With increasing requests for something different or unusual, minor classes and miscellaneous introductions are becoming as important as major classes. Breeders didn't disappoint trial visitors this year. There were enough introductions in the minor class or miscellaneous categories to satisfy even the most discriminating grower and buyer.

Bodger Seed's Freesong series of standard-size (14 to 18 inches) snapdragons has six separate colors and a mix that includes the six colors plus an orange hybrid. The Freesongs are early to flower and produce 12-15 breaks as opposed to five to seven breaks on other standard-size series.

The Ribbon series of snapdragons from Goldsmith Seeds replaces the company's Liberty series. Plants flower 10 days earlier and are available in the same eight colors. Final plant height is 18-22 inches, which enables them to be used to give some height to a landscape and/or for fresh cut flower production.

'Sweet Cream' African marigold produces 3- to 4-inch, creamy-white flowers and times well with PanAmerican's Marvel series. Formerly known as 'French Vanilla' from Burpee, plants finish from sow to sell in 11 weeks.

The Saratogo nicotiana series from Goldsmith was bred for pack performance, including early flowering and uniform height and flowering among its five separate colors and mix. Plants reach 10-12 inches tall in the garden.

The Avalon series of nicotiana from Floranova is genetically dwarf. It is a good pack performer and extremely early, reaching a final height of 6-8 inches. There are six separate colors.

'Stardust Orchid' vinca is the first cultivar in this series available for general release from PanAmerican. A second cultivar, 'Stardust Pink,' is an exclusive from Ball Seed. Orchid was a 2000 All-America Selections winner. The Stardust series has slightly larger flowers, leaves and habit than PanAmerican's Cooler series. Flowers have a white dusted design and the solid color on the outer part of the petals won't fade. Ball is also offering exclusively the Stardust Mix, which contains the two Stardust cultivars along with the white 'Coconut Cooler' and 'Raspberry Red Cooler.'

The Butterfly F1-hybrid pentas series from PanAmerican is available exclusively through Ball. There are four colors and a mix in the series. Because it is a hybrid, plants are more vigorous and finish faster with large, star-shaped flowers on large umbels (3 inches in diameter). This vigor carries over once plants are transplanted into the garden, where plants can better withstand higher temperatures. Pentas can alter the soil chemistry by lowering the pH below 6. A growing medium pH of 6.5-6.8 should be maintained.

Sakata's Melody series of hybrid dianthus gets off to a rousing start with the release of Melody Pink and Melody White. The pink cultivar is a AAS winner for 2000. An interspecific hybrid, this series fits well with Sakata's knee-high or cottage garden concept that it has been promoting for a number of years. Plants produce multiple stems with a spray shape, making them ideal for use as a specialty cut flower. Fringed flowers are about 1 inch in diameter.

. © 1999 Branch-Smith Publishing