The Perennial Plant Association announces the registration deadline is quickly approaching for the 2021 Virtual National Symposium in July. For the first time ever, PPA will present a Hybrid National Symposium showcasing world-renowned speakers on an online platform at a Virtual National Symposium and pair this with six smaller, outdoor regional in-person PPA Pop-up events held at various locations around the U.S.

“Excitement is brewing with the upcoming PPA Virtual National Symposium, said Christa Steenwyk, President of the Perennial Plant Association. “After a long year, we are overjoyed to finally bring our PPA family together again in a safe environment and cannot wait to see everyone’s faces at the Virtual National Symposium.”

The PPA Virtual National Symposium will be held from July 27 to July 29 and will draw inspiration from the theme Celebrating Perennials: People, Place & Purpose as speakers join us from places such as Italy, Britain, Brooklyn, Denver and beyond. A few of the topics being presented include the latest on trial reports, the native conundrum of supply and demand, foliage and texture, what biodiversity really means, and inspiration from public and private gardens.

“I wholeheartedly feel our attendees at the Virtual National Symposium will be inspired and gain invaluable knowledge from the world-class line-up of speakers and session topics, said Richard Hawke, Central Regional Director of the Perennial Plant Association. “This is an opportunity not to be missed.”

PPA encourages attendees to learn more about the speakers and their work before the program and get ready to be inspired to celebrate perennials! View the current program details by visiting https://perennialplant.org/page/VirtualNationalSymposiumSchedule.  

Each day of the three-day educational event will consist of hour-long opening and closing sessions, mini sessions, tour talks and traditions such as the Landscape Design Awards and the New to the Market Forum.

"Attending the New to the Market Forum is one of the highlights of the National Symposium,” said Holly Scoggins, President-elect of the Perennial Plant Association. “What a fantastic opportunity - a front-row seat as the next wave of terrific perennials is unveiled.  I know our attendees are equally excited to see what’s new!”

Throughout the event, attendees will participate in polls, trivia, and Q&A with presenters, as well as be engaged beyond education for some fun surprises! Sponsors are crafting daily mindfulness breaks and sponsors are hosting a refreshing happy hour session and a custom PPA virtual tea tasting by Drink Good Tea.

The PPA Virtual National Symposium will take place online July 27-29 from 1–5 p.m. ET with additional happy hour events on July 27 and 28.

The final registration deadline is July 23. For a schedule of events and to register visit https://perennialplant.org/page/VirtualNationalSymposium

For updated information on all of the 2021 PPA Hybrid National Symposium plans, please visit https://perennialplant.org/page/HybridNationalSymposium.

OHP, Inc., has announced the introduction of Seido Fungicide, a new tool for prevention and early curative control of powdery mildew infections.

Providing translaminar plus vapor activity, Seido offers complete protection of both sides of the leaf while the vapor activity enhances spray coverage to all surfaces of the plant as well as neighboring plants.

"With its unique mode of action, plus preventative, early-curative, and vapor activity, Seido will be a valuable component for all IPM and resistance management programs," says Troy Bettner, OHP vice president of sales and marketing.

Seido (active ingredient pyriofenone) stands alone as the only chemistry available in ornamentals in the FRAC Group 50, notes Dr. Carlos Bográn, OHP senior technical manager, meaning there is no known resistance.

"OHP feels Seido will become a vital part of ornamental growers’ powdery mildew control programs in short order," says Dr. Bográn. "With a 4-hour REI, unique mode of action, and rainfastness within 30 minutes, Seido can easily integrate into any powdery mildew control program."

On both greenhouse and nursery crops, OHP has conducted extensive crop safety evaluations with Seido and the results have shown no adverse effects on plant quality even on open blooms.

As a powdery mildew solution, Seido is compatible with other plant protection solutions including conventional and biological products.

Users may tank mix with other OHP fungicides such as Astun, OHP 6672, OHP Chipco 26019, Terraguard, and Triathlon BA, for broader activity. Users should check with their state regulatory departments for Seido registration status before applying.

