2007 Bedding Plant

Field Trials

 

Kansas State University

Horticulture Research & Extension

 

 

 

 

 

Research Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

Bedding Plant

Field and Container Trials

 

 

 

Dr. Alan Stevens

Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources

Kansas State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

                                                                                                                   Page

 

Introduction                  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                4

 

          Procedures                    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                5

 

          Weather                        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                6

 

          Data Collection             . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                7

 

          Seed Propagated Annuals                   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                8

 

          Vegetatively Propagated Annuals   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                  16

 

          Container Grown Trials                  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                  38

 

          Prairie Star Collection List        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               45

 

          Prairie Bloom Collection List     . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               48

 

Sources of Plant Material      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bedding Plant Field and Container Trials 2007

 

 

Dr. Alan Stevens

Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources

Kansas State University

 

 

 

Introduction

           

            The importance of the commercial floriculture industry to the economic and social health of Kansas is a known reality.  Greenhouse production, retail sale, and landscape installation of flowers all contribute to the Kansas economy and beautify local environments.  Plant sales bring in revenue for a variety of businesses, from independent nursery/garden centers, to home improvement, hardware, and grocery store chains.  Color programs – the seasonal change of flowering plants – is a strong profit center for landscape maintenance firms, and many golf courses rely on annual plant displays to accent their greens and club houses.

Flowers also add to a community’s quality of life when planted to showcase color during the spring, summer, and fall. Flower displays are becoming a common sight in public areas like city parks, sidewalk planters, and government buildings with the intent of making the downtown a more desirable place to shop, work, and live.  Businesses also are putting container gardens or bright flower displays by their storefronts, and homeowners contribute to a community’s appeal when they decorate their front yards with colorful blooms.

The bedding plant trials conducted by K-State are designed to give citizens recommendations on which plants do well in the Kansas climate.  Kansas is the geographic center of the country, but it does not enjoy the average of the cool North and hot South.  Extreme and sudden changes in heat and cold, rain and drought are common in all four seasons and the wind blows much of the time.  Our prairie climate creates unique stresses on flowering plants.  There is also variation in climate and soil across Kansas.  Eastern Kansas generally has higher rainfall, more vegetation, and neutral to slightly acidic soil while the western portion of the state has low rainfall and more alkaline soils.

Field trials of annual and perennial plants were conducted at four sites: Olathe, Haysville, Colby and Hays.  The four sites are spread across a 400 mile range east to west and 140 miles north to south.  The sites encompass two USDA cold hardiness zones, 5 and 6 and two AHS heat tolerance zones, 7 and 8.

            While the Kansas climate provides challenges for growing plants, the desire for new and superior flower cultivars is always present.  With the increasing importance of commercial floriculture on the Kansas economy and quality of life, it is pivotal to continue developing and researching cultivars of herbaceous flowering plants for prairie landscapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedures

 

            Seeds were sown into plugs by Moncrief’s Greenhouse, Baxter Springs, Kansas.  Plugs were transplanted into 806 cell packs filled with Fafard growing media.  Vegetatively propagated plant materials were potted directly into 4 ½ inch, round geranium pots filled with Fafard growing medium.  Production of all plants, seed and vegetatively propagated, was finished by the author in the greenhouse at the K-State Horticulture Research & Extension Center (Olathe site) and subsequently transported to the other three trial sites.  All plants were hardened off with reduced night temperature (<55^oF) before planting into the field.

 

            Phosphorus was added to the beds the previous fall to bring the level of P to 60 pounds per acre based on soil test.  A 16-8-8 ratio fertilizer at the rate of ½ pound actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet was incorporated at planting.  Additional nitrogen was added every two weeks at the rate of ½ pound actual nitrogen per thousand square feet of bed space.  All plants were watered in at planting.  Three days after planting, Treflan (5% granular) was broadcast over the beds and watered in for pre-emergent weed control.  The plants were then watered on an as-needed basis for the duration of the trials.  A minimum of one inch of water was applied at each irrigation.  Beds were allowed to dry substantially between waterings.

