2016 Costa Farms Early-Season Top Perfomers

2016 Early-Spring Top Performers

Costa Farms Trial Garden

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ere at Costa Farms, it’s important to us to ensure our retailer partners—and the home gardeners and decorators who ultimately buy our plants—enjoy success with them. To that end, we put a lot of time and effort into research and development.

We’ve established a 2-acre Trial Garden in Miami, Florida, where we trial some 500 varieties of annuals and perennials every spring. In the following pages, you’ll find some 75 of the topperforming plants from our early-spring trials.

As a part of our trials, our hard-working research and development team monitors plant performance and collects data and photography every two weeks. This in-depth information is available at http://rd.costafarms.com/ One advantage of our Miami climate is that it simulates late spring and early summer in Northern areas, with moderate daytime and nighttime temperatures (unlike our region’s summer weather). If plants perform especially well in our early-spring trials, it’s a good indicator that the varieties should also perform well in the North over the summer.

To help make this report easier to read, we’ve divided varieties into six sections based on where our gardening experts believe the plants may offer the best advantages to home gardeners. These six areas are: • Backyards • Decks • Front yards • Patios • Porches • Window Boxes

More than 500 varieties evaluated!

Growing Information

Most plants were grown in 6-inch pots prior to transplant and started from either an unrooted cutting or seed. They were transplanted into the Costa Farms Trial Garden between December 13, 2015 and January 8, 2016.

A timed-release fertilizer as incorporated into the soil at planting time, and a fertilizer/fungicide drench was applied the week of December 28, 2015.

Chemical controls for pests and diseases were applied only on an as-needed basis throughout the evaluation period. In addition to traditional pesticide applications when necessary, biological organisms, such as predatory mites, were also used.

Assessment Information

To be considered a top performer, a variety needs to show abundance of bloom (if applicable), excellent uniformity across the crop, clean foliage and resistance to disease, little to no pest damage, and a pleasing habit.

The evaluation period for this report is January 25, 2016, to March 6, 2016.

Environmental data is available via the charts to the left.

Number of Varieties Evaluated 500+

Backyard Beauties Perfect plants for the backyard offer big bloom power and little maintenance.

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lmost everyone wants a beautiful backyard. That may mean one filled with gorgeous flowers—or at least some to add cheer and color.

Pollinator plants are particularly good choices for backyards where there’s a safe haven for the birds, bees, and butterflies, yet they’re out of the way of outdoor living spaces like decks and patios.

A: Petunia Crazytunia Black Mamba: The big favorite of the

bloggers and journalists who visited our Trial Garden this spring, Black Mamba petunia features a rich color that deserves to be viewed up close in the backyard. Presented by Westflowers.

B: Pentas Honey Cluster Pink:

Perfect for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, this easycare plant blooms nonstop. The Rose variety was also a winner. Presented

by Syngenta.

C: Phlox Gisele White: A no-fuss

plant, this annual phlox is ideal for backyards because of its low care needs and bright white color, making it shimmer and shine at dusk.

Presented by Selecta.

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D: Bracteantha Cottage Rose: While it’s beautiful, this plant’s real appeal is the fun, papery texture of its blooms that just beg to be touched. The Bronze, White, and Yellow varieties performed just as well. Presented by Westflowers.

E: Coreopsis Uptick Gold and Bronze: This fashionable

hybrid of a tried-and-true native wildflower is sure to attract butterflies and hold up to just about every type of weather.

Presented by Darwin Perennials.

F: Petunia Sweetunia Magenta Touch: Offering magentaand-white bicolored flowers, this cheery petunia offers big bloom power that’s visible from a distance—so it’s easily viewable while in the yard or looking at it from the window.

Presented by Dummen Orange.

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G: Lavandula multifida Torch Exp.: Also called fernleaf

lavender, this plant has so many wonderful attributes: it’s delightfully fragrant (with an interesting pine-like scent that’s a little different than most lavender varieties), it attracts bees and butterflies, it’s deer and rabbit resistant, and it tolerates drought. Plus, it’s beautiful, showing off soft silvery-green, finely textured foliage and spikes of lavender-purple flowers.

Presented by HEM Genetics.

