California Spring Trials 2024
Each year, ornamental plant breeders from around the world gather in California to demonstrate their new introductions, which will find their way to garden centers, box stores, and other plant outlets. This year, I traveled with colleagues from a national magazine (Greenhouse Grower) from Los Angeles to San Jose, viewing new introductions from at least twenty flower breeders along the way.
We saw hundreds of beautiful annuals, perennials, and shrubs, and I had the difficult task of writing about those plants that truly caught my eye. Here are a few; I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the future.
Remember, these plants will not be on the market until next year, 2025.
Hydrangea Game Changer series (Green Fuse Botanicals)
Hydrangea ‘Game Changer Pink’ From GreenFuse
I have had it up to my eyeballs with mophead and lace-cap hydrangeas (H. macrophylla). Too much water, die back with late freezes, need shade or they wilt, need sun or they flower poorly. It is no wonder that panicle hydrangeas have taken over the hydrangea market in many areas of the country. Even with remontant hydrangeas like the Endless Summer series, they are often fleeting and poor of flowering. If what Steve Jones tells me is so, then this lace-cap hydrangea series will be a gamechanger. Here is a hydrangea that blooms on new wood and keeps on blooming all season. I looked at the inside of the plant and two new stems, each with a potential flower head were waiting in each leaf axil. Colors were stunning.
Hydrangea Game Changer ‘Picotee’
Check out this video on Greenhouse Grower to learn more.
Angelonia Guardian series (Ball FloraPlant)
A dozen series of fine angelonias have been introduced in the last ten years and all have had their moments. I liked the strong, bullish stems of plants in this series; they were not going to be pushed around by rain or wind. They are tall, and useful for a backdrop behind other plants. Perhaps I am being optimistic, but I also believe they are strong and tall enough to be used as a cut flower. The flowers are large and close together on the flower stems. Two colors, Berry Sparkler and Blue.
Coleus ‘Skeletal’ (Kientzler)
Coleus seem to be everywhere. They look wonderful in the sun, in the shade, in large floral beds, containers and window boxes. So, how can yet one more coleus catch my eye? Take a look at the photo and ask if you would not look at it twice. The rose colors on the limb-like leaves look like a drying skeleton. It may not be the most beautiful coleus your customers have ever seen, but it will make them look, then look again. I can see this as a stand alone or in mixed container. It’s really a cool plant.
Canna ‘Cannova Gold Leopard’ (American Takii)
Cannas have come a long way and are well established as mainstream plants. Takii has always been a leader in seed-propagated cannas, and now they have outdone themselves once again. The beautiful golden petals are covered with orange speckles and oh my, these plants are stunning. The plant is midsize in height, and fits in well with the rest of the Cannova family.
The links below provide the full list of my and Julie's (editor of Greenhouse Growers) favorites.