New at the Trials

With the introduction of so many new and unique poinsettia cultivars, it has become impractical for a grower to evaluate them all. In conjunction with the breeding companies, we organized these trials several years ago to screen the new introductions and help growers in selecting the ones they will evaluate for their own production. Every poinsettia cultivar is different and performs better in some climates and production situations than in others.

A common question we receive is “which cultivar should I grow.” The answer to that question is complex, and eventually, only the individual grower can make that decision. Some cultivars are relatively easy to grow and may be better for larger production operations. Other cultivars may be more difficult to produce but have strong desirable traits in the retail market. Therefore, they are better for growers who can pay individual attention to each cultivar’s particular characteristics. Other important factors for many growers are timing and handling. Some growers need later-finishing cultivars for a later market and others do not. Some growers like cultivars that can be finished early and held cool until shipped. In other situations, growers want cultivars that finish in sequence to ship at different times.

We visit each other’s trials and trials at other locations in the United States and Canada each year. The information from these trials is compiled to produce these articles. We are putting emphasis on the newest cultivars, and detailed descriptions are included here. In accompanying pieces, we have provided a list of recommended cultivars for different climates, page 10, and our selections of the best cultivars from this fall’s trial, page 24. Next month, we will provide the results of consumer surveys conducted at the University of Florida and Purdue University. We also direct readers to our Web site, www.poinsettiatrial.org, where additional and more detailed trial information on all of the cultivars can be found.

Red Cultivars

‘1-99’ (previously labeled Thanksgiving Red in some trials). 1-99 is an early-flowering plant for upscale markets. Bracts are large, smooth and held up. Branch strength is good, but it is more susceptible to Botrytis and Bract Edge Burn than most other dark-leaf cultivars. Growth habit and appearance are similar to ‘Red Velvet’. At the time of this writing, the cultivar had not been given a name. — Ecke.

‘Christmas Dream’. Christmas Dream has the potential to be a good cultivar, and we need to see it in wider production. It finishes early and has an average amount of vigor. The large, dark red bracts are held up above the foliage, giving the appearance of a nice uniform plant.  (Not pictured.) — Selecta Klemm.

‘Eternity Red’ (previously labeled Rebel Red in some trials). Eternity made our Best of the Trials list. It is important because it offers a nice bract presentation in a slightly vigorous, early cultivar. It should make a nice upscale plant. — Dummen.

‘Gala Red’. Gala Red is a good, new dark-leaf cultivar with considerable promise. It finishes early and has a compact growth habit. The bracts are bright red and are held up above the foliage. This gives it a slightly different appearance than most other early cultivars, and consumers gave it one of the higher rankings among red cultivars. We need to learn more about this cultivar. (Not pictured.) — Oglevee.

‘Premium Red’. The general appearance of Premium is similar to ‘Freedom Red’ in terms of its bract color and shape and its dark green leaves.  However, Premium is less vigorous than Freedom, as can be seen in the data from the three trial sites. — Dummen.

‘Red Diamond’. Red Diamond is important because it adds a good dark-leaf cultivar to the late market. It is upright and will make a nice upscale plant. In warm climates,the bracts may roll down at the edges. It may need a little more growth regulator because of the late finish time. — Fischer.

‘Redberry Punch’. Along with ‘Champagne Punch’, ‘Snowberry Punch’ and ‘Strawberry Punch’, Redberry Punch is new to complement ‘Cranberry Punch’. Redberry is slightly less vigorous than Cranberry. The punch cultivars have good upright branches and greater than average vigor. They have excellent postharvest performance. Redberry probably has the best color. — Ecke.

‘Winterfest Red’. Along with Winterfest Pink, also new this year, Winterfest Red is a new dark-leaf cultivar. It performs much better in cooler climates than in warm climates. In cool climates, it has medium vigor and timing is midseason. In warm climates, it is more vigorous and finishes later. — Oglevee.

Rose Cultivars

‘Champagne Punch’. Along with Snowberry Punch, Redberry Punch and Strawberry Punch, Champagne is new to complement Cranberry Punch. The growth habit, appearance and timing generally fit with Cranberry. The punch cultivars have good upright  branches and greater-than-average vigor. They have excellent postharvest performance. — Ecke.

White Cultivars

‘Festival White’. Along with ‘Festival Pink’, Festival White adds color that has been needed to complement ‘Festival Red’. Its growth habit and timing are similar to Festival Red, and like most dark-green leaf cultivars, it does not have strong bract color. — Oglevee.

‘Snowberry Punch’. Along with Champagne Punch, Redberry Punch and Strawberry Punch, Snowberry is new to complement Cranberry Punch. The growth habit, appearance and timing generally fit with Cranberry. The punch cultivars have good upright branches and greater-than-average vigor. They have excellent postharvest performance. — Ecke.

