SAKATA SEED AMERICA

Create Your Own FLOATING GARDENS

Meet the SUNPATIENS FAMILY

Success with SunPatiensFOR THE LANDSCAPER

How to Make SunPatiensPOP AT RETAIL

SAKATA SEED AMERICA SAKATA SEED AMERICA

Mark Seguin, Sakata’s global marketing manager for cuttings, explains the benefits of SunPatiens and how they differ from ordinary impatiens.

SunPatiens® Not your ordinary impatiens

Ornamental Breeder: What makes SunPa-tiens so special? Mark Seguin: Ulti-mately, it’s the range of environmental condi-tions they’re able to thrive under. Whether it’s disease pressure, warmer tempera-tures, full sun or part shade, SunPatiens allow the end user to have more success with less care.

OB: When you say less care, are you referring to water or fertilizer requirements? MS: The water usage is very similar to other annuals, but, because they thrive under very warm temperatures, sometimes the market assumes they are drought tolerant. However, that is not the case. Because of their vig-orous habit, they still require adequate water. As far as a low-maintenance plant, they are ideal because they are very low feeders and initial applica-tion of a slow pre-release fer-tilizer is often all that’s needed for three seasons of color. They take hold and flower profusely. There is no deadheading required. Maintain adequate moisture levels, and they are going to continuously bloom from spring to fall.

OB: Can you describe what sort of conditions SunPatiens can withstand? What does it mean that they are heat tolerant? MS: Over the years we have seen how well SunPatiens perform under the most stressful summer conditions, particu-larly in southern Florida and southern Texas. Unlike most annuals, they continu-ously bloom through the heat and/or humidity of the summer.

OB: One of the primary advantages from a landscaper, grower and retailer perspective is that SunPatiens are resistant to, and even unaffected by, downy mildew. Did you breed the plant specifically to have that resis-tance?

MS: They weren’t specifically bred for that, but their bloodlines are inherent to being more resistant to disease, includ-ing downy mildew and pests. They have a very aggressive root system. Their stems, leaves and flower petals tend to be thicker than traditional impatiens, so

I think that plays a role in their strong garden perfor-mance and resistance to disease and pests. We find it [the disease and pest resis-tance] goes beyond downy

mildew, but that’s been one that has ob-viously brought the disease resistance of SunPatiens to a lot of people’s attention.

OB: For growers, what are the ideal growing conditions?MS: It’s important for growers to rec-ognize that SunPatiens are not New

Guinea impatiens, and growing proto-cols often differ from the traditional New Guinea. We have a very detailed culture guide available to growers that gets into specifics (www.sakataornamentals.com/_ccLib/attach-ments/topcrops/SunPatiens+Culture+Guide+April+2014.pdf ). The biggest concern

Mark Seguin

SunPatiens Spreading Pink Flash

Q & A | SAKATA SEED

or issue we find with growers produc-ing SunPatiens for the first time is that they are following their New Guinea impatiens protocol, and that can lead to less-than-ideal results. OB: What are they if not traditional New Guinea impatiens? MS: It’s a complex bloodline made up of numerous inter-specific crosses, and de-velopment was 10 years in the making. OB: Tell me more about the root sys-tem of SunPatiens.MS: SunPatiens offer an aggressive root system that is quick to take hold. It also tolerates cooler temperatures compared with New Guinea impatiens. We’re find-ing growers in northern climates, such as Michigan, New England and Canada, are converting from New Guinea impa-tiens to SunPatiens due to their superior performance in cooler temperatures. OB: What are other advantages of SunPatiens? MS: There is a very wide color assort-

ment and three distinct growing habits, or families. We have the compact, the spreading and the vigorous types, each of which is designed to address a specif-ic market need. The vigorous is primarily for massive color displays and strong vigor in the garden. The spreading type is primarily for baskets and quick fill in.

They tend to grow wider than they do taller, so they’re ideal for baskets or quick fill-in in the landscape. The compact is more conducive to small container production, like quart pots for retail presentation and smaller pots at home.

OB: What’s new for 2015, or what should people look out for? MS: SunPatiens Spreading Shell Pink, was recently selected as an All-America Selections vegetative award winner. It was one of the first-ever AAS vegeta-tive award winners. (Editor’s note: AAS began trialing vegetatively propagated varieties earlier in 2014 after more than 80 years of trialing only seed-propagated varieties).