H: Pansy Freefall Marina: This cheery combination of yellow

and soft blue pansies for container gardens and hanging baskets is the perfect way to ring in spring and pop bursts of color into the backyard. Whether these pansies are grown in the ground or containers (they performed beautifully in our hanging baskets), they are ideal for celebrating the start of the gardening season. Presented by Floranova.

I: Impatiens SunPatiens Tropical Rose: Its marketing tagline says it all: This plant grows in sun or shade, rain or shine, and blooms spring to fall, so it fits in practically any backyard. This new variety features dark green foliage boldly variegated with yellow and numerous rose-pink flowers. We grew this winner in both hanging baskets and in garden beds; it was wonderful in both. Presented by Sakata.

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Dream Plants for Decks Gorgeous plants are the perfect way to decorate any deck with any budget.

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ur decks have almost become another room of our homes with as much time as we spend there. This is especially the case for younger generations, who put a high value on having outdoor living space.

One trend in decks is that more people are looking for built-in features such as planters, fire pits, and fountains to make the deck more of a comfortable, natural space.

Happily, easy-care plants are ideal solutions for dressing up any deck. Plants add color, texture, and a sense of life in planters, container gardens placed on the deck, and in plantings around the deck to help the visual transition from the deck to the rest of the yard.

Petunia Sunspun Pink Ice: Once established, this

variety looks like a pillow of color that blooms nonstop all summer and into the fall. Presented by BallFloraPlant.

Diascia My Darling Berry:

This selection (as well as the Melon and Peach varieties) show off a ton of blooms and add a fine texture to containers and plantings. Presented by Dummen Orange.

Coleus Pineapple Surprise:

A winner for sun or shade, this coleus sports bold foliage and grows into a tidy, mounded plant.

Presented by BallFloraPlant.

Fusables Paradise: Three colorful calibrachoas combine here to put on a high-impact show for elegant container gardens. Presented by PanAmerican Seed.

Petunia Amore Mio: A stunner

in the sun, this bold petunia shows off rosy-pink blooms accented with an eye-catching white star.

Presented by Danziger.

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Fab Front-Yard Flowers No-fuss plants add instant curb appeal (and value) to every home!

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e usually tackle the front yard first when landscaping a new home.

After all, that’s the part of your yard all your neighbors see—and what you view coming and going every day.

Improving the front yard pays off when it comes to selling your home; research shows good landscaping can improve sale price by some 25 percent and provide more than 100 percent return on investment.

Some of the best plants for front yards are those that put out a lot of color and don’t need frequent fussing to stay looking good.

A: Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Memories: The Garvinea series

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(including Classic Jasmina, Classic Lydia, Classic Rachel, Classic Sylvannia, Sweet Rudy, Sweet Smile, and Sweet Spice) are reliably top performers in our garden, holding up long after most other gerberas fade. Presented by Florist.

B: Begonia Megawatt Pink Bronze Leaf: You can usually count on

begonias to perform, and the Megawatt series (Red and Rose Bronze Leaf, as well) is no exception. These monsters live up to their name. Presented by PanAmerican Seed.

C: Celosia Kelos Fire Scarlet Improved: Loved by designers for

their chic looks, plume-type celosia varieties add flair to beds, borders, and containers. Atomic Purple Pink and Atomic Violet also performed admirably. Presented by Beekenkamp.

D: Impatiens SunPatiens Compact Royal Magenta with Petunia SuperCal Light Yellow: This container garden was voted one of the favorites in all our trials by home gardeners on our Facebook poll. Both varieties feature an easy-growing nature.

Presented by Sakata.

E: Cleome Senorita Mi Amor: Perfect for putting on a big show, this variety and Blanca Improved grew fast and were covered in blooms. They’re ideal for quickly adding a maintenance-free display to the front yard. Presented by Proven Winners.

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F: Salvia Grandstand Red: Top performers

in our trials last summer, Grandstand Red and Grandstand Purple are practically unstoppable in the garden. These big plants grow fast and produce a plethora of blooms that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Grandstand salvias are perfect frontyard plants because they perform so well and put on big color that’s visible at a distance.

Presented by Greenfuse.

