SPECIAL SECTION SPRING TRIALS - Microsoftgiecdn.blob.core.windows.net/fileuploads/file/spring-trials-gm.pdf · What keeps Spring Trials relevant and important to the horticulture

greenhousemanagementonline.com | March 2013 | Greenhouse Management | 33

SPRING TRIALSAn impressive EVOLUTION

A look into the past, present and future of this growing industry event

SPECIAL SECTION

Petunia display at Sluis & Groot during the 1996 Spring Trials.

SPRING TRIALSMore than 40 years have passed since the inaugural Pack Trials took place. What’s changed? What’s stayed the same? And where are California Spring Trials headed in the future? By Amy Stankiewicz[

Setting our sights on

34 | Greenhouse Management | March 2013 | greenhousemanagementonline.com

JOEL GOLDSMITH, former CEO of Goldsmith Seeds and the son of the man credited for starting what is now known as the California Spring Trials, isn’t short on memories of past trials. There was the year that earth-quakes shook the California coast, as well as the nerves of attendees who traveled from other states to participate in the event.

There were the years in the 1990s that saw an impressive increase in the amount of breeding companies that traveled to the Golden State to participate in the weeklong trials, an exciting phenomenon he attributes to the then-bur-geoning vegetative market.

But one year stands out from the others as one of the most special. That’s last year, when he traveled along the California Coast as an attendee of the 2012 Spring Trials — not as an exhibitor.

“I did the full tour last year, and that was a hoot,” Goldsmith says. “I had never been able to do that because I was always the host and I needed to be on our site at our show. Last year we started in San Diego and worked our way up north. I had an absolute blast. I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn’t know I would have as much fun as I did.”

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Whether it’s fun or exhausting or exciting or informative, it’s clear that Spring Trials retains an important relevance in today’s horticulture industry.


Highlighting the historyWhether it’s fun or exhausting or exciting or informative — all adjectives used by those interviewed for this cover story — it’s clear that Spring Trials retains an im-portant relevance in today’s horticulture industry. And that’s impressive feat for an event that has been around since 1967 — even earlier, if you go by Goldsmith’s explanation of the trials’ evolution.

Before 1967, “Dad was doing a lot of plant breeding that was beneficial to growers, so up to that point all the view-ing of any breeding work was done in the summer out in the field,” Goldsmith says of his father, Glen Goldsmith, founder of Goldsmith Seeds. “My dad realized that a lot of the breeding work he was doing was to provide better products for grow-ers, and you couldn’t see those attributes out in the field in the summer.”

So Glen Goldsmith set out a few benches of his award-winning petunias and invited customers to come by and take a look at them in comparison to his competitors’ varieties. In short, “That was where the Pack Trials started,” Goldsmith says. “Then it got a little bigger over time, and probably in the mid to late 1970s is when a few other companies started to join in.”

The Pack Trials were called such be-cause all varieties were grown from seed in packs. Breeders would set their prod-uct next to those of their competitors’ to show customers that their varieties were the best.

Back then, Goldsmith says, breeding was key: “When we first grew side by side, the difference between a new variety and an existing variety was extreme,” he explains. “Every year the improvements were substantial.

“Originally, you did the breeding and that sold the product,” he adds. “Nowa-days, you have to do the breeding simply to be in the game; that’s like a given minimal expectation, that the product has to perform well.”

More than geneticsSo how does an event that started as an opportunity for companies to exhibit their success in breeding retain so much relevance in today’s ever-changing mar-

ket? After all, companies and the events they put on come and go every day; market needs change, customer expecta-tions evolve, and technology advances to the point that many existing production processes become irrelevant.

What keeps Spring Trials relevant and important to the horticulture industry isn’t that it stayed true to its breeding-specific origins — in fact, it’s because it hasn’t. Today, Spring Trials is a jam-packed weeklong extravaganza that offers a full course of merchandising, packag-ing, and other sales ideas to help retailers and buyers grow their businesses with the end consumer always in mind. But how did it evolve into such a dynamic, retail-focused meeting of the minds? Was it a changing market that further defined the event, or did the event change to define the market?

Goldsmith thinks the reason behind Spring Trials’ ongoing evolution is mul-tifaceted.

“One [reason] is just the evolution of the breeding process,” he says. “If you take the extreme in 1967 when we first grew side by side, the difference was dra-matic. But if you grew a comparative trial today and took four top red geraniums, most people … would be hard pressed to tell you which one is better.

“Now you have all the other factors,” he says. “You have reliability of delivery

Streamlining registration, the ofA wayMANY GROWERS and other Spring Trials attendees like OFA’s decision to centralize registration for the 2013 Spring Trials at ofa.org/springtrials. This is the first year the association is offering the centralized service, which is powered by Clarity Connect, says Laura Kunkle, director of membership and communications at OFA.


http://www.ofa.org/springtrials


for vegetative products, customer service, product support. You have all of these aspects, and now we even have all the added marketing components. All of this is almost more important than the genet-ics because now the genetics are not the finish; they are the start.”

