2011 ASCFG Cut Flower Seed Trials

John M. Dole and Judy M. Laushman

This was the year of the tighter centers. ‘Bonitas Pink’ red ring (of fire) turning to our evaluation programs. One annual aster. We had 19 large- had the highest scores. ‘Rose a rich yellow color. ‘Procut contingent loved the small flowered cultivars covering Shanghai Rose-White’ from Bicolor Plus’ (SeedSense) was heads and many branches, the range of colors. Once one Gloeckner also did well with very similar to ‘Ring of Fire’, making it a great cultivar of the most important cut its beautiful two-tone flowers. but had shorter petals and a for bouquets. Others listed flower species in the United With so many cultivars and larger disc and the color pattern the small heads and profuse States, it was loved for its colors in the trials there was a was more defined. Finally, the branches as a problem—these long stems, large flowers, variety for just about everyone. pattern on the petals of ‘Procut growers probably need large and broad range of colors, This was also a banner Lemon Bicolor’ (SeedSense) flowers for farmers’ markets. rivaling chrysanthemums and year for bicolor sunflowers— was just like ‘Bicolor Plus’ Another heavy branching carnations. But alas, the aster fell we had five. There was a (SeedSense), but a paler cultivar was ‘Gold Rush’, on hard times and production nice assortment of excellent lemon color. which would probably benefit has dropped quite a bit. Too bad, patterns and colors to choose ‘Giant Sungold’ (Benary), from pinching, as without this is a great flower. from based on your market’s aptly named, had very tall pinching the side shoots were The catch—and there is preference, ranging from (around 6 feet) and thick often too short to be useful. always a catch—is that this relatively little contrast be- stems, and would probably ‘Gold Rush’ had orange petals species can be a bit hard to tween the colors to very benefit from pinching to and a dark center. grow. In the central states aster strong patterns. At the lighter produce multiple stems with Cut ageratums are a sta- yellows disease, spread by end of the spectrum, ‘ProCut smaller heads. It had that ple for summer bouquets. Ag- leafhoppers, causes problems, Amber Glow’ (SeedSense) was unique teddy bear face with eratum ‘Everest’ (Ball/Kieft), and continues to do so judging definitely a project favorite many gold-orange colored with its classic ageratum by the trialers’ comments. with its angelic amber halo petals and a green center. blue flowers, produced about Growers everywhere must around its dark center. The Classic sunflower colors 8 stems per plant, averaging deal with the fact that it is picture doesn’t do it justice; were also included in the 17 inches, with some folks a long-day plant, requiring you have to see if for yourself. trial. ‘ProCut Brilliance’ getting 20- to 22-inch stems. 12- to 14-hour long days. In Growing ‘Musicbox’ (Benary) (SeedSense), with its ruffled Trialers ranked ‘Everest’ high many areas it is best grown in was like tapping shuffle on orange-gold petals around a with four out of five across greenhouses or high tunnels, your iPod—you get a little dark center, was an interesting the board. Please take note of but a number of folks were bit of everything. Petal colors new take on the typical our rhetorical restraint in that able to grow it well in the field. ranged from a pale yellow sunflower. The flower of we did not refer to ‘Everest’ Annual asters reach perfection to a vibrant orange that ‘ProCut Gold’ (SeedSense) as a monumental cultivar. when grown in California, but contrasted well with the dark looked similar to ‘Brilliance’ in Basils have become in- other areas are able to grow center. Furthermore, some the petals, but has a fun green creasingly popular as fragrant them as well. flowers were a solid color center. ‘Valentine’ (Benary) fillers for bouquets and Those able to grow asters while others were bicolor. had highlighter yellow ‘Aromato’ (Genesis) adds an were rewarded with beautiful The inconsistency may bother petals around a dark center. excellent choice to the list. flowers. The Bonitas Series some people, but it’s sure to As you read the comments Here at NCSU it was our most (Sakata/Gloeckner) scored the excite others. ‘Ring of Fire’ about ‘Valentine’, you can productive cultivar with 34 best with similarly rich colors (Benary) had a brown center, understand the need for as stems per plant, averaging as the Matsumotos, but with its petals stamped with a deep many trialers as possible in 14.5 inches long. The overall

The Cut Flower Quarterly 16 Volume 24, Number 1 averages were 9 stems and by all accounts, with the tallest to see how the cultivar 21 inches. As you can see, report of only 24 inches and performed at its best and getting longer stems requires the average of only 13 inches. its worst. If the range of sacrificing a few stems. Chris For a great fall crop, responses in the ratings Wien noted that he harvested try pepper ‘Orange Globe’ is narrow and high, i.e., five 23-inch stems per plant (Genesis). Trialers commented 3-5 or 4-5, the plant was in the field, and nine 26-inch on the large clusters of bright a winner for most of the stems in his high tunnels. One orange fruit. One person respondents and is likely negative: the color was an stated that “this is a premium to do well for you. The inconsistent blend of purple cut pepper that commanded ‘Repeat Again Rating’ and green, and some trialers a great price - one of our is particularly important preferred the all-dark foliage. favorites”. Apparently others because it indicates if And of course, the tomato/ agreed as the overall scores the trialer would take the tomahto issue: for some the were quite high. As with many time, money, and space fragrance was too little and ornamental peppers the stems to actually grow the others too much. were on the short side. cultivar again. Review Celosias are quite a This year we are lucky to the trial results carefully. variable group of plants report on two other trials using If a cultivar sounds ranging from large crested the ASCFG material. See the interesting but did not types to those with small results on pages 21 and 24. appear to do well, try plumes, and the search In summary, we had 49 it anyway. The cultivar continues for the perfect cultivars from 6 companies. may work well for you. cultivar. ‘Orange Peach’ and Based on trial results, the ‘Tornado Red’ from Genesis top five performers are Acknowledgments: were both small-crested types, automatically nominated for A hearty thank you to and ‘Sunday Dark Pink’ and the ASCFG Cut Flower of the all of the 18 evaluators ‘Sunday Wine Red’ from Year. The rankings are based who returned their trial Ball/Kieft were plume types. on the combined ratings score: reports and to the seed ‘Orange Peach’ scored the market appreciation + repeat companies for providing highest with its great color again + ease of cultivation. such great cultivars. and multitude of branches. Thus, from the 2011 trials five Congratulations to Don The side shoots tended to sunflowers are nominated for Lareau, Zephyros Farm produce small plumes rather the Cut Flowers of the Year and Garden, for being than crests and this plant and will join other nominations the first trialer to return would probably do well with from ASCFG members: four his evaluations. I would a pinch. The Sundays were Procut cultivars, ‘Bicolor also like to thank Ingram also productive, with all three Plus’, ‘Brilliance’, ‘Gold’ and McCall for taking care cultivars averaging around 7 ‘Red Lemon Bicolor’, and of the North Carolina to 8 stems per plant. ‘Sunday ‘Giant Sungold’. Looking State University portion Wine Red’ had the added beyond the sunflowers, the of the trials and Brigitte benefit of reddish foliage. top-rated cultivar was pepper Crawford and Diane Several trialers comment- ‘Orange Globe’. Mays for assisting ed that all four cultivars were with the NCSU trials. too short and many folks Interpreting the trial results: In preparing the report reporting stem lengths of less The numbers reported are we have edited the than 16 inches. However, the averages of all the respondents participants’ comments celosias performed well for and many factors will affect the for space and clarity; my at least a few folks. ‘Orange success of any plant species. apologies if we’ve altered Peach’ and ‘Sunday Dark Our participants are growing the tone or content of Pink’ had the longest stems, and harvesting the trial plants anyone’s comments. averaging around 19 inches in a wide variety of ways. with at least one trialer After looking at the average, getting stems up to 36 inches. check the range of responses ‘Tornado Red’ was the shortest listed below each number Summary of Comments Ageratum Asters ‘Balloon Silver-Blue’ (Gloeckner) Ageratum ‘Everest Blue’ (Ball/Kieft) Good Qualities: Beautiful large double The number in a parenthesis refers to the Good Qualities: Wonderful uniform color flowers, great color combination. number of respondents who made the (5); Strong stems (3); Bright, strong grower; Problems: Too short to cut; Plants survived a comment. If no number is present, only Good height, bloom size and number of little longer than the rose color, but still died one person made the comment. Comments flowers, blooms for an extended period; of fusarium or rhizoctonia before flowering. by each individual are separated with a Strong, sturdy stems; Lots of flowers, with semicolor (;). Note: many respondents did strong stems; Continuous picking from early Asters ‘Beautiful Day Rose’ (Gloeckner) not make specific comments on each cultivar summer, sturdy stems, larger florets on side Good Qualities: Long, strong stems (2); and in some cases, comments have been stems than ‘Florist Blue’; Long stems, nice Might make a good potted aster; Nice shortened because of limited space. size flower, germination was good, nice full color, good vase life; Nice size flower, good flowers, good dark green leaves; Good for uniform color, germination was good, nice small bouquet. full flowers were well accepted on both Problems: Short; Centre flowers are quick colors; Very productive, showy plant: more Participating to turn brown (if you cut the whole plant); suited as a bedding plant than a cut. Problems: Too short (3); Very bushy, Seed Companies Inconsistent stem length and flower head size. Similar Cultivars: ‘Blue Horizon’ (5); difficult in bouquets; Got aster yellows - ‘Florists Blue’. within a few weeks of transplanting - does not like Texas; Susceptible to leaf wilt. Ball Horticultural/Kieft Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife Similar Cultivars: None listed. West Chicago, Illinois in cool water; Make sure stems are stripped clean. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife www.ballhort.com Comments: Side by side, ‘Everest Blue’ and in cool water. ‘Blue Horizon’ had identical heights, blooms Comments: Very dry July contributed with the only readily identifiable difference to short stems; Never got aster seeds to Benary Seed being a rose-colored center in unopened germinate for transplants, tried both seed DeKalb, Illinois blooms of ‘Everest Blue’; Hard to tell any trays and field planting with no success, www.benary.com difference between this and ‘Blue Horizon’; believe due to the early arrival of the drought Great introduction!; Smaller flower than the plus water restrictions; Had no luck with the ‘Blue Horizon’ and not as prolific a bloomer; asters at all; Succumbed to aster yellows Fred C. Gloeckner Company Useful in bouquets. before reaching the marketable stage. Harrison, New York www.fredgloeckner.com Asters ‘Beautiful Day Yellow’ (Gloeckner) Ammi Good Qualities: Long stems, strong stems, Ammi majus ‘Pink’ (Genesis) nice size flower, good uniform color, Good Qualities: Large, nice color, tall; Easy germination was good, nice full flowers were Genesis Seeds Ltd. to grow, tall plant; Good quality pink when well accepted on both colors; Productive, Ashalim, Israel the flowers were just opening. early. www.genesisseeds.com Problems: Crashes easily, floppy stems; Problems: Too short (3); Got aster yellows Too similar to wild Queen Anne's lace, no - within a few weeks of transplanting - does real pink color when open, pink tint when not like Texas. Kieft-Pro-Seeds tight, rabbits loved the transplants; Did not Similar Cultivars: None listed. Venhuizen, Netherlands germinate well; Pink quickly fades to white Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife www.kieft-pro-seeds.com as flowers mature; Uneven maturation - in cool water. staggered harvest dates. Comments: Very dry July contributed to short Postharvest Recommendations: Always stems; Never got aster seeds to germinate for remove secondary and tertiary buds. Sakata Seed America, Inc transplants, tried both seed trays and field Comments: White when ready to cut, not Morgan Hill, California planting with no success, believe due to pink; This was direct seeded before drought the early arrival of the drought plus water www.sakata.com and came up sparsely, the plants were weak restrictions; Had no luck with the asters and got overcrowded by weeds, so we did at all; Succumbed to aster yellows before not see any blooms, a comparison variety, Photos in this article by John Dole, reaching the marketable stage. ‘Snowflake’, produced well in the same row; with the exception of the following: Plants got about 3 inches tall in the field, but Asters ‘Bonita Blue’ (Sakata/Gloeckner) never matured to provide any stems for cutting. Brigitte Crawford Good Qualities: Tall stems (2); Strong Celosia ‘Orange Peach’, page 17 stems (2); Productive spray type; Can be cut Basil “Aramato’, page 22 Asters as one huge stem or individually; ‘Bonita Asters ‘Balloon Rose’ (Gloeckner) Blue’ is hardly a true blue, was still a nice Polly Hutchison Good Qualities: None listed. later season color to contrast with all of the Pepper ‘Orange Globe’, page 25 Problems: Died from fusarium or rhizocto- brighter colors of the moment, great contrast nia; Too short to cut. with the bold centers and mixed nicely with

