Summer perennial trial looks at echinacea, heuchera, sedum

Pacific Plug and Liner in Watsonville , Calif. , has always found great value in variety comparison trials. The trials provide a great opportunity to compare competing genetics of key genera. PP&L generally selects genera that are important to the commercial market and that offer growers numerous varieties to choose from.

The goals of the trials are to showcase superior varieties as well as analyze criteria such as cost and availability.

For its first summer perennial trial, PP&L wanted to focus on three genera (Echinacea, Heuchera and Sedum) that had wide market appeal, a large number of available varieties and new breeding. The only criterion a variety had to meet was to be commercially available as a young plant. PP&L wanted to see how traditional seed varieties compared to new tissue culture selections.

Varieties that received the PP&L Grower’s Choice designation were superior in form and habit, readily available and relatively cost effective for most growers. In general, Grower’s Choice was assigned to multiple varieties in a genus that met these criteria.

Culture

All plants in the trial were grown outdoors at PP&L’s Watsonville , Calif. , production facility. Plants were produced without a pinch or plant growth regulator treatment. All plants were grown in a coarse peat-based growing medium and received a liquid feed of 17-5-17CaMg and 20-10-20 on a regular basis.

Vegetatively propagated plants were transplanted depending on when they were received. Seeded crops were sown in summer and transplanted into a 32-cell plug and overwintered outdoors with no protection. Tissue culture crops were transplanted into their final containers and overwintered. Bare-root crops were received and planted in spring.

Echinacea

This genus has seen many new selections and extensive breeding work in recent years. Plants can be propagated from seed, tissue culture and bare-root. All three types were used in the trial.

Echinacea have received increased s interest from growers and consumers over the last few years. This is mainly due to color breakthroughs from breeders such as Jim Ault at Chicago Botanic Garden and Richard and Bobby Saul at ItSaul Plants in Alpharetta , Ga.

Grower’s Choice selections

‘Kim’s Knee High.’ Originally selected by Kim Hawks of Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill , N.C. , ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is a relatively compact selection that proved to be one of the earliest flowering and floriferous selections. This variety’s flowers are smaller with drooping petals that open an intense dark pink and fade to light dusky rose. One issue with this variety is that it is so floriferous that plants tended to be top heavy.

‘Big Sky Sunrise .’ The Big Sky series was developed by ItSaul Plants. This series has grown to more than six cultivars with many color breakthroughs. Sunrise was one of the first selections from the program and still proves to be one of the best. Sunrise has canary-yellow flowers on top of a well-branched, controlled plant.

‘Big Sky Sundown.’ Sundown was another early introduction in the Big Sky series. Sundown complements Sunrise with a similar habit, but it is topped with orange-red flowers. Sundown and Sunrise are two true color breakthroughs for this genus.

‘Fatal Attraction.’ This variety is from Future Plants in Lisserbroek , Netherlands , which specializes in new perennial selections with superior form. ‘Fatal Attraction’ is a striking plant, notable for its intense magenta-pink flowers that sit atop nearly black stems. Flower petals are pointed straight out, giving it an unusual look compared to traditional echinacea flower types. It grows to 18 inches tall and is well branched.

‘Pink Double Delight.’ This variety is from the Cone-fections series from Dutch breeder Arie Blom. The series is notable for its double flowers similar to ‘Razzmatazz.’ ‘Pink Double Delight’ takes the unique flowers of ‘Razzmatazz’ and puts them on a well-branched plant one-fourth the size. This variety is a novelty that is sure to find its place in the market.

‘Coconut Lime.’ A whitish-green complement to ‘Pink Double Delight,’ also bred by Arie Blom, ‘Coconut Lime’ has a similar habit and flower type to ‘Pink Double Delight,’ but with a pale-lime cone not seen before in this flower type.

‘Prairie Splendor.’ This new seed selection from S&G Flowers grabbed our attention for being the only clear improvement in seed-produced echinacea over traditional selections like ‘Magnus.’ ‘Prairie Splendor’ was 12 inches shorter than ‘Magnus.’ Growers who have traditionally grown ‘Magnus’ should consider trying ‘Prairie Splendor.’

