Ohio State University Extension

2003 Herbaceous Ornamental Field Trial Results

Pamela J. Bennett, Extension Agent, Horticulture, Clark County

Introduction

Clark County Extension Master Gardener volunteers have evaluated annual plant varieties since 1995.  Carolyn Allen and Barbara Brown are Master Gardener volunteer co-chairs of the project.  The field trial plots are located at the Gateway Learning Gardens at the Clark County Extension Office in Springfield, Ohio. They are planted and maintained by volunteers. The plots are typical of the west-central Ohio area; the soil is predominantly clay with a pH of 7.3. The current plots were established in the fall of 1996. The beds were tilled to a depth of 14" and 2" of compost was added. Compost was added when new beds were established and every 3 years.  Compost was added to all beds in the fall of 2002.  There is approximately 5000 square feet of bed space in full sun and approximately 1000 square feet in shade.

The selection of plants to be trialed in the garden varies from year to year. The selection is based on performance in prior years, on current trends, and on industry recommendations. In this section, the results of performance for the plants are based on the data collected at the plots. The data reflect the growing conditions of 2003. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide growers, landscapers, and homeowners a guide for plant selection for Ohio.

Method

The plants were started from seed, plug or cutting at a local greenhouse, according to the recommended starting dates. They were planted in the plots on May 28, 2003.  The rows were spaced 2' apart; 6 plants of each variety are in each row. Trailing or vining plants were spaced 4' apart with 4' between rows.  Osmocoteิ (14-14-14) was incorporated prior to planting at the labeled rate.  Beds were hand weeded as needed throughout the season. 

Irrigation was applied during dry periods so that plants received at least 1" of water per week. See the weather information below for details. No additional applications of fertilizers were made. The plants were not deadheaded or pruned during the growing season. No insecticides or fungicides were applied. Volunteers weeded the plots as needed; no mulch was used. Plants were grown in full sun, unless otherwise indicated. The material for the shade house provided a 75% shade.

Three people conducted visual evaluations in June, July, and August.  The entire row was given a visual rating from 1 to 5.  If there were less than 3 plants remaining in one row at any time during the evaluation, the variety was dropped from the trials. A rating of 5 was considered to be excellent and a rating of 1 was considered to be poor.  The 3 individual evaluation ratings were averaged for the monthly rating figure.  Then, the monthly evaluations were averaged for the overall rating for each variety.

Weather Information

Precipitation for May was above average while temperatures were slightly below to normal.  Despite wet soil conditions during most of May, the annuals were planted under excellent soil conditions.  Temperatures were below normal in June, July and August.  There were only 3 days above 90ฐ F this season as compared to 30 days above 90ฐ F last year.  Precipitation was well above normal in July and August.  Supplemental irrigation was applied in order to provide 1” of water per week; however, this year, it was only applied in the beginning in order to establish plants.  There was one other time in late August that additional irrigation was required.  The following indicates weather conditions for this growing season as well as normal average temperatures and precipitation.

 

Temperature

May

June

July

August

September

2003 average high temperature Fฐ

69.9 Fฐ

77.4 Fฐ

82.8 Fฐ

82.6 Fฐ

73.7 Fฐ

2003 average low temperature Fฐ

51.3 Fฐ

56.7 Fฐ

62.1 Fฐ

62.5 Fฐ

52.6 Fฐ

2003 average temperature Fฐ

60.0 Fฐ

66.7 Fฐ

71.8 Fฐ

71.5 Fฐ

62.7 Fฐ

Normal average temperature Fฐ

61.3 Fฐ

70.3 Fฐ

73.8 Fฐ

72.0 Fฐ

65.2 Fฐ

Precipitation

Normal average rainfall (inches)

4.59”

4.16”

4.08”

3.50”

2.99”

2003 rainfall (inches)

7.10”

3.67”

8.82”

6.26”

8.11”

Days over 90ฐF

0

0

3

0

0

 

Following are the varieties in the 2003 field trials and their monthly ratings and overall rating.  They are in order of highest to lowest overall rating.  The plants listed in bold are those varieties that were grown under the shade structure (75% shade cloth). 