Realizing relationships — and moreOut of all of these changes, one thing has remained a constant, Goldsmith says. That’s the relationship-building that takes place among the hundreds of buyers, sales reps, growers and others who faithfully at-tend Spring Trials. And he’s not alone. All of the growers and breeders interviewed for this story maintain that reinforcing existing relationships with customers and colleagues — as well as forging new rela-tionships with prospective customers and those new to the industry — is the main reason they keep going.

“It’s a great place to see what’s new, and it’s a good place to be face-to-face with the breeders and have interchange between growers and breeders,” says Al Gerace, CEO of Welby Gardens and a Spring Trials attendee since 1989. As a grower, he says, “It’s really invaluable when you have the chance to have an interchange with breeders.”

Kathy Enders, broker relations man-ager for Speedling, agrees. “Everybody wants to talk to everybody,” she says. “You don’t want to go to Spring Trials and miss out on anything that is good information.”

And good information abounds, that’s for sure. Buyers and growers alike hunger for data about the latest advances in mer-chandising, customer relations, packaging

W hat’s in store for the horticultural event that’s grown from a small, informal comparison of competitors’ varieties into a weeklong mar-keting and merchandising spectacular? According to the breeders and growers interviewed for this story, potential improvements to

the event focus mainly on the logistics of location and timing.Dr. mark Bridgen is a professor of horticulture at cornell and an organizer of

a bus tour that takes attendees to different locations during Spring Trials. “These trials have been going on for a long time, and it always seems so mysterious as well as confusing to actually determine how to work out the logistics,” he says, adding that most of the people who sign up for his bus tours say they haven’t come to Spring Trials in years past because they felt the scheduling and planning process for each location was too complicated.

Kathy Enders, broker relations manager for Speedling, suggests the possibil-ity of moving all of the exhibitors closer to one another so that the drive to each location isn’t so taxing. “It is a dreadful drive to drive the whole scope of the trials. You get up at 6 in the morning and you’re going to bed at 10 at night, then you’re up catching another vehicle at 6 in the morning until 10 at night. You’re constantly driving somewhere, and I think that somehow if we could bring it closer … it would be better.

“Also, it’s all held at the beginning of April, which is the worst time for growers to get away,” Enders adds. “I think if they changed the timing of the event they might get more people to attend.”

Amy morris, head grower for N.g. Heimos greenhouse in millstadt, Ill., agrees. “The event is in April, which is a terrible time for trials, but I am still going out there because it is so important to find out what’s coming up, what buyers are thinking. We want to keep up with the upcoming market trends and what direc-tion breeders are going.”

Joel goldsmith, former cEo of goldsmith Seeds, agrees that the logistical challenges of navigating Spring Trials need improvement. But more important, he says, is examining what’s needed to improve the industry as a whole.

“We need to build up gardening as a hobby, as a way to beautify your home, and we have not done a very good job at that,” he says. “The marketing dollars [we have] are spent internal to our industry, even if we think they are not.”

Perhaps a public service/image campaign for the horticulture industry is in order. And perhaps the place to brainstorm such an initiative is at a future Spring Trials.

Examining the future of SPRING TRIALS

and reliable delivery.“Everyone wants to differentiate their

product, so breeders now show growers how to sell products,” Enders explains. “Right now I think it is more important than ever for independents (such as independent growers and garden centers) to differentiate themselves and get that leg up. I think [Spring Trials] has given people an awful lot of good ideas.”

Amy Morris, head grower for N.G. Heimos Greenhouse in Millstadt, Ill., has attended Spring Trials consistently

since 2001. She says the event is a great place to put a finger on the pulse of the ever-changing wants and needs of end consumers.

“The bottom line is to do what’s best for the end consumers,” she explains. “It’s all about the plants and the packag-ing and we can display them and market them so that end consumers will gobble it all up. It’s so important to stay attuned to everything that’s going on and to see what’s new and what marketing changes are happening.”

Stay tuned…Keep an eye out for the wide variety of coverage the Greenhouse Management editorial team plans to provide both during and after Spring Trials. Follow us on Twitter (@GreenhouseMag), like us on Facebook, and be sure you’re sub-scribed to our weekly e-newsletter!



SNEAK PEAKBy Laura Allen and Amy Stankiewicz

From Proven Winners in Santa Cruz to Plug Connection in Vista, here’s what to expect at the 2013 California Spring Trials. [

Spring Trials

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NORTHERN TRIALS

ABZ SeedsThe strawberry breeder from Holland will again display at the Speedling site this year. Its fourth year at the trials, the company plans to show its complete assortment, includ-ing its Fleurostar winning Toscana variety, and Gasana, both of which were limited released for 2012/2013. Both of the newest varieties are floriferous, producing large, pink flowers. While Toscana and Gasana are not brand new to the U.S. market, the company sees 2013 being a big introduction year for the two plants.

American TakiiVisitors can expect to find four core themes at the American Takii site this year: Aspire, Create, Design and Embrace. The display gardens have undergone a full make-

over to add more color and inspiration for those seeking real-world-performance of Takii genetics. American Takii will also host OHP again and will work with the company to focus on key research in PGRs and other applications.

The company is also intro-ducing 15 new varieties, in-cluding three osteospermums, three petunias, two alceas and one canna.

