and sell-through that only an independently owned garden center can provide. Here are a few special characters introduced at this year’s Spring Trials that look extra special when provided with the IGC touch. 



1. Passion Flower Aphrodite’s Purple Nightie (EuroAmerican). Passiflora has the power to awe even the Scroogiest gardening customer. EuroAmerican’s Aphrodite’s Purple Nightie will have even more power to attract due to its sterility, and hence, more vigorous growth. Plus, the name is just downright awesome.

2. Nasturtium Phoenix (Thompson & Morgan). This fringy, split-petaled nasturtium is quite the delight to see. Acquired by Thompson & Morgan through an amateur breeder contest, Phoenix adds something new and different to a favorite flower. It’s a great plant to set the IGC apart from other plant peddlers.

3. Succulent mixes (HGTV HOME Plant Collection). If there’s a plant trend you can bank on, it’s succulents. The succulent collection from HGTV HOME is in limited release for 2015 and includes mix recipes in decorative bowls. For 2016, the collection expands to bigger container recipes for which Signature pots can be purchased along with the plants. Great stuff.

4. Thunbergia Yellow Stripes, 9. Arizona Terracotta (Jaldety). Thunbergia is Jaldety’s biggest-selling annual and they have two more to add to their offerings for 2016. Yellow Stripes has thin white stripes on faintly yellow petals, along with a dark maroon-colored “house”-shaped center (look at the photo to see!). Arizona Terracotta is a lovely dark orange flower and a great vining plant. 



5. Begonia Little Lava (Hort Couture). Speaking of begonia baskets, Little Lava is an elaitor begonia that packs just as much punch as any basket of tuberous. The “Little” refers to its compact habit and the “Lava” speaks to its fiery red flowers.

6. Fuchsia Bella (Beekenkamp). Fuchsia is more popular than ever and in an ever-expanding array of choices. The Bella series from Beekenkamp gives growers and retailers (and consumers!) seven different varieties to mix and match (Sophia is pictured). Bellas are daylength neutral and very compact, giving growers more options for timing and producing.

7. Tecoma Sun Trumpets (Suntory Flowers). Unveiled to rave reviews at TPIE in January, Suntory’s Sun Trumpets is a new take on Zone 10a tropical shrub tecoma. Heat-loving Sun Trumpets blooms earlier than other tecomas, even when grown in small pot sizes. Grows to just 1 to 3 ft. and blooms continuously, making it a great featured plant in large mixed combos. Pictured: Sun Trumpets Orange. 

8. Begonia Champagne (Green Fuse). If IGCs excel at anything, it’s tuberous begonia baskets. Green Fuse’s Champagne series comes out of tissue culture and produces big, beautiful and breathtaking baskets. Four colors now, with White, Orange and Yellow joining Apricot.

9. Asclepias Monarch Promise (Hort Couture). Pollinator plants aren’t just good for pollinators—they’re great for retailers to build weekend events around. Monarch Promise is an annualized butterfly weed that can be used to build awareness around pollinator issues. Its variegated pink-tinged leaves also look fabulous in mixed containers.

Downright Delicious
Vegetables, fruits and edibles are taking up more of a footprint in garden retail each year. Thankfully, the breeding companies recognize this and keep up the supply of new and interesting items. Here are a few that can be grown for the taste AND the beauty. A perfect pair!



1. Asian veggies from American Takii. Asian vegetables are everywhere nowadays and Takii is famous for their wealth of available varieties. This year, they introduced suggestions for packaging these varieties with Asian-stylized takeout containers and graphics. It’s beautiful and definitely gets the point across.

2. 3. Veggies from Sakata. Four compact pea varieties are just the thing for the small space and patio gardener—Little SnapPea Crunch and Little Snap Pea Petite are edible pod peas, while Little SnowPea Purple and its White cousin are of the stir-fry variety. Also new from Sakata are Little Dipper—a miniature Butternut—and Citrino Honeydew—a super sweet honeydew melon with cantaloupe flesh.

4. Burpee Home Gardens. This division of Ball Horticultural keeps the small-space and foodie gardener top of mind with its introductions. They breed for smaller habits and longer harvests, with items like the BushSteak Beefsteak tomato on a semi-determinate plant and the Baby Boomer tomato. Fit for foodies are the Peppermint Stick celery with a red-striped stalk and intense celery flavor, and the Masterpiece Pea, a pea with three different edible parts—the young pod, the mature peas and even the developing.

5. 6. HandPicked Vegetables (PanAmerican Seed). From another company within Ball comes even more veggie options in the HandPicked Collection. The Heirloom Marriage tomato line gets two new varieties: Marzinera—a cross of heirlooms San Marzano and Cream Sausage, and Cherokee Carbon—a cross of Cherokee Purple and Carbon. Other newbies to HandPicked Vegetables are Dolce Fresca basil (an AAS winner), the Kale Storm mix of four kale varieties and a well-rounded mix of different types of tomatoes.

7. Basil Balsamic Blooms (EuroAmerican). This basil is more bang for the buck—it’s both culinary and ornamental in its uses. Balsamic Blooms will go to flower—and look fabulous doing so—but its flavor won’t turn bitter. The mellow and minty Thai basil flavor persists. Even the flowers are edible and can be used on salads.
8. Strawberry Ruby Ann (ABZ Seeds). Who doesn’t love strawberries? And who doesn’t love a beautiful flower? With Ruby Ann, you can have both!

What the Wow!
Here’s the plan: Wow them with color. How? Color sells and LOTS of color sells LOTS of plants. These new varieties are born to be gathered into masses and displayed on endcaps for the can’t-miss sale. They’ll be loading up shopper carts by the 5s and 7s, believe me.



1. Alyssum North Face (Floranova). A tetraploid, multi-pelleted seed alyssum that produces an avalanche of white flowers.

2. Potunia Blueberry Muffin (Dümmen Orange). Pretty enough to eat.

3. Begonia Unbelievable First Kiss (Dümmen Orange). With petals like that, no wonder it’s called first kiss.

4. Petunia Littletunia Pink Frills (Danziger). Dark pink edges, yellow throat … it has lots of retail appeal.



5. Calibrachoa Superbells Holy Moly! (Proven Winners). The name says it all.

6. Petunia Violet Star, 7. ColorWorks Homare (Sakata).   Two gorgeous bi- and tricolor petunias. Work that color.

8. Celosia Dragon’s Breath (Sakata). What a color! What a look! And it gets fluffier as it flowers more.

9. Petunia Night Sky (Selecta). Star gazing made easy.

10. Ketchup ‘n’ Fries (Plug Connection). Tomatoes and potatoes all in one pot. Plus, Stephen Colbert thinks it’s nuts! GP