02/99-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Christine Kelleher, 800-232-9557 Ext. 512,
or Gary Doerr, 916-716-1889
|
Blooms varieties earn
top marks
University of Georgia | Michigan State University
Pennsylvania State University | University of Washington
At the University
of Georgia in Athens, it was Kniphofia ‘Shining Sceptre’ that set
the curve in Dr. Allan Armitage’s Perennial
Trial Garden, earning perfect marks across the
board for plant vigor, foliage quality, bloom stalk
strength, bloom display, floral uniformity and
disease resistance.
One growing zone
to the north, it was Helianthemum ‘Annabel,’ Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’ and
Persicaria ‘Dimity’ that topped Dr.
Robert Berghage’s list of best performers
among Blooms of Bressingham North America varieties
trialed during 1998 at Penn State University in
University Park.
At Michigan State
University in East Lansing, two growing zones
from Athens, it was Helianthemum ‘Annabel
and Persicaria ‘Dimity’ again at the
top of the class. Each received almost perfect
scores of 4.9 in trials at the university’s
Horticultural Demonstration Gardens, according
to Ann Hancock, garden horticulturist.
Out in Seattle,
where the climate resembles that of Great Britain
perhaps more than any other in
North America, Barbara Selemon at the University
of Washington’s Center for Urban Horticulture
reports that Geraniums ‘Ann Folkard’ and ‘Laurence
Flatman’ received top marks by the evaluation
team. These two Crane’s Bill varieties proved
to be outstanding performers in both flower color
and quality, as well as overall growth habit. Heuchera ‘Bressingham
Bronze,’ another top choice, was noted for
its foliage impact.
The four universities are among eight campus sites
and four botanical gardens at which Blooms of Bressingham
North America varieties are being thoroughly evaluated
for their ability to perform in the diverse North
American environment.
"Our goal in selecting trial sites at such
widely diverse locations is to provide consumers
with as accurate and up-to-date information as
we can on which plants grow best in their areas," says
Gary Doerr, president of Blooms of Bressingham
North America.
"While most Blooms varieties will do well
in suitable garden sites when given proper care,
it is obvious from test results so far that some
plants do better in the hot, humid Southeast than
the colder climates of mountainous Pennsylvania
and Michigan – and vice versa."
Other universities participating in the program,
not all of which have published results from their
1998 trials, are Cal-Poly University, the University
of California at Davis, the University of Minnesota,
the University of Vermont and the University of
Washington.
Botanical Garden Partners are Hudson Gardens,
Denver; Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis;
Powell Gardens, Kansas City, Mo., and Royal Botanical
Gardens, Hamilton, Ontario.
Top Performers University
Field Trials 1996-1998
|
| Variety: |
Comment/Description: |
| Achillea ‘Anthea’ (P.P.#8828) |
Light yellow flowers from early summer to
early fall. Easy to grow, drought tolerant
in average to poor dry soils. (Full sun) |
| Astilbe ‘Sprite’ |
Airy, shell-pink flowers from midsummer to
early fall above a canopy of finely cut bronze-green
foliage. 1994 Perennial Plant of the
Year. (Partial to full shade) |
| Astilbe ‘Bressingham Beauty’ |
Pure pink flowers from early to late summer.
Sets standard for pink varieties; first rate
cut flower. Scored perfect 5 in ’97 trials. (Partial shade) |
| Erigeron ‘Prosperity’ |
Nearly double, light lavender-blue flowers
with yellow centers. Does well in most soils
as long as soil is well drained. (Full sun) |
| Heuchera ‘Bressingham Bronze’ (P.P.#8858) |
Off-white flowers from late spring to midsummer;
large, crinkled, purple-bronze foliage on mounded
clumps. (Full sun to partial shade) |
| Kniphofia ‘Bressingham Comet’ |
Better color, more vigorous and upright than ‘Sally’s
Comet.’ Yellow and flame-red flowers
from midsummer to early fall. (Full sun) |
| Kinphofia ‘Shining Sceptre’ |
"I talk about ‘Shining Sceptre’ everywhere
I go," says Georgia’s Armitage.
Describes it as the best of golden yellow Kniphofias.
With ‘Bressingham Comet’ earned
perfect 5-point score in ’98 trials. (Full sun) |
| Lavandula ‘Blue Cushion’ (P.P.#9119) |
Deep blue flowers from early to late summer.
Gray-green, evergreen foliage on compact, bushy
plants. Does well in light, sandy, alkaline
soil. (Full sun) |
| Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’ |
Excellent plant with double, white flowers
from early to late summer. Dark green foliage
on compact, bushy plants. (Full sun) |
| Penstemon ‘Ruby’ |
Brilliant ruby-red flowers from early summer
to midfall. Foliage is lush on mounded clumps.