DanzigerDanziger’s site will have an expanded area that’s a third bigger than what it has been in the past. Visitors will find not only new varieties, but also grower trials and com-parisons of its varieties, which will be presented by Head-start Nursery. Headstart will also show its new programs, including a new 200-cell liner program. There’ll also be rep-resentatives for the cyclamen program.

Expect to see a big display

of Danziger’s Spring Touch Pericallis and Stream Lobu-larias in color combinations. You’ll also see the company’s Sun Harmonies highlighted.

Ernst Benary of AmericaAs part of its 170th anniver-sary, Benary will be displaying at the company’s own facility, its first breeding facility on U.S. soil. As part of this cel-ebration, the company will be highlighting fun facts about its history, including the fact that Gregor Mendel conduct-ed his famous 1873 experi-

ments with Benary seeds.New varieties on display

will include Begonia tuberhy-bridia Nonstop Rose Petticoat Improved, which is improved for plant habit, earliness and seed quality, as well as Be-gonia tuberhybridia Nontop Mocca Cherry, the newest color to the only dark-leafed double begonia series with a full color range.

Benary will also be high-lighting the new Petunia hybridia CELEBRITY Strawberry Ice series, which features extreme rain toler-ance, great uniformity and a

Canna F1 South Pacific (left) and Osteospermum Passion White (middle) from American Takii; Nonstop Rose Petticoat (below) from Ernst Benary of America



tight flowering window across a range of colors. This series replaces Raspberry Ice.

Golden State Bulb GrowersFocusing on more vibrant col-ors, Golden State Bulb Grow-ers will have three or four new introductions for the trials this year. Completely brand new, the company says no one has seen the new varieties yet. It will also showcase its expanded Eucomis line, which it debuted at the 2012 OFA Short Course. The company originally started with one hybrid variety, but now the Eucomis line consists of five varieties. It will also feature an expanded begonia display.

In addition to its plants and marketing ideas, Golden State Bulb Growers will also incorporate the technical side of things to help growers learn how to better grow callas, improve shelf life, chemical trials and more. Its goal is to help growers learn more about its crops and the best way to make money with them.

One thing to note is that the address has changed to 3060 Hilltop Road, but the old address will still work if you’re using a GPS that doesn’t recognize the new address.

Hem GeneticsThe company plans to put emphasis on its next genera-tion of natural dwarf petunias Limbo and Mambo, which will be indicated as Limbo *GP* and Mambo *GP*. These will offer a greater performance from grower to consumer. Nine *GP* colors

will be introduced for Limbo, and three *GP* colors for Mambo.

Hem Genetics will also introduce its flamed colors and new bicolors in its Snap-dragon Snappy series.

MasterTagLocated again at the Sakata Seeds facility, MasterTag will have three individual displays representing some of the best practices in tagging and retail merchandising, with the focus on practical, affordable solu-tions for growers, retailers and gardeners.

OHPDisplaying again at the Ameri-can Takii site, OHP will be featuring its new pre-emergent herbicide Marengo, using demonstration plots highlight-ing weed control on hoop house floors and trials show-ing the results of perimeter Marengo treatments around the greenhouse. The company will also feature plots for using its plant growth regulators on Dümmen Prima Red Poinsettia, as well as Takii’s Opera Supreme Petunias, lan-tana, geraniums, calibrachoa, sedums, kales, delphiniums, pennisetum (grass) and a new campanula variety.

OHP plans to display Paczol, B-Nine and Cycocel on various American Takii Seed plant varieties as well. Of special interest will be research involving Augeo on Double Knock Out Roses sponsored by Northwest Horticulture, the company states.

Pacific Plug & LinerThe big release Pacific Plug & Liner plans to show is its

Superbells Pomegranate Punch Calibrachoa from Proven Winners

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Pericallis ToDaisy. It will also feature several perennials as well, with a total of almost 30 new varieties. The varieties will be grouped together by season. There will also be new marketing for the grafted basil tree, and the company will also have more than 100 varieties of Heuchera for its comparison trials.

Pacific Plug & Liner is also hosting a few Israeli companies again this year, including Hishtil, Schwartz and Jaldety. The sustainability certification company MPS will also be present, as well as the Sunset Western Garden Collection, which will bring a bit of diversity to the trials with its display of woody products. McConkey Co., which produces pots from recycled material that can also be recycled after use, will have a presence at the site, and

Pacific Plug & Liner will be using its products.

Visitors will also have the chance to meet a local breeder who does breeding for the company’s Mimulus Jelly Beans series. The breeder will be showing new colors of the California native plant, which is also known as Sticky Monkey Flower.

Proven WinnersMoving from the South to the North this year, the Proven Winners site will be held at the Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz. The company still plans on having a marketing presentation, as well as the experts taking visitors through the site to talk about the new varieties. The company hopes that by moving up north more Spring Trials attendees will be able to visit its site this year, espe-



cially since the trials are less than a week this year.

One of the new varieties Proven Winners will debut is the Superbells Pomegranate Punch Calibrachoa. Its bi-color blooms have a deep red rose color with a prominent black-red center. Featuring the Superbells’ heat tolerance and disease resistance, Pome-granate Punch is recommend-ed for use in combination containers. A full-sun variety, it will reach a height of 6 to 10 inches, and will spread 12 to 24 inches.