 

             

 

Planting Dates

 

Horticulture Research & Extension Center - Olathe, Kansas                 May   21 - 25

 

John C. Pair Horticultural Center - Haysville, Kansas                            May   23 - 25

 

Agriculture Research Center - Hays, Kansas                                        May   21 - 25

 

Agriculture Research Center - Colby, Kansas                                       May   17 - 18

 

 

 

Some cultivars at the Olathe site were grown in a shade structure.  This simulates a low light (50% shade) environment without tree or shrub root competition.  Some known shade-growing plants (Impatiens, for example) were only planted in the shade, while others were planted in both sun and shade to compare growth and performance.  All trials were grown in full sun unless otherwise stated in the tables below.
 

Weather Conditions

 

            In 2007 May was fairly cool and wet, with temperatures warming in June. July continued to have moderately hot temperatures, with temperatures peaking in August.  August was hotter than usual, and many plants suffered from the late heat and drought stress.

 

 

     *Precipitation measured in inches, temperatures measured in degrees Fahrenheit.

 

 Data Collection

 

            Visual ratings of each cultivar were made mid-month in June, July and August at each of the trial sites.  Cultivars were rated for vigor and floriferousness.  Vigor was related to the growth, strength and substance of the vegetative portion of the plant.  Floriferousness was defined as the overall visual impact of the floral display, a combination of flower size, number of blooms and how the flowers were displayed on the plant.  On plants where it is the foliar display that is of concern (e.g. Coleus, Sweet Potato), the color and visual impact of the leaves – the foliagiferousness – was used to determine the rating.

A scale of 1 - 7 was used to rate each of the cultivars for the two characteristics.

 

            1 = almost dead or no flowers

 

            2 = very poor

 

            3 = poor

 

            4 = acceptable

 

            5 = good

 

            6 = very good

 

            7 = exceptional

 

 

            The height and spread (width) of each cultivar was measured in mid-August.  If no data are presented for a cultivar at any of the sites, the cultivar was not planted there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Field Trials

 

Seed Propagated Annuals

 

 

 

Seed Propagated Annuals

 

            Late spring into early summer was cool and wet.  By the first of July the weather turned very hot and dry.  The cool wet soils early in the trial period compromised some root systems which then struggled when the growing conditions shifted to the normal heat and drought of a summer on the prairie.

 

Ageratum

 

            High Tide Blue was the most regular bloomer of the Ageratums in the trials and has been added to the Prairie Star list.

 

Table 1.  Performance of select varieties of Ageratum in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
High Tide		Blue	6	6	6.0	18	18

(See also Vegetatively Propagated – Ageratum)

 

 

Alternanthera

 

            Royal Tapestry performed equally well in the sun and shade trials with very good vigor and dark foliage color.

 

Table 2a.  Performance of select varieties of Alteranthera in Kansas grown in sun

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Royal Tapestry			6	5	5.5	18	36

 

Table 2b.  Performance of select varieties of Alteranthera in Kansas grown in shade structure

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Royal Tapestry			6	5	5.5	18	36

 

(See also Container Grown – Alternanthera)                                                                                     

 

 

Begonia

 

            The Nightlife cultivars had much better vigor when grown in the shade structure.

 

Table3a.  Performance of select varieties of Begonia in Kansas grown in sun

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Nightlife		Deep Rose Improved	5	6	5.5	4	4
Nightlife		Pink	5	5	5.0	4	4

 

Table 3b.  Performance of select varieties of Begonia in Kansas grown in shade structure

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Nightlife		Deep Rose Improved	6	5	5.5	8	6
Nightlife		Pink	6	5	5.5	8	6

 

Celosia

 

            Smart Look performed well in the trial and should be included a second year for potential addition to the Prairie Star list.  Its bright red flowers were very eye-catching.

