Callistephus 'Serenade Light Blue'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2000
Good Qualities:
Color (2); Long breaks, very versatile; Uniform, stiff stems, nice as filler, lots of branching, clean foliage, nice Blue, mixed well with Blue Ageratum, excellent sales; Dependable, reliable and attractive series, the easiest asters to grower with less Aster Yellows and lodging; Good mini vase flowers, flower dusters on stem.
Problems:
Bad Aster Yellows this year (Alberta); This one was 1.5' tall and disease wiped it out; Short in field; Few flowers open on stem same time; Leaf miners.
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 10.7 | 16.9 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
18095 Serene Dr.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Comments:
One bunch/plant - great value for florists; Taller, slower than other two, lights would increase height, The least liked of 6 Serenades trialed because lack of many flowers on each stem, use one layer of support in the field to keep upright in open areas; Fast to bloom - 6 weeks, did not rebloom, plant lived only 6 weeks, vase life - 7 days.