PSU Flower Trials Field Day

My friends at Penn State have cordially invited each of us to stop and smell the flowers as we check out the latest perennial varieties at their upcoming Flower Trials Field Day. This event, coordinated by Penn State Extension, is scheduled for July 23, 2026 at Penn State’s Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Manheim, Pennsylvania.

The Flower Trials Field Day will highlight the Penn State Flower Trials, which contains about 300 perennial varieties. If by chance you're also interested in annuals, there are about 700 varieties in the trials, as well. Genetics from over 30 breeding companies from around the world will be on display.

In addition to seeing all the beautiful plants in the trial beds, there are several educational sessions being offered:

New varieties of annuals and perennials
Cutting-edge information from breeders
Disease management
Pesticide safety

The field day is designed for all of us perennial enthusiasts, as well as greenhouse growers, nursery and landscape professionals, retail garden centers, and other industry folks. What a great way to enjoy plants and network with industry peers.

Organizers ask that participants register by July 20, but walk-ins are welcome. The registration fee is $50 and includes morning refreshments and a lunch. Pesticide credits are available for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Tap this link: Flower Trials Field Day for event and registration information.

PSU's Top Performers

I asked Krystal Snyder, PSU Horticulture Extension Educator, what were the top three performers last year. She mentioned the three perennials shown below did great in their second and third years in the trials.

Buddleia Chrysalis Steel Blue

Darwin Perennials

Echinacea SunMagic Vintage Hot Red

Bull Genetics

Polemonium Prince

Must Have Perennials

You can check on these and the performace of hundreds of other perennial varities if you elect to attend the PSU Flower Trials Day on July 23, 2026.

Let’s Catch Up

Cultivate’26 in Columbus, Ohio, begins this weekend and continues into early next week. The official schedule is July 11-14, 2026. If my count is correct, this is my 33rd consecutive appearance (including the COVID year when I attended the virtual event). Cultivate is my favorite and most productive trade event by far.

If you aren't planning to attend up to this point, I encourage you to reconsider. There’s still a small amount of time for you to make your Cultivate wishes come true. If you're attending, I’ll be working the Pace 49 booth most of the time on the trade show floor. I invite you to come to booth #1608 to say hello, catch up on perennial topics or perhaps we could discuss sanitation, disease control or water treatment options (the products that pay my bills) while you're in the booth.

If you don’t see me, I’m in a meeting or wandering the trade show floor myself. Simply ask my team (Joe or Steve) and they'll hunt me down for you. If you’d prefer to schedule a time to meet, simply send me an email (paul@pace49.com) and I’ll open the calendar and see what I can come up with.

If you're attending, I wish you safe travels and that you have a productive, meaningful and enjoyable experience.

I hope to see you there.

For event information, tap this link: Cultivate'26

Perennial Symposium—Call for Help

Speaking of upcoming trade events, I’d like to send one last shout out for the Perennial Plant Association’s 2026 National Symposium.

The sympoisum is being held July 27-30, 2026 on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Additionally, there'll be numerous tours in the surrounding area. The tours usually get sold out, but I’ll cross my fingers for you if you haven’t already registered.

Request for Guest Editors and/or Photographers

I plan on attending the educational portion of the symposium, but, unfortunately, my work schedule doesn't allow me to go on the tours. I’m sad about that. So this got me thinking … since I can’t go on the tours, could I ask some of you to be my eyes and ears? It would be awesome if I could get a few volunteers to be guest photographers and/or editors.

If writing isn't your cup of tea, I’d be interested in hearing what impressed you, what you enjoyed and what information you think others would find useful while you were either on the tours or in the education sessions and I’ll work my magic and do the writing for you. It can be done anonymously or I could provide your name. And how about a complimentary link or tag to your website or social media?

If you're interested in helping out, you can let me know in advance so I can help coordinate who's covering certain events and tours. Or you can send me content throughout your perennial symposium experience when you see something great or feel inspired to do so. Please send your symposium coverage to me at paul@pace49.com.

If you still need it, here's the link containing all the event and registration information: PPA 2026 National Symposium

New from Bloomin’ Easy

Bloomin’ Easy recently announced seven new perennials are being added to their perennial lineup. Before I share a few of their new intros, please allow me to introduce them to you. Bloomin’ Easy works with breeders across the world to offer a brand of plants designed for newer or casual gardeners. Their offerings are selected to be low maintenance, disease resistant and easy to grow.

Here are a few of their new perennials that caught my eye. These varieties are all Bloomin’ Easy exclusives.

Hosta Red Ninja

Bloomin’ Easy has brought the first and only truly red hosta to the market. With its unique foliage coloration, Red Ninja is destined to become a garden staple. Growing 1- to 2-ft. wide and across with cold hardiness to Zone 3.

Dianthus Temptress

Even I'm tempted to give in and get some Temptress for my garden. I’m drawn to the large dazzling bubblegum flowers. The long-lasting blooms draw pollinators into the garden, while the plants keep the deer away (deer resistant, but the deer could be drawn to other plants nearby). Temptress is heat and drought tolerant, and hardy to Zone 5.

Lavender Little Lizzie

Little Lizzie is a charming English lavender with soft purple, fragrant blooms. She only reaches 14- to 18-in. tall and blooms from late spring to late summer. Cold hardy to Zone 4 and is drought tolerant, heat tolerant, pollinator friendly and deer resistant.

My email is paul@pace49.com if you have any comments, article suggestions or if you'd just like to say hello.

Best regards,

Paul Pilon

Editor-at-Large—Perennial Pulse

National Sales Manager—Pace 49, Inc.

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