At Gore Range Landscaping, we’re always looking for ways to bring better plants, better ideas, and better results to the landscapes we care for. That means our work doesn’t stop at the job site. We also spend time learning about what’s new in horticulture and seeing firsthand how plants are grown, tested, and evaluated.
Last week, Lindsey and Cora headed to Fort Collins to visit the Colorado State University Annual Flower Trial Garden and tour two local growing operations. It was a great opportunity to see what’s new in the plant world—and to get a firsthand look at some varieties that could find their way into landscapes in seasons to come.
Putting New Plants to the Test
The CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden gives horticulture professionals an opportunity to see new plant varieties growing side by side under Colorado conditions. The trials include more than 1,000 annual cultivars, which are evaluated for characteristics including plant vigor, uniformity, flowering performance, foliage quality, and tolerance to environmental stresses. Industry representatives, horticulture professionals, students, faculty, and other experienced evaluators all play a role in the process.
For Lindsey and Cora, being part of the evaluations was an especially valuable part of the visit.
Rather than simply looking at which plants have the biggest or brightest flowers, the trial process encourages a much more complete evaluation. How does the plant grow? Does it stay full and healthy? How well does it flower? Does the foliage hold up? And, perhaps most importantly for Colorado landscapes, how does it handle our intense sun, drying winds, temperature swings, and other environmental challenges?
These are the kinds of details that matter when we’re choosing plants for our clients.
A Few Plants That Caught Our Eye
With so many varieties on display, there was plenty to see. A few plants in particular stood out to our team.
Dahlia ‘Venti’ Series
The entire ‘Venti’ series of Dahlias caught our attention, but ‘Venti Royal Purple’ was a particular favorite.
Dahlias can make a dramatic statement in a landscape, and the Venti series combines that eye-catching flower power with the kind of visual impact we’re always looking for when selecting seasonal plants.
Sweet Georgia Black Maple Ipomoea
Another standout was ‘Sweet Georgia Black Maple’ Ipomoea, commonly known as Sweet Potato Vine.
The flowers may get much of the attention in a trial garden, but foliage can be just as important to a landscape design. This variety has fantastic foliar texture, with distinctive foliage that can add contrast, depth, and movement to a planting.
It’s a great reminder that successful planting design isn’t always about adding more flowers. Interesting foliage can play an equally important role.
Endurascape ‘Hot Coral’ Verbena
We also liked Annual Verbena ‘Endurascape Hot Coral’.
The Endurascape series is known for its vigorous growth and colorful blooms, and ‘Hot Coral’ immediately stood out with its warm, vibrant color. It’s the kind of plant that can bring a strong pop of color to a seasonal planting.
SuperCal Premium ‘Rose Star’ Petchoa
Another favorite was Petchoa hybrid ‘SuperCal Premium Rose Star’.
Petchoas combine characteristics of petunias and calibrachoas, and this variety’s distinctive flower pattern makes it especially eye-catching. It’s another example of the kinds of newer plant introductions we like to keep an eye on as we think about future planting combinations.
From the Trial Garden to the Greenhouse
The trip wasn’t just about seeing plants in the trial beds. We also had the opportunity to tour two growing operations and learn more about how the plants we use are produced.
One of the growers we visited was Gulley Greenhouse, a company we’ve been fortunate to work with for many years. Seeing their growing operation firsthand gave us another perspective on the plants we eventually bring to our clients’ landscapes and seasonal displays.
We also toured another grower that we’re considering working with in upcoming seasons. Building relationships with quality growers is an important part of what we do. Getting to know the people who grow our plants—and understanding their processes—helps us make better decisions about the plants we source.
Why Plant Trials Matter to Our Work
It’s easy to look at a new plant and think, That’s beautiful—let’s use it.
But choosing the right plant for a landscape requires more than that.
A plant needs to perform.
That’s why trials like CSU’s are so valuable to landscape professionals. The plants are being observed and evaluated under real Colorado growing conditions, giving us information that goes beyond what’s available in a plant catalog or greenhouse display.
For Gore Range Landscaping, staying connected to this process helps us keep learning and expanding the palette of plants we can consider for our clients.
Not every new variety will become a favorite, and not every plant will be right for every landscape. But by seeing what’s available, participating in evaluations, and maintaining relationships with growers, we can make more informed choices about what we put into the ground.
And sometimes, we find something really exciting.
The Venti Royal Purple Dahlia, Sweet Georgia Black Maple Ipomoea, Endurascape Hot Coral Verbena, and SuperCal Premium Rose Star Petchoa are four varieties we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on.
We can’t wait to see where some of these new plants take us in the seasons ahead.
Interested in fresh ideas for your landscape? Gore Range Landscaping is always looking for new ways to create beautiful, healthy, and successful landscapes. Contact our team to talk about your property’s next planting project.