The supplier for each annual is listed in the table.  The supplier key is at the end of the table.  The plants are listed in order of Overall Rating from highest to lowest.

 

Plant                                                                            Supplier          June    July     Aug    Overall Rating

Perilla  ‘Magilla’                                                          BFP                 5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00

Nemesia fruticans ‘Sachet Blueberry’                     DSC                5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00

Coleus x hybrida x hybrida ‘Alabama Sunset’         MG                 4.67     5.00     5.00     4.89

Coleus x hybrida x hybrida ‘Solar Sunrise’             MG                 4.67     5.00     5.00     4.89

Petunia x hybrida  ‘Tidal Wave Purple’                       BallSd              4.67     5.00     5.00     4.89

Marigold tagetes ‘Marvelous Orange’                         S                      5.00     5.00     4.67     4.89

Petunia x hybrida ‘Storm Pink Morn’                         GS                   4.67     5.00     4.67     4.78

Petunia x hybrida ‘Storm Salmon’                              GS                   4.67     5.00     4.67     4.78

Marigold tagetes ‘Marvelous Yellow’                          S                      5.00     4.67     4.67     4.78

Marigold tagetes ‘Durango Yellow Improved’             PAS                 4.67     5.00     4.67     4.78

Coleus x hybrida  ‘Molten Lava’                              DSC                4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Coleus x hybrida  ‘Tilt-a-Whirl’                                DSC                4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Coleus x hybrida  ‘Peter's Wonder’                         DSC                4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Coleus x hybrida  ‘Trailing Rose’                             DSC                4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Lobelia erinus  ‘Laguna Sky Blue’                           PW                  5.00     5.00     4.33     4.78

Impatiens wallerana ‘Superbowl Salmon’                DSC                4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Nemesia fruticans ‘Sachet Parfait’                           DSC                5.00     5.00     4.33     4.78

Lantana camera ‘Patriot Hallelujah’                            MG                  4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Petunia x hybrida ‘Hurrah White Improved’                SG                   4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Petunia x hybrida  ‘Sky Blue’                                     SG                   4.33     5.00     5.00     4.78

Petunia x hybrida ‘Storm Violet’                                 GS                   4.67     4.67     5.00     4.78

Coleus x hybrida  ‘Super Duckfoot’                         MG                 4.00     5.00     5.00     4.67

Coleus x hybrida  ‘Dark Heart’                                DSC                4.00     5.00     5.00     4.67

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Lavender Pink’                    PW                  4.00     5.00     5.00     4.67

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Lilac’                                    PW                  4.00     5.00     5.00     4.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Carpet Rose Star’                         PAS                 4.00     5.00     5.00     4.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Hurrah Lavender Tie Die’              SG                   4.33     4.67     5.00     4.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Hurrah Pink Chiffon’                      SG                   4.33     4.67     5.00     4.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ultra Salmon’                                GS                   4.33     5.00     4.67     4.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Storm Blue’                                   GS                   4.67     5.00     4.33     4.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Storm White’                                 GS                   4.67     4.67     4.67     4.67

Marigold tagetes ‘Aspen Yellow’                                S                      4.67     5.00     4.33     4.67

Marigold tagetes ‘Durango Tangerine’                         PAS                 4.67     5.00     4.33     4.67

Verbena hybrida ‘Babylon Deep Pink’                        PW                  4.33     4.67     5.00     4.67

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Cherry Red’                        PW                  4.00     5.00     4.67     4.56

Petunia x hybrida ‘Hurrah Velvet’                               SG                   4.33     4.67     4.67     4.56

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Dark Salmon Glow’             PW                  3.67     5.00     5.00     4.56

Petunia x hybrida ‘Wave Pink Improved’                   PAS                 3.67     5.00     5.00     4.56

