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Horticulture
This year's trend is to incorporate plants into the concept of backyard escape.
Published on July 27, 2024 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 5 minute read
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0727 minter Cultivate is America's largest and most diverse horticultural show, held every July. The show introduces new horticultural products, concepts, ideas and technologies. Photo by Brian Minter
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In the fast-changing world of horticulture, it's important to stay on top of new trends, which is why I traveled to Columbus, Ohio to attend Cultivate, America's largest and most diverse horticultural show, held every July. The show introduces new horticultural products, concepts, ideas, and technologies. Major suppliers are in attendance to bring you access to many new plants, and plant breeders are also in attendance to provide background information and insights for current and future breeding programs.
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The first trend I noticed was in the field of garden design. Growers and plant suppliers always introduce new plants in beautiful botanical displays, but this year there was a concerted effort to connect them to the concept of backyard escape. Simple, yet elegant outdoor structures were created, furnished with comfortable all-weather furniture, and new plants were integrated to enhance these comfort areas. Designers were connecting plants to lifestyle. I thought this was a great move, but the irony was that in this very crowded show, these areas that were intended only for display were filled with show-goers looking for a little place where they could escape and rejuvenate.
When featuring indoor living, designers took tropical plants in unusual directions. Traditional tropical plants gave way to eccentric colors. Unusual leaf shapes and variegated plants were all brought to the forefront. Speckled, splashed and speckled leaves were definitely in style. Many of today's sophisticated millennials are masters of indoor gardening and have an eye for finding plants that tie into their lifestyle. They love discovering new and unique plants and bragging about being the first to own one of these new and amazing varieties. This is a good thing.
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Proven Winners has developed a new line of plants that can be sold in unique glass containers filled with just water for a more contemporary look. The company has caught on to this trend and is looking to build a distribution system across the U.S., with Canada in sight. They have also noticed that many plant suppliers, mostly in Florida, are becoming more available with these new products.
As climate change progresses, both heat and drought are becoming more serious problems. To address this new reality, some exciting developments are happening, and many breeding programs are now focusing on new plant varieties that can handle these conditions. They haven't caught the attention of most consumers yet, but that should change by 2025.
Growers and plant suppliers are always showcasing new plants in beautiful botanical displays, and this year there was a concerted effort to tie them all in with the concept of backyard escape.
Thanks to new breeding techniques, traditional heat-loving plants like supercals, petunias, scabras, and vinca major have expanded in color range, flower size, and plant shape. They are also now versatile enough to be used in containers, hanging baskets, and in the ground. Until now, one of the superstars, the soiree, never got the attention it deserved, but that has changed. Improvements in flower size, color range, and plant habit are making all the difference. Now growers, retailers, landscapers, and park and garden designers need to show off all these wonderful new varieties.
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Cuphea has primarily been used to attract hummingbirds but is now used as a great focal point, creating a wow factor. Mandevilleas have also seen an explosion in the range of plant shapes, flower sizes and colours thanks to new breeding programmes. Mandevilleas require heat to grow but are simply unbeatable in terms of easy care and beauty.
Keep an eye out for these new and improved varieties next year and try incorporating them into your garden – I'm sure you'll be surprised and delighted.
After last winter's bitter cold, we're all looking for more cold-hardy plants, especially perennials. I was glad to find a new source of Echeveria at the show. European breeders have developed a series of Echeverias that are zone 5 hardy. This means they're one zone more cold-hardy than traditional varieties, and will overwinter much better the first year. They may not have as wide a range of colors, but they still have great beauty and durability.
There are exciting developments happening to combat climate change, with many breeding programs now focusing on new plant varieties that can cope with these conditions. Photo credit: Chris Brown Photography
The love affair with hydrangeas continues. I'm not sure why there's so much interest in this plant family, but breeding has produced some truly amazing plants. Macrophylla in particular have become harder and more tolerant of heat and drought. Stunning new colors and eye-catching bicolors have been developed, as well as new hydrangeas in designer colors and pastels mixed with greens. Monrovia Nurseries in California and Oregon have the latest and most beautiful varieties, including the Seaside series, which blooms repeatedly over a longer season.
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Hardy, sun-loving paniculata hydrangeas are also becoming more popular with the arrival of many new compact varieties in stunning pink and white colour combinations in August, and Proven Winners deserves a lot of credit for introducing so many fantastic new products.
Cultivate is America's largest and most diverse horticultural show, held every July. The show introduces new horticultural products, concepts, ideas and technologies. Photo by Brian Minter
Many new grass varieties are also being developed. A Washington nursery has introduced a white-and-green variegated Japanese forest grass to the mostly gold-and-green varieties.
Technological innovations for more efficient breeding, better ways to heat and cool greenhouses, robotics and mechanization have always been part of the horticultural show and are key to the industry's success now and in the future.
There were several local BC nurseries at the show and many new plants being introduced – it's great to see that our young industry leaders are some of the best in North America.
The horticulture industry is moving in a lot of good directions, but it's also great to see a new generation of gardeners joining our ranks who are ready to tackle climate change and invest in an environment that needs so much attention.
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