Ornamental Plants Annual Reports and Research Reviews 2004

Special Circular 195

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The Ohio State University Learning Gardens
Pansy/Viola Cultivar Trial, 2003 - 2004

Monica Kmetz-González and Claudio Pasian

This was the fourth year we conducted our Fall Pansy and Viola Trials. Plants were transplanted outside in the fall and evaluated throughout the winter and the spring. This time, we also left the plants in-ground through July, to assess heat tolerance.

Trial Site Location: The in-ground trial site is adjacent to our departmental buildings on the Columbus Campus of The Ohio State University. The area receives full shade most of the morning, followed by approximately eight hours of full sun. The area was rototilled on September 15, 2003, just prior to planting.

Plant Material: Seed from participating breeders and distributors was grown on once again for us this year by Bob Barnitz of Bob’s Market & Greenhouse, Mason, West Virginia. There were 33 Pansy entries and 17 Violas, bringing the total number of cultivars evaluated to 50.

Procedure: Plants were received in our greenhouses on September 23, 2003, in 2-1/4” cell paks. A Plantshield drench (5 oz/100 gal) was applied on the same day. Twelve plants per cultivar were transplanted in-ground on September 26, 2003. Spacing was 10” between plants within a cultivar, 14” between cultivars, and 20” between main rows. Post-planting fertilization occurred on October 7 with 200 ppm N 20-10-20 via Dosatron.

Weather Conditions: The initial planting period was cool with some rain. Early light frosts occurred in the surrounding areas from September 28, 2003, through October 4, 2003, but the trial site itself was unaffected.

Warmer weather came back on October 5, 2003, with 70°F days and 50°F nights, which kicked the plants into gear. The rest of October showed average temperatures, and from November 2, 2003, to November 5, 2003, unseasonably warm 70°F days returned again.

The first hard freeze in the area occurred on November 9, 2003. Some warmer temps again followed. Overall mild temperatures occurred through the beginning of January 2004, and on January 5, plants were noted to be blooming and “looking good.”

Cold temperatures then followed in mid-January with daytime highs in the 20°Fs, and night temps down to 9°F. The lowest temperature experienced by the plants was -2.5°F on January 31, 2004. The rest of the winter provided cold temperature conditions for good overwintering assessment. The period from March through the beginning of April 2004 was cooler than average. Frosts occurred through the beginning of May.

Evaluations and Results: Evaluations were performed in both fall 2003 and spring 2004. Plant characteristics were evaluated in depth by our core team of evaluators. Ratings were based on a 1 to 5 scale (1 = Not Acceptable, 5 = Excellent). The following characteristics were evaluated:

• Flower Quality: Aesthetics, color, health, and appearance.
• Flower Number: 1 = Low, 5 = Very floriferous.
• Foliage: Vegetative vigor, aesthetics/color, health, and appearance.
• Vigor/Overwintering: 1 = Poor; 5 = Overwintered very well; excellent vigor (for spring rating only).
• Overall: Overall rating for the group, taking all the previous criteria into consideration.

Results can be found in the following tables:

1: Plant Characteristic Evaluations

These were performed by a core team of evaluators, which was comprised of the trials leader, trials coordinator, and greenhouse supervisor.

Fall — performed October 29, 2003
     Pansy: Table 1
     Viola: Table 2

Spring — performed May 6, 2004
     Pansy: Table 3
     Viola: Table 4

Top Performers

Fall Evaluation

Pansies: Nature Ocean, Nature Blue, Dynamite Lavender

Violas: Gem Antique Lavender, Sorbet Beaconsfield, Gem Rose w/Blotch, Gem Pink Shades

Spring Evaluation

Pansies: Nature Blue, Ultima Morpho, Nature Yellow, Dynamite Lavender

Violas: Gem Yellow, Sorbet Blackberry Cream, Sorbet Beaconsfield, Sorbet Plum Velvet, Penny Violet Flare.

2: Consumer Preference Evaluations

The Consumer Preference Evaluations were held in fall 2003 and in spring 2004 and were performed by our team of Master Gardener Volunteers. The fall evaluation was based purely on personal preference, on a 1 to 5 scale (5 = Exceptional), rating the overall appearance of the individual cultivars. In the spring evaluation, the overall rating was based on an average of separate plant vigor and aesthetics ratings.

