2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Garden designers, home gardeners and the general public likely differ in their preferences and awareness of plants used combinations. In 2015 and 2016, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA sought the opinions of our guests on planting combinations. Different Longwood staff designed combinations by selecting three to eight plants from a list of over 160 taxa and also indicated the percent by area of each plant. Beds were randomly planted and there were a total of 26 different combinations in 2015 and 15 in 2016. Combination in 2016 included the top three performing combinations from 2015. Guests selected their three favorite combinations and placed the ballot in a box at the entrance of the trial garden. Voting began in June and ran through the beginning of October. A total of 3994 and 3420 valid ballots completed in respective years. The top performing combinations (approximately the top 25%) from each year were evaluated for trends. Due to the diversity of plant material available and utilized in the combinations, no strong trends appeared for single species or genera. Solenostemon scutellarioides (coleus) was the most utilized species, but a different cultivar was used in each combination. The majority of plants utilized in winning combinations were annuals, followed by perennials, tropical plants, then grasses. The most popular combination in 2015 was named Hot, Hot, Hot! and contained 10% Canna 'Mohawk', 10% Colocasia esculenta 'Elana', 15% Ipomoea batatus 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Light Green' (PP18,572), 25% Pelargonium 'Cante Ros' Caliente Rose, 25% Tagetes erecta 'Deep Orange', and 15% Zinnia 'Zowie™ Yellow Flame'. The most popular combination in 2016 was named Little Jewel and contained 10% Colocasia esculenta 'Elana', 10% Emilia coccinia, 20% Petunia x Calibrachoa 'SAKPXC006' SupertCal® Blue, 25% Salvia guaranitica 'Kobalt' 15% Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Lime Time' and 20% Verbena x hybrida 'Lan Dareda' Lanai Dark Red.