The Cut Flower Quarterly 18 Volume 24, Number 1 our dahlias; Long stems, nice size flower, good uniform color, germination was good, nice full flowers, good dark green leaves. Participating Problems: Unpinched, get a large cluster of small flowers that are hard to arrange; Growers None; developed "rust" at end of season and then it spread from one variety to the other; Cynthia Alexander Polly Hutchinson Got aster yellows - within a few weeks of transplanting - does not like Texas. Bloomlust Robin Hollow Farm Similar Cultivars: Similiar to Matsumoto Frisco, Texas Saunderstown, Rhode Island series in size of flower and plant growth, without the open center of the Matsumotos. Clydette Alsup-Eggers Ingram McCall/John Dole Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife Missouri State University North Carolina State University in cool water. Springfield, Missouri Raleigh, North Carolina Comments: Try pinching early next time; Succumbed to aster yellows before reaching Christof Bernau Don Lareau the marketable stage; Color more purple than UCSC Farm & Garden Zephyros Farm and Garden blue; Aster seeds/transplants did not survive Santa Cruz, California Paonia, Colorado field conditions, tried both seed trays and field planting with no success, contributing Leon Carrier Linda McCall factor drought conditions in May through October plus water restrictions throughout Plantmasters Nature’s Harmony Farm the growing season; Colors were good and Laytonsville, Maryland Long Grove, Oklahoma full flowers, the "Blue" was well accepted and a rich color; Had no luck with the asters Josie Crowson Don Mitchell at all. Josie’s Fresh Flowers Flora Pacifica Nacogdoches, Texas Brookings, Oregon Asters ‘Bonita Pink’ (Sakata/Gloeckner) Good Qualities: Long stems (2); Strong Connie Dam-Byl Diane Szukovathy stems (2); Could be cut as one huge stem, William Dam Seeds Jello Mold Farm or individually, nice hot pink color; Great Dundas, Ontario Mount Vernon, Washington color; Nice size flower, good uniform color, germination was good, nice full flowers, Dave Delbo Roger Tschantz good dark green leaves; Erect spray type. Dave’s Flowers Problems: Of all of the Bonita cultivars, University of Guelph Elysburg, Pennsylvania this was our least favorite color, not really Guelph, Ontario a problem, just an aesthetic perception; Kim Haven Got aster yellows - within a few weeks of Cheryl Wagner transplanting - does not like Texas; None; Billabong Fresh Flower Farm Wagner’s Homestead Farms Developed "rust" at end of season and then it Hempstead, Texas Belleville, Michigan spread from one variety to the other; Hard to use in arrangements unpinched. Chazz Hesselein Chris Wien Similar Cultivars: Similar to Matsumotos Alabama Cooperative Extension System Cornell University in flower size and plant growth. Mobile, Alabama Ithaca, New York Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in cool water. Comments: Pinch next time; Succumbed to aster yellows before reaching the marketable stem or individually; Rose was a good quality spread from on variety to the other; Got aster stage; Aster seeds/transplants did not survive mid pink, good individual stem length and yellows - within a few weeks of transplanting field conditions, tried both seed trays and we were able to harvest as individual stems, - does not like Texas field planting with no success, contributing often we grow asters as a single cut structural Similar Cultivars: Similiar to Matsumoto factor drought conditions in May through "filler" flower, but each color in the Bonita series in size of flower and plant growth, October plus water restrictions throughout the series produced good quality individual without the open center of the Matsumotos. growing season; Colors were good and full stems; Nice growth habit; The rose color Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in flowers; Had no luck with the asters at all. was especially nice, sturdy stems, no aster cool water. yellows; Long stems, nice size flower, good Comments: To get more long stems, want to Asters ‘Bonita Rose’ (Sakata/Gloeckner) uniform color, germination was good, nice try to pinch early; Last in the series to bloom; Good Qualities: Tall (2); Strong stems (2); full flowers, good dark green leaves. Never got aster seeds to germinate well Spray type; small, uniform flowers, no sign Problems: None; Small flower size; enough to get viable transplants, tried both of tip burn; Plant could be cut as one huge Developed "rust" at end of season and then it seed trays and field planting with no success,

