Floral frontrunners

Features - Cover Story

Trial managers from around the U.S. reveal the top-performing varieties. Consider adding these stars to your production schedule for 2022.

October 29, 2021

Compiled by Chris Manning

Best overall performance, Annual

Begonia I’Conia Costa Del Sol from Dümmen Orange, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

This Begonia looked great in all kinds of weather. We had torrential rains and blazing heat and it looked good throughout everything. Visitors really liked the color variation in the large, long-lasting blooms.

Begonia Viking Explorer Rose from Sakata, Young’s Plant Farm

Begonia Viking Explorer is a new hanging basket version of Viking Begonia. It is available in two colors – Rose and Red with green foliage. It makes a tidy rounded basket and at the peak of the summer it is covered in flowers.

Coleus FlameThrower series from Ball FloraPlant, Ball Horticultural

With a range from full shade to full sun, and the wide assortment of colors within the series, there is a FlameThrower for every occasion in garden design. If I chose to do it, I could have incorporated a variety from this series in every bed and not have to worry about them at all.

New Guinea Impatiens Spectra series from Syngenta, Michigan State University

Soon after these were planted outside, we unexpectedly had a day where the temperature dipped below 40°F. I expected our New Guinea Impatiens to abort their flower buds, but that didn’t happen! The series bounced back with an amazing season-long show of huge flowers smothering the plants.

Rex Begonia Jurassic Megalo ‘Reptile’ from Ball Ingenuity, University of Georgia

This series by Ball Ingenuity showed us all what begonias are capable of in the landscape, whether overflowing in a hanging basket, or adding a burst of colorful foliage to a woodland garden display. These plants are fun and easy to care for with minimal irrigation needed.

Rudbeckia Sunbeckia Ophelia from Flamingo Holland/Bull, Colorado State University

Gigantic yellow flowers glow in the sun and attracted attention from across the garden. The huge flowers create a near solid canopy of yellow color that creates enormous flower power. Foliage that is visible is very attractive and clean. Plants require no pinching and matures at a nice medium height. The long-lasting flowers keep a fresh look and stay low maintenance by “burying its dead.” Performance was excellent both in ground and in containers.

Best overall performance, Perennial

Brunnera ‘Queen of Hearts’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

This huge Brunnera looked pristine all summer long. The eye-catching venation adds texture and brightness to shady corners of the garden.

Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ and Artisan Collection from Kieft Seed, Ball Horticultural

The mix and individual colors are landscape-tough, large, and flower throughout the season. Even in their first season planted they perform admirably and will just continue to get better over time.

Artemisia SunFern Olympia from Darwin Perennials, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

This is the first year for this plant and its sister Arcadia. Olympia was one of our top performers and also a visitor favorite. It looks great in combos as a foliage element or in the landscape.

Nepeta Blue Prelude from Darwin Perennials, Colorado State University

We have trialed Nepeta Blue Prelude since 2019 and the plant was very fragrant and vigorous. It had large vibrant blue/violet flowers and many of them. It bloomed the entire season and attracted all kinds of pollinators.

Marigold Endurance Yellow and Sunset Gold from Syngenta, Young’s Plant Farm

Marigold Endurance is a new Marigold series from Syngenta. They are available in three colors – Orange, Yellow and Sunset Gold. Endurance Marigold has a large French marigold type flower with exceptional heat performance in the garden. Sunset Gold is an interesting two-toned flower that is yellow with a golden orange blush.

Best pollinator-friendly, Perennial

Agastache Kudos Mandarin from Terra Nova Nurseries, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

This was planted in 2020 and the whole series performed well. The plants produced dense mounding plants all summer.

Coreopsis Fall Sensation ‘Vermillion’ from Dümmen Orange, University of Georgia

The bright red burst of blooms on ‘Vermillion’ stands 12-18” tall and makes a dramatic statement in a perennial or prairie setting. A favorite of our local honeybees during the Great Georgia Pollinator Census.

Eupatorium Euphoria Ruby from Darwin Perennials, Colorado State

We have had Eupatorium Euphoria Ruby in trials since 2019 and the plant had strong stems and was tall and very vigorous. The many flowers attracted all kinds of pollinators throughout the season.

Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

This versatile plant is heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, a pollinator magnet, and just looked great all season. The chartreuse foliage will brighten up any garden bed, especially when other perennials are out of flower. The delicate pink flowers are an added plus, attracting pollinators of all kinds.

The Salvia category, Ball Horticultural

Just like the annual side, there are an incredible number of perennial Salvia that attract an overabundance of pollinators. Some varieties planted this season: S. greggii Mirage; S. nemorosa Rose Marvel; S. nemorosa Blue by You.