SakataCelebrating its 100th year of breeding, Sakata will introduce more than 30 new plants. Among them is Candy

Showers, which the company says is the first trailing snap-dragon from seed. Ideal for baskets, combination planters and the landscape, it was bred to offer flexible stems that make for easy shipping. Candy Showers blooms under short days, can be added to a grower’s cool crop offering, and is available in five colors.

SyngentaSyngenta will be displaying many new varieties at this year’s Spring Trials, including Damask petunia, a compact multiflora petunia bred specifically with high-density, mass-to-market growers in mind, as well as Sriracha cu-phea, a new heat-loving series from seed offering season-

extension opportunities.Additional varieties

include Florific New Guinea impatiens from seed, which features a crop time of 12 to 14 weeks and high-density production capabilities, and the Arabesque penstemon an-nual, which is reportedly ideal for high-value quart and gal-lon programs, and is available in four colors: Appleblossom, Pink, Red and Violet.

Syngenta will also be displaying Starcluster pentas, a new GoldFisch Heat Lovers series that is bred to per-form through hot summer conditions. According to the company, no dead-heading is required, as new flowers form over spent blooms.

As far as the site itself, the

company will feature a “red carpet experience.” Visi-tors will see a movie theme emerge, with “show stop-pers,” “brand new stars,” and “upcoming features.” The company will also feature its biological control agents, as well as technical demonstra-tions for some of its products.

Vista FarmsVista Farms will use the opportunity at California Spring Trials to display six new Bougainvillea varieties from Dutch breeder Rjin-plant. This is the first year in which these varieties will be available in the United States. The new varieties expand the range of colors currently available in the “Vera” line

Verbena Enduro from Ball FloraPlantArabesque Violet penstemon from Syngenta



of Rjinplant Bougainvilleas. Also on display will be the new “RjinStar” series, which features very large bracts and heavy flowering with a more open growth habit, the com-pany states.

CENTRAL TRIALS

Ball FloraPlantA new verbena series is being introduced at the trials this year. Vigorous and hardy in the landscape, Enduro is ideal for summer production, as it won’t flush out of flower in the heat. Growing between 8 and 12 inches in height and 18 to 24 inches in spread, the series comes in two new col-ors and an upgraded purple.

Ball IngenuityRoses, celosia and a coleus are new to the Ball Ingenuity lineup. Supplied by Green-heart Farms, KolorScape Roses are easy-care, landscape roses that offer a flexible mar-keting program. KolorScape is available in four colors.

Celosia Twisted can be grown alongside mums for autumn or sold in the spring as a potted plant. It has a finished height of 16 to 20 inches and finished spread of 12 to 14 inches.

Coleus Kong Jr. is a series of coleus that is 30 percent smaller than Kong. It’s easier to ship with less breakage and loss. Available in Green Halo, Lime Vein, Rose, and Scarlet, it’s an ideal shade option with landscape longevity. Coleus Kong Jr. has a finished height

of 18 to 24 inches and a finished spread of 20 to 35 inches.

Burpee Home GardensNew ornamentals and one vegetable have been added to the Burpee Home Garden collection. On the ornamen-tal side is Osteospermum White Lightning, a spring daisy that can grow in any climate. Its traditional white flowers tolerate heat, rain and cold for its three-season shelf life. There’s also Petunia Flash Mob, a vegetative trailing petunia that comes in two varieties: Bluerific and Redtas-tic. A morn-type petunia, it grows up to 10 to 16 inches in height and 20 to 30 inches in spread. Petunia Flash Mob is ideal for use as a container or garden filler.

On the vegetable side there is Indigo Rose, a new variety to the Bumper Crop Tomato line. Almost jet-black in color, its underside turns from green to rosy red as it ripens.

Darwin PerennialsThree new Darwin Perenni-als varieties will be featured at the Ball Horticultural site. First is a new color to the Echinacea Sombrero Flamenco series. With a manageable height of 24 to 26 inches, Flamenco Orange joins the hardy and florifer-ous group. Like the others, it also has good branching, and it grows between 18 and 20 inches in spread. The second addition is Superblue Laven-der. This Lavender angustifolia is scented and doesn’t need to be sheared. Finally, there’s Vintage Achillea. Compact

Indigo Rose Tomato (top) and Petunia Flash Mob Bluerific (inset) from Burpee; Coleus Kong Jr.’Green Halo’ (left) from Ball Ingenuity

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and heavy flower-ing, its bright colors mature to a lighter complementary color, and as the blooms age the plants retain their shape. Expect it to grow between 12 to 14 inches in height and 10 to 12 inches in spread. Vintage is avail-able in Red, White, Rose and Violet.

Flamingo HollandA line of Asiatic Lilies known as the “Joy” series will be highlighted at Flamingo Hol-land’s exhibit, as will a line of potted Alstroemeria called the “Inca” series. This is the company’s first year carry-ing Alstroemeria, and this particular series is from Konst Alstroemeria.

Flamingo Holland will also be displaying the “Lovely” se-ries of Freesias, which are bred genetically short. This means they remain short without the need for PGRs and have a significantly shorter crop time than regular Freesias, the com-pany states.

Also on display will be the following: regular Freesias, Asiatic Lilies, Oriental Lilies, “Roselily” Double Oriental Lilies, Calla Lilies, and Ger-beras from Florist Holland.

