Terra Nova Nurseries announces Penn State trial garden results

CANBY, Ore. — Terra Nova Nurseries has announced that 10 of its plants received high honors and accolades at one of the country’s most prestigious plant trial sites. The global plant breeder had the proprietary varieties trialed at The Pennsylvania State University’s (Penn State) trial gardens, including top selections of heuchera, echinacea, artemisia, and other genera. Terra Nova Nurseries’ trialed plants received awards in the coveted “Best of Show,” “Best of Species,” “Best Novelty,” and “Superior” categories. All respective trials took place during the growing season, spanning May to August 2018.

 

Terra Nova Nurseries’ Heuchera NORTHERN EXPOSURE Purple, Penstemon DAKOTA Burgundy and Artemisia MAKANA Silver were recognized as “Best of Show” varieties at Penn State, while receiving perfect, five-out-of-five scores across all trialed categories. Heucherella ‘Plum Cascade,’ Penstemon DAKOTA Burgundy, Thalictrum NIMBUS Pink, and Veronica VENTURE Blue represented Terra Nova Nurseries in the “Best of Species” category. Penn State awarded this achievement to the highest-rated plant from each genus. 

 

“We showed nearly a dozen plants at Penn State’s garden trials. Eight varieties were new entries to the trial, and seven of the eight received an average score of four and half or higher,” said Larry Finley, sales manager with Terra Nova Nurseries. “We also had five varieties receive the ‘Superior’ acknowledgement. This award was given to varieties that performed in the top 12 percent of all showing varieties.” 

 

The Pennsylvania Floriculture Advisory Committee was responsible for overseeing Penn State’s garden trials and used a rating system including evaluations of uniformity, flower, foliage and overall growth. The varieties were then given a rating of one to five for each of these individual categories. The category ratings were averaged to generate a final overall score. “Best of Show” varieties received a perfect score by attaining a five out of five in each of the four categories.