Best pollinator-friendly, Annual

Bidens Brazen Imperial Luck from Syngenta Flowers, Colorado State University

The vigorous plants were densely branched and created a solid mound of flowers from across the canopy which created an impressive display of color. Blooms maintained a uniform pattern and had a rich saturated red color that paired well with the dark green foliage.

Cuphea Hummingbirds Lunch from PlantHaven, Michigan State University

This Cuphea is both heat and drought-tolerant, as well as being an incredible pollinator attractor. This container was always fun to visit because it was always covered in bees of all types.

Heliotropium Augusta ‘Lavender’ from Proven Winners, University of Georgia

This old-fashioned favorite heliotropium hybrid is well-behaved and will fill a small space with light purple fragrant flowers all summer long. Pollinators will appreciate the aroma, and provide lots of activity in the garden.

Lantana Havana Sunrise from Dümmen Orange, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

This Lantana was a powerhouse of blooms all summer long. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds were constant visitors.

The Salvia category, Ball Horticultural

What can I say. If it sips nectar or collects pollen, you can find it on one of the Salvia scattered about The Gardens. The incredible variety within this genus caters to nearly every pollinator out there in some form. Some varieties planted this season: Interspecific Salvia Big Blue; S. splendens Lighthouse; S. cultivars Skyscraper; S. guaranitica Purple & Bloom.

Zinnia Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor from Sakata, Young’s Plant Farm

Zinnia Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor was an All-America Selections Gold Medal Winner. It has great summer garden performance but what makes this zinnia stand out is the flower color. It was covered in bees and butterflies all summer long.

Best heat-tolerant, Annual

Cleome Sparkler 2.0 series from Syngenta Flowers, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

These plants drew attention from everyone.Even after a torrential rain/windstorm, they bounced right back. They were very floriferous and were in bloom all summer.

Coleus Le Freak from Dümmen Orange, Young’s Plant Farm

Coleus is always a winner in our trial garden. Current breeding is working towards sun tolerance, bright colors, late flowering and compact habits. Coleus Le Freak fits this profile perfectly with a compact rounded plant habit and a nice foliage color that is contrasting deep red and green.

Catharanthus Soiree Kawaii ‘Coral’ from Suntory, University of Georgia

A knock-out in hot and humid weather and tolerant of clay soils, thiss ultivar provides a sea of color. The flowers are small but mighty, and the foliage is bright and eye-catching.

Ornamental pepper Black Pearl from PanAmerican Seed, Ball Horticultural

I don’t think this plant would mind whatever the temperature rose to. It seems just do its thing while the plants and people around it find the temperature unbearable.

Heliotropium Augusta Lavender from Proven Winners, Michigan State University

This is the first hybrid heliotrope I’ve ever seen, It filled the bed with a continuous bloom of lavender flowers, a color you don’t see very often in floriculture.

Lantana Hot Blooded Red from Syngenta Flowers, Colorado State University

Blooms had a good rich saturated red color with a touch of orange. Plants maintained a compact and uniform growth habit compared to many other red lantanas. The vibrant red flowers made a good choice for hot locations with minimal water demands.

Best heat-tolerant, Perennial

Gaillardia SpinTop ‘Orange Halo Improved’ from

Dümmen Orange, University of Georgia

There is a remarkable shape and powerful color on the ‘Orange Halo Improved’. A wonderful way to add seasonal interest in spaces where many flowers cannot endure the heat.

Iberis Summer Snowdrift from Darwin Perennials, Ball Horticultural

It definitely can’t take extraordinarily high temps as well as some other perennials, but the fact that it is an Iberis that flowers throughout the entire summer and keeps going strong in the dry heat of summer is rather remarkable. This one made it through with flying colors and that is something worth mentioning.

Nepeta Cat’s Meow from Proven Winners, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

Looked good all summer with pale lavender blooms. Once our season started the weather turned hot and dry and this looked great all along.

Perovskia CrazyBlue from Darwin Perennials, Colorado State University

We had Perovskia CrazyBlue in trials since 2019 and the growth habit is very compact and upright. It starts blooming early in the season and it is long lasting. It can tolerate intense summer heat.

Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

This versatile plant is heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, a pollinator magnet, and just looked great all season. The chartreuse foliage will brighten up any garden bed. The delicate pink flowers are an added plus, attracting pollinators of all kinds.

