Trial: Annual

Years Trialed: 1998

Good Qualities

Color (5); Interesting, different flower shape (5); Long lasting; 5-7 days (3); Long stems (2); Dried well (2); Customers love; sold bouquets for us; No pests bothered it; Big heads; Buds are thistle-like; very interesting; Beautiful flower, especially the 'netting' around the base of the flower head; Productive; Attractive flowers when fresh; Easy; Novelty cut flower; Performed well under drought conditions; Large, fluffy, thistle-like mauve flower; 73% Germination; Great texture flower; Wonderful dry buds.

Problems

Germination slow and poor (2); Needs to be supported; 5 days refrigeration in flats did not help; Lygus bugs deformed some of the flowers; needs to be sprayed; A lot of the blooms were disfigured. Petals reflexed backward a few days after cutting and was unattractive; Didn't get it supported in time; looked like a drowned rat if it got wet; Water spots on flowers cause damage quickly

Comments

My customers either loved or didn't, most liked it better before the flower opened. They thought the flower bud was more interesting; Need to evaluate vaselife; Similar to Centaurea americana from Germania and to 'Aloha'; 2 plants produced white flowers; I liked it, but my customers didn't care for it. Had lots of comments it looked like the weed on the side of the road; Does not dry well; loses flower color; Novelty, great in field, attracts attention - best dried in bud stage - was direct seeded in Northern Alberta & still flowered.

Trial Data

¹1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.

Supplier

Benary Seed 1444 Larson St. Sycamore, IL 60178