Recommended Poinsettia Cultivars - 2003 Allen Hammer, Jim Barrett and John Dole There are a large number of poinsettia cultivars and many new ones being introduced. These recommended cultivars are based on university trials and observations of commercial crops. Primarily, this list includes ones that have been in our trials at least two years. The cultivars listed as "worth watching" are the new ones that performed well in the Fall 2002 trials. The cultivars listed as Preference 1 are those that are most like to work well in the widest number of situations. Preference 2 are those cultivars that will work, but the grower should be aware of the particular requirements of the cultivar. Then, Preference 3 are those cultivars that are a little more demanding or are less familiar. The best cultivar for an individual grower varies with location, production practices and markets. There are other poinsettia cultivars not listed that can be grown successfully when the grower is very familiar with the cultivar and can provide the required culture for that cultivar. Large growers are those that are supplying mass-market retailers. Specialty growers are those that are supplying other retail markets and desire to produce a differentiated product. We also consider that the specialty grower is more likely able to supply the particular culture required for a larger number of cultivars. It is also important to remember that growing the plants in different forms and containers can also differentiate many of the cultivars listed for large growers. Shipping and retail display conditions are important factors in poinsettia quality. The Type 1 cultivars are not strongly recommended for larger growers, since those cultivars are more sensitive to stress of boxing, staying in the sleeve during retail or poor watering at retail.   Category/ Preference Large Growers Specialty Growers Early Dark Leaf -Red     1 Freedom Red Orion Red Freedom Red Orion Red Pepride Red2 2 Pepride Red2 Red Elf2 Red Elf2 3 Christmas Time Early Joy Red Eternity Red Festival Red Red Angel Christmas Time Early Joy Red Eternity Red Festival Red Red Angel Worth Watching Olympia Premium Red2 Velveteen Red Olympia Premium Red2 Velveteen Red Midseason Dark Leaf - Red     1 Delayed early cultivars Delayed early cultivars Red Velvet 2 Cortez Red4 Freedom Bright Red **Prestige Red Velvet Bright Red Sails3,4 Christmas Dream **Prestige 3 Bright Red Sails3,4 Christmas Season Christmas Wish Cortez Fire4 Sonora Red Mondial Red Victory Red Christmas Wish Cortez Fire4 Cortez Red4 Freedom Bright Red Max Red Sonora Red Worth Watching Christmas Feelings Happy Christmas Mars Silent Night Christmas Feelings Happy Christmas Mars Silent Night Midseason Green Leaf - Red     1 None **Candlelight1 Nutcracker Red1 Peterstar Red1 2 Nutcracker Red1 Peterstar Red1 None 3 Candlelight1 None Worth watching None None Late Season Red     1 Delayed early cultivars Success Red Delayed early cultivars Success Red 2 None Red Splendor5 Jolly Red 3 Red Diamond Red Diamond Worth watching None None Rose     1 Freedom Rose Freedom Rose 2 Cortez Hot Pink Sonora Hot Pink Cortez Hot Pink Sonora Hot Pink 3 None Festival Rose Worth watching None None White     1 Freedom White Santa Claus White1,3 **White Christmas1 Snowcap1,3 2 Pepride White1 Peterstar White1 Sonora White1 Whitestar1 Nutcracker White1 Whitestar1 3 Elegance White Malibu White Snowcap1,3 White Christmas1 Freedom White Nutcracker White1,3 Pepride White Sonora White Worth watching None None Pink     1 Freedom Pink Nutcracker Pink1 Success Light Pink6 Peterstar Pink1 2 Maren1 Flirt1 Maren1 Santa Claus Pink1 3 Early Joy Pink Flirt1 Nutcracker Pink1 Pepride Pink2 Peterstar Pink1 Early Joy Pink Freedom Bright Pink Pepride Pink Worth watching **Enduring Pink Malibu Pink Premium Lipstick Pink **Enduring Pink Marble     1 None Marblestar1 Santa Claus Marble1,3,6 2 Marblestar1 Peterstar Marble1 Puebla1 3 Cortez Marble4 Freedom Marble Pepride Marble Peterstar Marble1 Puebla1 Sonora Marble Pepride Marble Cortez Marble4 Worth watching None None Jingle Bells     1 Freedom Jingle Bells Sonora Jingle **Sonora White Glitter6 2 **Jingle Bells 4.0 Sonora Jingle **Jingle Bells 4.0 3 Cortez Jingle4 Sonora White Glitter6 Freedom Jingle Bells Jester Jingle Peterstar Jingle Bells Worth Watching None None Novelty     1 Cranberry Punch **Da Vinci **Winter Rose Deep Pink **Christmas Candy1,6 Cranberry Punch **Da Vinci Monet Twilight3 **Winter Rose Deep Pink 2 Monet Twilight3 Plum Pudding1,3 Success Coral6 Noblestar1 Success Coral6 Plum Pudding1,3 3 Amazone Peppermint Champagne Winter Rose Jingle Bells Winter Rose Pink Snowberry Punch Strawberry Punch Amazone Peppermint Avant Garde Champagne Champagne Punch Freedom Coral Freedom Salmon Lemonsnow Nutcracker Salmonstar Snowberry Punch **Strawberries 'N Cream2 Strawberry Punch Winter Rose Jingle Bells Winter Rose Pink Worth Watching **Carousel Pink1,2,6 **Cortez Burgundy4,6 **Winter Rose White Winter Rose Marble **Carousel Pink1,2,6 **Cortez Burgundy4,6 **Winter Rose White Winter Rose Marble Novelty Red     1 Winter Rose Dark Red Carousel1,2,6 Winter Rose Dark Red **Chianti2 2 **Chianti2 None 3 Carousel1,2,6 Freedom Fireworks Jester Red Redberry Punch Freedom Fireworks Jester Red Redberry Punch Worth Watching **Merlot2 **Merlot2 Variegated Foliage     1 None  Heirloom Peach1 Holly Point1,2 Silverstar Red 2 Holly Point1,2 Silverstar Red1 Silverstar Pink1 Silverstar White1 3 Silverstar Marble1 Silverstar White1 Heirloom Pink1 Heirloom Red1 Peterstar Silverbells1 Silverstar Marble1 Worth Watching None None Codes: 1. This is a Type 1 cultivar and easy to grow; however it is subject to Botrytis and leaf drop in shipping and retail. 2. This is a low vigor cultivar and may cause more problems in cooler climates. 3. This is a very vigorous cultivar and may cause more problems in warmer climates. 4. This cultivar is very sensitive to high temperatures during cutting production and growers in warm climates should not grow stock. 5. Color development is not as good in the deep south on this cultivar. 6. This cultivar develops slower than others and, if grown with natural days, it may finish later than desired. ** These are cultivars, introduced in the last 1-2 years, with significant potential because they are distinct improvements or they fill a void in the cultivars currently used. Back to Info