Phlox x hybrid ‘Intensia Lavender Glow’                     PW                  3.67     5.00     5.00     4.56

Phlox x hybrid ‘Intensia Lilac Rose’                            PW                  3.67     5.00     5.00     4.56

Marigold tagetes  ‘Marvelous Flame’                          S                      5.00     5.00     3.67     4.56

Melampodium paludosum  ‘Melanie’                          K                     3.67     5.00     5.00     4.56

Alternanthera  ‘Purple Knight’                                    PAS                 3.67     5.00     5.00     4.56

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Scarlet’                                PW                  4.00     4.67     4.67     4.44

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ultra White’                                  GS                   4.00     4.67     4.67     4.44

Salvia splendens ‘Salsa Purple’                                   GS                   4.00     4.67     4.67     4.44

Salvia farinacea ‘Vista Purple’                                    PAS                 4.00     4.67     4.67     4.44

Vinca  ‘Wojo's Jem’                                                     WG                  4.00     4.67     4.67     4.44

Celosial spicata  ‘Punky Red’                                      K                     3.67     4.67     5.00     4.44

Dichondra repens  ‘Silver Falls’                               PAS                 3.67     4.67     5.00     4.44

Capsicum annuum  ‘Numex Twilight’                          OSUG             3.67     4.67     5.00     4.44

Capsicum annuum  ‘Bolivian Rainbow’                       OSUG             3.67     4.67     5.00     4.44

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ramblin Violet’                              GS                   3.67     4.67     5.00     4.44

Petunia x hybrida  ‘Hurrah Coral Flare’                      SG                   3.67     4.67     5.00     4.44

Argyranthemum hybrid  ‘Vanilla Butterfly’                  PW                  4.00     5.00     4.33     4.44

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Red’                                     PW                  4.00     5.00     4.33     4.44

Salvia splendens ‘Salsa Scarlet’                                   GS                   4.33     4.33     4.67     4.44

Lobelia erinus  ‘Big Blue’                                         DSC                5.00     4.67     3.33     4.33

Catharanthus roseus  ‘Blue Pearl’                               PAS                 3.33     4.67     5.00     4.33

Cleome spinosa ‘Goldstart Sparkler Mix’                    GS                   3.33     5.00     4.67     4.33

Cleome spinosa  ‘Queen Cherry’                                 BallSd              4.00     4.33     4.67     4.33

Pennisetum glaucum                                                   PAS                 3.67     4.67     4.67     4.33

            ‘Ornamental Millet Purple Majesty F1’

Lobelia erinus  ‘Blue Moon’                                     BallSd             4.33     5.00     3.67     4.33

Impatiens wallerana ‘Superbowl Vivid Purple’        DSC                4.00     4.00     5.00     4.33

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity White’                                  PW                  4.33     4.67     4.00     4.33

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Light Purple’                        PW                  3.67     4.33     5.00     4.33

Capsicum annuum  ‘Pepper Marbles’                         OSUG             3.67     4.67     4.67     4.33

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ramblin Rose Pink’                       GS                   3.33     4.67     5.00     4.33

Petunia x hybrida ‘Bravo Appleblossum’                    SG                   4.00     4.67     4.33     4.33

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ultra Pastel Pink’                           GS                   4.33     4.67     4.00     4.33

Salvia farinacea ‘Picante Scarlet’                                GS                   4.00     4.33     4.67     4.33

Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’                                   BallSd              3.33     4.67     5.00     4.33

Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria White’                                BallSd              3.67     4.67     4.67     4.33

Angelonia ‘Angelmistฎ Light Pink’                              BFP                 3.33     4.67     5.00     4.33

Angelonia ‘Angelmistฎ Lavender Imp.’                       BFP                 3.33     4.67     5.00     4.33

Bracteantha x hybrid ‘Sundaze Bronze’                      PW                  3.67     5.00     4.00     4.22

Catharanthus roseus ‘Cooler™ Lavender Halo’         PAS                 2.67     5.00     5.00     4.22