G: Angelonia Archangel Blue Bicolor:

Over the years, we’ve become big fans of the Archangel angelonia collection. They’re easy to grow, floriferous, and offer large flowers— so they’re superb plants for the front yard in landscaping beds and borders, as well as containers. Because they’re so tolerant of heat and humidity, these plants are ideal for planting up by the mailbox where it’s harder to water and maintain them. They’ll still do well! Presented by BallFloraPlant.

H: Pelargonium Ice Queen: While most

folks grow geraniums for their flowers, this is one you’ll love for its foliage. The crisp green foliage is boldly marked with bright white edges, making it sparkle against a sea of green plants. Bright scarlet-red blooms punctuate the pretty leaves. Presented by Vivero International.

I: Petunia Hells Glow: A top performer in

our Trial Garden last year as well, Hells Glow is a stunner for its incredibly bold, eye-catching color. This variety performs especially well for a petunia in our Trial Garden, putting on a big show with its can’t-miss-them flowers. It’s an easy way to make any front yard look better in an instant. Presented by Westflowers.

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Power to the Patio Plants instantly perk up any patio!

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he typical builder’s patio is a concrete slab up against the side of the house. It’s often not the most attractive—or most comfortable—outdoor living space. But a tweak or two, including adding plants and the right furniture can make a world of difference.

One of the biggest patio trends in 2016 is incorporating plants, especially via vertical gardens. A quick search on Google or Pinterest, for example, will show a multitude of ways to create vertical-garden projects using pallets, gutters, and other materials.

Fire pits are also on the rise because they’re perfect for adding ambiance and extending the patio’s use both earlier and later into the year in cold-winter climates.

A: Kwik Kombo PurpleBerry Mix: Voted a favorite container

on our online poll of home gardeners, this monochromatic mix of bicolor purple petunia and verbena is anything but boring. The two varieties held up well, grew well together, and bloomed profusely. Presented by Syngenta.

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C B: Begonia Sprint Appleblossom: Another example of

how you can’t go wrong growing begonias, the Sprint series (including Pink, Rose, and White, as well) performed in every type of weather without missing a beat. Presented by Benary.

C: Nemesia Sunsatia Blood Orange: This cool-weather crop

held on as temperatures rose, showing off gorgeous blooms mixing warm shades of pink and orange. This small, mounding plant is perfect in mixed container gardens or big drifts for bold spring color. Presented by Proven Winners.

D: Lobularia Yolo Top White: Yolo Top White created a

carpet of color and fragrance in our Trial Garden. Ideal as an annual groundcover or spiller in mixed containers, it adds an airiness and sweet scent to any sunny patio. Presented by Dummen Orange.

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E: Success Petunia Combo 1: Few plants can rival a pot

overflowing with petunias in full bloom. This combo did outstandingly well in our Trial Garden. Like their names, Success petunias need only a bit of sun, water, and fertilizer to thrive. Presented by Benary.

F: Geranium Maverick Violet Picotee: Geraniums are

longtime spring favorites in the Deep South and summer favorites in the North. Maverick Violet Picotee’s beautifully bicolored flowers are ideal for garden beds, borders, and containers. Presented by Syngenta.

G: Petunia Littletunia Red Fire: You can’t miss this plant

in the garden! Its fiery-red flowers practically smothered the foliage. An easy grower, it should thrive in any sunny spot.

Presented by Danziger.

H: Geranium Caliente Lavender: Geraniums have come a

long way! This interspecific hybrid was champion in our earlyseason trials for its profusion of bloom. Presented by Syngenta.

I: Petunia Littletunia Pink Splash: Charming, elegant, and full of flowers are easy ways to describe this variety. Though the flowers are small, the plant makes up for it in weather resistance and number of blooms. Presented by Danziger.

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Perking Up the Porch Front porches feel welcoming. Beautiful flowers make them even better.

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orches are growing in popularity, and it’s not hard to see why. A front porch adds curb appeal and makes a house feel more homey. Back porches are easy and accessible outdoor living space perfect for enjoying meals outdoors. Hanging baskets and container gardens transform them from good to great.

A: Verbena Hurricane Blue: Hurricane

Blue offers lovely flowers—and lots of them—in shades of lavender-blue that are beautiful on their own or matched with just about any other flower. Presented by Westflowers.

