Every year Michigan State University and Michigan's leading young plant producers host a free open house at their trial sites and display gardens to allow growers, landscapers and retail operators to learn about a wide range of ornamental crops. Industry professionals can see for themselves which new varieties perform the best under various conditions, including in the ground and containers. The tour lasts for two weeks and was held this year from July 29-Aug. 9, 2024.
Parts 1-3 of this series covered Michigan State University Extension's favorites at the trial gardens at DGI Propagators, Four Star Greenhouses and the Michigan State University (MSU) Trial Garden. This article will feature plants with excellent garden performance from Mast Young Plants.
Featured Four from Mast Young Plants
The 2024 trial garden featured more than 1,500 varieties in raised landscape beds, hanging baskets, deco pots, saddle planters, window planters, and 500 unique, custom-designed combination planters (Photos 1-2). Among the trialed varieties there were comparisons of foliage plants, fertilizer trials, and plantings of former All-American Selections (AAS) winners. With so many excellent varieties and combinations, choosing just four was very challenging. Some stood out to me on my walk through the gardens this year.
- Zinnia Profusion 'Red Yellow Bicolor' – Sakata [AAS Trial (Seed) Past Winner]
- Gomphrena Ping Pong 'Purple' – Sakata
- Angelonia Archangel 'Dark Rose' – Ball FloraPlant
- Osteospermum 'Blue Eyed Beauty' – Ball FloraPlant
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