Page 10 - Griffin Gazette Q4 2017

New Today,

Sold Tomorrow!

Image Caption: Kwik Kombos Blue Breeze Mix
By Jeanne Svob, Seed Business Manager Pentas is a beautiful garden performer with loads of flowers adored
by humans and pollinators alike. We have a few new introductions
For me, the most exciting plant purchase is the impulse buy—the
plant that screams, “You know you can’t live without me! Take me this year. First, a new seed series called Lucky Star. A compact-
home!” The plants I already know and love will make it into my cart growing bedding type, Lucky Star’s best feature is that it’ll set its
in a pack or a 4-inch pot. But for me to be drawn to a plant I don’t next set of blooms right on top of the old flowers; covering the
know, it has to be stunning. Grow it bigger, put it in an interesting spent blooms and maintaining its compact habit. This is great for
container or into a unique combo and I can’t resist it. the grower and retailer as it extends shelf life on the bench. It’s also
terrific for the gardener and landscaper as it keeps the color impact
With an eye turned toward impulse sales, here are some new throughout the season. Lucky Star can be sold in color in 804s up
varieties to consider for their head-turning potential. Today’s fresh to quarts, one plant per pot…or put three plants in a 6-inch pot for
new introductions could become your top sellers in 2018! a tremendous show of color.
Heat-loving superstars If you’re looking for a bit more impact from pentas, here are two
For most folks in most regions, summers are hot—and sometimes vegetative series that deserve your consideration: Starcluster and
dry. Home gardeners and landscapers need plants that will tolerate Falling Star. Each offers unique attributes to turn heads and drive
both. Pentas are extremely popular in the South because of their those sought-after impulse sales.
reliable summer performance. We’re seeing more and more pentas
in the North, and we have some sensational new series from which Starcluster is a tetraploid with huge, showy blooms and strong,
to choose. If you can sell vinca in your market, you can sell pentas. upright stems. Use Starcluster alone in 5- or 6-inch pots, or
in combination with other heat lovers like scaevola, angelonia

10 | Griffin Gazette 2017