Monday, August 20, 2012

This Week In The Trial Garden July 26, 2012


Plant Of The Week: AAS Canna and Echinacea

The Test Garden at Metrolina has been an All American Selection (Or AAS)  garden for the past 3 years. The AAS program is a nationwide testing program that evaluates the garden performance of new and existing plants. Breeding companies submit their items for evaluation and the garden managers vote based on performance in their gardens.  Past AAS winners can be found at (http://www.all-americaselections.org/winners/index.cfm).

Two interesting AAS plants being evaluated this year are “Canna 11F02” and “Echinacea 10F02 Warm Color Shades”. The AAS program does not tell who the breeders are so we have to wait and see if they win to find out.

The Canna has a bright orange flower and has done very well all season (http://www.metrolinagreenhouses.com/testgarden/9197.aspx). We only have one replicate due to poor seed germination so that is a concern. It looks like it is forming some seed heads which are a little distracting so gardeners would probably need to remove spent flowers. Regardless Canna’s are spectacular in the landscape and it is great to see breeders working on this “old fashion plant”
 




The Echinacea took a little while to get going but looks incredible now (http://www.metrolinagreenhouses.com/testgarden/9194.aspx). The habit is a little up and down since it is a mixture of colors but I think that it adds to the charm of the plant. This is one to watch!




Thank You

Mark Yelanich Ph.D.

Past Plant of The Week!
Week 29:Trailing Begonia  ‘Santa Cruz’ Sunset from Benary
Week 28: Gomphrena Experimental from Sakata
Week 27:  Cleome Clio ‘Magenta’  from Danziger
Week 26: Angelonia Archangel Raspberry Improved from Ball FloraPlant.
Week 25: Open House Week
Week 24: Incarvillea (Incarvillea delavayi) Cheron Pink from PanAmerican
Week 23: Mecardonia  Magic Carpet Yellow from Sakata Ornamentals.
Week 22: Hibiscus “Mahogany Splendor” from Pan American Seed

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