OB: Are there any colors that seem to be most popular with consumers? MS: Compact Red, Compact White and Compact Electric Orange lead sales, or tend to consistently be the top three sellers. OB: Any reason why those three may be the most popular? MS: Certainly! Red and white are very popular colors in the South in the fall. As you go into the Christmas season, there are lots of red and white impatiens sold, so I think that is a leading factor for those two colors. As for the Electric Orange, the color is just so vibrant. The flowers just explode off of the foliage; it’s very striking in the landscape. OB: What else do you want retailers, landscapers and growers to know about SunPatiens?MS: I think the tagline that we have for SunPatiens wraps it up or summarizes their performance very well, and that is “Flowers that Flourish — Sun or Shade, Rain or Shine, Spring through Fall.”

Spreading SunPatiens have a mounding habit that is perfect for fast coverage in the landscape.

SAKATA SEED AMERICA SAKATA SEED AMERICA

SunPatiens®

SunPatiens® CompactThe Compact series is bred for smaller container production with the best habitat for strong retail appeal.

This series is also good for mulitpack production.

Blush Pink Coral

Hot Coral Lilac Deep Rose Electric Orange

Royal Magenta White Pink Red

Choose from three distinct habits — Compact, Spreading and Vigorous!

SunPatiens® SpreadingSpreading SunPatiens® have a mounding habit and are ideal for baskets, containers and in

the landscape where fast coverage is needed. *V/L= Variegated Leaf

Corona Pink FlashCarmine Red Clear White V/L*

Shell Pink White V/L*Salmon V/L* Scarlet Red

SunPatiens® VigorousVigorous SunPatiens® are ideal in large landscapes and municipal plantings.

The Vigorous series provides outstanding performance where fast-growing, massive color is essential.

Orange WhiteLavender Magenta

SAKATA SEED AMERICA

SunPatiens provide beautiful, continuous color and coverage from spring through early frost. Available in three distinct habits: compact, spreading and vigorous, SunPatiens are the perfect choice for any planting project. Understanding the benefits and strengths of each habit is easy as 1, 2, 3!

The 1, 2, 3 Guide to SunPatiens

CompactThe Compact series is bred for smaller con-tainers and has excellent branch-ing for a dense, bushy plant that offers high retail appeal. Available in 12 colors, Compact SunPatiens are perfect for 306, quart, gallon and hanging basket production. No PGRs are needed when grown as directed.

Spreading Spreading Sun-Patiens have a mounding habit and are ideally suited for basket and premium patio pots and in the landscape where fast coverage is needed. Available in 11 colors, create combinations for a full display of color on the patio or in the garden.

Vigorous Need fast growing coverage? Then Vigorous SunPa-tiens are the way to go. These plants cover a lot of ground quickly and provide outstanding performance where massive color is essential. This is an ideal product for 60-70mm landscape-ready liners.

