Easy Wave Plum Vein petunia. Photo courtesy Pan American Seed.
Greenhouse Management & Production, a trade publication, reports that the lowly petunia was a top choice among public visitors to the Trial Gardens at Ohio State University.
“Petunias were the early favorites of consumers in a preference evaluation conducted at the OSU annual trials. Bart Hayes, annual trial manager, said preliminary results showed that Easy Wave Plum Vein and Sanguna Lipstick petunias both rated an average score of 4.6 out of a top score of 5. Not far behind was Jamboree Hot Pink petunia with a rating of 4.58. In 4th place was 45-Yellow marigold. Rounding out the Top 10 were Petitunia Happy Dream petunia, Versa Crimson Gold coleus, Babuda Deep Gold marigold, White Manaus euphorbia, Purple Flash ornamental pepper and Denver Daisy rudbeckia. Hayes said cool temperatures in spring and early summer resulted in smaller, less developed plants. A return to normal temperatures in July helped plants recover. No serious disease or pest problems occurred.”