 

Table 4.  Performance of select varieties of Celosia in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Smart Look		Red	6	6	6.0	8	8

 

 

Coleus

 

            Chocolate Mint had similar size and performance when grown in the sun or shade.

 

Table 5a.  Performance of select varieties of Coleus in Kansas grown in sun

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Chocolate Mint			5	6	5.5	20	12

 

Table 5b. Performance of select varieties of Coleus in Kansas grow in shade structure

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Chocolate Mint			5	6	5.5	20	12

(See also Vegetatively Propagated and Container Grown – Coleus)

 

 

Cosmos

 

            The Limara Lemon cultivar had superior floriferousness. None of the varieties stood up well toward the end of summer.

 

Table 6.  Performance of select varieties of Cosmos in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
		Cosmic Orange	4	5	4.5	20	18
Sulphureus		Limara Lemon	5	6	5.5	14	12
	AAS Trial 07F01	Semi Double Pink	6	4	5.0	24	26
	AAS Trial 07F01C-1	Sensation Pinkie Pink	6	4	5.0	36	36
Double Click	AAS Trial 07F01C-2		6	4	5.0	32	36

 

 

Delphinium

 

            Good vigor, but very few flowers observed on Summer Morning.

 

Table 7.  Performance of select varieties of Delphinium in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Grandiflorum		Summer Morning	5	4	4.5	4	8

(See also Container Grown – Delphinium)

Impatiens

 

            The Fanciful Stardust Mix performed well, but was not as floriferous as some of the vegetatively propagated Impatiens. 

 

Table 8.  Performance of select varieties of Impatiens in Kansas grown in shade structure

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Fanciful		Stardust Mix	6	5	5.5	20	14

           

 (See also Vegetatively Propagated and Container Grown – Impatiens)

 

 

Laurentia

 

Avant-Garde Pink and Starshine Blue had excellent growth and looked impressive as a mass planting when in full bloom.

 

Table 9.  Performance of select varieties of Laurentia in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
	AAS Trial 07F04C-1	Avant-Garde Pink	7	5	6.0	14	18
	AAS Trial 07F04	Rose-Pink	4	5	4.5	14	18
	AAS Trial 07F03C-2	Starshine Blue	7	5	6	14	18

 

 

Marigold

 

            All the marigolds performed well this year, with a dazzling display of colorful blooms.

 

Table 10.  Performance of select varieties of Marigold in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Bonanza			5	6	5.5	18	12
Deep Orange			6	6	6.0	22	12
African Marvel		Mix	6	6	6.0	20	18
Aspen		Yellow	5	6	5.5	14	18
French Aurora		Gold	5	6	5.5	14	18
French Bonanza		Bolerno	5	6	5.5	12	18
French Durango		Mix	6	6	6.0	18	18
French Durango		Tangerine	6	5	5.5	18	24
Janie		Gold	6	6	6.0	14	20
Marvel		Orange	6	6	6.0	20	24

           

 

 

 

 

 

Ornamental Grass

 

The Juncus are a great addition to landscapes and container gardens with their spiky forms.  They will be evaluated for their cold tolerance to be considered as a perennial ornamental grass in Kansas.

 

Table 11.  Performance of select varieties of Ornamental Grass in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Juncus	Blue Arrow		5	6	5.5	14	12
Juncus	Javelin		6	5	5.5	36	24
Stipa	Capriccio		6	5	5.5	20	18

 

(See also Vegetatively Propagated – Ornamental Grass)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ornamental Pepper

 

            Of the AAS selections, Pepper Masquerade, Pepper Medusa, and Explosive Blast, and Holiday Flame had the best performances.  Black Pearl and Chilly Chili proved their merit once again with excellent growth and color. Black Pearl has unusually dark foliage, i.e. great foliagiferousness, and when the peppers turn red late in the season they make a great color contrast.

