There are many things to consider when growing hanging baskets but the first big decision is “What genetics do I use”? The answer depends on your goals for the end result. Danziger has a series for every application and continues to focus their breeding efforts on this important category.
“Our breeding efforts take into consideration all parts of the value chain,” says Ori Danziger, Deputy CEO at Danziger. “We breed and select for successful rooting, ease of growing in the greenhouse, appeal as a retail item and performance for the end consumer. No matter what sort of end result a grower is seeking, from a high-value combination to a promotional price point mono basket, we have developed genetics and programs to fit the bill”.
“Hanging baskets need to be designed for more than just color”, says Lisa Heredia, marketing and key accounts for Danziger North America. “Choosing plants that play well together creates baskets that continue to look great as they grow throughout the season. Our new for 2021 DuraBella™ combinations are just that. They are well-matched recipes that are beautiful as well as long-lived and durable. This allows for longer retail shelf life and gives the consumer more enjoyment.”
Choosing the Best Varieties to Create Top-Quality, High-Profit Hanging Baskets – Several of Danziger’s new introductions are ideal for hanging basket production.
OMBRE™ is defined as having colors or tones that shade into each other. The Calibrachoa series of the same name fits that definition well. OMBRE™ exhibits large flowers and bright colors, creating a beautiful display for premium baskets.
Osteospermum is an item often overlooked for hanging baskets. OSTICADE™ Yellow introduced for 2021 and OSTICADE™ Daybreak, a 2022 introduction, are two varieties that will wow customers in baskets. The semi-trailing habit creates a bountiful canopy of color throughout the season.
Danziger ‘plunged’ into the speckled Petunia class with the introduction of SPLASH DANCE™ for 2021. The series possess a full, mounded habit and has shown that it maintains the pattern in summer conditions. New for 2022 is Poppin Pink, elevating the line to four colors.
A product known for its performance in hot, dry conditions is Portulaca. The new player for 2021 is MEGA PAZZAZ™ showcasing huge flowers and a mounded plant habit. MEGA PAZZAZ™ will develop a dome of color. The series begins with four colors which includes Dark Pink, Gold, Orange and Purple.
You can count on VANESSA™ Verbena to bring bold, season-long color to your hanging baskets. The days of verbena cycling out of flower are over. Each variety in the VANESSA series is tested for mildew tolerance and flower power. Only those that stayclean and in full color are brought to market. VANESSA’s consistent color and semi-trailing habit make it a wonderful choice for hanging baskets. Choose from four solid colors, one eye type, and three bicolors.
The CASCADIAS™ trailing petunia series brings big, long-lasting blooms to the category. This series is an excellent semi-trailing annual for hanging baskets. CASCADIAS™ flower early and feature a moderate branched structure, making them a natural for basket production. With 17 colors to choose from, including novelty patterns, you’re sure to find the perfect variety for every hanging basket design.
Also new for 2021 is the breakthrough breeding of HARMONY® COLORFALL™ New Guinea Impatiens. Danziger took the highly popular HARMONY line of NGI and developed a series with a trailing habit. The colorful result is a truly semi-trailing habit that continues its rounded growth throughout the season. This makes COLORFALL™ perfect for hanging baskets and patio pots. Available in 4 colors with more on the way for the 2022 season.
Whether you’re choosing hanging basket annuals for spring, summer or fall, using the right variety can make a big difference in performance and profitability.
