Surdiva scaevolas

Suntory Flowers has made one of its most heat-tolerant bedding plants even better by introducing new breeding into its Surdiva scaevola series. Traditionally, scaevolas have a wild and rangy habit, but Suntory has controlled that nicely by breeding plants that display the fan-shaped flowers on short terminal spikes. While growers used to have to rely on pinching to keep scaevols in check, Surdivas are naturally compact.

The new breeding can be seen in the three new Surdiva colors that were introduced at California Spring Trials — Blue Violet, Light Blue and Fashion Pink. Colors are darker and richer. Plants are even more compact and branching. Plus, the varieties flower two weeks earlier, maximizing the opportunity for peak-season sales. Surdiva White Improved matches this new breeding in timing and habit.

For those who love the older Surdivas, those will remain on the market but will be renamed Classic, so growers can tell the difference between the two growth habits. Classic Surdivas are more mounding and semi-trailing. The new Surdivas are more upright. For the more trailing habit, choose best-selling Classic Blue, Classic Light Blue or the newer Classic Pink, which debuted last year.

Surdiva scaevolas are recommended for 4-inch production, window boxes and hanging baskets.

For more information: suntoryflowers.com