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From Breeder to Market® - Breeder Profile: David Tristram |
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David Tristram is our featured breeder this month. David, a chemist for the Guinness Brewery in his early years, got bitten by the plants bug and bought a nursery in the lovely south of England. David has been extremely busy over the last 50 years with his breeders paint brush creating some super world class garden plants. His father was a Hellebore breeder and introduced H. ‘Potter’s Wheel’ to the world. David’s first major introductions were Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ and ‘Pink Mist’ PP8,957. Other successful WALBERTON's® introductions here in the USA include Spiraea Magic Carpet (‘WALBUMA’) PP9,363, Crocosmia Walberton Yellow, Bright Eyes (‘WALBREYES’) PP17,165, and his latest Crocosmia Miss Scarlet, Digitalis Goldcrest (‘WALDIGONE’) PPAF, Erysimum Fragrant Sunshine (‘WALFRASUN’) PP13,432, Gaura Pink Fountain (‘WALGAUPF’) PP15,555, and Hellebore Ivory Prince (‘WALHELIVOR’) PP16,199, to name but a few! David has a huge passion for plants and continues in his pursuit to breed outstanding new plants. The team at PlantHaven are really excited to bring you more of David’s selections – watch this space for the next wonderful introduction. |
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Sizzling Hot Crops for 2010 |
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This month we are showcasing a couple of real cracking plants from UK breeder David Tristram. Both are super crops with good availability for spring orders. Act quickly before they sell out. Most of all we hope you have a fantastic and profitable spring. |
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Euphorbia Ruby Glow (‘WALEUPHGLO’) PPAF |
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This is a super little Euphorbia with eye catching ruby red fall foliage. A real crowd pleaser when the sun lights up the foliage. In early spring the plants are topped with masses of fresh apple green bracts supported by deep ruby stems which really make this selection pop! A great selection for xeric or low water plantings. In time the plants will form a squat compact mound, 16” high x 20” wide. Top Tip: After blooming prune the flowering stem to the base, this will encourage vigorous new re-growth and a tidy plant form. Happy in Zone 6-11 (-10°F or 23°C).
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 Euphorbia Ruby Glow (‘WALEUPHGLO’) PPAF |
Digitalis Goldcrest (‘WALDIGONE’) PPAF |
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This peachy little number has sterile blooms in unique peach to apricot color with peach to red blush. The sterile blooms give a super long flowering season as well and the multiple branching which gives successive flowering as the branches mature. Goldcrest has smaller flowers than Digitalis grandiflora and smooth, darker semi-evergreen leaves. Flowering starts in early summer and carries right through to fall. Compact clumping habit. 18” high x 12” wide. Super for attracting hummingbirds. Hardy to Zone 4 (-30°F or -34°C). |
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Getting in the Zone |
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Having new faces in the office is a great opportunity to dust off the USDA hardiness map and talk about the huge diversity of climatic zones we have to cater to here in the USA. To hit the big league with volume we have a new term in the office “The Magic 5”. This magic 5 is referring to USDA Zone 5 – which in horticultural terms maximizes the sales area of most of the country for a perennial line. Unless you really are a penguin – it’s rather hard to get your head around how cold a Zone 5 winter really is. Facts and figures: USDA Zone 5 -20°F or -28°C. Man that is really cold!!! In USA hort terms though, this is the equivalent of hitting the big league. Hardiness to Zone 5 can be as significant as a 50% increase in sales. Hitting the balance for volume sale v. horticultural niche (Pronounced nitch) is all part of the strategies PlantHaven manage on a daily basis. |
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 USDA Hardiness Map |
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What a Spring! |
The whole team at PlantHaven wish you all the very best for a fabulous spring season. Here in Santa Barbara the golden rays of sunshine have been bouncing off the Daffodils and there have been many excited rumors of great garden plants for 2010. We’ve been busy this month planting Dianthus in our new trial garden, “Thanks to the Skagit Team” for all your help here. It’s humbling for us warmer folks to see the mid west enduring record snow dumps this month!!! Keith was in the thick of it last week traveling through Nebraska and Kansas. |
 Spring Sunshine
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What's Bugging You? |
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As things start to warm up we thought we’d like to start a new section in the E-brief on “What’s Bugging You”? You can write in to tell us what pests are bugging you, and maybe help out with some super first hand tips on how to prevent or exterminate them. Do you for example have some crafty tips for preventing Powdery Mildew? The latest organic remedy for Slugs or are you just about at the end of your tether with Japanese Beetles. Send your comments and solutions to Email: robert.bett@planthaven.com
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 Powdery Mildew
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Spring Trials – Tips for Success |
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March is a great month to contact the plants team at PlantHaven to talk about spring trial lines. The key tip to success is planning. Asking the all important question: “What do your customers really want?” Unique product with significant benefit? Then we have a treasure trove of varieties for you. |
 Treasure Trove |
Your key contacts are: Maureen - Annuals / Perennials / Shrubs / Trees Email: maureen.needham@planthaven.com Spring Trials April 10th-17th Please get in early to book your appointment for the Spring Trials 2010. Until next month, have a great March, |
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