The Cut Flower Quarterly 19 Volume 24, Number 1 contributing factor drought conditions in Never got aster seeds to germinate well contributing factor drought conditions May through October plus water restrictions enough to get viable transplants, tried both in May and June plus water restrictions throughout the growing season; Colors were seed trays and field planting with no success, throughout the growing season. good and full flowers; Had no luck with the contributing factor drought conditions in asters at all; Succumbed to aster yellows May thru October plus water restrictions Asters ‘Lady Coral Chamois’ before reaching the marketable stage. throughout the growing season; Colors were (Gloeckner) good and full flowers; Had no luck with the Good Qualities: Strong stems (2); Beautiful Asters ‘Bonita Scarlet’ (Sakata/Gloeckner) asters at all; Succumbed to aster yellows color, most survived disease pressure; Good Qualities: Tall (3); Strong stems (2); before reaching the marketable stage. Tall, long vase life; Nice size flower, good A nice pinkish red, which I guess is in fact uniform color, germination was good, nice scarlet, very bold, vibrant color that worked Asters ‘Jewel Purpurit Lilac Rose’ full flowers. well with whites and purples that we had at (Gloeckner) Problems: Too short to cut (3); A few died the same time; Good filler; Nice size flower, Good Qualities: Nice stems length, strong, from disease; Got aster yellows - within a good uniform color, germination was good, good vase life; Long side stems are useful, few weeks of transplanting - does not like nice full flowers, good dark green leaves; can be produced without pinching. Texas; None; Unproductive. Productive spray type Problems: Got aster yellows - within a few Similar Cultivars: None listed. Problems: Got aster yellows - within a few weeks of transplanting - does not like Texas; Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife weeks of transplanting - does not like Texas; None. in cool water. None; Developed "rust" at end of season Similar Cultivars: None listed. Comments: Had no luck with the asters at and then it spread from one variety to the Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife all; Never got aster seeds to germinate well other; Large bunch hard to use in flower in cool water. enough to get viable transplants, tried both arrangements without pinching. Comments: Had no luck with the asters seed trays and field planting with no success, Similar Cultivars: None listed. at all; Succumbed to aster yellows before contributing factor drought conditions Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife reaching the marketable stage. in May and June plus water restrictions in cool water. throughout the growing season. Comments: Pinch early next time; Colors Asters ‘Jewel Red Shadow’ Mix were good and full flowers; Had no luck (Gloeckner) Asters ‘Lady Coral Lavender’ with the asters at all; Aster seeds/transplants Good Qualities: Nice color, solid vase life. (Gloeckner) did not survive field conditions, tried both Problems: Not outstanding in productivity, Good Qualities: Attractive color (2); Long seed trays and field planting with no success, earliness or stem length; Most plants died life; Strong stems, nice size flower, good contributing factor drought conditions in from disease; Got aster yellows - within a uniform color, germination was good, nice May through October plus water restrictions few weeks of transplanting - does not like full flowers. throughout the growing season. Texas; Short stems. Problems: Too short to cut (2); 12 days Similar Cultivars: None listed. later than the earliest varieties in the trial, Asters ‘Bonita White’ Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. moderately productive and moderate stem (Sakata/Gloeckner) Comments: Very few plants survived length. Got aster yellows - within a few weeks Good Qualities: Strong stems (2); Tall disease; Never got aster seeds to germinate of transplanting - does not like Texas; None. spray type, small, attractive flowers, good well enough to get viable transplants, tried Similar Cultivars: None listed. filler?; Could be cut as one huge stem or both seed trays and field planting with Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in individually; A good quality white that held no success, contributing factor drought cool water. its color in the vase much better than most conditions in May and June plus water Comments: Had no luck with the asters white cultivars and has a good contrast with restrictions throughout the growing season; at all; Never got aster seeds to germinate the bright centers; Nice habit, good filler; Had no luck with the asters at all. well enough to get viable transplants, tried Long stems, nice size flower, good uniform both seed trays and field planting with color, germination was good, nice full Asters ‘Jewel Rhodilit Carmine’ no success, contributing factor drought flowers, good dark green leaves. (Gloeckner) conditions in May and June plus water Problems: Unpinched, get a large cluster Good Qualities: Tall, pretty filler, good restrictions throughout the growing season; of stems and flowers that are hard to use in vase life; Long side branches useful as cuts. Succumbed to aster yellows before reaching arrangements; Sometimes short; Developed Problems: Plants died from disease the marketable stage. "rust" at end of season and then it spread from (fusarium or rhizoctonia); Got aster yellows one variety to the other; Got aster yellows - - within a few weeks of transplanting - does Asters ‘Lady Coral Rose’ (Gloeckner) within a few weeks of transplanting - does not like Texas; None; Middle of the road in Good Qualities: Strong stems (2); Best aster not like Texas. stem length, productivity and earliness for surviving disease pressure; Nice color, long Similar Cultivars: Similiar to the Similar Cultivars: None listed. vase life, quick grower; Nice size flower, good Matsumotos in flower size and growth habit. Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. uniform color, germination was good, nice full Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife Comments: Had no luck with the asters at flowers; Productive mid-season. in cool water. all; Never got aster seeds to germinate well Problems: Stems too short (3); Got aster Comments: To get more tall stems, will enough to get viable transplants, tried both yellows - within a few weeks of transplanting pinch early next time; Tallest of the series; seed trays and field planting with no success, - does not like Texas; None.

The Cut Flower Quarterly 20 Volume 24, Number 1 Similar Cultivars: None listed. Asters ‘Rose of Shanghai White’ Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife (Gloeckner) in cool water. Good Qualities: Long stems (2); Strong Flora Pacifica Comments: Succumbed to aster yellows stems (2); Most productive in trial, moderately before reaching the marketable stage; Nice early; Nice size flower, good uniform color, Survey color, medium sized blooms; Never got aster germination was good, nice full flowers. seeds to germinate for transplants, tried both Problems: Severe tip necrosis on several seed trays and field planting with no success; plants; Died from disease (fusarium or In southwest Oregon, Don Mitchell Believe due to the early arrival of the drought rhizoctonia); Too short to cut; Got aster conducted a consumer survey at plus water restrictions; Had no luck with the yellows - within a few weeks of transplanting Flora Pacifica. Fourteen customers asters at all. - does not like Texas; Color wasn't great. rated flowers from each cultivar Similar Cultivars: None listed. on a scale from 1 to 10. Of nine Asters ‘Rose of Shanghai Crimson’ Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife sunflowers in the trial, ‘Giant (Gloeckner) in cool water. Good Qualities: Long stems (3); Strong Comments: Never got aster seeds to Sungold’ stole the show, receiving a stems (2); Attractive color; Nice color; Nice germinate well enough to get viable score of 9.9 out of 10. Of nine other size flower, good uniform color, germination transplants, tried both seed trays and field cultivars, delphinium ‘Benary’s was good, nice full flowers. planting with no success, contributing factor Pacific Formula’ Mix was the favorite Problems: Relatively late; Died of disease drought conditions in May and June plus with 9.0 out of 10. (fusarium or rhizoctonia); Got aster yellows water restrictions throughout the growing - within a few weeks of transplanting - does season; Had no luck with the asters at all; not like Texas; None. Succumbed to aster yellows before reaching Sunflowers ‘Giant Sungold’ 9.9 Similar Cultivars: None listed. the marketable stage. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife ‘Procut Bicolor Plus’ 7.8 in cool water. Asters ‘Syringa’ (Gloeckner) ‘Procut Red Lemon Bicolor’ 7.6 Comments: Never got aster seeds to Good Qualities: Large 2 1/2 in. flower; Tall, germinate well enough to get viable good growth habit. ‘Valentine’ 7.6 transplants, tried both seed trays and field Problems: Some plants died from disease; planting with no success, contributing factor Got aster yellows - within a few weeks of ‘Procut Amber Glow’ 7.3 drought conditions in May and June plus transplanting - does not like Texas; None. water restrictions throughout the growing Similar Cultivars: None listed. ‘Gold Rush’ 6.9 season; Had no luck with the asters at all; Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. ‘Musicbox’ 6.7 Succumbed to aster yellows before reaching Comments: Succumbed to aster yellows the marketable stage. before reaching the marketable stage; Had ‘Ring of Fire’ 6.5 no luck with the asters at all; Robust stems, Asters ‘Rose of Shanghai Rose-White’ large flowers, no sign of tip necrosis. ‘Soraya’ 6.5 (Gloeckner) Good Qualities: Long stems (2); Good color, long-lasting; Strong stems, nice size flower, Others good uniform color, germination was good, nice full flowers, loved the two-tone effect on Ageratum ‘Everest Blue’ 7.5 the rose/white; Tallest stems in trial, attractive flowers with narrow petals, white with yellow Ammi ‘Pink’ 7.1 centers, turning pink with age. Problems: Died of disease (fusarium or Snapdragon ‘Potomac Lavender’ 7.4 rhizoctonia); Got aster yellows - within a Campanula ‘Campana White’ 8.8 few weeks of transplanting - does not like Texas; None. Craspedia ‘Sun Ball’ 7.3 Similar Cultivars: None listed. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife Delphinium in cool water. Comments: Succumbed to aster yellows ‘Benary’s Pacific Formula’ Mix 9.0 before reaching the marketable stage; Never Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’ 7.3 got aster seeds to germinate well enough to get viable transplants, tried both seed Scabiosa ‘Fama Deep Blue’ 7.3 trays and field planting with no success, contributing factor drought conditions Scabiosa ‘Fama White’ 6.5 in May and June plus water restrictions throughout the growing season; Had no luck with the asters at all; Worth growing again. ‘ABC 2-3 Misty Blue’

