The Department of Horticulture, Auburn University

Bedding plant growers frequently choose plants based on pack performance and adaptability to their production conditions. Garden performance of plants within a region is also an important factor for retailers and consumers. However, information on garden performance of bedding plants for Alabama may be difficult to obtain. Further, climatic conditions vary widely from north to south within the state.

Therefore, bedding plants have been evaluated over the past three years on the Auburn University campus in Auburn, Alabama and on the North Alabama Horticultural Substation in Cullman, Alabama. The objective of this study was to determine overall garden performance of summer- and winter-flowering bedding plants at a northerly and southerly location in the state. Results generated from this study will assist Alabama horticultural professionals and consumers in bedding plant selection.

Seeds and plants for the trial entries were donated by horticultural companies. Many are new introductions for the following year, other are well established in the market. Transplants of each entry were planted in raised beds at each location using cultural practices typical of most consumers. The soil was limed and fertilized according to a soil test and irrigation was provided equivalent to one inch of water per week if not provided by rainfall. No deadheading of spent flowers or other maintenance was performed on any of the plants with the exception of hand weeding. No pesticides were applied during the trial.

Plants were rated by the same individual at each location using a 1 to 5 garden performance scale. Flowering plants were rated primarily on their floral displays, while size, shape, and freedom from insect or disease blemishes were also considered. A rating of 1 indicated a small display of foliage with no flowers present; 2--adequate amount of foliage with one or two flowers present; 3--sufficient foliage and floral display to be attractive in the landscape; 4--above average floral display and sufficient foliage display; and 5--superior floral display and sufficient foliage display. A rating of 0 indicated the plant had died.  Any plant with an average rating of 2.5 or higher could be considered acceptable in the landscape and would be a worthwhile addition to a garden located in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 or 8.

The following tables contain lists of the top 10 best performing bedding plants based on garden performance ratings for summer 2002 through summer 2004. For more detailed reports for each year and season click on the following links:

2004 Summer Trial Garden Results (2004)

2003-2004 Winter Annual Trial Garden Results (2004)

2003 Summer Trial Garden Results

2002-2003 Winter Trial Garden Results (2003)

2002 Summer Trial Garden Results (2003)

Table 1. Performance ratings of bedding plants grown by Auburn University, 2004 summer trials.
Auburn University Campus, Auburn, AL		North Alabama Substation, Cullman, AL
Bedding plant	Rating	Bedding plant	Rating
Alternanthera ‘Gail's Choice’	4.7	Alternanthera ‘Gail's Choice’	4.0
Eragrostis ‘Wind Dancer’	4.5	Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’	4.0
Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’	4.4	Gomphrena ‘Purple Gomp’	4.0
Melinis ‘Savannah’	4.2	Basil ‘Garden Leader Rascal’	3.7
Gomphrena ‘Purple Gomp’	4.1	Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’	3.5
Begonia ‘Baby Wing Pink’	3.6	Salvia ‘Sizzler Mix’	3.5
Verbena ‘Garden Leader Lavender’	3.6	Petunia ‘Ramblin Lilac Glo’	3.4
Vinca ‘Titan Lilac’	3.6	Annual Vinca ‘Pacific White’	3.4
Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’	3.4	Annual Vinca ‘Titan Lilac’	3.4
Penstemon ‘Purple Majesty’	3.3	Zinnia ‘Profusion Orange’	3.3
Sage ‘Scarborough’	3.3	Zinnia ‘Profusion Fire’	3.3
Torenia ‘Catalina Blue’	3.3	Zinnia ‘Profusion White’	3.3
Annual Vinca ‘1st Kiss Icy Pink’	3.3	Petunia ‘Ramblin Nu Blue’	3.2
Annual Vinca ‘Pacifica Halo Orchid’	3.3	Petunia ‘Storm Blue’	3.2
Annual Vinca ‘Titan Blush’	3.3	Zinnia ‘Profusion Apricot’	3.2
Basil ‘Garden Leader Rascal’	3.2	Zinnia ‘Profusion Cherry’	3.2
Scaveola ‘Whirlwind Blue Velvet’	3.2	Pentas ‘Graffiti White’	3.1
Annual Vinca ‘1st Kiss Coral’	3.2	Penstemon ‘Lilliput Pink’	3.0
Annual Vinca ‘1st Kiss Blush’	3.2	Petunia ‘Supertunia Silver’	3.0
Annual Vinca ‘Pacifica Magenta’	3.2	Annual Vinca ‘Rasberry Red Cooler’	3.0
Ageratum ‘Artist Alto Blue’	3.1	Angelonia ‘Angelface Blue’	2.9
Marigold ‘Durango Mix Outback’	3.1	Angelonia ‘Angelface White’	2.9
Petunia ‘Supertunia Silver’	3.1	Basil ‘Scarborough’	2.9
Verbena ‘Quartz Silver’	3.1	Annual Vinca ‘Grape Cooler’	2.9
Annual Vinca ‘1st Kiss Blueberry’	3.1	Angelonia ‘Angelface Blue Bicolor’	2.8
Annual Vinca ‘1st Kiss Peach’	3.1	Celosia ‘Fresh Look Yellow’	2.8
Annual Vinca ‘Titan Burgundy’	3.1
Ageratum ‘Artist Blue Violet’	3.0
Annual Vinca ‘1st Kiss Sunrise’	3.0
Annual Vinca ‘1st Kiss Ruby’	3.0
Annual Vinca ‘Sunsplash Red’	3.0

 

 

Table 2. Performance ratings of bedding plants grown by Auburn University, 2003-2004 winter trials.
Auburn University Campus, Auburn, AL		North Alabama Substation, Cullman, AL
Bedding plant	Rating	Bedding plant	Rating
Best Overall		Best Overall
Pansy ‘Maxim Marina’	4.1	Viola ‘Sorbet Yellow Delight’	4.0
Viola ‘Sorbet Purple Duet’	4.1	Pansy ‘Nature Blue’	4.0
Viola ‘Sorbet Blackberry Cream’	4.1	Viola ‘Penny Azure Wing’	4.0
Viola ‘Penny Azure Wing’	3.9	Viola ‘Sorbet Blue Heaven’	3.9
Viola ‘Sorbet Coconut’	3.8	Viola ‘Babyface Yellow’	3.9
Viola ‘Sorbet Blue Heaven’	3.8	Viola ‘Sorbet Blackberry Cream’	3.9
Pansy ‘Bingo Rose White’	3.8	Viola ‘Sorbet Purple Duet’	3.9
Pansy ‘Maxim Yellow’	3.7	Pansy ‘Nature Yellow’	3.8
Viola ‘Sorbet Sunny Royale’	3.7	Viola ‘Sorbet Blueberry Cream’	3.8
Viola ‘Sorbet Yellow Delight’	3.6	Pansy ‘Crystal Bowl Yellow’	3.8
Pansy ‘Crystal Bowl Purple’	3.5	Pansy ‘Nature Ocean’	3.7
Pansy ‘Crystal Bowl True Blue’	3.5	Viola ‘Sorbet Sunny Royale’	3.7
Pansy ‘Nature Blue’	3.5	Pansy ‘Maxim Yellow’	3.7
Pansy ‘Maxim Mix’