Determine the best poinsettia varieties for your market

The National Poinsettia Trials are a collaboration of the research and trialing efforts of Univ. of Fla. in Gainesville, N.C. St. Univ. in Raleigh and Purdue Univ. in West Lafayette, Ind., commercial grower/retailer Homewood Nursery in Raleigh, and 5 commercial breeders: Paul Ecke Ranch, Dummen, GroLink, Selecta First Class and Syngenta Flowers.

The trials were established to provide an independent evaluation of the newest cultivars. Individual varieties require different production procedures in different parts of the country. The 4 trial locations allow visitors to identify the varieties that will work best for them. The trial sites have the latest cultivars displayed in greenhouses and in some cases under indoor lighting conditions. Each site also has other poinsettia research projects on display including cold finishing, sustainability trials, growth regulators and novel container combinations.

Open houses will take place on:

Dec. 2: Homewood Nurseries (8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.) and N.C. St. Univ. (9 a.m.- 2 p.m.) in Raleigh, N.C.

Dec. 4: Purdue Univ. (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) in West Lafayette, Ind. Parking passes must be ordered from Tammy Goodale (tgoodale@purdue.edu). Check out the new Purdue poinsettia trial Webcam, click on virtual Greenhouse Tour and then on login https://sharepoint.agriculture.purdue.edu/agriculture/flowers/default.aspx

Dec. 8: Univ. of Fla. (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) in Gainesville.