Catharanthus roseus ‘Cooler™ Peppermint’              PAS                 3.00     4.67     5.00     4.22

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Lavender’                            PW                  3.33     4.33     5.00     4.22

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Orange’                                PW                  3.67     4.67     4.33     4.22

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Pink’                                     PW                  3.67     4.67     4.33     4.22

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Pink Frost’                           PW                  3.67     4.33     4.67     4.22

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Salmon’                                PW                  3.67     4.33     4.67     4.22

Lantana camera ‘Patriot Hot Country’                        MG                  3.67     4.00     5.00     4.22

Monopsis inodetata  ‘Blue Papillio’                             BFP                 4.33     4.67     3.67     4.22

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ultra Red’                                     GS                   3.67     4.33     4.67     4.22

Phlox x hybrid ‘Intensia Neon Pink’                            PW                  3.67     5.00     4.00     4.22

Spilanthes  ‘Peek-a-Boo’                                             PAS                 3.67     4.67     4.33     4.22

Zinnia angustofolia  ‘Star Gold’                                  FGC                2.67     5.00     5.00     4.22

Angelonia ‘Angelmistฎ Purple Stripe’                          BFP                 3.33     4.67     4.67     4.22

Angelonia ‘Angelmistฎ Purple Imp’                             BFP                 3.33     4.67     4.67     4.22

Angelonia  ‘Angelmistฎ Lavender Pink’                       BFP                 3.00     4.67     5.00     4.22

Potato Vine  ‘Aurea’                                                    DSC                4.00     4.33     4.33     4.22

Catharanthus roseus ‘Cooler™ Coconut Improved’   PAS                 2.67     4.67     5.00     4.11

Catharanthus roseus ‘Cooler™ Rose Hot’                 PAS                 2.67     4.67     5.00     4.11

Dianthus  ‘Rose Magic’                                                PAS                 3.33     5.00     4.00     4.11

Diascia ‘Sun Chimes Coral’                                          DSC                5.00     4.67     2.67     4.11

Salvia farinacea ‘Vista Red White’                             PAS                 4.00     4.67     3.67     4.11

Verbena rigida  ‘Santos’                                             K                     2.67     4.67     5.00     4.11

Zinnia ‘Profusion Cherry’                                             FGC                3.67     4.67     4.00     4.11

Angelonia  ‘Blue Angel’                                               DSC                2.67     4.67     5.00     4.11

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Blush Lilac’                         PW                  3.33     4.67     4.33     4.11

NG Impatiens ‘Infinity Dark Pink’                           PW                  3.00     4.33     5.00     4.11

Salvia farinacea ‘Picante Salmon’                               GS                   3.67     4.33     4.33     4.11

Zinnia hybrida ‘ Profusion White’                                FGC                3.67     4.00     4.67     4.11

Iresine herbstii  ‘Purple Lady’                                     PAS                 4.00     4.33     4.00     4.11

Angelonia ‘Angelmistฎ Deep Plum Imp.’                     BFP                 3.00     4.33     5.00     4.11

Diascia x hybrida ‘Flying Color Trailing Red’              PW                  4.67     5.00     2.33     4.00

Begonia x hybrida ‘ Harmony Scarlet’                         BallSd              3.00     4.33     4.67     4.00

Capsicum annuum  ‘Masquerade’                               PAS                 3.00     5.00     4.00     4.00

Catharanthus roseus ‘Cooler™ Orchid Deep’            PAS                 2.33     4.67     5.00     4.00

Celosia cristata  ‘New Look’                                      BS                   2.67     4.67     4.67     4.00

Dianthus barbatus ‘Amazon Neon Purple’                  PAS                 3.33     5.00     3.67     4.00

Graptophyllum pyctum ‘Chocolate’                            MG                  3.00     4.00     5.00     4.00

Graptophyllum pyctum  ‘Tri-color’                             MG                  3.00     4.00     5.00     4.00