Best drought-tolerant annual

Aptenia Baby Sun Rose Red, Ball Horticultural

This class isn’t used all that often, but I have never seen it wilt or even struggle with heat or drought. It may not be the most floriferous plant out there, but it is damn tough and will perform throughout the season regardless of a high-temp or low-water environment.

Lantana Luscious ‘Marmalade’ from Proven Winners, University of Georgia

Largest flower clusters we have ever seen! Vibrant orange tones stand out among the rest. Healthy plants from spring to fall with excellent greenhouse performance. Tough under drought stress in the Southeastern heat.

Portulaca Mega Pazzaz Purple from Danzinger, Colorado State University

Intense violet flowers were abundant and held close to foliage to keep a very compact and uniform growth habit. Blooms were single and were very popular with the bees. It was very tolerant of the summer heat and looked great all season.

Scaevola Surdiva series from Suntory, Michigan State University

The Surdiva series of Scaevola performed great this summer. They provided non-stop color, an excellent container habit, and were just healthy, problem-free plants. While our summer was quite wet overall, the Surdiva series handled our early-season heat/drought just fine.

Best drought-tolerant perennial

Nepeta Prelude series from Perennials, Ball Horticultural

These new, large-statured Nepeta do not fail to impress. They flowered continuously all season even through the drought conditions we had this summer. Nepeta are known to be tough and these have even greater vigor bred into them.

Echinacea purpurea Prairie Splendor Compact Rose Dark Cone, Colorado State.

We have trialed Echinacea purpurea Prairie Splendor, since 2019 and have had a great survival rate with very strong stems and many vibrant magenta flowers. It is very drought tolerant.

Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

Rudibeckia Minibeckia ‘Flame’ from GardenChoice, University of Georgia

A winner according to both our public and industry visitors alike. This breathtaking beauty showed off for the entire season with good resistance to the elements. Highly abundant blooms for such a compact plant.

Wendy Klusendorf

Departments - Three Questions

Rocket Farms’ vice president of sales discusses growing both edible products and ornamentals, COVID concerns and more.

October 25, 2021

Chris Manning

Greenhouse Management: What has the supply chain been like for Rocket Farms the last 18 or so months?

Wendy Klusendorf: It started off as a real boom time for food products, so our herb and edible category grew a significant amount. Which was also somewhere we wanted to go directionally as well. We’ve been primarily a floral-focused business, especially with our roots in Nurseryman’s Exchange. But in the last 18 months, with people staying home and people being aware of how they get their food, the growth on the edible side has been exponential. The floral side of the business has been good for the last 12 months — the first few months of COVID hit right before Easter shipping in 2020, so that was a really rough time because we threw away millions of dollars of plants because retailers did not know what to do and, at the beginning, there were customers limits.

GM: What has it been like doing business in two categories over the pandemic?

WK: I’ve been in this business for 30 years and I thought I had seen everything. I can tell you know that I certainly had not seen everything. The last 18 months have been super humbling, but also exciting because there are new challenges. There is always a new, fresh approach to come out the other side of a challenge better.

We’ve been saying around the company that our crystal balls are broken — I’m not sure how to even look at the next six or 12 or 18 months anymore. And we just don’t have the experience of going through this before where we can say ‘oh, we went through this 10 years ago.’ No one has been through a pandemic before. I will say that we have great partners who we’ve leaned on more than ever and have had meaningful conversations with on how to steer the ship.

GM: Are there still growth opportunities in the next few years in the two markets Rocket Farms servers?

WK: Yes, 100%. We’ll continue to refine our categories and our product line to make sure we are aligning with what we can best execute and what the market is telling us we need to do, and what our key customers are looking for. I’ve had conversations with retailers looking ahead where they are coming to us looking for support, so we just need to deliver. We need to balance the science of growth and the art of balancing all of the unknowns — shipping, increases in costs, access to supplies like growing media and everything else that can cause problems. But we feel the opportunity is there.

Pindstrup’s Neil Watson shares who he is both at and outside of work

Faces of the Industry - Advertorial

When an employee is knowledgeable, passionate and caring, everybody wins.

October 25, 2021

If you’ve been in the horticultural and agricultural industries for any amount of time, you probably know about Pindstrup, the Denmark-based substrate producer. But you may not know about the people behind Pindstrup, the people who, after more than a century of success, keep the company running. Brands and companies are nothing without the people behind them. One person behind Pindstrup is Neil Watson, technical account manager for the Western United States.

As a technical account manager, Watson’s job entails “calling on clients [to service] their substrate needs,” as he puts it. Watson’s job is at the intersection of sales skills and technical knowledge. “You’re not just selling a product,” Watson explains. “You have to be knowledgeable about the product because you’re customizing recipes and formulations to where they’re being used.” A vegetable transplant grower has different needs from a tropical foliage grower, so Watson has to know those differences and give each grower what they need.