The Cut Flower Quarterly 21 Volume 24, Number 1 Problems: Stems too short (2); Too long to mature in cold Pacific Northwest summer; Some branches bore plume rather than crested blooms; Does not form nice uniformed heads, mites; Small plume heads and a very muted pinky orange color, not very appealing. Similar Cultivars: ‘Temple Bells Orange’; ‘Kurume’. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in cool water. Comments: This was our favorite celosia this year; Fabulous color! might try this one next year in the hoop; I loved the unique color and the plants performed wonderfully; Florists do not purchase celosia unless they have a specific need as they say they cannot put it in the cooler.

Celosia ‘Sunday Dark Pink’ (Ball/Kieft) Good Qualities: Beautiful dark foliage ‘Aramato’ matches plume color, good-sized full plumes; Nice clean color and nice stems; Great for Basil Campanula shorter bouquets; Good form; Slightly larger Basil ‘Aramato’ (Genesis) Campanula ‘Campana White’ than the wine red color; Lots of flowers, Good Qualities: Long stems (4); Lots of (Ball/Kieft) lasts a long time in postharvest; Branching stems (3); Aromatic fragrance (3); Strong Good Qualities: Nice big bells and good plumes; Good full plumes, multi-branching stems (2); Good color (2), even when stems vase life with no extra treatment; Nice, plants; None. are older; Good grower (2); Attractive pure white; Quick to bloom: 90 days from Problems: Short (2); Slow to mature in cold blooms; Uniform, early to bloom; Good seeding; Pretty, nice addition to bouquets; Pacific Northwest summer - better than a lot branching, customers were surprise to smell Good stem length, form and vase life, very of other varieties, though; Blooms do not the nice aroma in their bouquets, it was very popular with customers. hold up long in field, blooms did not enhance well accepted; It held its color well, great Problems: Plants were inconsistent in stem bouquets; Plants varied in color; More terra filler plant; Very nice; Attractive dark red length and number of stems produced; cotta than dark pink. foliage; Good bloom color. Difficulty getting seeds to germinate and Similar Cultivars: None listed. Problems: Minimal scent (2); Washed- thrive; Short stems, short vase life. Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. out leaf color; Leaves too dark for some Similar Cultivars: None listed. Comments: Might try this one in the hoop bouquets/arrangements; Perhaps we had too Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. next year; Color is very close to red; Florists much rain, but the plants didn't last as long as Comments: Seed did not germinate; Best do not use much celosia because they say other basils, they "browned up" earlier in the grown from plugs, not seeds, and planted they cannot put in cooler, therefore, they season than I would have liked; Really big early spring, by the time transplants planted only buy sporadically, loved the color. leaves were quick to wilt if plants were not to field it was extremely hot, they succumbed fully in flower, also, did not have particularly to the heat and drought conditions plus water Celosia ‘Sunday Wine Red’ (Ball/Kieft) exciting color to attract customers; Some restrictions; Grow in hoophouse or get it out Good Qualities: Bright, colorful nice shape; people disliked the fragrance, hard to sell to early with protection; Floppy growth in the Beautiful dark foliage matches plume color, florists; Looks diseased. field without support. good sized full plumes; None; Nice color, Similar Cultivars: ‘Opal’ basil. attractive form; Lots of flowers; Pretty green Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife Celosia with red-edged foliage, autumn colors of and cool water; Definitely needs to be harvested muted red with orange-tipped flower on Celosia ‘Orange Peach’ (Genesis) once flowers are open or wilting is guaranteed; bronzy leaves. Good Qualities: Yummy color peachy Hydration is a problem, but once hydrated, Problems: Too short (3); No great beauty; salmon (5) especially for fall (2); Colorful, lasts long in the vase; We cut into hydrator. Too slow to mature in cold Pacific Northwest unique looking; High number of stems per Comments: Seemed to wilt easily; Would summer; Some flowers were plumed, some plant; Lots of flowers; Branched without a love to have also available similar plants crested wine red was somewhat dull. pinch; Good flower shape, multi-branching with lighter color or greener leaves; Had a Similar Cultivars: None listed. with even side shoots which were great to peculiar smell, not liked by some people; Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. use in smaller bouquets; Good stem length, When the ‘Aramato’ basil was done, the Comments: ‘Sunday Wine Red’ is more strong stems, good branching, customers ‘Cardinal’ basil took over, I didn't lack for branching than ‘Sunday Pink’; Of all the were surprised at the color in the bouquets - the fragrance in my bouquets; I won't grow cultivars we trialed, this one was the slowest it was very well accepted. this again. to develop, so much so that we can't even

The Cut Flower Quarterly 22 Volume 24, Number 1 see color yet in Pacific Northwest; We had a (Johnny's), and could not tell the difference dry July that most likely kept plants smaller among them. than the should be; Florists liked the color Postharvest Recommendations: Craspedia but purchased only when they had a specific is indestructible and lasts forever in the vase, need, said they could not keep in the cooler. whether given water or kept dry, there is no change in appearance upon drying. Celosia ‘Tornado Red’ (Genesis) Comments: Grew this one alongside the Good Qualities: Magnificent red color (6); cultivar 'Billy Buttons' and that one performed Strong stems (2); Loose fan shape—exotic much better, although still not what I'd call a looking, multi-branching habit was good crop in an unusually cool Pacific Northwest for more stems to harvest!; None; Attractive summer; Never have been a fan of craspedia; form, multi-stemmed flower heads set huge; This is a tough survivor; Plants green and Large burgundy combs from non-pinched vigorous in early winter in the high tunnel, plants; Good stem length, good branching, so will see if it overwinters. Authors’ note: customers were surprised at the color in the Chris Wien at Cornell obtained 10 stems per bouquets, it was very well accepted, many plant in the field and 18 in the high tunnel. stems had good-sized heads, flowers were Stems were 22 inches long in the field and good size and pretty uniform; Good filler. 28 in the tunnel. Problems: Stems are too short (4); Too long to mature in a cold Pacific Northwest Delphinium summer; Nothing particularly nice about Delphinium ‘Benary’s Pacific the color or shape, all the trial celosias Formula’ Mix (Benary) this year were disappointing; Leaves wilt Good Qualities: Long stems, strong stems, nice ‘Sunday Dark Pink’ easily; Mites; Better used as a bedding plant; size flower, good uniform color, germination Thick stem. was good; Nice stem length and color mix; Easy Similar Cultivars: ‘Toreador’ to grow, colorful, good stem length. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in Problems: Needs long growing time in cool water. south Texas; None; Difficulty getting seed Comments: Great bedding plant; I loved the germination; Tendency to crash. color and the plants performed wonderfully; Similar Cultivars: None listed. Florists do not purchase celosia unless they Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife have a specific need as they say they cannot Comments: Bloomed same time in green- in cool water. put it in the cooler. house as did fall-sown field larkspur; Comments: Seed did not germinate; Crop Planted both in field and seed trays, new failure; Excellent growth and healthy plants, transplants succumbed to the heat; Fine, but Craspedia but did not bloom due to short crop time not outstanding. Craspedia ‘Sun Ball’ (Genesis) prior to onset of Texas summer, if started in Good Qualities: Bright yellow color (2); the late summer for fall planting, it would Larkspur ‘Galilee White’ (Genesis) Tall stems; Stiff, viable stems, holds color bloom in the spring; Delphinium is difficult Good Qualities: Tall (2); Nice flowers, good well, everlasting, drying erect while upright; to germinate and takes a long time to get to and full; Strong stems, unique looking; Pure Small flowers on top of strong stems; Very transplant size, with the extreme drought white; Stems were nice and full of flowers; similar to unnamed species; Unusually conditions and early heat they quickly Good stem strength and length, flowers were bright balls on long stems that dry and still succumbed to the heat; delphinium grows large and showy when fresh. look fresh; Vase life; productive, good accent better from plugs in my zone (7b). Problems: None (2); Needs support in flower in arrangements; Good filler flower. greenhouse; Plants were stressed with our Problems: Disappears in bouquets, takes a Larkspur weather this year, I thought it best to cut the long time to grow; NOT a good candidate Larkspur ‘Galilee Blue’ (Genesis) whole stem and use before the main flowers for cool summers; Plants died in hot, wet Good Qualities: Attractive blue color (4); were spent; Some crown rot, probably due to weather; Flowers were too small; None; Tall, nice addition to bouquets; Tall; Very a very wet spring, dried flowers were not the Wiry stems; Growth in field was variable, nice stem quality, even length and diameter/ nicest colors, faded to brownish. transplants hard to establish in high tunnel strength, worked very well in our early Similar Cultivars: ‘Qis White’. after 58 days in seedling tray: should have season color range for mixed bouquets; Nice Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife been transplanted younger?; Few stems per flowers, good and full; Productive. in cool water. plant; This was another variety that didn't do Problems: None (2); Needs support in Comments: Fine, but not outstanding; Bloomed well, mostly due to weather, perhaps I got it greenhouse; Some crown rot, probably due in the greenhouse at the same time as fall-sown out too early. to a very wet spring; Stems short, florets field larkspur; Planted both in field and seed Similar Cultivars: Standard Drumstick widely spaced on stem. trays, new transplants succumbed to the heat, very similar - I grew them side by side and Similar Cultivars: ‘Qis Blue’. will try again to grow provided the seeds were had to check the tag; I compared this variety Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. planted in the fall for a spring harvest. to ‘Billy Buttons’ (Harris), and ‘Goldstick’