Capsicum annuum  ‘Poinsettia’                                   OSUG             3.67     4.00     4.33     4.00

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ramblin Peach Glo’                       GS                   3.00     4.00     5.00     4.00

Petunia x hybrida ‘Madness Double Pink’                  BallSd              3.00     4.33     4.67     4.00

Salvia farinacea  ‘Blue Ribbon’                                   PAS                 3.00     4.33     4.67     4.00

Zinnia angustifolia ‘Crystal White’                              FGC                2.67     4.33     5.00     4.00

Verbena tenuisecta ‘Tapiens Blue Violet’                    JP                    4.00     4.33     3.67     4.00

Begonia x hybrida ‘Harmony Pink Imp’                       BallSd              3.00     4.00     4.67     3.89

Begonia x hybrida ‘Harmony White Imp’                    BallSd              2.67     4.33     4.67     3.89

Begonia x hybrida ‘Prelude Pink Imp’                         BallSd              3.00     4.00     4.67     3.89

Begonia argenteoguttata ‘Dragon Wingฎ Pink’          PAS                 3.00     4.00     4.67     3.89

Dianthus barbatus ‘Amazon Neon Cherry’                 PAS                 3.33     5.00     3.33     3.89

Dichondra repens  ‘Emerald Falls’                           PAS                 3.33     4.00     4.33     3.89

Lantana camera ‘Patriot Rainbow’                              MG                  3.33     4.00     4.33     3.89

Salvia patens  ‘Blue Angel’                                          BS                   3.67     4.67     3.33     3.89

Angelonia ‘Angelmistฎ White Cloud’                          BFP                 2.67     4.33     4.67     3.89

Begonia x semperflorens ‘Party Mix’                          BS                   2.67     4.00     5.00     3.89

Bidens ferulifolia  ‘Peter's Gold Carpet’                      PW                  3.67     4.00     4.00     3.89

Catharanthus roseus ‘Pacifica Mix’                            PAS                 2.33     4.33     5.00     3.89

Lantana camera ‘Lucky Peach Sunrise’                      BFP                 2.33     4.33     5.00     3.89

Verbena hybrida ‘Babylon Neon Rose’                       PW                  3.67     4.33     3.67     3.89

Euryops  ‘Sonnenschein’                                              DSC                4.00     4.00     3.33     3.78

Salvia farinacea  ‘Black and Blue’                              BFP                 3.33     3.33     4.67     3.78

Begonia x semperflorens ‘Olympia Sprint Rose’          BS                   2.67     4.00     4.67     3.78

Catharanthus roseus ‘Pacifica Burgundy’                    PAS                 2.67     4.00     4.67     3.78

Tithonia  ‘Fiesta Del Sol’                                             BS                   2.67     4.00     4.67     3.78

Zinnia elegans ‘Oklahoma Formula Mix’                     BS                   3.67     4.00     3.67     3.78

Ageratum houstonianum  ‘Leilania Blue’                     GS                   3.33     3.67     4.33     3.78

Begonia x hybrida  ‘Prelude White Imp’                      BallSd              2.67     3.67     4.67     3.67

Catharanthus roseus ‘Pacifica Icy Pink’                      PAS                 2.00     4.00     5.00     3.67

Cleome rosea  ‘Linda Armstrong’                                MG                  3.33     4.33     3.33     3.67

Bacopa ‘Breeze Lavender’                                           BFP                 4.67     4.67     1.67     3.67

Impatiens wallerana  ‘Summer Ice Snow 'N Ice’    DSC                2.67     4.33     4.00     3.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ramblin Burgundy Chrome’           GS                   2.67     3.67     4.67     3.67

Petunia x hybrida ‘Ramblin Red’                                GS                   3.00     3.33     4.67     3.67

Petunia x hybrida  ‘Double Pirouette Red’                  PAS                 2.67     3.67     4.67     3.67

Rudbeckia hirta  ‘Cordoba’                                        BS                   3.33