New Hampshire has seen a spectacular increase in emasculated flush farms , underscoring the need for true research to support the province ’s flower industry . To that end , University of New Hampshire researchers have set up the first study to evaluate plant from three cold - dauntless hydrangea mintage for cut efflorescence and landscape use in New Hampshire .
“ The floriculture and bedding plant industry is a top agricultural good in New Hampshire , and the identification number of farms bring about field - grown cold shoulder flowers has increased by a staggering 60 pct from 2007 to 2017 . This striking increase suggest that emasculated flowers are an increasingly important horticultural crop in the state and illustrate that consumer demand is hard for regionally grow flowers , ” said Kaitlyn Orde , research associate who will oversee the project at the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm , a facility of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station .
H. Paniculata Zinfin Doll ( Credit : Proven Winners ColorChoice )
“ However , no studies have been conduct to evaluate these metal money in the Northeast or beyond , making provide information to the commercial farming community on characteristic and performance nearly impossible , ” sound out Orde , who will carry the research with experiment station investigator Becky Sideman , professor of sustainable Department of Agriculture and food for thought systems and UNH Cooperative Extension professor and specialist in sustainable horticulture output , and Cathy Neal , retire experiment research worker and elongation landscape horticulture specializer .
Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub pop for landscape painting and cut flower use . The H. macrophylla or “ big folio ” species is widely acknowledge for its omnipresent usance as a landscape bush across Cape Cod and Nantucket and as a slash flower by florists . However , this species is only faithfully wintertime hardy through USDA Zone 6 , which is south of most of Northern New England , and hurt in winter to bud is common when the species is develop in cold areas , seduce establish it in New Hampshire risky .
There are many other species of hydrangea , including species that are more cold hardy than the big foliage type . Notable hydrangea coinage are H. paniculata ( “ panicle ” ) , H. quercifolia ( “ oakleaf ” ) , and H. arborescens ( “ smooth ” ) , which are conceive to be hardy through Zone 4 and Zone 5 , respectively , making them obvious choice for growing in New Hampshire .
H. Paniculata Limelight . ( Credit : Proven Winners ColorChoice )
In the three - year task , researchers will evaluate 14 hydrangea cultivars from the stale - dauntless panicle , oakleaf , and still species . They will measure several factor to square off cultivar suitability for both landscape and snub - prime utilization , including winter survival , plant vigour , bud - hardiness , theme length , stem number , head size , blossom clip and duration , colour , and any notable plague and pathogen challenge . They also project to value the vase living of the cut stems , as a lifetime of at least seven days has been cited as an crucial broker by florists in the area .
The 14 cultivars admit in the sketch are Arborescens Invincibelle Mini Mauvette , Arborescens Invincibelle Spirit II , Arborescens Lime Rickey , Paniculata Confetti , Paniculata Limelight , Paniculata Little Lime , Paniculata Bobo , Paniculata Zinfin Doll , Paniculata Diamond Rouge , Paniculata Magical Flame , Paniculata Fire Light , Paniculata Quick Fire , Quercifolia Gatspy Star , Quercifolia Munchkin , Arborescens Invincibelle Ruby , and Paniculata Bloomin Easy Lavalamp “ Candelabra . ”
Paniculata Fire Light . ( Credit : Proven Winners ColorChoice )
“ We will father and share information on plant hardiness , cultivar characteristic , and the suitableness of cultivar for track peak function . This information will hopefully permit growers , florists , and landscapers to confidently select cultivar for their think purpose , ” Orde said .
Furthermore , all of the florists we survey expressed interested in purchasing topically produced hydrangea stems , and all the commercial agriculturalist we surveyed expressed concerned in turn hydrangeas . This leads us to believe that there is grand potential for business partnerships between these two entities , and we hope that this research will help oneself to support the developing of these relationship , ” she said .
investigator also plan to showcase the hydrangea cultivar at annual champaign days at the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm , as well as twilight encounter hosted by UNH Cooperative Extension . This will allow commercial-grade growers and landscapers the opportunity to view the cultivars and gather information on specific cultivars .
Source : University of New Hampshire ( Lori Wright )