Watson compares his role to being a general practitioner. “I may not have a ton of depth as a doctor of a specific plant, but I have decades of general knowledge and, in some cases, firsthand growing experience of plants through school and, more importantly, through my career,” he elaborates. “You need a sales rep that can walk in the door and know the pros and cons of soils, know the options in soil or substrates, asking them [the grower] questions about what their challenges are, then designing something that’s going to best fit their model.”

But every employee is more than the role they perform. And although he stays busy with work, saying “there’s no slowdown in agriculture, it always just keeps moving,” Watson has plenty of ways to keep life interesting when he’s off the clock. In his spare time, Watson spends a lot of time outdoors, whether it’s tending to his garden or hiking around southern Utah, which he’s happy to call home. “The nice thing about where I live, it’s a slower pace of life,” he explains. “It’s very comfortable here. We’re in a city where it’s easy to get out and be amongst nature and relax.”

Both at work and at home, Watson is a caring person. “I truly care about everybody’s outcome and everybody’s success,” he says. “I want to be part of the positive journey … be a positive force.” The world always needs more positive forces and more people who genuinely care about others and about what they do. This attitude is no doubt part of what makes Watson such a valuable member of Pindstrup’s team.

Embracing the unexpected

Faces of the Industry - Advertorial

At Plantpeddler, Brenda Kubik has thrived for 30-plus years in a career she never planned on.

October 25, 2021

Brenda Kubik has been a key member of Plantpeddler’s team for 33 years. When she started at the Cresco, Iowa-based operation, she wanted a part-time job that was flexible with her family obligations. She knew nothing about plants, but that was about to change.

“I didn’t think I’d ever be that interested in horticulture and certainly didn’t think I’d still be working here over three decades later,” Kubik says. “I started with planting and spacing potted flowering plants in the afternoon a few days a week. As I worked in the greenhouse, I learned more and more and loved it. As the seasons change, the crops change — so you’re getting to do something different every few months. I also find talking to satisfied customers so rewarding.”

“Brenda has always been the type of person who wants to share her knowledge about plants and growing, even on the golf course!,” notes co-owner Rachel Gooder.

In 2001, Kubik was able to go full-time when Plantpeddler expanded and started its Young Plant division. She was promoted to Head Propagator and Head Grower, roles she’s still in today. Mike Gooder, co-owner of Plantpeddler, says that “promoting Brenda was an easy decision given her work ethic and dedication to quality.”

”Brenda and I have grown a lot of crops together,” Plantpeddler’s facility manager Jason Sbiral adds. “Some have been perfect, others not so much, but each time we have gained knowledge to perfect it for the next time.”

“We’re working with far more genetics and breeders than when I started. New varieties are being bred that allow us to pull full bench runs at shipping. New technology is so helpful to efficiently produce quality plants, too. We added three ISO robots last year which increased the consistency and quality of the rooted cuttings we grow,” Kubick says.

“As we know, growing plants Is challenging,” she continues. “Part of learning sometimes includes failing before figuring out how to consistently be successful. Mike is really good at teaching us how to produce crops. Then we dig deeper to find all the culture information we need for the crops we are growing and how to apply it to the environment of our greenhouse. This job is really about continual improvement.”

Looking ahead to retirement, Kubik has a goal to train the next group of Plantpeddler leaders to take over her role and transfer what she’s learned during her decades of experience. “Every time I say I’m going part-time, I find myself here for the same number of hours anyway,” Kubik says. “It’s my job, I love it and I always want to make sure my crops finish at 100 percent.”

The plant path

Faces of the Industry - Advertorial

Lambert Peat Moss national sales manager Otto Kaufmann has always pursued a career in horticulture.

October 25, 2021

Otto Kaufmann’s father was a 12-year-old German boy who emigrated to the U.S., became a U.S. citizen, and landed on the shores of the Philippine islands as commanded by General Douglas McArthur. His father married a Filipina, joined the civil service, and chose to remain in the Philippines where he served as a U.S. diplomat.

A story Otto related was just having graduated from high school where he studied at a private military academy, Otto decided he wanted to be an engineer. However, his math grades were not good, so he took a placement exam which suggested that he take up agriculture. When he mentioned his change in course to his father, he stills remembers the look of joy on his dad’s face, as his dad had always hoped he and his son could someday start a nursery of their own.

