2024 California Spring Trials review

It’s been 57 years since what’s now known as California Spring Trials—CAST for short—captivated horticulture industry insiders with a peek into plant breeders’ work. Years ago, California breeders lined up packs of their new varieties for informal comparisons. Then “Pack Trials” became official in 1967. Now the event showcases breeders from around the world.

Despite being held at one of the industry’s busiest times, CAST once again proved that it remains a premier horticulture industry event. Setting the stage for consumer trends, it introduces, and in many cases determines, what growers will grow next year. A few years ago, an attempt to move the event to summer proved that CAST belongs to spring, busy or not. And this year’s event solidified that view.

Staying relevant through evolution

Part of the secret to CAST’s longevity lies in its consistent evolution. Sometimes, it’s driving industry trends. Sometimes, it’s responding. But either way, there’s always change. From its early focus almost exclusively on plant breeding, CAST evolved to include what comes after the breeding work. In all its extravagant glory, California Spring Trials is a crash course in plant marketing and consumer wants and needs.

While attendees come for the new varieties—and new twists on old favorites—they’re drawn just as much by CAST tips in marketing, sales, packaging, and merchandising. The focus is on getting plants into the retail marketplace and consumer hands. CAST is also where companies make their case to growers regarding logistics, deliveries, supply chain reliability, customer services, and ongoing product support.

On this year’s agenda, more than three dozen plant companies were represented at 10 trial stops up and down the Central and Northern California coast. Collectively, they’re a horticultural heartbeat driving what growers grow and retailers sell.

Peaking behind the scenes for 2024

As in years past, the plants on parade at CAST 2024 didn’t disappoint when it came to high flower counts, long bloom times, and loads of color in flowers and foliage. That’s on top of attributes designed to make growers’ lives easier, such as first-year flowering, no vernalization, no pinching, no bulking, no GPRs, and more.

Our peak into the CAST 2024 scene turned up several plant trends that stood out from years past, including three in particular:

Red-hot color: Call it intense, vibrant, fiery, flaming—whatever hot adjectives you prefer—but red is clearly in. Deep and brilliant colors have always been a CAST mainstay. Flower colors are deeper and richer there; foliage extremes run brighter and darker. But breeder after breeder this year showcased hot red—in sharp contrast to softer, more soothing colors of recent years.

Petunia Trilogy Red Gen 2 courtesy American Takii.

American Takii wasn’t alone in these fiery offerings, but two new varieties there expressed the trend well: The next-generation deep red blooms of Petunia Trilogy Red Gen 2 and the vibrant red blooms of Nasturtium Baby Red.

Cut-flower focus: Here at ICL, we’ve been watching and talking about the bourgeoning trend toward cut-flower production. From consumers growing their own floral arrangements, to young plant producers doing cut-flower liners, to growers entering the cut-flower business themselves, the trend is gaining speed.

A CAST stop at Benary gave growers even more reasons to join in. Along with some outstanding new nonstop begonia varieties (in peach to flame, with and without mocha-colored leaves), attendees found the new Limonium Hipster series, available in white, yellow, rose, and blue. That was coupled with Benary’s three new Eucalyptus varieties—StyX, Murray, and Albany—destined for fresh and dried flower bouquets everywhere.

Dual-duty herbs: Herbs continue riding the wave in edible plants and “foodie” culture, at CAST and beyond. But, as with most trends, consumers always want something more. Herbs that do double or even triple duty as garden ornamentals, pollinator plants and culinary ingredients answer the call. Flowers are bigger and brighter, foliage pubescence is heavier, fragrances and essential oils are stronger, and variegation is more intense.

Lavandula angustifolia BeeZee courtesy of Hishtil.

A new hardy, compact lavender series Lavandula angustifolia BeeZee from Hishtil offered CAST attendees (and busy pollinators) color choices of dark blue, light blue, pink, and white. The lavenders complement existing Hishtil’s Double Marvel line of edible ornamentals like snowy-leaved Salvia officinalis ‘Snowflake’ and ‘Magic Mountain’ basil—a big-flowering favorite that pollinators, foodies and cut-flower enthusiasts love.

Whether CAST 2024 standouts make your production schedule for next year or not, the ICL Growing Solutions Ornamental Horticulture team of Territory Managers is here to help you succeed. Give us a call for expert advice on CRFs, water-soluble fertilizers, wetting agents, and more—or just to chat and catch up on spring in your region. We look forward to hearing from you.