Calibrachoa Review
A rainbow of calibrachoa
Over the years we’ve talked about calibrachoa a lot here in Field Notes and we’re about to do it again. This is a crop that has been very good to us and we hold it in high regard. All the care and attention we give to these plants comes back to us tenfold, as we’re rewarded with scores of colorful, trailing mini petunias that quickly move off the retail bench and brighten the landscape in a snap.
‘Superbells® Evening Star’
Calibrachoa has become a standard component for baskets and containers here in Cincinnati—just look around town. With an ever-expanding market and so many varieties available—at Diefenbacher alone we grow over 40 different kinds—it can be difficult choosing one that suits a particular project. Here’s a quick rundown of the major series and a few new selections for 2016:
‘Superbells® Holy Moly’
Superbells® from Proven Winners is a reliable high performance series, with hundreds of extra large flowers covering dense, trailing foliage from early spring to the first frost. New and unique novelty colors are continually being released, so Superbells® remain popular for retail displays. Some new selections this year are ‘Evening Star’ (lavender flowers with a yellow star pattern and royal purple throats), ‘Frostfire’ (white flowers with yellow and scarlet throats), and ‘Holy Moly!™’ (mottled yellow and cherry red star bicolor).
‘MiniFamous® Neo Violet with Eye’
Selecta’s MiniFamous® series is focused more on performance than on fancy colors. These plants have been bred to thrive in a wide range of soil pH values. This means they will perform well regardless of the pH of the local tap water, making them last longer on the retail bench and easier to care for once customers purchase them. MiniFamous Double® varieties resemble mini roses, with bends and folds that catch both light and shadows for a striking presentation. New this year is ‘MiniFamous® Neo Violet with Eye’ (violet flowers with yellow throats and deep purple centers).
‘Cabaret® Deep Blue’
When you need a solid foundation of basic color, go with the Cabaret® series. They’ve dialed down the color contrast so that the plants are very uniform.
‘Can Can® Terra Cotta’
Now, the Can Can® is a different story. It’s noted for its strong bicolor contrasts. Plants in this series are a bit edgy and different so they give the box stores a run for their money. This is the cali to choose for the million bells look with a more refined, less vivid color scheme.
‘Noa™ Ultimate Pink’
Different yet again and new this year is the Aloha Tiki series, offering big flowers in bright, tropical colors with dark red centers. We have ‘Aloha Tiki Neon’—a bold, vivid magenta. Another vivid choice we’re offering again this year is ‘Noa™ Ultimate Pink’ from Danzigar, with hot pink flowers and a nicely trailing habit.
Calibrachoa hanging baskets
We have a wide selection of calibrachoas in 10-inch hanging baskets, including our signature combinations, so bump up your stock for Mother’s Day this Sunday if you haven’t done so already. Combos include:
Blue Bliss (blue & lavender)
Heat Wave (red & orange)
Indigo Sunshine (blue & yellow)
Pink Sunshine (pink & yellow)
Ruby Sapphire (blue & red)
Scarlet Sun (red & yellow)
Touch of Sunshine (yellow & white)
Our cali collection also includes many varieties in 4.5 and 8-inch pots. Please visit the Availability section of our web site for a complete list of our current selections.