Just as Otto completed his studies in Agriculture from the University of the Philippines, his father passed away at an early age. Otto and his siblings moved to Massachusetts where Otto worked as a grower for a nursery from 1968 to 1975. Then he decided to start his own business, which consisted mainly of Gesneriad liners, as well as perennials that he planted in numerous home landscapes.

He later moved to the Florida Keys where he ran a resort from 1981 to 1985 — what he calls the best four-year vacation of his life. Otto then joined a national seed company located in Chicago until he was recruited by a major tissue culture company located in Apopka, Florida. He later left that company and started his own nursery in Florida here he grew outdoor crops as well as having a tissue culture lab.

In 1990, he moved on to a large grower who produced living tropical Christmas trees. Otto’s responsibilities, aside from marketing the grown plants, were numerous travels to Asia where he was instrumental in the design and purchase of ornaments that adorned the trees.

In 2002, during a show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Otto was hired by the Lamberts and has been with them ever since. He has worked his way up to the position of National Accounts Manager where he calls on key Lambert accounts. In short, he is one of the key points of contact for most growers the company deals with. He represents the company at numerous trade shows throughout the country. According to Otto, working for Lambert is and has been the best job he has ever had.

Best overall performance, Annual

Begonia I’Conia Costa Del Sol from Dümmen Orange, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

Begonia Viking Explorer Rose from Sakata, Young’s Plant Farm

Coleus FlameThrower series from Ball FloraPlant, Ball Horticultural

New Guinea Impatiens Spectra series from Syngenta, Michigan State University

Rex Begonia Jurassic Megalo ‘Reptile’ from Ball Ingenuity, University of Georgia

Rudbeckia Sunbeckia Ophelia from Flamingo Holland/Bull, Colorado State University

Best overall performance, Perennial

Brunnera ‘Queen of Hearts’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ and Artisan Collection from Kieft Seed, Ball Horticultural

Artemisia SunFern Olympia from Darwin Perennials, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

Nepeta Blue Prelude from Darwin Perennials, Colorado State University

Marigold Endurance Yellow and Sunset Gold from Syngenta, Young’s Plant Farm

Best pollinator-friendly, Perennial

Agastache Kudos Mandarin from Terra Nova Nurseries, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

Coreopsis Fall Sensation ‘Vermillion’ from Dümmen Orange, University of Georgia

Eupatorium Euphoria Ruby from Darwin Perennials, Colorado State

Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

The Salvia category, Ball Horticultural

Best pollinator-friendly, Annual

Bidens Brazen Imperial Luck from Syngenta Flowers, Colorado State University

Cuphea Hummingbirds Lunch from PlantHaven, Michigan State University

Heliotropium Augusta ‘Lavender’ from Proven Winners, University of Georgia

Lantana Havana Sunrise from Dümmen Orange, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

The Salvia category, Ball Horticultural

Zinnia Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor from Sakata, Young’s Plant Farm

Best heat-tolerant, Annual

Cleome Sparkler 2.0 series from Syngenta Flowers, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

Coleus Le Freak from Dümmen Orange, Young’s Plant Farm

Catharanthus Soiree Kawaii ‘Coral’ from Suntory, University of Georgia

Ornamental pepper Black Pearl from PanAmerican Seed, Ball Horticultural

Heliotropium Augusta Lavender from Proven Winners, Michigan State University

Lantana Hot Blooded Red from Syngenta Flowers, Colorado State University

Best heat-tolerant, Perennial

Gaillardia SpinTop ‘Orange Halo Improved’ from

Iberis Summer Snowdrift from Darwin Perennials, Ball Horticultural

Nepeta Cat’s Meow from Proven Winners, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

Perovskia CrazyBlue from Darwin Perennials, Colorado State University

Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

Best drought-tolerant annual

Aptenia Baby Sun Rose Red, Ball Horticultural

Lantana Luscious ‘Marmalade’ from Proven Winners, University of Georgia

Portulaca Mega Pazzaz Purple from Danzinger, Colorado State University

Scaevola Surdiva series from Suntory, Michigan State University

Best drought-tolerant perennial

Nepeta Prelude series from Perennials, Ball Horticultural

Echinacea purpurea Prairie Splendor Compact Rose Dark Cone, Colorado State.

Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’ from Walter’s Gardens, Michigan State University

Rudibeckia Minibeckia ‘Flame’ from GardenChoice, University of Georgia

Greenhouse Management: What has the supply chain been like for Rocket Farms the last 18 or so months?

GM: What has it been like doing business in two categories over the pandemic?

GM: Are there still growth opportunities in the next few years in the two markets Rocket Farms servers?

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