The Cut Flower Quarterly 23 Volume 24, Number 1 Lisianthus Lisianthus ‘ABC 2-3 Misty Blue’ Missouri State Flower Variety Trial (Ball/Kieft) Good Qualities: Attractive color (5); Clydette Alsup, Missouri State University, did a great side project with the Multiple blooms; Popular with customers, blooms enhanced most bouquets, large ASCFG trial flowers (and a few others that we left off). Celosia 'Orange Peach' blooms; Adequate stem length; Long was the longest-lasting cultivar with a vase life of 17 days. You can see all stems, strong stems, nice size flower, good of her results at http://tinyurl.com/7m4au5a uniform color, germination was good, nice full flowers, good dark green leaves. Vaselife Problems: Tendency to fall over in the wind; Thrips; Shorter than most Cultivar Average Maximum Minimum lisianthus grown this year; Did not germinate well; Slow to germinate Ageratum 'Everest Blue' 7.1 12 3 and long period of growth to viable transplants; Half as productive and 10 Annual aster 'Balloon Rose' 5.5 15 4 days later than ‘ABC 1-3 Misty Blue’ in Annual aster 'Balloon Silver-Blue' 6.2 13 2 these trials, but 25% taller. Annual aster 'Beautiful Day Rose' 10.6 14 4 Similar Cultivars: ‘ABC 1-3 Misty Blue’; Other ABC lisianthus. Annual aster 'Beautiful Day Yellow' 6.8 13 4 Postharvest Recommendations: Flora- Annual aster 'Bonita Blue' 5.7 7 4 life in cool water. Annual aster 'Bonita Pink' 4.0 4 4 Comments: It was too cold for us this summer to grow lisianthus even in the Annual aster 'Bonita Rose' 5.8 14 4 hoop!, this one is slower than the others Annual aster 'Bonita Scarlet' 5.3 7 4 we trialed, though; By the time the seeds Annual aster 'Bonita White' 4.0 4 4 got to transplant size and planted to the field, they did not survive the May- Annual aster 'Jewel Purpurit, Lilac Rose' 4.3 5 4 October heat/drought, water restrictions Annual aster 'Jewel Red Shadow Mix' 4.6 5 4 were also an issue, will grow again, but Annual aster 'Jewel Rhodilit, Carmine' 3.6 5 1 not field grown and only from plugs; We had very poor germination and Annual aster 'Lady Coral Chamois' 4.7 7 2 never planted this crop out; This variety Annual aster 'Lady Coral Lavender' 3.7 5 1 deserves another look. Annual aster 'Lady Coral Rose' 4.9 6 4 Lisianthus ‘ABC 2-4 Yellow Annual aster 'Rose of Shanghai Crimson' 5.6 12 4 Improved’ (Ball/Kieft) Annual aster 'Rose of Shanghai Rose-White' 4.2 6 2 Good Qualities: Nice color! (2); Good Annual aster 'Rose of Shanghai White' 4.3 6 2 stem length (2); Strong stems (2); More yellow than some varieties; Nice size Annual aster 'Syringa' 5.3 7 4 flower, good uniform color, germination Basil 'Aramato' 11.5 19 4 was good, nice full flowers, good Campanula 'Campana White' 5.7 7 4 dark green leaves; Best of the lot for stem length and production in a lousy Celosia 'Orange Peach' 17.0 28 7 cold summer; Strong central stem; As Celosia 'Sunday Dark Pink' 11.6 18 0 productive and as early as our standard Celosia 'Sunday Orange' 14.5 18 11 'Echo Champagne' Problems: Some single petal bloom plants; Celosia 'Sunday Wine Red' 14.3 21 7 None; Short stems for the most part; Color Delphinium 'Benary's Pacific Formula' 4.5 5 4 more creamy than yellow, centre petals Lisianthus 'ABC 2-3 Misty Blue' 7.0 12 4 were too varying; Slow to germinate. Similar Cultivars: Other ABC lisianthus. Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' 8.4 12 6 Postharvest Recommendations: Flora- Sunflower 'Giant Sungold' 11.0 11 11 life in cool water. Sunflower 'Gold Rush' 5.0 6 4 Comments: Flowers that opened in the field had browning on petal edges and Sunflower 'Musicbox' 1.0 1 1 in centres, buds that opened indoors were clean; By the time the seeds got to transplant stage and planted in the field,

The Cut Flower Quarterly 24 Volume 24, Number 1 they did not survive the extreme heat/drought conditions from May to October, will try again but from plugs, not seeds; We had very poor germination.

Pepper Pepper ‘Orange Globe’ (Genesis) Good Qualities: Excellent color (5); Beautiful orange, yellow, and green 1-inch mini- peppers; Good choice for fall arrangements and bouquets (2); Healthy plants, well received by customers, excellent in pepper wreath; Large pepper clusters, strong branches; Good shape and cluster size; Stems were nice and full of fruit, fruit was bright and good sized, customers were interested in the addition to the bouquet; Great in arrangements to add a little interest; Nice, long lasting. Problems: Took a long time to color (2); Short stems; Waited until mid-October from a March 25 seeding to see color; Plants were ‘Orange Globe’ full of fruit, but the stems weren't very long, if I cut the whole stem it was good and full in a bouquet and I did this for some bouquets at were too short to cut; The gophers loved the end of the season; Takes a while to get the Rudbeckia it; None; It is shorter than other hirtas, and stem length needed for bouquets, selling by Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’ (Benary) color is okay, but not as pretty as ‘Irish Eyes’ the stem, etc. Good Qualities: Beautiful fresh color or ‘Irish Spring’; Issues with stem length Similar Cultivars: None listed. with greenish center (5); Strong stems (3); possibly due to water restriction limitations Postharvest Recommendations: Harvest Uniform color (2); Easy to grow; Good due to excessive drought conditions; into hot water; Floralife and cool water. straight stems; Long stems, nice size flower, Sometimes the petals are too long. Comments: Planted direct to the field, germination was good; Quick to bloom. Similar Cultivars: None listed. growing conditions were extreme drought in Problems: Hairy rough stems unpleasant Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife May through October plus water restrictions to strip leaves from, succumbed to powdery in cool water. throughout the growing season, good mildew late in season; Crashes easily in the Comments: More of a garden plant than cut producer; This is a premium cut pepper that heat, sometimes short; Petal tips tend to dry flower, people always say that it is one of the commanded a great price, one of our favorites. out a little—we found it best to harvest on early side; There were lots of flowers that nicest rudbeckias ever; I think it is a beautiful rudbeckia and worth growing, especially for market customers, a little difficult to sell to florists; This one is a real workhorse! Love the color with the green centers—stands out in bouquets; Nice addition to summer lineup.

