Linaria 'Lace Violet'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2001
Good Qualities:
Excellent color (10); Flower quickly from seed (3); Productive (3); Excellent heat tolerance, lived all summer in Chicago, once main shoot falls prostrate-all secondary shoots develop; They didn't stand up well, stems were curved, so they were hard to bunch and mix B However, it is a wonderful plant for a colorful annual garden, and we will grow it again; Interesting flower and open space; The vase life is great; All colors were nice except white - it was OK B It doesn't like heat (zone 6b) and we had plenty of that B We are trying it as a winter crop B Customers loved it as a filler B We just need to grow it a different time of year B No insects or diseases!; Very pretty, snapdragon-like flowers, dainty size, unusual; 24 hrs germinated; Cool weather plant, good for extending the cutting season, interesting change from the usual fillers.
Problems:
Short stems (5); Stems not substantial (5); Florets fell off quickly (2); Only one stem per plant, pinching resulted in more spikes per stem, but no more stems per plant; Falls over, flowers and dies quickly; Better as a seasonal annual than as a cut in Chicago; Melted in heat; Quit blooming in heat of summer; Too hot this year to get full potential.
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 | 5.1 | 14.1 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 136 |
| Range of Responses | 0-25 | 10-30 | 1 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 2-5 | 36-432 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
American Takii
301 Natividad Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906
Comments:
Dislikes hot weather (zone 6b); I'm trying it again this year, starting it in the fall, to see if it will produce thicker stems; I really liked this linaria - but they were too short for even our smallest buckets B I would like to try it as a greenhouse (cold frame) crop B It last well and has incredible colors.