FloranovaNo fewer than 39 new flower varieties will be introduced by Floranova at the trials this year. Among them will be two new French marigold series, Cresta and Alumia, which offer improved earliness and good heat tolerance. A unique color for the Alumia series is Alumia Vanilla Cream, which is ideal for designer mixes.

“Short but strong” is the

motto for the company’s new genetically dwarf F1 pe-tunia series, Espresso. Avail-able in both multiflora and grandiflora types, Espresso is a non-stretching type of petunia which has improved vigor in the garden and is easier to grow.

New “cool crops” have also been added. The F1 Bel Viso series of viola cornuta brings earliness and uniformity in the spring and in autumn, and is available in a range of colors. The annual flower-ing wallflower series of Sugar Rush now comes in Red and Orange. The Freefall spread-ing pansy series also has new colors to its lineup.

FlorensisWith breeding efforts in Ger-many and The Netherlands, Florensis will introduce a Guara series and a Petunia as its new varieties for the 2013-2014 season at the GroLink site.

Guara Gaudi is an an-nual Guara ideal for pot and mixed containers. A popular

consumer plant for pots and patio plants, it’s available in three colors: Pink, Red and Rose. The three are early flowering and have a compact branching habit. With a production time of 10 to 12 weeks in the greenhouse, and eight to 10 weeks in the sum-mer outside, it is a low-energy input crop that can be grown outside when frost periods are done. The Red variety grows at least 10 days later than the other two.

Petunia Glow Exclusive Blue Star produces a white star on blue, with the star’s intensity depending on light-ing conditions. Part of the Petunia Glow series, Blue Star also has compact branching with a semi-mounding habit and big flowers. It is one of the earliest series in the mar-ket. Glow is tested under low temperatures and light levels to give the best performance in early spring.

Florist HollandReturning to the trials for

Gaura Gaudi Pink from Florensis

Marigold Cresta Flame (above) from Floranova; Alstroemeria Inca Vito (right) from Flamingo Holland



its second year, this Gerbera breeding company from The Netherlands will introduce a new outdoor pot plant series of Gerbera from seed called Sundayz. With slow-aging, double flowers, it will be avail-able in the spring in four dif-ferent sizes and comes in seven colors and three mixes.

The company will also in-troduce a new subseries to the Garvinea series called Sweet, which comes in four colors: Sweet Dreams, Sweet Gloa, Sweet 16 and Sweet Honey. The flower size is much big-ger than the already-existing Garvinea series.

A new spider flower type of Garvinea will also be introduced. It has the same characteristics of the classic Garvinea, but the flower looks like a small tiara. This variety comes in six colors.

Finally, Florist Holland will also introduce four new colors to the line of Patio Gerberas. One of the four colors is called Grand Canyon, which has a large flower that’s shaped as a pom pom.

Just like the Volkswagon van it had last year, Florist Holland will have a creative display that will have the theme of “The Taste of Hap-piness.”

Green Fuse BotanicalsContinuing to expand and improve its line, Green Fuse Botanicals will have close to 38 new varieties for 2013-2014. Among those introduc-tions is a new calibrachoa line called Cruze. A large-flowered, compact series, Cruze is very floriferous and comes in seven colors for the first year.

The company is also doing some product extensions in its First Light Perennials program of early flowering perennials,

the trials this year, but there are two key items it’ll focus on specifically. This includes a new line of calibrachoas, as well as a line of geraniums with brand new genetics and a different culture than typical varieties. HGTV is also expanding its line of Pop-N-Polish Petunias, developing new mixes and add-ing some shade mixes as well.

With its big display located again at the Edna Valley Vine-yard with Dümmen, its new ornamentals will also be on display at the Ball Horticul-tural site. Other highlights featured at its site at Edna Valley include know-how videos that it will be shooting for consumers, as well as some photography.

Hort CoutureThose who enjoyed Hort Cou-ture’s creative display last year should expect to find some-thing just as unique, whether or not the mannequins are present. The company will de-

Bacopa Boutique Pink Mascara from Hort Couture

as well as additions to its life-style plants, which are indoor/outdoor plants geared toward the contemporary consumer.

Green Fuse Botanicals is also at a new site this year; the company will be located at Fides Oro in Santa Paula.

GroLink Plant Co.Playing host to seven other companies at its site in Ox-nard, GroLink Plant Co. will focus on celebrating the simple beauty of plants in our everyday world. Whether in the landscape or the mall, the company plans to highlight how plants can be used to beautify any part of life. With outdoor areas for each com-pany to showcase its varieties, GroLink plans on having a nice, relaxed setting where visitors can enjoy themselves.

In addition to the new varieties the seven companies will be featuring, GroLink will showcase its three new Belgian mums: Antica Bronze and Siora Pink, as well as the color Red to the Staziski group. GroLink’s Belgian mum col-lection is currently around 95 varieties.

HGTV HOME Plant CollectionThe company is developing a number of new varieties for

Dalmatian Digitalis from Kieft Seed

but a third color to its Bacopa Boutique collection called Pink Mascara. The new variety is recommended for combina-tion with Bacopa Boutique Tie-Dye White for a unique and different look for Bacopa. Bacopa Boutiques have large flowers and are heat tolerant as well.

