Thursday, March 31, 2011

Gerbera Garvinea - Winter hardy perennial Gerbera


We're finally there, or here... I'm not sure which.  But we have shipped our first Gerbera Garvinea plants. The pictures above are promotional shots from the breeders (Florist bv.) but I'm happy to report that results like this are easy to achieve. Just find a sunny spot and make sure their roots are in well drained soil, they really do like to be grown dry.

Unfortunately I don't have a photo but Garvineas have been used beautifully in the Tree & Shrub Growers of Victoria's Gold Medal winning display at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Our plants have been released to nine independent retail Garden Centre outlets around Melbourne and we are looking for more quality retailers to partner with us to give this terrific plant the presentation it deserves. There's also a great chance ("99%") that Graeme Ross will feature Gerbera Garvinea on tonight's Better Homes & Gardens Flower & Garden Show showcase (Channel 7, 7.30pm).

Keep in mind that these plants have been bred for garden performance, they make great pots and the long slender stems produce beautiful cut flowers. Only don't cut the flowers off, give them a gentle twist and fold so that the stem breaks off right down at the growing point at the base of the plant. Pick the flowers often it encourages fresh growth and prevents the spent flowers getting tatty. All potted Gerberas prefer a sunny position so if you bring pots inside, make it short term then send them back outside to recover.

By the way I'll be at the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria's Great Victorian Hanging Basket Competition display (site B59) at the Flower Show on Sunday. Carlton Gardens, 9.00am-5.00pm please come and say hello if your coming in and if you get any inspiring photos, please send some my way.

4 comments:

  1. Dear Peter, this is a very interesting post as it gives me some understanding of the unfamiliar world of flower breeding and the nursery business. I am afraid I'm not going to make it to the garden show this year. If I were there on Sunday I would have said hello. I look forward to hearing about it and seeing the photos from my local cyberfriends. cheers, catmint

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  2. Dear Peter,
    I saw the segment on BHG and thought loved the new flowers. I thought I saw on the show a Gerber that was called Lisa, is this a fact or do I have a different plant that I saw. I live up in the High Country, do you know of any places up here that I can buy it from.
    Cheers Vicki

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  3. Hi Vicki, The Garvinea Gerbs all have female names, including Lisa (I won't comment further on this. High Country nurseries? Try Yenken & Dyson Hardware in Mansfield. You'll have to ask them to order in, but we deliver there quite regularly.
    Hope this helps.

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  4. Thanks for your comment catmint. Show will be on again next year, hope we can meet then!

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