Physostegia 'Summer Spires'
Good Qualities:
Year 1:
Full heads, uniform; Flowered first year from tiny divisions; Grows like a weed, easy, pest free.
Year 2:
Tall, purple flowers, spike nice for center of arrangement; Easy, flowers are a little thicker on the stem than other cultivars.
Problems:
Year 1:
Should be taller next year; Plants arrived in very poor condition B It was difficult to tell exactly what the supplier intended us to consider a Adivision@; Many stems were thin with some side branching.
Year 2:
First cuts were excellent, second cuts were thinner, a real winner; All died - severe drought; Still suffering from poor condition of plants on arrival - They will probably really do something next year.
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants flowering (%) | Plants dead at end of summer (%) | 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 | 77 | 2 | 4.4 | 27 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| Range of Responses | 0-100 | 0-7 | 1-9 | 18-36 | 3 | 4 | 2-4 | 3-5 | 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 | 100.0 | 5.8 | 28.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Range of Responses | 100 | 0-13 | 22-37 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4-5 | 4-5 |
(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
Here & Now Gardens (HN)
P.O. Box 6
Gales Creek, OR 97117
503-357-5774
FAX 503-357-3858
Comments:
Year 1:
I couldn't tell the difference between this Anamed cultivar@ and the old one that my neighbor gave me 20 years ago.
Year 2:
Editor note: See the Postharvest Report in this issue for vase life and handling information. None.