Dümmen Orange introduced a plethora of new varieties, improvements and colors at CAST 2021. From truly bright white impatiens to additions to the popular Main Street Coleus line to a scented begonia, see what they had in store.

Photo by Kate Spirgen

Petticoat New Guinea impatiens

Taking the best of the series Petticoat and Tamarinda and adding new genetics, the 22 varieties of Petticoat offer both solid and novelty options. The MPS production adds sustainability, complete with integrated pest management production. The carbon footprint is very low, according to Dümmen.

Photo by Kate Spirgen

Main Street coleus

The popular Main Street Coleus is sun- and shade-tolerant, late to flower and highly mildew resistant. It’s great for combination containers and in the landscape with great shelf life at retail. The uniform size makes them easy container options with a similar vigor and timing throughout the series. It can even grow indoors under low light. And for the consumer, it will stay healthy spring through summer. New to the line are Young Street, Orchard Road and Venice Boulevard.

Photo by Kate Spirgen

Angelonia Aria

Vigorous and upright, this new Angelonia augustifolia is heat-tolerant and performs well in the landscape. With no pinching and no PGRs required, it’s an easy option for growers.

Photo by Kate Spirgen

I’conia begonia 

Several series within the I’Conia brand launched in 2015 and multiple new introductions were announced for the 2019 retail season. New this year is the first fragrant option in the I’conia begonia line: I’conia Scentiment Peachy Keen. Also new is the bicolor I’conia Lemon Berry. Easy to branch and very tough, it offers masses of elegant, vibrant flowers that persist throughout the season.

 

 Photo by Matthew J. Grassi

Calibrachoa Rainbow ‘Pink Pepperberry’

The Rainbow calibrachoa series is the newest addition to the Dümmen genetics portfolio. High vigor and a penchant for changing its bloom colors based on environmental conditions are two characteristics that should make this new series a popular one with homeowners, landscapers and plant buyers everywhere.

 

Photo by Matthew J. Grassi

Roller Coaster series New Guinea impatiens ‘Valravn Violet’

Upright growth habit and a unique flower shape (ruffled petals) with enormous double petals helps create a more three-dimensional effect in the garden. This New Guinea will also bloom sooner than many of its counterparts, making it a good candidate for early spring sales. Cuttings are available via Dümmen's Basewell system, allowing growers to hurdle over the propagation phase and potentially shave nearly a month off the production cycle. 

Photo by Kate Spirgen

Tik Tok calibrachoa

The new orange (seen above) and pink options of Tik Tok calibrachoa join last year's introductions of blue, rose and grape. Very early to bloom and daylength neutral, they are medium vigor with a semi-trailing habit, making them suitable for landscape and container use. The two new colors are also included in the Clockworks Confetti Garden combination.

Photo by Kate Spirgen

Garden Party Pollinator's Paradise combinations

Combining both annuals and perennials, these mixes are specially selected to attract either bees, hummingbirds or butterflies, offering a variety of shapes and sizes for different pollinating friends. Pollinator’s Paradise, introduced in 2021, works well when planting all the components as rooted liners together, ensuring an even finish of bloom times and habits across all varieties. The perennials selected for the combinations are first-year flowering, so they will match up perfectly in the greenhouse with the annuals. Above are Hummingbird Nectar, left, and Hummingbird Wing.

The recipients of the 2021 Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards have been announced in the July issues of Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management. 

The Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards (HILA), sponsored by Syngenta, is the only national awards program to honor leaders from the greenhouse and nursery industries.

This year’s HILA Class of 2021 includes:

The 2021 class is the fifth group of leaders to be recognized with HILAs. View the previous winners and read their stories here.

Greenhouse Management, Nursery Management and Syngenta congratulate the exceptional leaders who have inspired their peers in the horticulture industry.

The six individuals chosen will be honored at a reception July 11 at Cultivate in Columbus, Ohio. Watch for the special section with the July print and digital issues of the Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management, which includes full profiles of each winner.