COM

PACT

SPRE

AD

ING

VIG

ORO

US

SunPatiens® At-a-GlanceVARIETY TIMING VIGOR HEIGHT* WIDTH* SPACING HABIT

Compact Blush Pink Early Medium 16-30” 14-24” 14-20” Upright

Compact Coral Pink Early Medium 16-30” 14-24” 14-20” Upright

Compact Deep Rose Very Early Lower 12-24” 12-20” 12-18” Upright

Compact Electric Orange Very Early Lower 12-24” 12-20” 12-18” Upright

Compact Hot Coral Very Early Medium 14-28” 12-24” 14-20” Upright

Compact Lilac Very Early Medium 16-30” 14-24” 14-20” Upright

Compact Neon Pink Early Medium 16-30” 14-24” 14-20” Upright

Compact Orange Medium Medium 16-30” 14-24” 14-20” Upright

Compact Pink Early Higher 18-32” 16-26” 14-22” Upright

Compact Royal Magenta Early Medium 16-30” 14-24” 14-20” Upright

Compact Red Early Lower 12-24” 12-20” 12-18” Upright

Compact White Early Medium 16-30” 14-24” 14-20” Upright

Spreading Carmine Red Early Medium 18-34” 24-36” 16-24” Mounding

Spreading Clear Orange Early Medium 18-30” 24-36” 16-24” Mounding

Spreading Clear White Early Medium 18-34” 24-36” 16-24” Mounding

Spreading Corona Early Medium 18-34” 24-36” 16-24” Mounding

Spreading Lavender Early Lower 16-30” 22-32” 14-20” Mounding

Spreading Pink Flash Early Lower 16-30” 22-32” 14-20” Mounding

Sprading Salmon (V/L) Medium Lower 16-30” 22-32” 14-20” Mounding

Spreading Scarlet Red Early Higher 22-36” 26-36” 16-24” Mounding

Spreading Shell Pink Early Medium 18-34” 24-36” 16-24” Mounding

Spreading Tropical Orange Early Higher 22-36” 26-36” 16-24” Mounding

Spreading White (V/L) Early Medium 18-34” 24-36” 16-24” Mounding

Vigorous Lavender Early Vigorous 24-42” 24-30” 16-26” Upright

Vigorous Magenta Early Vigorous 24-42” 24-30” 16-26” Upright

Vigorous Orange Very Early Vigorous 24-42” 24-30” 16-26” Upright

Vigorous White Early Vigorous 24-42” 24-30” 16-26” Upright

*Less growth in northern climates, more in southern climate

Compact Pink

Compact Coral Pink

Compact Royal Magenta

Compact Neon Pink

Spreading Clear White

Spreading Clear Orange

Spreading Scarlet Red

Spreading Lavender

Spreading Shell Pink

Spreading Tropical Orange

What’s new? More color!SunPatiens are fast becoming mainstays in the garden. But we can never rest on our

laurels — that’s why we’re so excited to introduce our new line-up.

Available Now! New colors for Spring 2015

Sneak Peek! New colors for Spring 2016

AAS Winner –Spreading Shell Pink!

The 2015 AAS Flower Award Winner is Sakata’s Impatiens SunPatiens Spreading Shell Pink. Its strong roots and unsur-passed beauty make SunPatiens Spreading Shell Pink a sensa-tion in high heat, rain, and humidity. Low maintenance and resistant to downy mildew, the flower’s unmatched ability to spread and maintain shape in both sun and shade impressed the judges and make SunPatiens Spreading Shell Pink a dream for gardeners, landscapers, and flower retailers alike!

SAKATA SEED AMERICA

Ornamental Breeder: What is your role as production manager? Do you select the plants?Bill Peters: Once a landscape construction job is sold, I do all of the purchasing, all of the scheduling and then sched-ule my crews to go out. Then I make sure that the qual-ity control is right and all the standards are being met. We also have another division,

Constant Care, where we main-tain several high-end clients’ landscapes all year. I oversee that and make sure that all the quality standards are being met there.

OB: How were you introduced to SunPatiens? BP: We’ve always used impatiens, and we do major mass plantings of annuals. We started phasing out normal

Bill Peters, production manager at Fullmer’s Landscaping in Dayton, Ohio, explains why he uses thousands of SunPatiens® each year in projects for his high-end residential and commercial clients.

RadiantRESILIENT&

FOR CONSTANT, NON-STOP COLOR, you can’t go wrong with SunPatiens®. These plants truly are a breeding breakthrough — a robust, sun-loving, heat-loving New Guinea-type impatiens

that thrives in full sun or part shade and delivers continu-ous color from spring through hard frost. In addition, SunPatiens are completely unaffected by downy mildew and have a proven reputation for reshaping and reviving landscapes around the globe that had been previously devastated by the disease. Bill Peters, production manager at Fullmer’s Landscaping in Dayton, Ohio, says SunPatiens helped revitalize his clients’ landscapes and the business.

impatiens because of downy mildew, and we were also looking for something that could handle the sun better. Two years ago, I was vacationing in Florida and I saw a mass planting. I didn’t know what they were.

I asked somebody, and they said they were SunPatiens. I found out more about them from our plant grower broker, and we ran a trial. We took about a quarter of our impatiens sites and switched them out to SunPatiens, and they just per-formed really well. Now that’s all we use in lieu of traditional impatiens.

OB: You mentioned that you have benefitted from the disease resistance. I imagine that before you discovered SunPatiens, downy mildew impacted your business greatly.BP: We’ve been planting impatiens for these customers for years, and when we had to tell them that first year that we couldn’t do impatiens, we had a lot of customers who were really upset. When we were able to introduce SunPatiens and give them that exact look they wanted, they were all happy again. OB: How many SunPatiens do you plant each year?BP: We plant about 12,000 to 13,000 Sun-Patiens a year.

