Plantpeddler celebrates successful Variety Day

Plantpeddler hosted Variety Day 2026 on Friday, August 7; a day focused on the goal of “Testing the Best in the Midwest”. Again, a nearly perfect Northeast Iowa weather day greeted the attendees. The event highlighted over 1,500 varieties of vegetative annuals in large containers, hanging baskets, and beds from a global array of breeders, in a vivid display of garden color. Near record attendance included breeders, sponsors, brokers, growers, garden center managers, and industry professionals.

Thursday night’s “Feast at the Farm” kicked off the event, providing early arriving attendees an evening to enjoy comradery, networking, a BBQ spread which, of course, featured Iowa sweet corn, along with a performance by the band Incognito.

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Along with the activities in the Trial Gardens, supporting sponsors hosted a trade show during the Variety Day event. A full slate of presentations on the main stage began with Lisa Heredia representing Danziger, followed by the infamous Dr. Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University speaking on Broad Mites. The third presentation of the day was Caleb Wilson of Syngenta Professional Solutions, with the wrap up provided by Morgan Terry and Rick Vulgamott of Smurfit Westrock.

© PlantpeddlerPlantpeddler Variety Day #1: Begonia Waterfall Encanto Pink

At Variety Day, participants had the opportunity to vote for their favorite three varieties. In a competition dominated by the top three vote getters, Begonia Waterfall Encanto Pink came out on top, which is part of the 2027 Plantpeddler Begonia program. This year’s Top 25 was a diverse genetic blend with overall domination by hanging basket selections (19). Calibrachoa had the highest number of winners at seven, or maybe seven and a half counting a Petchoa! MultiLiners also had a good year, with several in the top 25.

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“We greatly appreciate all the breeders for submitting genetics, supporting vendor partner sponsors, the team at Plantpeddler for all their efforts and hosting, and especially everyone who attended,” said Plantpeddler in a statement.