Fall — performed November 18, 2003
     Pansy: Table 5
     Viola: Table 6

Spring — performed April 27, 2004
     Pansy: Table 7
     Viola: Table 8

Top Performers (Consumer Evaluation)

Fall Evaluation

Pansies: Nature Blue, Nature Ocean, Clear Sky True Blue, Crystal Bowl Purple, Flamenco Mix, Whiskers Yellow, and Dynamite Lavender.

These entries were all rated 4.0 and above. Nature Blue, Nature Ocean, and Dynamite Lavender were also top finishers in the Plant Characteristics Evaluations.

Violas: Sorbet Beaconsfield, Sorbet Blue Heaven, Penny Yellow Jump-Up, and Gem Yellow.

These all rated 4.1 and above. Sorbet Beaconsfield also received top ratings in the Plant Characteristics evaluations.

Spring Evaluation

Pansies: Ultima Morpho, Dynamite Lavender, Nature Orange, Clear Sky True Blue, Nature Lemon Yellow, and Majestic Giants II Patricia.

These all rated 4.2 and above. Ultima Morpho and Dynamite Lavender also received top ratings in the plant characteristics evaluations.

Violas: Sorbet Blue Heaven, Sorbet Beaconsfield, Penny Violet Flare, Gem Yellow, Gem Rose w/Blotch, Sorbet Plum Velvet, Sorbet Coconut Delight, Sorbet Antique Shades, Sorbet Blackberry Cream, and Penny Yellow Jump-Up.

These all rated 4.2 and above. As evidenced by the long list, many Violas rated highly in the spring for a tremendous show. Penny Violet Flare, Gem Yellow, Sorbet Plum Violet, and Sorbet Blackberry Cream also received top ratings in the plant characteristics evaluations.

Additional Comments on Fall and Spring Consumer Preference Evaluations

The entries listed here placed high in BOTH fall and spring ratings:

Pansies: Clear Sky True Blue and Dynamite Lavender.

Violas: Sorbet Beaconsfield, Sorbet Blue Heaven, Penny Yellow Jump-Up, and Gem Yellow.

3: Heat-Tolerance Evaluation

A Heat-Tolerance Evaluation was conducted by the Trials Coordinator on July 13, 2004, just prior to the conclusion of the trial. The results from this rating can be found in Table 9.

Results of Mid-July Rating:

Best looking Pansies in the heat of summer (rating of 4.0 and above) were Dynamite Beacon Blue, Dynamite Purple, and Crystal Bowl Purple.

The following also looked good, with a rating of 3.8: Nature Orange, Dynamite Blue Center, Delta Premium Pure White, Delta Premium Pure Primrose, and Dynamite Lavender.

Best Violas in the heat of summer (rating of 4.0 and above) were Sorbet Blue Heaven, Gem Pink Shades, and Gem Antique Lavender.

Also good with a rating of 3.8 were Penny Violet Flare and Sorbet Coconut Duet.

Trial Coordinator Comments

As in the past three years of winter trials of pansies and violas here in Columbus, Ohio (Zone 6), we recorded an approximate 95% overall survival rate for the trial plants. These plants are very low maintenance and offer an excellent addition to the fall color palette, as well as early and vibrant color in the spring. On average, the pansies and violas here burst into bloom ahead of daffodils and tulips.

In recent years, we have been receiving more of the “panola” type entries. These plants are an intermediate between pansies and violas, with vegetative vigor more closely resembling the hardier type viola. Flower size is midway between that of the pansy and viola. This group of entries has tended to perform very well in this area.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge our dedicated team of Master Gardener Volunteers who helped in all phases of this trial. Thanks to David Snodgrass, Greenhouse Supervisor, and Annette Duetz, Learning Gardens Supervisor, for their assistance. We thank Bob Barnitz of Bob’s Market & Greenhouse for seeding and growing on the transplants. We thank Bioworks for donating Plantshield. And we thank the participating companies for their sponsorship in this year’s trial.

For trial results, see the tables on the following pages.

Ohio State 2003-2004 Pansy/Viola Trial:

Monica Kmetz-González, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University; and Claudio Pasian, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University.