Heuchera

There seems to be an endless number of heuchera varieties available. In general, this plant costs more to produce than other perennials. Heuchera is generally produced from tissue culture, bare-root or cuttings.

The name Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby , Ore. , is synonymous with heuchera breeding. Many of the 72 varieties that PP&L trialed had a connection to Terra Nova. The company has been the main breeder that has developed foliage color breakthroughs in the genus as well as found a balance of foliage color combined with attractive flowers, a concept that has been ignored in many other selections.

Although Terra Nova is the market leader, some other innovative selections have recently become available. French breeder Thierry Delabroye released some new varieties that combine great foliage color and improved heat and humidity tolerance.

Grower’s Choice Selections

‘Caramel.’ This recent selection was bred by Delabroye. ‘Caramel’ was the first amber-colored selection that had genes from Heuchera villosa. ‘Caramel’ has increased vigor and heat tolerance over traditional amber-colored selections. It produces large, pubescent leaves with a caramel-colored upper surface and purple undersides. ‘Caramel’ is very vigorous and filled containers with little effort.

‘Dolce Mocha Mint.’ This cultivar, released by Proven Winners, has medium-sized scalloped leaves that are more grey and silver than many other silver-leaved selections. What makes ‘Dolce Mocha Mint’ stand out is the complement of dark-pink flowers that make for a great flower/foliage combination. The plant habit, flowering and leaf color make this selection one of the best silver-leaved selections.

‘Mars.’ This heavily ruffled cultivar from the Planet series bred by Aad Wijnhout of Wijnex Nursery in Hillegom , Netherlands , proved to be a standout from other selections in the PP&L trial. Mars has larger leaves that are silver with purple-red undertones. This cultivar is available as unrooted cuttings and rooted liners, making it more cost-effective for many growers.

‘Harvest Burgundy .’ This Ball FloraPlant selection has smaller ruffled foliage with silver and purple coloring, making for a unique contrast. ‘Harvest Burgundy ’ is available as unrooted cuttings and rooted liners.

‘Melting Fire.’ This cultivar drew a lot of attention at the trial. Not only did it look just as good, and many times better than most of the other varieties, ‘Melting Fire’ stood out due to it being a seed variety offered by Kieft Seed. This variety is a breakthrough in seed perennials, offering a superior selection combined with low cost. This is a critical step for growers who are used to paying a premium price for good-performing, good-looking heuchera varieties.

Lime-colored varieties

The most notable issue with the lime-colored heucheras in the PP&L trial was their problem with leaf burn. All of the lime heucheras had significant leaf burn when grown under 50-percent shade.

The key for growers and consumers to have success with this color group is to grow them in well-shaded locations Hopefully with continued breeding this issue can be eliminated.

Sedum

PP&L chose sedum varieties for its trial with an emphasis on ‘Autumn Joy’-type habits. We were especially interested in the numerous dark-leaved selections that have recently become commercially available. Most sedums are one-off selections that are single varieties, not part of a series.

Grower’s Choice Selections

‘Autumn Joy.’ This cultivar is a classic. ‘Autumn Joy’ still holds great form and was one of the first to bud. Its habit was well-branched and relatively compact compared to other green-leaf selections.

‘Autumn Charm.’ This selection has been on the market for a few years. A sport of ‘Autumn Joy,’ ‘Autumn Charm’ is notable for its bold, golden leaf margins with green centers. This selection has good vigor and is very well-branched for a variegated variety. ‘Autumn Charm’ is topped with mauve flowers that offer a sharp contrast against the foliage.

‘Mr. Goodbud.’ This Terra Nova variety definitely stood out from other varieties. ‘Mr. Goodbud’ has upright, strongly branched stems topped with huge flower clusters of salmon buds that open to bright pink. ‘Mr. Goodbud’ had one of the best overall habits.

‘Picolette.’ This dark-leaved, compact variety from Future Plants has well-branched, dark-purple leaves with mauve flowers that opened earlier than any other variety.

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- Ryan Hall

Ryan Hall is operations manager, Pacific Plug & Liner, (831) 722-5396, Ext. 219; ryan_hall@ppandl.net; www.ppandl.com.