Helianthus 'Jade'

Trial: Annual

Years Trialed: 2002


Helianthus 'Jade'

Good Qualities

Unique pale greenish yellow color (7); Flower are flat, very free flowering and uniform, bouquet type stiff stem, no netting, clean flower green cast to disk, novelty; Pretty, smaller sunflower - long graceful petals - 1st cut okay length - 2nd cut too short to be used in bouquets; Nice flower form, quite different; This cultivar was asked for until the petals started shedding; I liked this variety but my customers always went for the traditional sunflowers; An okay flower but would be better if it was a double; Flowers look great in bouquets, florists love them, very unusual looking; Responded well to pinching; Nice flower size, not over powering, easily mixed in arrangements and bouquets, nice compliment to all colors, abundant strong stems; No pollen; Small flower with little seed.

Problems

Too short (3); Too branchy (3); Axillary buds, color not interesting to me, long petals, gappy; Light color makes this one more prone to damage - short stems on the 2nd cut; The flowers look great and the color is very different - If you live in a more even climate I would recommend trying this one, if you can get it to grow properly it looks like it would be a winner; Customers didn't appreciate its uniqueness; Didn't seem to hold as well as other sunflowers, looked old even when picked at the correct stage; Petals seem particularly delicate, quickly looking past their prime if not harvested right away; Weak stems, florists did not seem interested in this variety; Everything (centers and laterals) seemed to bloom at once; Straggly petals.

Comments

Matured in 48 days, average flower diameter 3-4 inch; I don't like branchy; I ordered more seed of this but couldn't get them tall; Not similar to no other cultivars - A real novelty.


Trial Data

Helianthus 'Jade'
Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 3.2 24.9 3.5 3.1 3.8 2.6 4.1 114
Range of Responses 0-12 10-40 2-5 2-5 2-5 1-5 1-5 18-432


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


Supplier

Seedsense Ltd. 7, Bradfield Close North Walsham Norfolk NR28 oHL England