The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) has chosen three cut flower varieties as its members’ top picks for 2014.
Hydrangea Everlasting™ Series
Plants Nouveau’s line of re-blooming hydrangeas were bred specifically for the cut flower market. Long-lasting mopheads change colors from green to soft shades of pink, purple, blue, and red, and back again to green, making them perfect for wedding designs and event use. Stems grow 3-4 feet tall, and are tough enough for handling by farmers’ market customers. Cultivars include Amethyst, Coral, Garnet, Harmony, Jade, Noblesse, Ocean, Opal, and Revolution. Plants are hardy to zone 5.
For more information: www.plantsnouveau.com
Snapdragon Chantilly Series
Tennessee grower Linda Doan loves Chantilly. “Pale yellow and pink seem to be the spring early summer weddings colors, and Chantilly is the flower I'm hoping will bring the most smiles to my brides. With its open face it seems somehow softer, which is exactly the look I'm after. The fact that it’s the first snap to bloom in my unheated hoophouse makes it all the more appealing.” Flower stems are 40-55 inches, and the series comes in a wide range of flower color.
For more information: www.takii.com
Anemone ‘Galilee Blue’
As cut flower growers extend their seasons, they’re growing more anemones earlier, and ‘Galilee Blue’ fits perfectly into their programs. In Texas, Frank and Pamela Arnosky cut anemones January through March and find them to be bestsellers at supermarkets and popular for weddings. Galilee’s strong stems and large flowers provide dependable color in bouquets or single-stem bunches. Besides blue, look for magenta pink, violet, scarlet, and bicolors.
For more information: www.fredgloeckner.com
Source: Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, Inc.
