Released: March 12, 2004

Annual Prairie Star Flowers Named

OLATHE, Kan. – Several varieties of annual flowers have been named part of the Prairie Star Collection© by Kansas State University horticulturists for their ability to flourish in the ever-changing prairie climate.

“The Prairie Star annual flowers have the ‘right genetics’ with a combination of vigor and floriferousness for outstanding performance. These flowers are star performers for the climate and soils of the prairie,” said Alan Stevens, associate professor of horticulture with Kansas State University.

The Kansas Greenhouse Growers Association recently developed a point-of-purchase program for retail garden centers featuring Prairie Star Collection© flowers. The varieties can be found at local greenhouses, garden centers and through local growers.

Not every variety will be available at every location, however, said Stevens, who is based at K-State’s Horticultural Crops and Forestry Center near Olathe, Kan.

Before they qualified to be Prairie Star flowers, each variety was tested in research trials conducted at K-State Research and Extension centers in Kansas City and Wichita, along with several other sites around Kansas. The sites included two cold-hardiness zones and two heat-tolerant zones.

The Prairie Star Collection© for 2004 includes the following flower varieties.

** Angelonia – Angel Mist purple stripe.

** Begonia – Ambassador pink, Brandy, Doublet series (all colors), and Party (pink flower, bronze leaf) and Whisky.

** Calibrachoa – Callie ivory and lavender, Starlette trailing rose and yellow improved. Celosia – Cramer’s Amazon, Flamingo Feather purple, Fresh Look red, Hi-Z, New Look and WATCH. Coleus – Aurora Sherbert, Kaleidoscope red, Vaughn’s Rainbow Mix and Wizard scarlet. Cosmos – Cosmic orange.

** Dianthus – Floral Lace salmon and Amazon neon purple.

** Gaillardia – Plume series. Cascade/ Ivy Geranium – Barock ‘99, Compact Acapulco, Lila, and salmon, Galleria Sunrise improved, Reggae red and Sophie Cascade. Geranium (seed) – Maverick Star, Pinto blush, Ringo 2000 lavender and white. Geranium – American series (all colors), Charmant, Colorcade coral pink, Evening Glow, Galleria Frost Fire, Grand Prix, Nobelesse ‘99, North Star, Patriot bright red and watermelon, Rocky Mountain series (all colors), Schoene Helena, Showcase light lavender and salmon, Twist 2001 and Vulcan 2001.

** Impatiens – Accent coral and lavender blue, Carnival salmon, Showstopper cherry and Tropical Flair Mix, Stardust rose improved, and Super Elfin blue pearl.

** Lantana – Landmark Pink Down and Patriot Hot Country.

** Marigold – Inca II primrose and yellow and Perfection mix and yellow. Melampodium – Derby, Million gold and Showstar yellow.

** Nierembergia – Mont Blanc.

** Ornamental Pepper – Chilly Chili, Explosive Ember and Medusa.

** Petunia – Blushing Princess, Carpet lilac, Dream series (all colors), Fantasy Crystal red and mix, Hurrah series (all colors), Kahuna white, Madness merlot mix and yellow, Misty Lilac Wave, Primetime lavender and rose, Storm series (all colors), Suncatcher punk vein and white, Supertunia Mini blue, and Tidal Wave hot pink and silver. Portulaca – Fairytales series (all colors).

** Rudbeckia – Prairie Sun.

** Salvia farinacea – Reference blue & white, silver and Victoria. Scaevola – Blue Shamrock and Outback purple fan flower. Snapdragon – Rocket cherry.

** Verbena – Twilight light pink shades and Escapade pink. Vinca (Catharanthus) – Cooler series (all colors), Mediterranean series (all colors), Pacifica series (all colors) and Sunstorm orchid and white with eye.

** Zinnia – Crystal white, Oklahoma series (all colors), Peter Pan series (all colors), Profusion orange, Short Stuff orange, Swizzle Series (all colors) and Zinnita series (all colors).

Complete ratings, height and width of the annual flowers can be found at the website http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/Prairie_Star/Prairie_Star.pdf

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Crystal Rahe
cer5665@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News