 

Table 12.  Performance of select varieties of Ornamental Pepper in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Black Pearl		Black	6	6	6.0	24	20
Chilly Chili		Red	6	6	6.0	8	6
Explosive Blast	AAS Trial 07F06C-3	Purple	6	6	6.0	6	9
Garda Tricolor	AAS Trial 07F06C-1		7	4	5.5	30	24
Holiday Flame	AAS Trial 07F06C-2		5	7	6.0	12	12
Pepper Masquerade	AAS Trial 07F05C-2		6	6	6.0	16	16
Pepper Medusa	AAS Trial 07F05C-1	Red	6	6	6.0	6	6
	AAS Trial 07F05	Purple	6	5	5.5	16	16
	AAS Trial 07F06	White to Red	6	5	5.5	24	24

 

 

Pentas

 

            The Pentas really thrive towards the end of the growing season, and Butterfly Blush and Northern Lights Lavender did not disappoint with their strong show of color.  Their relatively low floriferousness ratings are reflective of the fact they were not in bloom for the June rating.

 

Table 13.  Performance of select varieties of Pentas in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
	AAS Trial 07F08	Pink Bicolor	5	5	5.0	6	8
Butterfly	AAS Trial 07F08C-2	Blush	6	6	6.0	18	16
Butterfly	AAS Trial 07F07C-1	Lavender Shades	6	5	5.5	14	14
Kaleidoscope	AAS Trial 07F08C1	Appleblossom	6	5	5.5	14	12
Lanceolata		Graffiti Lipstick	6	5	5.5	9	10
Lanceolata		Northern Lights Lavender	6	6	6.0	18	15

 

(See also Vegetatively Propagated – Pentas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Petunia

 

            All of the petunias in the trials did well.  Baby Duck Yellow was particularly impressive.  The Shock Wave series was impressive in performance; its smaller scale flowers were prolific.

           

Table 14.  Performance of select varieties of Petunia in Kansas

Cultivar/Series		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Baby Duck		Yellow	7	6	6.5	14	36
Dreams		Rose Morn	7	6	6.5	14	36
Easy Wave		Mystic Pink	6	6	6.0	10	36
Shock Wave		Ivory	6	6	6.0	12	36
Shock Wave		Pink Shades	6	6	6.0	12	36
Shock Wave		Pink Vein	6	6	6.0	12	36
Shock Wave		Purple	6	6	6.0	12	36
Shock Wave		Rose	6	6	6.0	13	36

                                               

(See also Vegetatively Propagated – Petunia)

 

 

Rudbeckia

 

            Radiance was beautiful when flowering, but turned brown mid-season.

 

Table 15.  Performance of select varieties of Rudbeckia in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Radiance			5	5	5.0	12	8

 

(See also Vegetatively Propagated – Rudbeckia)

 

 

Salvia

 

            Vista Rose was an average Salvia in the trials.

 

Table 16.  Performance of select varieties of Salvia in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Vista		Rose	6	5	5.5	15	15

 

(See also Vegetatively Propagated – Salvia.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talinum

           

            Limon is an outstanding new addition to the trials with its distinctive chartreuse foliage and continuous blooming.  It has good potential for the Prairie Star list pending another year of testing.  There is some question on whether the plant will become a nuisance with its ability to reseed itself. It may prove quite useful as a filler flower in containers.

 

Table 17.  Performance of select varieties of Talinum in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Limon			7	6	6.5	24	40

 

 

Vinca

 

            Pure White is another great addition to the Titan series. First Kiss Blueberry is a favorite for its unique blue-colored flowers and has been added to the Prairie Star list.

           

Table 18.  Performance of select varieties of Vinca in Kansas

Cultivar/Series		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
First Kiss		Blueberry	6	6	6.0	16	16
Titan		Pure White	7	6	6.5	16	16

 

(See also Vegetatively Propagated – Vinca)

 

 

Zinnia

 

            The Zinnias grew well and bloomed all season, providing a real splash of color.  Profusion Knee High White was particularly impressive, and the Profusion series has been added to the Prairie Star list.