B: Petunia Pretty Flora Rose: This

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selection is ideal for container gardens and hanging baskets on a porch because of its compact, mounding habit and tons of blooms. Presented by PanAmerican Seed.

C: Viola Bel Viso Blueberry Swirl:

Springtime stunners, Bel Viso Blueberry Swirl and Pineapple Crush impressed us with their outstanding performance.

They’re fantastic for adding a dose of early-spring color to any porch.

Presented by Floranova.

D: Petunia Colorworks Pink Vein:

Ideal for adding softness to the patio, this petunia’s light color looks good during the day, as well as when the sun goes down and darker colors fade. Presented by Sakata.

E: Kwik Kombo World’s Fair Mix: In

this hanging basket, the mix of petunia, verbena, and lobelia offered a stunning look in our Trial Garden nonstop once it started blooming. Presented by Syngenta.

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F G F: Lobelia Hot Snow White: Perfect for

practically any container garden, Lobelia Hot Snow White blooms profusely in a neutral white color that looks good with everything. Its soft texture complements any basket or container as it elegantly spills over the sides. Another selection in the series, Hot Water Blue, did just as well.

Presented by Westflowers.

G: Petunia Trilogy Deep Purple: A

show stopper in hanging baskets and mixed containers, this spreading petunia has bold, eye-catching color. It thrives in a wide variety of weather conditions and blooms profusely. Presented by Takii.

H: Cotton Candy Delight Combo:

Offering a combination of soft and rich pinks, accented with pure white, this combination is ideal for spring decor, especially around Easter and Mother’s Day. Happily, its excellent performance in our trials means it should hold up long after these holidays. Presented by Danziger.

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Window Box Wonders Fill window boxes with low-growing plants that bloom profusely—like these!

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s people look for more easy ways to add curb appeal—especially younger generations—they’re rediscovering how charming and elegant a lush, flower-filled window box can be. Whether they’re buying a pre-made box or constructing their own (there are lots of easy project ideas available on social media), we’re seeing more window boxes adorning homes across the country.

A: Petunia Cascadias Rim Cherry:

Elegant and easy, this bicolor petunia held up to our weather and continued to pump out its brilliant blooms. Presented by Danziger.

B: Petunia Surprise Electric Blue Ice:

Purple flowers always please, and this variety looks great on its own or paired with a wide variety of other colors to create stunning window boxes, hanging baskets, and other containers. Presented

by Dummen Orange.

C: Viola Sorbet XP Yellow Pink Wing:

It’s easy to fill window boxes with gorgeous summer bloomers, but winter/ early-spring flowers are more challenging.

This variety, and its sister, Beaconsfield, are good bets in the cooler seasons.

Presented by PanAmerican Seed.

D: Verbena Magelana Twister Purple:

Gorgeous flowers, profuse bloom, and a great habit make Magelana Twister Purple a winner for containers of any type.

Presented by Syngenta.

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E: Confetti Aloha Hawaiian Cranberry: What’s not to love

about a flamboyant, color-filled window box spilling full of calibrachoa? This Confetti trio was one of our best-performing hanging baskets, and it will do just as well in a sunny window box. The bicolored blooms really stand out—even in a busy garden center. Presented by Dummen Orange.

F: Verbena Lindolena Fruit Punch: The bold, eye-catching

hot magenta-pink flowers of Lindolena Fruit Punch are sure to please. Bright enough to put on a show all on its own, this colorful variety also works well in bold and bright combos (try it with orange for a really modern look) and resisted disease.

Presented by Dummen Orange.

G: Petunia Success Pink Vein: It doesn’t take many of this

spreading petunia to fill a window box with bold color! Success Pink vein is an outstanding choice for lots of blooms all season long. Presented by Benary.

H: Bidens Campfire: A trendy choice for anyone who

wants to attract butterflies and other pollinators, this cute bicolor bidens beat out the other varieties in our Trial Garden.

Presented by Proven Winners.

I: Pelargonium Calliope Pink: One of the newest varieties in

the tried-and-true Calliope series, this selection did just as well as its relatives but in a soft new color. Presented by Syngenta.

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