A Description of the Seed Propagated Bedding Plant

Trial Links

• Our Mission - What we do, why we do it, and the objectives we have established for the bedding plant trials.

• Our Team - A description of the faculty and staff involved in the bedding plant trials, both locally and statewide.

• Current & Recent Trials - Pictures and basic data on the last trial conducted, as well as links to recent trials, providing information on the latest cultivars and how they compare to the best-of-class found in the trial archives.

• Trial Archives - Trails conducted over a year ago that also featuring pictures and basic data.  Many good cultivars may be found here that remain outstanding and many are used as best-of-class to compare with new entries.

• The Best of the Best-of-class Plant Lists - Simple lists of the very best performers better utilized in different seasons that will do well in the Central Florida Landscape.  You may view or print (PDF format) these lists as you search for plants to use or recommend to others.  Links to the seed companies have been added.  The lists will be updated as soon as possible.  New winter/early spring 2003-2004 and spring/early summer 2004 lists have been completed.

• Articles, Papers & Reports - Detailed information that provides data over the entire season on performance, as well as plant measurements and flowering data.  Trade and journal magazine article links about these trials are also provided.  All are formatted in HTML and PDF.

• Best-of-Class Display Gardens - Four public gardens have agreed to display our best-of-class.  Visit link to learn more about them, see beautiful pictures, and find out about visiting the gardens to see cultivar performance in a landscape setting.

• Additional Information & Contacts - A page filled with a variety of useful information for the grower and gardener.  Here are some features:

• Bedding plant projects for children and adults with special needs.
• Crop descriptions and how to grow the plants.
• Other trials at universities and trials outside of the United States.
• Pests and how to control them, beneficial organisms, and pictures and link to pictures of these organisms.
• Plant ID.
• Plant organizations and societies for the professional and gardener.
• Plant physiology.  Why are my plant's leaves yellow with green veins?
• Public gardens here and around the world
• Seed companies supporting our trials - addresses and websites.
• Slide shows about trials and other topics.
• Statistics tools.
• Water use and management.
• Weather - local, national and international.

• Directions to Gulf Coast REC - besides the obvious directions to our new research center, you will find useful information on changes in exit numbers and be linked into MyFlorida.com for further traffic and state information services.

• Support - companies that provide seed, hardware or financial support to our trials - addresses and websites.  Information about "SHARE" is provided - a way to support our program.