Consolida 'Imperial Dark Blue'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2003
Good Qualities:
Good dark blue color (6); More disease resistant than others in this trial; Disease resistant, no rust problems; Stem strength; Incredible number of blooms, rebloomed until late Aug (Zone 6b); Customers love this deep blue violet, can never have too much.
Problems:
Rabbits damaged plants so they are spotty in performance; Did not stake and plants lodged at 4 inches; Stem length, but I might need to be taught how to cut them better; Would prefer to direct seed in fall (Zone 7); We lost a few plants to a crown rot, either Erwinia or Pythium.
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 (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | Average Spacing (in2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 8.8 | 21.0 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 66 |
| Range of Responses | 1-45 | 11-40 | 3-4 | 2-4 | 3-5 | 1-5 | 3-5 | 4-144 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Fred C. Gloeckner
600 Mamaroneck Ave.
Harrison, NY 10528-1613
Comments:
Similar to 'Sublime' (2) or QIS; Planted in high tunnel and performed well, larkspur is generally hard for us to grow; We did not find significant differences between this and the Keift QIS larkspur, so seed prices would be the final deciding factor for production; Great for dried work; From past experience, we have found 'QIS Dark Blue' to be more uniform and double than 'Imperial'.