Silene orientalis
Good Qualities:
Year 1:
Very easy and uniform, large head size.
Year 2:
Vigorous; Very nice bright rose pink, very productive over a fairly long (3 month) period, good stem length, strong stems.
Problems:
Year 1:
No flowers this year (2); Plugs not vernalized; Plants were too small to flower this year.
Year 2:
Haven't see yet, but will keep and try again; too hot - too dry. A 2 year crop - have tried before, had problems; Short lived, resows itself, almost a biannual; This one has to sit for 1 year and blooms the following year, not sure it's worth it yet; Takes time to come into flower, may require vernalization.
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 | 90.0 | 16.7 | 5.0 | 14.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
(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 | 98 | 8.0 | 19.3 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Range of Responses | 90-100 | 0-15 | 0-24 | 1-4 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 1-5 | 3-5 |
(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
Green Leaf Enterprises/Benary
2369 Old Philadelphia Pike
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-299-0300
FAX 717-299-7162
perennials@yoder.com
Comments:
Year 1:
No flowering data.
Year 2:
No interest could be found for cut flowers; Similar to original species; Great color; Could be a very productive winner.