(Full sun) |
| Phlox subulata ‘Oakington Blue Eyes’ |
Scored perfect 5 in ’97 Georgia trials. Sky blue flowers in mid- to late spring; needle-like
foliage on low spreading mats. (Full sun) |
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Michigan
State University
|
| Variety: |
Comment/Description: |
| Achillea ‘Anthea’ (P.P.#8828) |
Top scorer in ‘96-‘97 MSU trials;
near the top again in ’98. "Still
a champion in its third and final year in the
trials," says MSU’s Hancock. (Full
sun) |
| Fragaria ‘Pink Panda’ (P.P.#7598) |
A true strawberry with petite pink flowers
from late spring to late fall. Adaptable to
containers, baskets or groundcover. Third
place finisher in ’96. (Full sun to partial
shade) |
| Geranium ‘Laurence Flatman’ |
Offers improved crimson color and vigor over
other flowers of this type. In the
top four three years running. "Still performing
beautifully." (Full sun to partial shade) |
| Helenium ‘Coppelia’ (Pat.
Pend.) |
"Outstanding blaze of blooms; flowers
completely hid the foliage. (Full sun) |
| Helianthemum ‘Annabel’ |
Double soft pink flowers from late spring
to midsummer. With Persicaria ‘Dimity’ the
top performer in the 1998 MSU Trials. "What
a beautiful cultivar; beautiful color and flower
form. Nice healthy foliage." (Full sun) |
| Heuchera ‘Bressingham Bronze’ (P.P.#8858) |
"Incredible foliage; flowers give a
lovely haze effect." (Full sun to partial
shade) |
| Kniphofia ‘Bressingham
Comet’ |
"Once this started blooming, a lovely
show, much commented upon." (Full sun) |
| Lavandula ‘Blue Cushion’ (P.P.#9119) |
"Charming new dwarf introduction." (Full
sun) |
| Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’ |
"Truly impressive flower uniformity
and coverage." (Full sun) |
| Persicaria ‘Dimity’ |
Top performer in ‘98 trials as well
as in ‘97 when it tied Achillea ‘Anthea’ with
a perfect 5 score. "A workhorse that looks
good all season long." (Sun to partial
shade) |
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Pennsylvania
State University
|
| Variety: |
Comment/Description: |
| Aster ‘Flora’s Delight’ |
"Flowers were lavender with yellow centers.
The plants were medium-sized, uniform, compact,
full and bushy." (Full sun) |
| Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’ (P.P.#7344) |
Outstanding ruby-red foliage for late autumn
and winter gardens. "The best plant in
the PSU garden for winter color." (Full
sun to partial shade) |
| Coreopsis ‘Golden Gain’ |
"There were many golden flowers. The
plants were tall, compact, full and very bushy." Golden-yellow
flowers all summer. A fraction of a
point behind Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’ as top Blooms
finisher in ’98 PSU trials. (Full sun) |
| Dicentra 'Adrian Bloom’ |
"Flowers were dark pink with white tips.
Plants were compact and bushy." (Partial
shade) |
| Fragaria ‘Pink Panda’ (P.P.#7598) |
"These ornamental strawberries were
invasive and vigorous. The flowers were large
and pink with yellow centers, the small fruit
was red. The plants were full and bushy, sending
runners in all directions. (Full sun to partial
shade) |
| Helianthemum ‘Annabel’ |
"A wonderful plant in spring." A
high scorer in Pennsylvania as well as Michigan. "The
plants were uniform, compact and full." (Full
sun) |
| Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’ |
"The daisy-type flowers were white with
gold centers. The plants were uniform, compact
and bushy. Top Blooms finisher in ’98
trials. (Full sun) |
| Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’ |
Produces grape-colored flowers from early
summer to mid fall. (Full sun) |
| Persicaria ‘Dimity’ |
A Berghage and PSU favorite. Produces charming
pink flowers from late spring to late fall,
but was especially floriferous in July and
August. "Wonderful bronze foliage in winter." (Sun
to partial shade) |
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|
|
| Variety: |
Comment/Description: |
| Fragaria ‘Pink Panda’ (P.P.#7598) |
"Vigorous nonstop bloomer with rampant
runners; almost too much of the same thing.
Unusual pink and yellow center. Bees love it!" (Full
sun to partial shade) |
| Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ |
"Vigorous, can swamp small neighbors.
Good yellow leaf color, but susceptible to
leaf spotting. (Magenta-purple) Flowers are
a great contrast. (Full sun to partial shade) |
| Geranium ‘Laurence Flatman’ |
"Amazingly tidy, effective and nonstop
plant; fades in peak of summer." A favorite
plant of the evaluation team. Striking (dark
green) foliage and (crimson marked) blossoms.
(Sun to partial shade) |
| Heuchera ‘Bressingham Bronze’ (P.P.#8858) |
"Basically an excellent foliage plant
but flowers don’t detract; needs a little
sun protection. Great colors. Interesting.
(Sun to partial shade) |
| Lavandula ‘Blue Cushion’ (P.P.#9119) |
"Pretty and tidy, needs less aggressive
neighbors. Bees love it. (Full sun) |
| Penstemon ‘Ruby’ |
Most continuous bloomer of the Penstemons
trialed at Washington. (Full sun) |
| Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’ |
Nice foliage. Best of the Penstemons. Probably
the most vigorous." (Full sun) |
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