Matthiola 'Vivas Blue'

Trial: Annual

Year Trialed: 2009


Matthiola_vivas_blue

Good Qualities

Early to flower (3); Fragrance (2); Tall, interesting bicolor look as spike flowers open, light lavender ages to much darker lilac color, no branching; Attractive purple color, full blooms, stalk; Colors were nice; We grew the blue, salmon, pink, light pink, cream and lavender, all did well in the greenhouse and we sold them all, it would be fun to try them again.

Problems

Only one flower, too costly to grow; Not easily sorted by cotyledon color, tips abort in heat; Flower heads small - I am not sure if this is a weather or fertility issue, I cannot tell doubles from singles so waste a lot of space; I seeded these but think they went out too late to do anything, probably better early in a hoophouse.

Similar Cultivars

Japanese varieties although color is unique; None.

Comments

I'd love an all doubles mix!; It was a nice stock and I was surprised how tall they got in the greenhouse since they were planted in the spring and not the fall, they would be worth another try.

Postharvest

Floralife, keeps well in cooler; Did fine no matter what we did.


Trial Data

Matthiola 'Vivas Blue'
Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ Average Spacing (in2) Average Postharvest Life (days)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 0.9 22.7 4.0 4.5 4.0 3.8 4.0 56 10.8
Range of Responses 0-1 13.5-34 4 4-5 3-5 2-5 3-5 6-144 7-14

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

Supplier

Sakata Seed America 18095 Serene Drive Morgan Hill, CA 95037