Scabiosa Scabiosa ‘Fama Deep Blue’ (Benary) Good Qualities: Strong stems (3); Big flowers, pretty!; Flowers first year from seed, keeps producing late into the season, good coloration; Great color, good stem length; Long stems, nice size flower, good uniform color, germination was good. Problems: Poor yield (2); Pain in the butt to establish, doesn't compete well, spindly, probably better in year two; Did not bloom and burnt up in the Texas summer; None; Any transplants set out promptly wilted from the excessive heat/drought and water restrictions were an ongoing issue; Some plants are a lighter ‘Prairie Sun’ shade of blue.

The Cut Flower Quarterly 25 Volume 24, Number 1 Wholesalers love this variety: easy second planting did not have these issues; to harvest and sell; Might be better Long crop time; 75% germination, grows the second year. huge at 6" spacing, looong time to flower with long-day conditions, experienced stem Snapdragon rot and other fungal issues, susceptible to blow-down in summer wind/rain events, Snapdragon ‘Potomac difficult to strip foliage. Lavender’ (Ball/Kieft) Similar Cultivars: ‘Sun King’, ‘Double Good Qualities: Strong stems (4); Quick’ (2); ‘Teddy Bear’. Straight stems (3); Rich color (2); Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife Long stems, nice size flower, good in cool water; Did fine in plain water. uniform color, germination was good, Comments: Very, very tall, may be more nice full flowers, good dark green manageable pinched; This was the last leaves; Cloudy-like appearance; sunflower to bloom in the whole patch. Good greenhouse forcing variety; Withstands heat well, strong spike, Sunflower ‘Gold Rush’ (SeedSense) blossomed as well as any snapdragon Good Qualities: Long stems (3); Similar ever grown; Good floret fill on stems, to ‘Procut Orange’, but generally smaller soft mixable color for bouquets. bloom, somewhat darker color, larger center Problems: Short, especially branch- and shorter petals; Useful as bouquet-size ing stems; None; A bit lighter in color branching with small brown center; Standard to their lavender snapdragons grown; sunflower, hardy, easy to grow; 100% Did not germinate well; Like most germination! nice, rich petal shape and color, cultivars, Showed late season sus- classic sunflower; Early blooming, good ceptibility to rust; It was wet around golden color, green buds add contrast in here so I think they were stunted bouquets, small size is good for floral work; from root rot. Strong stems, nice size flower, good uniform Similar Cultivars: Other Potomac color, germination was good, nice full ‘Musicbox’ snapdragons; Other greenhouse forc- flowers, good dark green leaves; Branching; ing varieties. Petals orange with dark disc, profuse Similar Cultivars: ‘Fama Blue’. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in branching at wide spacing; Attractive, crisp- Postharvest Recommendations: We use low- cool water. petaled bloom for the first 3 to 4 days. sugar holding solution; Floralife in cool water. Comments: At first I thought the color Problems: Seemed that after it was cut the Comments: I don't see much difference looked "washed out" and pale, but as the petals got weak; Some blooms too small between this one and ‘Fama Blue’, but that's season went on they grew on me—it was a to be usable; Many petals were cupped not necessarily a problem; I have gotten wonderful performer, even with our diverse small, short; None; Multiple heads and side great ones from California growers. weather season; Grown in greenhouse; In the branching, grew too big at 6-inch spacing, heat the color fades to an unattractive washed- grows tall in long-day conditions making it Scabiosa ‘Fama White’ (Benary) out shade of lilac. more likely to topple in summer wind/rain Good Qualities: Strong stems (2); Big events; Very multi-branching; Moderately flowers, pretty!; Straight stems, uniform Sunflower daylength sensitive - flowered 8 days earlier height; Taller stems, nice addition to Sunflower ‘Giant Sungold’ (Benary) after short day exposure in seedling stage bouquets; Flowered sparsely first year from Good Qualities: Gorgeous double flower than when grown in long days, profuse seed, nice full bloom, good clean white color; (4); Nice size (2); Florists loved it (2); Furry branching keeps main flower size low; Side Great form; Long stems, nice size flower, with green center; Unique flower shape, shoots usually too short. good uniform color, germination was good. pleasing in arrangements; Long stems, strong Similar Cultivars: ‘Procut Orange’; Lots – Problems: None (2); Some of the flowers stems, good uniform color, germination was this one doesn’t stand out for me. had browning at the edges; Tends to get good, double flowers were well accepted; Postharvest Recommendations: May tired at end of season, susceptible to thrips Big, bright, long vase life. help to cut this one before it totally opens; damage; Not very many stems per plant; Did Problems: Thick stem (2); Buds all the way Harvested as fully-colored petals were just not bloom and burnt up in the Texas summer; up the stem, many near bloom, weakening emerging, did fine in plain water; Floralife Pain in the butt to establish, doesn't compete stem near top, many off-center blooms, in cool water. well, spindly, probably better in year two. would not grow again; Susceptible to disease, Comments: Many side buds, which are not Similar Cultivars: None listed. many buds on stem, some flowers opened liked for production harvest, but okay for Postharvest Recommendations: We use only halfway; First spring planting was like home garden extended use; Did not pinch low-sugar holding solution; Floralife in a grasshopper magnet—they ate everything, to encourage branching; At the 9 x 9 in. cool water. stripped the leaves and started on the young spacing used, showed a lot of branches that Comments: Any transplants set out promptly flower buds, the few flowers that did start to were wasted to get enough stem length for wilted from the excessive heat/drought and open were very dirty looking in the center, the main stem, in a topping trial, was very water restrictions were an ongoing issue; productive at higher densities.

The Cut Flower Quarterly 26 Volume 24, Number 1 Sunflower ‘Musicbox’ (Benary) grabbed out of the mixed varieties bucket Sunflower ‘ProCut Brilliance’ Good Qualities: Many 4-inch blooms, me- at market, a perfect September sunflower; (SeedSense) dium yellow color petals with rusty brown Didn’t like color. Good Qualities: Bright attractive color (8); center; Nice mix of colors, small flower size Long stems, strong stems, nice size flower, is good for bouquets. Branching plants look Sunflower ‘ProCut Bicolor Plus’ good uniform color, germination was good, pretty in garden; Long stems, strong stems, (SeedSense) nice full flowers, good dark green leaves; I nice size flower, good uniform color, germi- Good Qualities: Sharp contrasting petal loved both ‘Amber’ and ‘Brilliance’, well nation was good; Useful as a filler in bou- colors (5); Consistent bicolor pattern from received by customers; Similar to ‘Procut quets; Tall, strong, held well, good vase life. plant to plant (2); Long stems, strong stems, Orange’ and just as good; Great leaves, 5 Problems: Too short (3); Pollen (2); Mul- nice size flower, germination was good, inches across, brilliant yellow near tips and tiple heads; Off-types present; Didn't like nice full flowers, good dark green leaves; gold near center; Large, nice vase life; Very that I cut the whole stem at once, some flow- A favorite with customers, strong stems; uniform, single head per plant; Firm stem, ers weren't open all the way, but would have Very attractive, stands out in bouquets, like deepening petal color towards center; lost center flower if I waited; None; Not a has "WOW" factor; Would work well in Consistent, good petal fill around centres; cut flower type; would be more suitable as a autumn bouquets; Beautiful dark center and 4-6 in. flower; Medium height and vigor. temporary bedding plant, but not long-lived 6 inch wide flowers; Strong, straight stems, Problems: None (2); A little hard to strip enough for that purpose. vigorous grower, insensitive to daylength. foliage; Centres too large. Similar Cultivars: ‘Valentine’. Problems: None; Some stem instability post Similar Cultivars: ‘Procut Orange’; It is Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife harvest; Petal drop after 5-7 days in the cooler. fairly similar to many other cultivars. in cool water; Cut when petals first opening Similar Cultivars: ‘Orange Mahogany’. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in into plain water. Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in cool water; Did fine in plain water. Comments: 80% germination; Too short for cool water; This new version is somewhat Comments: The variation in petal color from anything other than bouquet work, too short less susceptible to petal loss when the heads orange at center to lighter yellow-orange at tips for florist and flower was only about 3 inches are brushed than the original version of is subtle but eye catching, I just might grow across; Am not really a fan of this color mix. ‘Procut Bicolor’, but not as good as standard this one next year; Insensitive to daylength. orange varieties. Sunflower ‘ProCut Amber Glow’ (SeedSense) Good Qualities: Beautiful unique color— apricot with orange tones (4); Strong (4); Tall (2); I loved both ‘Amber Glow’ and ‘Brilliance’, great colors, well received by customers; Very pretty color combo; 95% germination, single flower per stem, regular head size, didn't grow too big; Plant habit okay, very early to bloom; 4 -6 inch blooms; Little branch tendency, attractive slightly darker center on pale yellow petal tips, 58 days from sowing in midsummer; Nice size flower, germination was good, nice full flowers, good dark green leaves; Fast grower. Problems: None (3); Blooms generally too small, thin stems; Petals look faded, unstable stem, insect magnet; Color is too pale, there is not enough definition in the bi-color pattern. Similar Cultivars: ‘Peach Passion’. Postharvest Recommendations: Flower form stayed a little cupped when harvested at standard "petals emerging" stage for ‘ProCut Brilliance’ sunflower—might harvest a little more open or experiment with low sugar flower food—however, cupped shape is a nice look; Floralife in cool water. Comments: All varieties came in about the Sunflower ‘ProCut Gold’(SeedSense) Comments: Might try growing again with same time. I should have spaced the planting Good Qualities: Beautiful gold with green wider spacing in hopes of getting larger times; Shorter variety than others in series; yellow center (4); Strong stems (2); Long blooms; This one was my absolute favorite 64 days from sowing in midsummer; slightly stems, nice size flower, good uniform color, of all of the varieties we trialed this year, the later than most orange varieties. germination was good, nice full flowers, peachy petal color is very trendy right now good dark green leaves; Nice size; Sold and these were the first ones our customers every stem; Nice, early sunflower, pretty centers, long vase life; 100% germination,

