Darwin Perennials partners with trials across North America to evaluate our new varieties. Our goal is to ensure we’re only bringing the best varieties to market.
Summer trials are coming to an end, and we are receiving lots of trial results. Here are some of our 2019 introductions at three of our favorite university trial sites:
The Colorado State University Flower Trials perform trials in both annual and perennial categories, and plants trialed in the perennial category are overwintered two winters before removal. Darwin enters varieties in both categories. This year Coreopsis Electric Sunshine and Iberis Summer Snowdrift were trialed in CSU’s annual trial since they are not zone 5 hardy; both were mentioned as “Outstanding Plants.”
Planted 2018. Photo courtesy of Colorado State University
Planted 2018. Photo courtesy of Colorado State University
The University of Georgia trial garden performs both annual and perennial trials. Each year, UGA awards varieties that have performed best in trials throughout the entire season with the ‘Classic City’ award. Other awards from UGA are the ‘People’s Choice’ and ‘Industry Picks’ awards (determined by voting at their open houses), ‘Plants of Distinction’ which is awarded to top trial performers each month, and the ‘Best of the Best’ award.
Darwin Perennials Award Winners at UGA:
Planted 2018. Photo courtesy of University of Georgia
Coreopsis Electric Sunshine
- Plants of Distinction June
Planted 2018. Photo courtesy of University of Georgia
Coreopsis Super Star
- People's Choice, Industry Top Picks
- Best of the Best
Planted 2018. Photo courtesy of University of Georgia
Echinacea Sombrero Tres Amigos
- Classic City Award
- People's Choice
Veronica Forever Blue
- Plants of Distinction August
The Texas A&M AgriLife Research trial is a new trial site for Darwin Perennials. The site performs annual trials and also has a perennial display garden. This year, they established an in-ground perennial row trial containing trial entries to be overwintered. Typically, overwintering will test if plants can withstand cold, but Texas trials really test if plants can take the heat. We’re definitely excited to watch our varieties perform in this new trial!
Planted 2018. Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Research Overton
Dr. Brent Pemberton at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research center sent us these images of Salvia nemorosa Blue by You and Echinacea Sombrero Tres Amigos. “I have been wowed by the Marvel Blue Sky and the Blue By You salvias. I have never had nemorosa types do this well.”
Planted 2018. Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Research Overton
Echinacea Sombrero Tres Amigos was also in the top 3 "People's Picks," selected by consumer vote at Overton’s Field Day.