OB: Which series do you use the most: Compact, Spreading or Vigorous?BP: We’re pretty much using Compact exclusively.

OB: For both landscape and container plantings?BP: Yes, and they do well in containers with palms, bananas, ferns and crotons. They do not get too big. What’s interest-ing is we can use them as mass plantings in a garden, and they’ll get really big, but if I put them in a container, they don’t overtake the container. It’s like they know their limitations.

OB: What are some of the other benefits of using SunPatiens?BP: They just give that really, really good mass of color, and they don’t burn. They’re stable. They’re also very resil-ient. In one site, they got fairly tall, and a wind storm came and some of them fell over, and there was a hole in the middle of a mass planting. The next day, they were back up. And we use three SunPatiens where we would have used six impatiens.

OB: One of your large Constant Care projects using SunPatiens was for Miami Valley Hospital’s Jayne Emoff Miller Garden of Hope. Why did you

decide to use SunPatiens for this project?BP: The first year we used verbenas, and it didn’t work well. SunPatiens are not picky other than needing water. There are other species that if they dry out, they’ll defoliate and get really nasty looking and then you have to cut them back. Or, if they get too hot, they’ll blister and lose their blooms. SunPatiens are lot more resilient, which is why we decided to try them. The three steel arches start on the ground and arch up about 15 feet in the air. There’s another 30 to 50 feet of SunPatiens which run on the ground. When you’re looking down from the 6th floor of the hospital, you see three bands of color that are 5 feet wide and anywhere from 70 to 100 feet long. It’s a harsh space, and there isn’t any shade, so it’s not the most ideal conditions for tender annuals, and SunPatiens just re-ally performed well, as you can see.

OB: What have you heard from people about SunPatiens and this project?BP: Nothing but good things. In fact, we just won the grand award for commer-cial installation (more than $75,000) and project of the year from the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association at the CENTS show. I think it was that band of SunPatiens that did it.

SAKATA SEED AMERICA

SAKATA SEED AMERICA SAKATA SEED AMERICA

• Fewer plants for the same coverage: Saves time and labor during planting.• All-weather performance: SunPatiens bloom rain or shine, sun or shade.• Three-season color: SunPatiens thrive under high heat and humidity, right up

through hard frost.• Easy care: Continuous color without the need for dead-heading or fertilizing.• Disease resistance: SunPatiens are not affected by downy mildew.

Getting started / soil preparation

The first key to success with SunPatiens is providing a healthy foundation. Coarse-textured soils (sandy) have good drainage and plenty of oxygen for root development yet retain little water. The opposite is true for fine-textured soils (clay) where drainage and aeration are poor, but water is easily retained. Heavy soils may also increase the susceptibility to many soil-borne diseases such as Rhizoctonia. Whether the soil bed is coarse or fine-textured, SunPatiens will benefit from the addition of organic matter. Consider supplementing the bed with rice hulls, peat moss, pine bark, compost or other organic sources to improve the balance of oxygen-to-water availability. The percentage of organic matter depends on soil type and local climate, but target a range of 10–20%.

After the addition of organic matter, test the soil to determine nutrient levels and whether pH falls between the recommended levels of 5.8–7.0. Soil pH is critical to the uptake of nutrients so adjust accordingly if needed. Prepare beds by removing weeds and applying pre-emergent herbicide if desired. Beds should be tilled to at least 6-8 inches to create a uniform soil texture. If possible, crown the bed to eliminate low areas and promote good drainage.

Fertilizer program

SunPatiens are very light feeders and excessive fertilizer may result in reduced flowering and weak stems. If applying liquid fertilizers, use a nitrate-based fertilizer at 75–100 ppm once every three to four weeks. Another option is to apply a well-balanced slow release fertilizer at half the typical rate. This works best when the granules are incorporated into the soil; especially on sloped areas where heavy rains are frequent.

Light exposure

As their name suggests, SunPatiens perform extremely well under high light, full-sun conditions. They also continue to flower under shaded settings, providing strong flexibility with your design and layout options. Filtered light (65% +) or limited sun exposure (four hours of direct light) will not reduce the flowering ability of SunPatiens. The variegated leaf varieties of SunPatiens also perform well in shade.

