Trial: Perennial
Years Trialed: 1999, 2000Good Qualities
Year 1
No problems (2); Very pretty flowers, lots of stems per plant, held up well in a vase, made a wonderful filler, could cut either small heads for small bouquets or large one with long stems for large bouquets. Customers loved it!; Very uniform branching, straight stems; High demand for filler work. Multiple flushes–can be forced. Taller and darker than ‘Lemore’. Best known variety and most sold on market; Cheap, productive, easy, good bouquet item; Had excellent production; very vigorous; Color, full branches, lots of material; Nice form, vigorous, kept growing and flowering until frost.Year 2
Very vigorous, reblooms, big heads, nice color; Good filler for bouquets; Excellent cut flower!; Excellent filler, great vase life, multiple flushes, high production; Strong, tall, good color.Problems
Year 1
The only problem I had was that they finally petered out after I cut them for what seemed like weeks!; Market flooded with overproduction. Rust can be a problem. Beds become overcrowded after 3 years; Can get mildew. Our customers have established sources for this type of product (Solidaster-Solidago) and won’t buy it form us on a seasonal basis; Rust.Year 2
Gets rust, plants actually did better first year; I don't think it's worth growing when it is so cheap on market; Imports from South America and California depress prices, mildew after drought stress; None.Year 2
Similar to most Solidasters; Similar to 'Lemore' but much better, flower is nicer and more stems per plant; Similar to Solidaster 'Yellow Submarine' and to Solidaster 'Lemore'; This one died the first year; Very valuable to bouquet operations - a valuable staple filler; Need more of this one.Trial Data
Year 1
| Yield (stems/plant)¹ | Stem Length (inches)¹ | Market Appreciation Rating² | Repeat Again Rating² | Ease of Cultivation Rating² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 12.1 | 27.1 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 5.0 |
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.
Year 2
| Plants Surviving (%) | Yield (stems/plant)¹ | Stem Length (inches)¹ | Market Appreciation Rating² | Repeat Again Rating² | Ease of Cultivation Rating² | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale | Retail | Consumer | ||||||
| Average | 81.3 | 18.4 | 30.5 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 5.0 |
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.
Comments
Year 1
Frankly, I can’t tell much difference in any of the solidasters; Similar to Solidago or Solidaster ‘Lemore’(2); Similar to ‘Yellow Submarine’; ‘Tara’ seems to be taller and more productive. Smaller florets than Lemore; This has to be about my favorite flower of all time. I don’t mean that it is the prettiest, etc. but was a workhorse that wouldn’t quit. It just kept producing and producing. It went well in most every bouquet that I made and my market customers loved it; Excellent flower, a market standard, over produced; Would do well with Lemore for extended harvest; I await next year - taller than the one I have.