Eupatorium maculatum 'Carin'
Good Qualities:
Year 1:
Very compact!!!, space-saving, compared to the species (usually 6-7' tall), manageable-sized flower heads; Vigorous, nice head size; Really nice flower in first year; Vigorous, good color on stem and flower, very popular.
Year 2:
Stem length, OK color; good production; As per this years selection, flower color varies enough to distinguish from other varieties, nice dark stem color, nearly all stems are useable.
Problems:
Year 1:
Bee & wasp magnets; I expect these will be much better next year; I may have planted this in too wet an area - but had decided to treat it like native eupatorium, will see next year and if necessary move plants to higher ground; Needs several years to establish good production.
Year 2:
Too tall, might respond to early pinching, slightly faded purple color; Seems to be pest free. Plant is spreading, may be invasive?
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants alive at end of summer (%) | Plants flowering (%) | 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 | 82.3 | 65.0 | 3.4 | 29.3 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Year 2
| 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 | 67 | 7.5 | 51.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Range of Responses | 0-100 | 7-8 | 42-60 | 4-0 | 4-0 | 4-0 | 4-5 | 5-0 |
(1) Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
(2) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
North Creek Nursery (NC)
388 North Creek Rd.
Landenberg, PA 19350
610-255-0100
FAX 610-255-4762
Comments:
Year 1:
Similar to Eupatorium maculatum Atropurpureum (2) but latter has better flower color; Great vase life, loved'em at the silvery-bud stage, I pinched half of them in late June-avg. 7 stems if pinched, 2-3 if not.
Year 2:
Similar to Eupatorium maculatum purpureum which has a nicer color - darker, Good cut flower when picked slightly open.