The Cut Flower Quarterly 27 Volume 24, Number 1 fantastically uniform, stem and head size coloration, good petal overlap; Early variety, Something like ‘Procut Bicolor’, which is not too large so useful for bouquet work; strong stems, 4-5 inch flowers; Opens nicely far easier to grow and harvest. Green center holds well in heat; Taller plant when cut; 95% germination, single head per Postharvest Recommendations: Cut when habit than other ProCuts in the trial patch, stem, fairly uniform stem and head size, petals first opening into plain water; Floralife gave better stem length, 10 days earlier uniform coloration; strong, vigorous plant. in cool water; Did fine in plain water. than ‘Sunrich Gold’; 4-6 inch flowers, Problems: Petal drop (2); None; Some stem Comments: This is a great garden plant, but sturdy stems; Strongest of the series tested; instability post harvest; Grows too large at 6-in. not a professional cutting type; Branching Attractive medium-sized flower. spacing for bouquet work, also tends to topple variety which, once cut, made 2-3 additional Problems: None (2); Hard to strip foliage, in summer wind/rain events because it grows 12 inch long stems with about 3 inch flowers. disc fades to pale gold as flower head opens, so big, I might try this one at 4-inch spacing; Only good for short bouquet work; Grew petals a little pointy for my taste; Unstable Somewhat late: 68 days in midsummer. plants close to get a single stem crop. stems, petals fold backwards lengthwise; Similar Cultivars: ‘Ruby Eclipse’, ‘Straw- Some stems thick and necks curved, some berry Blonde’, I think this one is better than Sunflower ‘Soraya’ (Benary) flowers with bent petals. those. Good Qualities: Beautiful deep orange Similar Cultivars: ‘Sunrich Gold’ (2). Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife color; (2); Long stems (2); Heads point up Postharvest Recommendations: Floralife in cool water; Did fine in plain water. which shows well in a bouquet, various in cool water; Did fine in plain water. Comments: All varieties came in about the blooms sizes can be used in large or small Comments: Very popular with my farmers’ same time, I should have spaced the planting arrangements, Almost leafless stems; Strong market customers; I might be excited about times; Valuable addition to our summer mix; stems, nice size flower, good uniform color, this one except that ‘Sunrich Gold’ is every Uniform growth habit and coloration for a germination was good; Upward facing. bit as uniform and easy to grow with foliage novelty type, the burgundy center is lovely; Problems: None (2); Pollen (2); Bloomed that strips much easier, also the disc on Insensitive to daylength. later than other varieties in patch; Stem ‘Sunrich Gold’ stays vibrant green as the length was very short and side branches flower opens while this one fades to a dull Sunflower ‘Ring of Fire’(Benary) never opened; 50% germination, long time gold; Production of green-centred sunflowers Good Qualities: Nice bicolor pattern (4), to mature under long day conditions so not has been increasing here over the last few years; consistent; Good rich rusty red color for yet blooming for us in Pacific Northwest. This was my favorite; Insensitive to daylength. autumn; Strong contrast of color in flower Similar Cultivars: None listed. head; Long stems, strong stems, nice size Postharvest Recommendations: Cut when Sunflower ‘ProCut Lemon Bicolor’ flower, good uniform color, germination was petals first opening into plain water; Floralife (SeedSense) good; Pretty; 90% germination, good. in cool water. Good Qualities: Attractive bicolor (3); Problems: Multi-branching, has pollen; Comments: Long lateral branching is Long stems, strong stems, nice size flower, None; Petals began to drop within few days unusual for a sunflower, quite useful; Grew good uniform color, germination was of cutting; Short stems, short vase life; plants close to get a single stem crop. good, nice full flowers, good dark green Multiple heads per stem, difficult to strip leaves; Great for late season bouquets, long leaves, pointy shaped petals. Sunflower ‘Valentine’ (Benary) lasting, unique looking; Very attractive petal Similar Cultivars: ‘ProCut BiColor Plus’; Good Qualities: Rich light yellow color with dark center (8); Branching (2); Strong stems (2); Medium sized bloom is easy to use; Developed long laterals that could also be used, long stems, nice size flower, good uniform color, germination was good; Useful as a filler in bouquets; Good side shoots; Small head size good for bouquet work; More useful as a home garden cut flower variety. Problems: Too short (2); Has pollen (3); Flowers too small (2); Washed-out pale yellow (2), making them unsellable; Many unusable; Very brittle, stem caliper at the flower head is very thin and flimsy; grasshoppers like it; Short vase life; 80% germination is too sketchy for us, multiple heads, difficult to strip foliage; Muddy color. Similar Cultivars: ‘Procut Lemon’, ‘Musicbox’. Postharvest Recommendations: None listed. Comments: People are always looking for different colored sunflowers, and this is one; Not suitable for commercial production.

Ring of Fire’ The Cut Flower Quarterly 28 Volume 24, Number 1 2011 ASCFG Seed Trial Results. The first row of data for each cultivar is the average and the second row is the range of responses. Note when only one response is listed, either only one person responded for that category or several responded and all gave the same rating. The single highest score and the single lowest score in each category for each cultivar have been dropped. Species Ease of Yield Stem Market Repeat Average Cultivar length appreciation again cultivation postharvest (stems/plant)   Company (inches) rating rating rating life (days) Ageratum 7.9 16.7 4.0 4.0 4.0 9.6 >Everest Blue= 1-18 6-24 3-5 1-5 3-5 4-15 Ball/Kieft

Ammi 5.0 28.1 2.6 2.6 3.1 12.0 >Pink= 1-13 15-46 1-4 1-4 1-5 10-14 Genesis Seed

Aster 1.9 32.4 2.6 1.0 1.7 - >Balloon Rose= 1.9 32.4 1-4 1 1-3 - Gloeckner

Aster 3.3 17.4 3.0 2.0 2.3 10.0 >Balloon Silver= 1.6-5 12-23 1-4 1-4 1-4 10 Gloeckner

Aster 6.1 14.0 2.7 2.6 2.9 11.3 ‘Beautiful Day Rose’ 1-16 10-24 1-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Gloeckner

Aster 7.8 15.4 3.2 2.6 3.0 8.5 ‘Beautiful Day Yellow’ 1-13 10-24 3-5 1-5 1-5 7-10 Gloeckner

Aster 6.0 19.3 3.7 3.9 3.5 10.0 ‘Bonita Blue= 1-15 12-28 2-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Sakata/Gloeckner

Aster 5.1 19.1 3.7 3.6 3.5 6.3 ‘Bonita Pink' 1-8 12-28 2-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Sakata/Gloeckner

Aster 6.5 19.1 4.1 4.0 3-9 9.6 ‘Bonita Rose' 1-12 12-28 3-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Sakata/Gloeckner

Aster 5.5 17.1 3.9 3.9 3.5 10.0 ‘Bonita Scarlet= 1-12 12-27 2-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Sakata/Gloeckner

Aster 5.6 19.0 3.9 3.7 3.6 9.3 ‘Bonita White= 1-10 12-30 2-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Sakata/Gloeckner

Aster 4.1 18.4 3.2 3.7 2.8 9.0 ‘Jewel Purpurit Lilac' 1-11 12-26 3-4 3-5 1-4 7-14 Gloeckner

Aster 4.2 16.4 2.9 2.6 2.7 7.0 ‘Jewel Red Shadow Mix' 1-11 12-24 2.7-3 1-4 1-4 7 Gloeckner

Aster 4.3 17.7 2.9 3.0 2.5 9.0 ‘Jewel Rhodilit Carmine' 1-12 12-24 3 1-5 1-4 7-10 Gloeckner

 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesales, retailers, or final consumers direct.

