Silene Orientalis

Trial: Perennial

Years Trialed: 2000, 2001

Good Qualities

Year 1

Very easy and uniform, large head size.

Year 2

Vigorous; Very nice bright rose pink, very productive over a fairly long (3 month) period, good stem length, strong stems.


Problems

Year 1

No flowers this year (2); Plugs not vernalized; Plants were too small to flower this year.

Year 2

Haven't see yet, but will keep and try again; too hot - too dry. A 2 year crop - have tried before, had problems; Short lived, resows itself, almost a biannual; This one has to sit for 1 year and blooms the following year, not sure it's worth it yet; Takes time to come into flower, may require vernalization.


Comments

Year 1

No flowering data.

Year 2

No interest could be found for cut flowers; Similar to original species; Great color; Could be a very productive winner.



Trial Data

Year 1

Silene orientalis
Plants alive at end of summer (%) Plants flowering (%) Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 90.0 16.7 5.0 14.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 4.0

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


Year 2


Silene orientalis
Yield (stems/plant)¹ Stem Length (inches)¹ Market Appreciation Rating² Repeat Again Rating² Ease of Cultivation Rating² Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 98 8.0 19.3 2.7 3.3 2.5 3.0 4.0
Range of Responses 90-100 0-15 0-24 1-4 1-5 1-4 1-5 3-5


¹Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.

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



Supplier

Green Leaf Enterprises/Benary 2369 Old Philadelphia Pike Lancaster, PA 17602 717-299-0300 FAX 717-299-7162

perennials@yoder.com