Superior annuals from 2001 flower trials at Colorado State University

A basil, Ocimum basilicum 'Magical Michael', from Pan American Seed, was named Best of Show for 2001 in Colorado State University's annual flower trials. The plant had a uniform growth habit, nice flowers along with attractive purplish-colored foliage and a nice aroma. It's also been given All-American Selection status.

This winner, and others in the categories of geranium, impatiens, marigolds, nicotina, petunia and verbena were among approximately 1100 different varieties from twenty-four participating plant and seed companies in the trials.

Cuttings for all the vegetative varieties (approximately 700) arrived between late March and mid-April and were grown in Colorado State University's greenhouses. All seed varieties were started and grown by Welby Gardens as an in kind donation. The plants were transplanted to the outdoor beds between May 24 and June 28.

Weather conditions during the 2001 growing season were fairly normal, but many days in June, July and August reached 90 degrees F. Fort Collins did not receive much rain during the summer months, so additional water was added approximately twice a week, at the rate of about one inch of water at each watering.

The trial garden advisory committee, with representatives from seed companies, the university, greenhouse owners and managers along with Master Gardeners and horticulturists, evaluated the varieties on the basis of foliage or plant quality, flower quality and overall presentation.

Here are more winners:

• 'Fantasia Flame', from Ball Flora Plant, gained recognition as the best zonal geranium for being adaptable to our soils, and having prolific bright red flowers which provided a dramatic contrast against the exceptionally dark green leaves. Both flowers and plant growth habit were very uniform.
• A selection from Goldsmith, 'Maverick Star' took top honors for best seed geranium. A center white eye marked each of the numerous pink-salmon flowers. The leaves of this vigorous grower had showy zonation on the foliage, providing a great accent to the flowers.
• In both field and pot trials, ivy geranium 'Colorcade Deep Pink', from Ball Flora Plant was voted outstanding in its class for its uniform growth habit and numerous, deep pink flowers.
• 'SuperSonic Magenta' from Fischer won top honors as the best New Guinea impatiens. The glossy bronze leaves, along with the many larger magenta flowers throughout the season, helped this plant stand out from the rest.
• The winner of the double impatiens category was 'Fiesta Ole Stardust Pink', from Ball Flora Plant. This plant was covered the entire season with semi?double, rosy pink flowers with a striking white pattern in the center. This variety had a very vigorous and uniform growth habit.
• From our seed impatiens trials, the judging committee chose Accent Rose as the winner. This selection from Goldsmith Seeds had abundant, showy bright rose flowers on vigorous, very uniform plants.
• Pan American Seed was the producer of the best marigold, 'Bonanza Gold', an extremely uniform variety with large golden yellow flowers with dark green foliage. This variety also showed good resistance to aster yellows in our trials.
• The highest ranked nicotiana was 'Avalon Red' from Floranova. The plant had a very compact, uniform growth habit with a prolific display of red flowers throughout the summer.
• The winner from the many petunia varieties, including both vegetatively propagated and seed varieties, was the vegetatively propagated variety 'Surprise Lavender' from Dummen. This plant created a wonderful mound of uniform lavender flowers that were almost perfect in appearance. The plant was judged outstanding, also for its excellent growth habit and large quantity of flowers.
• The number of vegatively propagated verbenas greatly surpassed the seed varieties in the trials. A vegetatively propagated variety called 'Twilight Blue with Eye' from The Flower Fields was given the highest honors. The plant had dark blue flowers with white eyes, an attractive and unusual combination. These plants also had larger dark green leaves and vigorous, but uniform growth habit.
• The committee selected 'Dandedong Daisy Purple Blush' from Euro American Propagators as the best osteospermum. This variety had better flower coverage throughout the heat of the summer. Its tolerance to adverse conditions along with the purplish flowers makes it a winner.

Colorado State's W.D. Holly Plant Environmental Research Center at 630 West Lake St., in the southwest corner of the campus, has been home to the annual trial gardens since they began in 1979. In 1998, the university was chosen as one of two All-American Selection outdoor test gardens in Colorado.

For the 2001 growing season approximately 550 different varieties, including all the geraniums, petunias, and verbenas and the All-American Selections, were planted at a new and more visible site at High School Park on College Avenue and Remington Street in Fort Collins. Visitors are welcome to view the 2002 trials at both locations this summer.

For a complete research performance report on the 2001 Annual Trial Gardens, send $10.00 to: Annual Trial Garden Report, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, 111 Shepardson, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523.

Slides

1. Best of Show - Ocimum basilicum 'Magical Michael'
2. Best Zonal Geranium - 'Fantasia Flame'
3. Best Seed Geranium - 'Maverick Star'
4. Best Ivy Geranium - 'Colorcade Deep Pink'
5. Best New Guinea Impatiens - 'SuperSonic Magenta'
6. Best Double Impatiens - 'Fiesta Ole Stardust Pink'
7. Best Seed Impatiens - 'Accent Rose'
8. Best Marigold - 'Bonanza Gold'
9. Best Nicotiana - 'Avalon Red'
10. Best Petunia - 'Surprise Lavender'
11. Best Verbena - 'Twilight Blue with Eye'
12. Best Osteospermum - 'Dandedong Daisy Purple Blush' 
13. New Colorado State University Annual Flower Trial Site on College Avenue in Fort Collins
14. New Colorado State University Annual Flower Trial Site on College Avenue in Fort Collins

For more information on Gardening, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office.

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