In addition to Pink Mas-cara, there will also be a new variety for the Coleus Under the Sea collection, and a few other introductions. Hort Couture will again display at the GroLink site.

Kieft SeedThe Echinacea color mix, Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit, is now available from seed. An All-America Selections win-ner, it fills out pots, offering a higher in-store impact. The mix is hardy to Zone 4.



Cool Wave Pansies Purple and Golden Yellow from PanAmerican Seed

Another addition from Kieft Seed is the Gerbera Mega Revolution Select Mix-ture to the Mega Revolution series. Redesigned to deliver a gerbera with a larger plant and flower size, it delivers a quick crop time and is ideal for fully programmable, high-density production.

Two improved colors have been added to the Dalmatian Digitalis series. The uniform series has compact foliage, making it ideal for end-cap displays. It finishes at 16 to 20 inches in height and 12 to 14 inches in spread.

PanAmerican SeedPanAmerican Seed will intro-duce its precision, multi-pel-let Fuseables. These balanced

formulations are for mixed species baskets from seed. Visitors to the Ball Horticul-tural site will find Strawberry Wine and Healing Waters, the latest mixes of Fuseables. Experts will also be present to share more information.

In addition to Fueseables, new varieties for Cool Wave Pansies and New Guinea Impatiens Divine will also be introduced. Golden Yellow and Purple, along with new mixtures, are the newest colors to join the Cool Wave trailing pansy series. Divine — a disease-resistant impa-tien from seed — has six new colors joining its selection.

PlantHavenFrom the retail center to new

varieties, PlantHaven’s display will be a little different than it was in the past. For starters, the PlantHaven Retail Center will be a mock-up retail center consisting completely of the Whetman Pinks USA dianthus portfolio. With 36 scented varieties, the com-pany expects the center to draw visitors in. PlantHaven says that with the help of Northwest Horticulture, it will have more than 800 1-gallon plants in full bloom.

PlantHaven will also showcase two new portfolio lines. Aurora Disacia is one of the two, and it comes in Apricot, Dark Pink and Light Pink. Unlike typical diascias, Aurora has an upright habit, providing the consumer a

different look in the garden. It also offers three extra weeks of performance in the garden.

Real Leucanthemum is the second key portfolio. Avail-able in Dream, Galaxy, Neat and Glory, Real has been bred for retail presence, making them ideal for 6-inch pots in the store. In the garden it’ll have a medium height with stiff stems, so they won’t require staking. It’s heat toler-ant and has narrow foliage.

Selecta North AmericaSelecta has one new introduc-tion for the trials this year. Geranium Double Take is a uniform, interspecific gera-nium series that produces 12 double flowers at first flush

Geranium Double Take from Selecta


March 2013 | Greenhouse Management | 47

when grown three plants to a basket. It has shatter-resistant flowers and holds up well at retail. It’s available in five col-ors: Pink, Pink + Eye, Red, Scarlet and White.

SeminisNew to the trials this year, this vegetable breeding company will be open April 6-10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will offer manufacturing tours at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visitors will be given a short overview of the business and then head out to the plots to look at the company’s variet-ies on display.

The company is intro-ducing seven new varieties, including four tomatoes: APT 410, Biltmore, Debut and Heatmaster. APT 410 is a processing tomato that’s ideal for peeling, dicing and sauce, and it also produces consistently throughout many growing regions. The Biltmore is extra large and smooth and has already won prizes for its enormous size. With mid-season maturity, Biltmore is a reliable home garden tomato hybrid with a continuous set. Debut is a compact tomato with a 70-day maturity, and Heat-

APT 410 (above) and Valentino beans (right)

from Seminis

master was bred for heat, thriving in humid climates.

Other vegetable introduc-tions include Jumbo, an early maturing cucumber that produces well in warmer temperatures. Valentino is a garden bean that has a concentrated pod set with a dark green color and sets well in hot conditions. It has a 53-day maturity. And the final variety is Plato, a medium-dark green bell pepper hybrid. Its large to extra-large blocky, firm fruit matures to red on a medium-to-large robust plant.

Skagit GardensSkagit Gardens will again be located at the Hidden Oaks Clubhouse in Santa Barbara. Appointments are required, and the site will be open April 6-9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Two new varieties will be showcased: Helenium Short ‘n’ Sassy and Festuca Beyond Blue. Short ‘n’ Sassy blooms bright flowers with chocolate

Festuca Beyond Blue from Skagit Gardens

Skagit Gardens Spring TrialsGarden Party

Magic happens this April in Santa Barbara, as two new plant introductions make their debut.

Short ‘n’ Sassy Meets Beyond BlueThis head-turning pair will be joined by a host of

other exciting new varieties, as they meet poolside, where they are destined to be the life of the party.

April 6–9, 2013: 9 am–5 pm, by appointmentApril 10, 2013: 9 am–11 am, by appointment

Barb Young: 1-800-334-1719 or [email protected] Calle Camarada, Santa Barbara, California

2013PacTrialsAd.indd 1 2/4/2013 11:04:17 AM

greenhousemanagementonline.com/readerservice - #31



brown cones, attracts bees and butterflies, and will last through the end of the season, returning again for the next year. Beyond Blue has a neat and tidy habit, shows minimal roughness in winter weather, and will keep its blue color.

