Every year during A Longwood Christmas, we feature a small, tucked-away display of poinsettia cultivars in our North Passage (adjacent to our Bonsai display). These varieties are part of our efforts to continually improve the quality of our horticulture displays and introduce new plants to our guests. Midway through the Christmas season, a panel of gardeners, growers, researchers, and our display designer meet up to evaluate the poinsettias and decide which plants we want to grow in the future. Here are some of the panel’s thoughts from this year.
Notes from our panel: “An attractive creamy yellow, good large flower. Keep pinched, plan for use in next year’s display.”
Notes from our panel: “Attractive different shades, flecking uniform, good color. Probably best as a bedding crop. Consider growing a taller version for next year’s trial.”
Notes from our panel: “Nice pink color. Uniform, vigorous growth, tall habit. Use as pinched plant, 20”-24” height.”
Notes from our panel: “Used in the past, best when pinched. Needs staking. Good pink color.”
Notes from our panel: “A blue-red which does not display as strongly in Conservatory lighting as orange-red.”
Photos by Greg Schival.