2004 ASCFG Fresh Cut Flower of the Year
One of the top performers in the 2002 ASCFG National Cut Flower Seed Trials, ‘Amazon Neon Duo’ showed outstanding potential as a cut flower. Its strong, thick stems and vivid purple and cherry colors contrast with green, glossy foliage. Stems can be up to 30 inches long. While this newly-developed hybrid dianthus has large flower clusters similar to sweet William, it has none of the drawbacks. This cultivar performs well in southern zones and does not require vernalization to come into flower. It will produce a highly marketable flower the first year from seed. ‘Amazon Neon Duo’ handled the heat of southern summers quite well, producing all season long in Raleigh, North Carolina. It also has great cold tolerance and handles tough winter weather with few losses. The foliage turns dark purple during cold temperatures and returns to green when growth starts anew in the spring.
Contact ASCFG at 440-774-2887 or www.ascfg.org for more information.