This outstanding colour break was bred by Antonella Capo of Selecta in Germany following years of crossing and backcrossing. The result is a stable colour pattern that endures throughout the season.
With its strong semi-trailing branching habit, five months of colour and even a very delicate sweet scent, 'Night Sky' is suitable for baskets, window boxes and patio containers. Each plant grows to around 40cm with a spread of 50cm and is suited to a sunny to lightly shaded position.
Already the level of plug sales in its first commercial year has demonstrated the appetite in the plant market for outstanding novelties that can create consumer demand and command premium margins for both grower and retailer.
With a high degree of branching and early flowering, growers can readily produce a 10.5-13cm pot. An 84-plug tray is available from Ball Colegrave, with high-impact 10cm colour labels plus posters and images to support retail sales.
The plant has already received international acclaim since its industry launch, taking the FleuroStar Award during the 2015 FlowerTrials in Germany and the Netherlands, and was also the favourite among visitors to Ball's Summer Showcase in Oxfordshire last July, beating more than 1,300 catalogue varieties, 300 new varieties and 700 experimental products on display.
Finalists
Calibrachoa Chameleon Sunshine Berry, Westhoff Vertriebsges, Westflowers
Bidens Spotlight, Thompson & Morgan
Scented Sunny Smell, Double H Nurseries
SEE ALL 2017 UK GROWER AWARDS WINNERS