The Cut Flower Quarterly 29 Volume 24, Number 1 Species Ease of Average Yield Stem Market Repeat Cultivar length appreciation again cultivation postharvest (stems/plant)   Company (inches) rating rating rating life (days) Aster 3.7 16.0 2.9 2.7 2.7 9.3 ‘Lady Coral Chamois' 1-6 10-25 1-4 1-5 1-4 7-14 Gloeckner

Aster 4.1 16.9 2.7 2.4 2.7 8.3 ‘Lady Coral Lavender’ 1-8 10-26 1-4 1-5 1-4 7-10 Gloeckner

Aster 4.6 17.0 3.2 2.5 3.1 8.0 ‘Lady Coral Rose’ 1-12 10-30 2-4 1-4 1-4 7-10 Gloeckner

Aster 4.4 20.5 3.4 3.2 2.7 10.0 ‘Rose of Shanghai Crimson’ 1-10 12-28 3-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Gloeckner

Aster 5.1 20.1 3.7 3.4 2.9 10.0 ‘Rose of Shanghai Rose-White’ 1-12 12-28 3-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Gloeckner

Aster 7.3 15.6 2.9 3.0 2.4 10.0 ‘Rose of Shanghai White’ 1-17 12-28 1-5 1-5 1-5 7-14 Gloeckner

Aster 3.9 16.6 3.1 3.3 3.0 9.0 ‘Syringa’ 1-10 13-24 3-4 3-4 3-3 7-14 Gloeckner

Basil 8.9 20.9 3.6 3-6 4.4 11.0 >Aromato= 1-34 12-46 2-5 1-5 2-5 5-18 Genesis Seed

Campanula 3.6 17.7 3.7 3.0 3.5 9.3 ‘Campana White’ 1-8 7-24 2-5 1-5 1-5 3-14 Ball/Kieft

Celosia 7.3 19.2 3.6 3.7 4.4 10.8 >Orange Peach 1-27 6-35 1-5 1-5 3-5 7-14 Genesis Seed

Celosia 7.6 19.5 3.3 3.3 4.2 14.6 ‘Sunday Dark Pink’ 1-22 12-48 1-5 1-5 3-5 7-30 Ball/Kieft

Celosia 6.8 15.2 2.7 2.6 3.8 7.8 ‘Sunday Wine Red’ 3-21 6-56 1-5 1-5 3-5 7-14 Ball/Kieft

Celosia 4.4 13.5 3.8 2.9 4.4 10.0 ‘Tornado Red’ 1-12 6-24 2-5 1-5 3-5 7-14 Genesis Seeds

Craspedia 4.9 22.9 3.6 3.2 3.3 18.0 ‘Sun Ball’ 1-18 15-34 1-5 1-5 1-5 3-39 Genesis Seeds

Delphinium 2.7 22.7 3.3 3.4 3.4 6.5 >Benary's Pacific Mix= 1-5 12-30 1-4 2-4 1-5 6-7 Benary

 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesales, retailers, or final consumers direct.

The Cut Flower Quarterly 30 Volume 24, Number 1 Species Stem Market Repeat Ease of Average Yield Cultivar length appreciation again cultivation postharvest (stems/plant)   Company (inches) rating rating rating life (days) Larkspur 3.4 28.7 3.7 3.1 3.7 6.8 ‘Galilee Blue’ 1-7 12-48 2-5 1-4 1-5 4-9 Genesis Seed

Larkspur 2.7 29.1 4.0 3.4 3.9 6.2 ‘Galilee White’ 1-8 12-48 3-5 1-4 1-5 5-9 Genesis Seed

Lisianthus 2.8 18.2 4.1 4.1 3.4 12.3 >ABC 2-3 Misty Blue= 1-7 6-34 2-5 3-5 1-5 7-14 Ball/Kieft

Lisianthus 2.7 17.5 3.9 4.0 3.4 12.0 >ABC 2-4 Yellow Improved= 1-7 10-29 3-5 3-5 1-5 4-14 Ball/Kieft

Pepper 3.8 15.7 4.1 3.9 4.4 16.8 >Orange Globe= 1-7 6-31 3-5 2-5 4-5 7-23 Genesis Seed

Rudbeckia 10.1 20.1 4.9 4.6 3.7 9.6 >Prairie Sun= 2-15 3-26 1-5 3-5 3-5 3-14 Benary

Scabiosa 4.5 17.8 3.8 3.3 3.7 6.3 >Fama Deep Blue= 1-10 9-26 2-5 2-5 1-5 5-8 Benary

Scabiosa 5.0 19.4 3.8 3-6 3.4 6.7 >Fama White= 1-12 10-28 2-5 2-4 1-5 4-8 Benary

Snapdragon 5.7 20.9 4.1 3.9 3.8 8.6 >Potomac Lavender= 1-12 8-30 3-5 3-5 3-5 3-14 Ball/Kieft

Sunflower 2.2 42.5 4.5 4.0 4.2 10.0 ‘Giant Sungold’ 1-7 16-72 3-5 1-5 2-5 8-14 Benary

Sunflower 1.1 39.4 3.5 3.1 4.3 8.4 ‘Gold Rush’ 1-3 16-72 2-5 1-5 3-5 7-14 SeedSense

Sunflower 2.2 21.4 2.8 2.7 4.4 7.8 ‘Musicbox’ 1-7 12-48 1-5 1-5 3-5 6-14 Benary

Sunflower 1.0 46.4 3.9 3.8 4.6 8.8 ‘Procut Amber Glow’ 1-2 18-72 2-5 2-5 3-5 7-14 SeedSense

Sunflower 1.1 46.1 4.3 4.0 4.6 8.3 ‘Procut Bicolor Plus’ 1-2 18-72 3-5 3-5 4-5 7-14 SeedSense

Sunflower 1.0 43.8 4.2 4.3 4.4 8.8 ‘Procut Brilliance’ 1-2 18-67 3-5 3-5 3-5 7-14 SeedSense

 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesales, retailers, or final consumers direct.

The Cut Flower Quarterly 31 Volume 24, Number 1 Species Stem Repeat Ease of Average Yield Market Cultivar length appreciation again cultivation postharvest (stems/plant)   Company (inches) rating rating rating life (days) 2011 ASCFG Perennial & Woody Trials Sunflower 1.0 45.7 4.2 4.0 4.5 9.0 ‘Procut Gold’ 1-2 18-72 3-5 1-5 3-5 7-14 SeedSense

Sunflower 1.0 49.9 4.7 4.6 4.7 9.1 ‘Procut Red/Lemon Bicolor’ 1-2 18-70 4-5 4-5 4-5 7-14 SeedSense

Sunflower 2.4 32.1 3.8 3.6 4.7 7.6 ‘Ring of Fire’ 1-10 18-60 3-5 2-5 3-5 6-14 Benary

Sunflower 2.3 32.3 3.6 3.3 4.5 8.1 ‘Soraya’ 1-8 14-48 1-5 1-5 3-5 6-14 Benary

Sunflower 3.2 28.1 3.3 2.8 4.5 8.7 ‘Valentine’ 1-15 12-48 2-5 1-5 3-5 7-14 Benary

 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesales, retailers, or final consumers direct.

The Cut Flower Quarterly 32 Volume 24, Number 1