SunPatiens are vigorous plants with strong root sys-tems. Maintaining adequate soil moisture during the first two weeks after transplanting is critical to get roots estab-lished and provide the sub-stance to withstand climatic stress. Drip irrigation is highly recommended to provide more frequent watering (two to three times daily) in the early stages and for more ef-ficient delivery after the plant canopy is established. Once established, adjust the irriga-tion schedule as temperature and light exposure dictate. SunPatiens are very tolerant to wilting and are quick to re-cover without the loss of flow-ers or buds should irrigation timing prove inadequate.

Mulching can assist with water retention and to prevent weeds from establishing as well. Similar to other bedding plants, SunPatiens are sensi-tive to compacted soil from foot traffic. A light mulch can help maintain soil aeration if workers need to access beds for periodic maintenance. When applying mulch, be sure to leave a few inches of clearance around the plant base to prevent stem rot.

Irrigation Program

Strong and Durable! SunPatiens are resistant to downy mildewDuring the past few years, outbreaks of downy mildew (Plasmopara obducens) have increased significantly and wreaked havoc on planting of Impatiens walleriana, affecting both seed and vegetable varieties. This destructive foliar disease has spread across much of Europe and has now been reported in more than 30 states in the U.S. as well as Eastern Canada. Its spores are capable of surviving years in infected landscapes, and because the disease can spread by both water splash and air currents, it has proven to be extremely difficult to control.

From numerous trial gardens, public plantings, and production greenhouses throughout North America, Sakata has received feedback that SunPatiens are unaffected by these strains of downy mildew – even if they are surrounded by diseased plants of I. walleriana. For anyone concerned with the impact of downy mildew, SunPatiens offer a great solution and peace of mind.

SunPatiens (L) vs. ordinary impatiens (R)

Downy mildew can wreak havoc on ordinary impatiens.

Spacing

Given their aggressive growth, SunPatiens cover more ground per plant which allows for greater spacing. Fewer plants are needed to cover the same area as traditional bedding plants. Plant spacing depends on container size, time desired for fill-in and variety selection. Consider the following guide:

Fewer plants for the same coverage: four SunPatiens (R) vs. twelve ordinary impatiens (L)

SAKATA SEED AMERICA SAKATA SEED AMERICA

SunPatiens® make incrediblefloating gardens and providelong-lasting color withlittle maintenance.

Create a striking floating garden with SunPatiens using our simple how-to guide.

SunPatiens® Floating Gardens Landscapers should try floating gardens in their residential

and commercial landscapes to incorporate vibrant color and plant hardiness in an exciting way. Retailers can pass this idea along to their shoppers. This concept can be sold

with SunPatiens, as well as the parts and pieces necessary for cus-tomers to create their own floating garden. All they’ll need is a pool, pond, or small lake, and the proper supplies.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED• 4 sheets of polystyrene board, 2” thick and 36”

across (depending on how large your planter will be)

• latex base glue (or other glue compatible with the polystyrene)

• black latex interior/exterior paint• florist knife• sharp scissors• ¼-thick capillary mat or felt• nylon cord and concrete blocks for anchors• 4” eye bolt with nut, and two 1-inch washers• up to 50 4-inch bedding plants or one 1-gallon

tropical plant and 20 4-inch plants• 1-½ cubic-foot light soil-less potting mix

WHAT TO DOStep 1 – Cut two polysty-

rene boards in a circle the size you want your base, and glue together.*

Step 2 – Cut the other two

sheets into a circular rim about 2” wide to create the side walls.

Step 3 – Glue the side walls together, then glue the side walls to the top of the base.

Step 4 – Drill 4 evenly spaced “weep” holes in the sides (not in the base) to allow water to escape when it rains.

Step 5 – Spray paint the floater black. Be sure to use water-based paint!

Step 6 – Cut a 1” diameter hole in the bottom of the planter. Cut a piece of capil-lary matting and line the bottom of the disk—be sure to also cut out a 1” diameter hole through this mat.