SOUTHERN TRIALS

BeekenkampThis European company specializes in begonias and herbs, and will showcase its best-selling varieties along with new varieties for the North American market. Beekenkamp is one of 10 companies exhibiting at the Plug Connection site.

CultivarisThe product development company will have a much larger display this year at the Plug Connection site. With

200-plus commercial variet-ies, more than 30 of them are new and will be on display.

EuroAmericanNew introductions will be presented for Proven Win-ners, Proven Selections, Savvy Succulents and Senetti. One of 10 exhibitors at Plug Con-nection’s site, the company will also focus on its Grower Ready Liners, including the EuroMazing family of optimized liners and Trifecta Multiliners.

Morel CyclamenA French-based company, Morel Cyclamen will intro-duce 14 new cyclamen variet-ies, in addition to showcasing its existing collection.

pac-ElsnerThis German-breeding company will feature its large geranium display at Plug Connection. It’ll also feature an expanded indoor display,

along with outdoor container specimens of both Candy Flowers and Aristo varieties.

Plug ConnectionThe sole site for the Southern Trials this year, Plug Connec-tion will feature new variet-ies, its comparison trials and an additional 10 exhibitors, making it a “one-stop-shop.” The company recommends visitors plan to stay for four hours for tours.

For new varieties, Plug Connection will introduce five new vegetable varieties. First is Dark lady Basil, a strong, dark-red basil that offers a distinct aroma, full foliage and crimson blooms. It also showed resistance to mildew and good cool toler-ance during trials. Another new basil variety is Green Fortune Basil. Green Fortune is a vigorous green shrub variety of basil with delicate pink blooms. It also showed resistance to mildew and

good cool tolerance during trials. Finally, there are three new additions to the Mighty ‘Mato INDIGO series of tomatoes: INDIGO Apple, INDIGO Kumquat and INDIGO Ruby.

Aside from new varieties, the company will be high-lighting the Mighty ‘Mato series, Mesa Magic Cyclamen series and Tessera Succulent Collection. Its vegetative comparison trials will include more than 150 hanging baskets featuring designer mix programs, including Confetti, Trixi, Kwik Combos and MixMasters.

The comprehensive seed comparison trials will have the newest varieties next to existing benchmark varieties. Plug Connection recom-mends planning an hour to view the trials.

Schoneveld CyclamenKnown for top-notch cycla-men genetics, Schoneveld will feature new introductions along with a lineup of its cur-rent collection.

Suntory FlowersCompletely new crops for the Suntory Collection in North America will be introduced in two new series at this year’s trials. Located at the Plug Connection site again, the company will have new additions to the Sun Parasol mandevillas: Red Emperor to the Giant group, and Pretty Deep Pink and Pretty Deep Red to the Pretty series. The Senetti, Surfinia and Million Bells series will also introduce sought-after colors.

Agastache ‘Kudos Mandarin’ from Terra Nova Nurseries


Visit us at Spring Trials 2013!

1250 Avenida Chelsea Vista, CA 92081

P: 1-800-550-5459

W: www.flamingoholland.com

E: [email protected]

Please RSVP at www.flamingoholland.com

We hope to see you there!

Exhibiting at:

Gro-Link 4107 West Gonzales Road • Oxnard, CA 93036

April 6th – 11th

greenhousemanagementonline.com | March 2013 | Greenhouse Management | 49greenhousemanagementonline.com/readerservice - #32

Terra Nova NurseriesTerra Nova Nurseries will feature varieties included in its new Pro Liner program, which enables growers to place orders for 100-cell liners. The program reportedly helps cus-tomers reduce total shipping costs and increase inventories at a more rapid pace.

The company will also be displaying 30 new plant introductions, including the Agastache Kudos series; Bego-nia Cool Breeze series; Cistus ‘McGuire’s Gold’; Echinacea Meteor series; Echinacea

‘Vanilla Cupcake’; Echinacea ‘Secret Glow’; Heuchera Little Cuties series; Heuchera ‘Fire Alarm’; Kniphofia ‘Orange Vanilla Popsicle’; and Sedum Desert series.

WesthoffVisitors will see new breed-ing in lobelia, calibrachoa and more from this German company. Specializing in volume crops specifically bred for high-density production and reliability, the company will also showcase its new Crazytunia Petunia.

Heuchera ‘Galaxy’ from Terra Nova Nurseries



ABZ SeedsLocation: Speedling, 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045Contact: Adri Gillisen, (31) 622-740-196, [email protected] www.abz-strawberry.nl

America in BloomLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

American TakiiLocation: 301 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906Contact: Julia Paul, (831) 443-4901, [email protected]

Athena BrazilLocation: GroLink Plant Co., 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036Contact: Paul Gaydos, (941) 750-8885, [email protected] www.athenabrazil.com

Ball FloraPlantLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected] www.ballfloraplant.com

Ball IngenuityLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected]

Ball OrnamentalsLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected]

BeekenkampLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

Burpee Home GardensLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected]

CultivarisLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

Danziger “Dan” Flower FarmLocation: Headstart Nursery, 4860 Monterey Road, Gilroy, CA 95020Contact: Sharon Israel, (408) 842-3030, [email protected]

Darwin PerennialsLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected]

Dümmen USABy appointment only Location: Edna Valley Vine-yard, 2585 Biddle Ranch Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401Contact: Diane Surette, (630) 212-1276, [email protected]

Ecke RanchLocation: Fides Oro, 15245 Telegraph Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Cheryl Ann Crysler, (760) 944-4032, [email protected]

Ernst Benary of AmericaLocation: 195 Paulsen Road, Watsonville, CA 95076Contact: Ann Robson, (831) 288-2803, [email protected]

Fides OroLocation: 15245 Telegraph Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Amy Lyons, (805) 525-7125, [email protected]

Flamingo HollandLocation: GroLink Plant Co., 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036Contact: Crystal Moncada, (760) 734-1033, [email protected]

FloranovaLocation: 222 North A Street, Lompoc, CA 93436Contact: Ashley Ransbottom, (574) 594-9284, [email protected]

FlorensisLocation: GroLink Plant Co., 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036Contact: Leo Hoogendoorn, [email protected]

Florist HollandLocation: GroLink Plant Co., 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036Contact: Martine van Went, (31) 651-759-479, [email protected]

Golden State Bulb GrowersLocation: 1260 Highway 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039Contact: Angela Woolem, (831) 728-0500 ext. 254, angela-woolem@ goldenstatebulb.comwww.goldenstatebulbgrowers.com

Green Fuse BotanicalsLocation: Fides Oro, 15245 Telegraph Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Lorena Craven, (310) 458-3580, [email protected]

company DIRECTORYMore than 50 companies present and only six days to see them all. Use our company directory to plan out your Spring Trials road trip.

KEY Northern Trials Central Trials Southern Trials



Greenex USALocation: Speedling, 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045Contact: Jecki Moshav, (831) 623-7800, [email protected]

GroLink Plant Co.Location: 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036Contact: Adri Howe, (800) 451-6319, [email protected]

Hem GeneticsLocation: Speedling, 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045Contact: Rudy Westenberg, (813) 645-3221, [email protected]

HGTV HOME Plant CollectionLocation: Edna Valley Vine-yard, 2585 Biddle Ranch Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401Contact: Randy Hunter, (615) 457-0000, [email protected]

Hort CoutureLocation: GroLink Plant Co., 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036Contact: Jessica DeGraaf, (616) 706-7970, jessicadegraaf@ hortcoutureplants.comwww.hortcoutureplants.com

Kieft SeedLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected]

MasterTagLocation: Sakata, 103 Boronda Road, Salinas, CA 93907Contact: (231) 894-1774, [email protected]

MorelLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

OHPLocation: American Takii, 301 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906Contact: Dave Barcel, (262) 392-3004, [email protected]

pac-ElsnerLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

Pacific Plug & LinerLocation: 750 Casserly Road, Watsonville, CA 95076Contact: Erin Dumller, (831) 768-6330, [email protected]

PanAmerican SeedLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected]

Plant Source InternationalLocation: Speedling, 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045Contact: Alan Zaeske, (517) 381-8708, [email protected]

PlantHavenLocation: GroLink Plant Co., 4107 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036Contact: Denise Frey, (805) 569-9179, [email protected] www.planthaven.com

Plug ConnectionLocation: 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected] www.plugconnection.com

Proven WinnersLocation: Chaminade Resort and Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95065Contact: Kerry Meyer, (573) 477-9420, [email protected]

Sakata Location: 103 Boronda Road, Salinas, CA 93907Contact: Elaina Ross, (408) 782-5398, [email protected]

Schoneveld BreedingLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

Selecta First ClassLocation: 335 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060Contact: Mary Long, (630) 588-3187, [email protected]

Seminis Vegetable SeedsLocation: 2700 Camino Del Sol, Oxnard, CA 93030Contact: Carly Scaduto, (314) 694-3247, [email protected]

Skagit GardensApril 6-10, by invitation onlyLocation: Hidden Oaks Club-house, 4760 Calle Camarada, Santa Barbara, CA 93110Contact: Barb Young, (360) 424-6144 ext. 4302, [email protected]

Speedling Inc.Location: 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045Contact: Kathy Enders, (630) 391-2832, [email protected]

Suntory FlowersLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

Syngenta FlowersLocation: 2280 Hecker Pass Road, Gilroy, CA 95020Contact: (888) 662-2670, [email protected]

Terra Nova Nurseries Location: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected] www.terranovanurseries.com

Thompson & MorganLocation: Speedling, 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bau-tista, CA 95045Contact: Andrew Spencer, (831) 623-7800, [email protected]

Vista FarmsLocation: Speedling, 2640 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045Contact: Jerome J. O’Neill, (787) 837-5909, [email protected]

WesthoffLocation: Plug Connection, 2627 Ramona Dr., Vista, CA 92084Contact: Christine Labrador, (760) 631-0992 ext. 119, [email protected]

Documents

SPECIAL SECTION SPRING TRIALS - Microsoftgiecdn.blob.core.windows.net/fileuploads/file/spring-trials-gm.pdf · What keeps Spring Trials relevant and important to the horticulture