2004 Merit Awards

2003 Elite Performers

2003 Merit Awards

Elite Performer
Trial Locations

GPN articles:
2005 : Coming Soon
2004
2003

A greenhouse performance competition for ornamental garden plants at America's leading universities.

FloraStar's newest trial program is designed to provide growers with hands-on production information and tips for many of the newest spring plants grown in the greenhouse. FloraStar conducts the Elite Performance Trial in cooperation with the University of Florida, Colorado State University, Penn Sate University and
North Carolina State University.

The trial started in 2002 at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Leading industry researcher, Dr. Jim Barrett, developed the production guidelines and format for the trial.
Which varieties are best in class? What kind of growth regulator rates do you use? What about fertilizer/pH recommendations? These are just a few of the production variables under study during the trial.

Each year a group of several plants is selected by the FloraStar Board to study. Each crop is produced according to general production guidelines and evaluated on a set of criteria that Jim has deemed important during the production process for that crop. In 2005 crops to be evaluated include osteospermum and ivy geraniums. For 2006 the Elite Performer Trial will tentatively test zonal geraniums, mounding petunias from seed, calibrachoa, gerbera and lavender. In 2007 the crops to be tested tentatively include New Guinea impatiens, verbena, mounding petunias (vegetatively propagated), dianthus, bracteantha and dahlia.

New to the Elite Performer Trial program is that the Colorado State University will be added as a greenhouse test location in 2005. Now, varieties will be rated independently at two of America's leading floricultural institutions: University of Florida and Colorado State University.

Elite Performer awards are made to those varieties that excelled in the areas judged through greenhouse production. Whether or not a variety wins or loses, the trialing process itself generates valuable production information for growers. Merit awards are given to varieties that are great for production, but do not excel in all areas under evaluation. Elite Performer awards and Merit awards are made based on the varieties' performance in the greenhouse at Colorado State and the University of Florida in time for the OFA Short Course in July.

As well as the greenhouse trial, varieties in the Elite Performer Trial by FloraStar are studied outdoors at the University of Florida, Colorado State University, Penn Sate University and North Carolina State University. Be sure to look for the FloraStar logo when you visit the Trial Field Days for these universities.