Step 7 – Cut a 1” wide strip of capillary mat-ting and insert it through the hole in the bot-tom of the disk to act as a water wick. Lay the strip across the bottom of the mat, and allow 8”

– 10” to hang below the floater into the water. Step 8 – Fasten a 4” eye

bolt, nut, and 1” washer to the bottom of the planter. Once it is in place, use the nylon cord and concrete block to anchor the planter to keep it from straying too far.

Step 9 – Add the potting mix and appropriate plants. Remember to use sun-loving plants since it usually gets really bright out there!

HELPFUL TIP: Vary the height, type, and color of plants for an interesting contrast. Taller plants should be placed toward the middle while shorter plants and cascading plants like ivy around the edges. This will help hide the container and create a soft edge.

*Smaller Gardens (less than 30” diameter) may only require a single sheet of polystyrene for the bottom.

SAKATA SEED AMERICA SAKATA SEED AMERICA

Use our SunPatiens branded pots, tags and newly refreshed Point of Sale materials for that ad-ditional marketing push and retail interest! SunPatiens branded pots, tags, bench cards, banners and posters catch the eye and communicate the features and benefits of this unstoppable plant.

How to Make Your SunPatiens®

POPPOPat RETAIL

Bench Cards 11 x 7”

Pack Handles

Poster 24 x 36”

Hanging Basket Dangler

Special Die Cut Sun Tag

Stake Tag

To learn more about SunPatiens tags, branded pots and Point of Sale materials, visit www.sakataornamentals.com/SunPatiens or contact your preferred tag supplier:

For Tags and Point of Sale materials:

• Horticultural Printers• John Henry • MasterTag 

For Branded Pots:

• East Jordan Plastics • Myers Lawn & Garden • Summit Plastic Company 

Red SunPatiens in Branded Pot

SunPatiens on Social Media The new site is heavily social-media focused, and en-courages consumers to not only learn, but also “share” their love for SunPatiens on their own social media networks. For example, the new “Ideas & Inspiration” segment of the site provides a colorful gallery of Sun-Patiens at work in different landscapes and settings. All images have a “Pin It” option, which allows site visitors to pin their favorite SunPatiens ideas to their personal Pinterest accounts with ease.

A social media toolbar on the site’s homepage links consumers to the SunPatiens Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages. These pages not only grow the SunPatiens following, but provide additional outlets for tools and updates for the SunPatiens enthusiast.

Banner 36 x 18”

SunPatiens POP MaterialsAn excellent product deserves equally compelling packag-ing, which is why SunPatiens has developed a vibrant line of eye-catching POP materials. All Point of Sale materials promote the same simple and appealing message in a fun and exciting presentation: SunPatiens — Flowers that Flour-ish, Sun & Shade.

And SunPatiens just keep spreading … This time, it’s online! SunPatiens has a new website design and growing social media presence built for added promotional support.

SunPatiens Website Version 2.0The SunPatiens website recently got a makeover. The site, which previously provided a wealth of information for growers, retailers and consumers, has been reinvented as a simple and stimulating tool for consumers, featuring helpful Sun-Patiens tips, information and inspiration.

As consumers now utilize the Internet to help find answers to their every ques-tion and concern, SunPatiens is in need of a strong, easily accessible consumer support system. The new site provides promotional support for SunPatiens and increases brand awareness, generating more interest in the annuals and a growing consumer base. Plus, all grower and retailer specifics, including culture information and POP materials, are still available through the Sakata Ornamentals site, www.sakataornamentals.com/sunpatiens, or by clicking the “Trade” section on the new SunPatiens site.

Promotional Support for SunPatiens®

SAKATA SEED AMERICA

Address: P.O. Box 880 • Morgan Hill, Calif. 95037

Phone/Fax: Tel: 408-778-7758 • Fax: 408-778-7768 Email: info@sakata.com

Trade website: www.sakataornamentals.com Consumer website: www.sunpatiens.com

youtube.com/user/SakataSunPatiens

pinterest.com/FlowersBySakata

twitter.com/ FlowersBySakata

Reprinted with the permission of Ornamental Breeder Magazine, January & March 2015

Learn more

For your One-Stop-Shop for all things SunPatiens, please visit www.sakataornamentals.com, where you’ll find all the information you want and need for success, including:• Detailed culture information• A fully-loaded image gallery for inspiration, POP and more• A staff directory where you can contact knowledgeable team members• Numerous resources to help growers, retailers, landscapers and gardeners