           

Table 19.  Performance of select varieties of Zinnia in Kansas

Cultivar/Series		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
		Star Orange	6	6	6.0	16	17
		Thumbelina	6	6	6.0	24	24
Benary Giant		Mixed	6	6	6.0	34	19
Oklahoma		Golden Yellow	6	6	6.0	27	18
Oklahoma		Mixed	6	6	6.0	22	16
Oklahoma		Salmon	6	6	6.0	30	25
Oklahoma		Scarlet	6	6	6.0	29	20
Oklahoma		White	6	6	6.0	27	19
Oklahoma		Rose	6	6	6.0	24	16
Profusion Knee High		Red	6	6	6.0	15	23
Profusion Knee High		White	7	6	6.5	19	23
Zowie		Yellow	6	6	6.0	24	18

 

 

 

 

 

General Field Trials

 

Vegetatively Propagated Annuals

 

Achillea

 

Gypsy White was trialed as an annual and grew well, but did not have exceptional flowers.        

 

Table 1.  Performance of select varieties of Achillea in Kansas

Cultivar		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Gypsy		White	6	5	5.5	8	24

 

 

Ageratum

 

            The Artist series of Ageratums had cyclical shows of color, but were not consistently in bloom.

 

Table 2.  Performance of select varieties of Ageratum in Kansas

Cultivar/Series		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Artist		Alto Blue	6	5	5.5	16	20
Artist		Blue	6	5	5.5	12	18
Artist		Blue Violet	6	5	5.5	12	18
Artist		Purple	6	5	5.5	10	18
Artist		Rose Improved	6	5	5.5	8	14

 

(See also Seed Propagated – Ageratum)

 

 

Angelonia

 

             The Angelonias all had a good deal of vegetative growth, but the flower displays were not overly impressive.  The Angelface Dresden Blue, White, White Improved, and Angelmist White had the best floriferousness.

 

Table 3.  Performance of select varieties of Angelonia in Kansas

Cultivar/Series		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Angelface		Blue	6	5	5.5	28	24
Angelface		Blue Bicolor	6	5	5.5	32	24
Angelface		Dark Violet	6	5	5.5	24	24
Angelface		Dresden Blue	6	6	6.0	28	24
Angelface		Wedgewood Blue	6	5	5.5	24	24
Angelface		White	6	6	6.0	36	24
Angelface		White Improved	6	6	6.0	30	24
Angelmist		Deep Plum Improved	6	5	5.5	24	24
Angelmist		Lavender Bi-Color	6	5	5.5	20	20
Angelmist		Purple Improved	6	5	5.5	24	24
Angelmist		White	6	6	6.0	18	24
Carita		Cascade Deep Purple	6	5	5.5	28	28
Carita		Cascade White 07	6	5	5.5	22	24
Carita		Deep Pink	6	5	5.5	28	24
Carita		Lavender	6	5	5.5	28	24

 

Argyranthemum

 

            The summer heat impeded the blooms on the Argyranthemums, even on those with good vigor.

 

Table 4.  Performance of select varieties of Argyranthemum in Kansas

Cultivar/Series		Color	V	F	Overall	Ht (in)	Wd (in)
Courtyard		Buttercream	4	4	4.0	7	7
Madeira		Crested Primrose	5	4	4.5	10	8
Molimba		Helio Double Pink	5	4	4.5	8	8
Molimba		Helio White	6	5	5.5	10	12
Molimba		Mini Double White	6	4	5.0	9	10
Molimba		Mini Frizzle Pink	5	4	4.5	8	10
Molimba		Mini White	5	4	4.5	6	6
Molimba		Mini Yellow	5	4	4.5	8	8
Molimba		Pink	4	4	4.0	7	7