CSU tries out flowers so you don’t have to
If you’ve driven along College Avenue in Fort Collins on a late summer’s day during the past decade, you’ve probably had your eye captured by a traffic-stopping blaze of color on the street’s east side.
That’s the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden. Each year, Colorado State University plants more than 1,000 cultivars of flowering annuals to see how they really bear up under Colorado’s uniquely torturous conditions. In recent years, the garden has added an overwintering pansy/viola trial and a two-year perennial trial. You could call it a botanical hall of fame.
So what varieties turned out to be the 2010 knockouts that you might want to eyeball at your local garden center this year? They’re listed at right. Meanwhile, to see photos of all the winners, go to .
ANNUALS
Best of show: Rudbeckia hirta Denver Daisy
Best new variety: Pennisetum Graceful Grasses Vertigo
Best novelty: Bulbine Yellow Compact
Best angelonia: AngelMist Spreading Purple Improved from Ball FloraPlant
Best argyranthemum: Flutterby Yellow from Paul Ecke Ranch
Best bacopa: Calypso Jumbo White 09 from Syngenta Flowers
Best calibrachoa: Aloha Apricot from Red Fox by Dummen USA
Best coleus: Trusty Rusty from Ball Flora- Plant
Best dahlia: Dark Angel Dracula from GroLink
Best dianthus: Diabunda Purple Picotee
Best diascia: Darla Appleblossom
Best geranium (interspecific): Caliente Fire
Best geranium (ivy): Pacific Salmon Red
Best geranium (zonal): Savannah Pink
Best impatiens (double): Fiesta Purple
Best impatiens (New Guinea): Magnum Fire
Best impatiens (seed): Impreza Pink Splash
Best lantana: Landmark Citrus
Best lobelia: Techno Heat Upright Light Blue
Best marigold: Moonsong Deep Orange
Best ornamental pepper: Sangria
Best osteospermum: Voltage Yellow
Best nemesia: Sunsatia Coconut Improved
Best petunia (mini-spreading): Supertunia Sangria Charm
Best petunia (seed spreading): Easy Wave Red Improved
Best petunia (spreading): Supertunia Vista Silverberry
Best phlox: Phloxy Lady White
Best scaevola: Bombay Dark Blue
Best verbena: Magelana Hot Rose
Best vinca: Boa Peppermint
Best zinnia: Zowie! Yellow Flame
Additional “Plants Rated as Superior” in 2010:
Acalypha Bronze Pink
“TOP PERFORMER” PERENNIALS
Anemone Little Princess
Hemerocallis Fire King
Hibiscus Jazzberry Jam
Hibiscus Summer Storm
Echinacea Mistral
Penstemon Prairie Twilight
Penstemon Red Riding Hood
PANSY/VIOLAS
Pansies
Inspire True Blue
Inspire White Blotch
Inspire Purple & Orange
Inspire Golden Yellow
Inspire Purple & White
Violas
Endurio Exp Sky Blue Marien
Floral Power Super Lavender Blue
Penny Exp Purple Picotee
Sorbet XP Yellow Duet
Aero Clear Blue