Coral Cultivars

‘Freedom Coral’. The Freedom family has two groups of cultivars: those like Freedom Red and those like ‘Bright Red Freedom’. Bright Red is less vigorous and has smaller leaves and bracts than Freedom Red. Additionally, the bracts are held up on Bright Red, and it finishes a little later than Freedom Red. Freedom Coral is a new color in the Freedom family that is similar to Bright Red Freedom. It will be most useful in specialty markets where designer colors are desired. — Ecke.

Pink Cultivars

‘Festival Pink’. Along with Festival White, Festival Pink adds color that has been needed to complement Festival Red. Its growth habit and timing are similar to Festival Red, and like most dark-green leaf cultivars, it does not have strong bract color. — Oglevee.

‘Freedom Bright Pink’. The Freedom family has two groups of cultivars: those like Freedom Red and those like Bright Red Freedom. Bright Red is less vigorous and has smaller leaves and bracts than Freedom Red. Additionally, the bracts are held up on Bright Red and it finishes a little later than Freedom Red. Bright Pink is new in the Freedom family and is similar to Bright Red. It will be useful in markets where designer colors are needed. (Not Pictured.) — Ecke.

‘Malibu Pink’. This is an improved pink that fits the Malibu series well. — Dummen.

‘Strawberry Punch’. Along with Champagne Punch, Snowberry Punch and Redberry Punch, Strawberry is new to complement Cranberry Punch. The growth habit, appearance and timing generally fit with Cranberry. The punch cultivars have good, upright branches and greater than average vigor. They have excellent postharvest performance. — Ecke.

‘Winterfest Pink’. Along with Winterfest Red, Winterfest Pink is a new dark-green leaf cultivar in the Winterfest family. It performs much better in cooler climates than in warm climates. In cool climates, it has medium vigor and timing is midseason. In warm climates, it is more vigorous and finishes later. — Oglevee.

Jingle Bells Cultivars

‘Sonora White Glitter’. This is an important addition to the jingle bell types and is on our Best of the Trials list. It has very strong appeal with consumers. This is a Sonora and has Sonora characteristics. It will finish in late midseason. Also, it will have a tendency for the bracts to expand down into the leaves. So, for upscale markets, the appearance will be improved by pulling the bracts up to the top (fluffing). — Fischer. Á

Novelty Red Cultivars

‘32-2000’. This is a novelty red that made our Best of the Trials list, where there is a detailed description. It should become an important cultivar and has potential for both chain store and independent retail markets. At the time of this writing, the cultivar had not been given a name. (Not pictured.) — Ecke.

‘Freedom Fireworks’. Fireworks is similar to Freedom Red, but the bract color is slightly brighter than Freedom Red. Fireworks’ distinguishing characteristic is the narrow, pointed bracts that are supposed to resemble flames of fire. Fireworks made our Best of the Trials list because it adds diversity to the early red cultivars. — Ecke.

‘Jester Red’. The unique Jester series now has a Red to go with ‘Jester Jingle’. The plants are very upright with a fewer-than-average number of laterals. The bracts are long and pointed and are held slightly upright, which makes the plant resemble a jester’s hat. It can be produced in many different formats and would best be used as a novelty. Timing is early, and it has medium vigor. — Ecke.

Novelty Cultivars

‘Avant Garde’ (previously labeled J-57 in some trials). This is a novelty, marble type that has similar appearance to ‘Strawberries ‘N Cream’. The appearance of these two cultivars is so different from other poinsettias that it is interesting two of them are being introduced in the same year. Avant Garde has more vigor and will make a larger plant easier than will Strawberries ‘N Cream.— Dummen.

‘Cortez Burgundy’. This is a new and exciting color that is appealing to consumers. It is on our Best of the Trials list, where there is a discussion of it. It is important to recognize the characteristics of this cultivar to be successful with it. — Fischer.

‘Da Vinci’. Da Vinci should allow growers to go back to producing peppermint-type poinsettias for the early market. It finishes a little ahead of Freedom Red and is slightly less vigorous. Consumers rated Da Vinci higher than the other early peppermint types, and it is on our Best of the Trials list. Not pictured — Fischer.

‘Strawberries ‘N Cream’. As noted above, Strawberries ‘N Cream and Avant Garde have the same general appearance. Strawberries ‘N Cream has very low vigor and should be used in smaller formats. Strawberries ‘N Cream made our Best of the Trials list because of the high consumer ratings. It will be a good novelty plant. (Pictured on page 16.) — Ecke.

‘Winter Rose Deep Pink’. This is the newest addition to the important Winter Rose family. The growth habit of Deep Pink is similar to Dark Red, and they should be grown the same. It is important to avoid over watering, especially early. Also, try to use very little PGR; PGR used should be applied early in the crop. — Ecke.

Author’s Note: These trials would not be possible without support from the breeders, our technicians, our universities and the poinsettia growers. Special thanks: Dummen USA, Fischer USA, Selecta Klemm Horticultural Marketing Associates, Oglevee Ltd. and Paul Ecke Ranch. We extend thanks for technical support to Ingram McCall, North Carolina State University; Terri Kirk, Purdue University; and Carolyn Bartuska, University of Florida.