Hort Couture

Color Trends... Two Colors of the Year Better Than One

2012-01-31T15:50:00.000-08:00

Colors trends are for real. You see a new color being touted and all of the sudden it shows up everywhere. For 2012, we first heard that Atomic Tangerine was the Color of the Year. According to Pantone it was! I love the color- bright, happy and attention grabbing. It is great for container gardens as it lights up the area and looks good with lots of colors in combination. We have several plants that border on some shade of Atomic Tangerine but none quite like our new Petunia PANACHE 'Hells Bells'. It screems "atomic tangerine" and is easy to grow, easy to use and a breakthrough in breeding as the FIRST truly orange petunia. We love it and promise that you will too.

A few week later we see the unveiling of another Color of the Year. This time its Boys N Berry. I am not such a big fan of the spelling but I love the color. We also have many plants that have flowers that fit the description of this color. Our Scaevola TOP MODEL is hard to beat for this color and loves the heat and sun. Amazingly the two colors are pretty hot looking together. Was this all part of some grand scheme? Regardless, we have two great color to focus on in merchandising, container design and all facets of our lives for 2012. Enjoy!

Coleus Under the Sea Wins Garden Idol

2012-01-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

Friday night was an exciting moment in the history of Hort Couture. It was a watershed moment when the big guys in Horticulture saw us in a new light. When the announcement was made that we had won, the IGC's in the room erupted in applause that the plant from the little guy had won. They realized that we can get great plants that will stay with the independents and that we do not have to sell the same thing as the big box and try to survive on low margins.

It was a great night for Hort Couture, but more importantly, it was a great night for the Independent Garden Centers!

The Best of 2012

2011-12-31T17:08:00.000-08:00

There are so many great new plants in our offering for 2012, We have put together the very best assortment of new plants in the industry. No other company comes close in 2012! Here are our picks for the "MUST HAVE" varieties from Hort Couture for this Spring.

1. Coleus UNDER THE SEA 'Langostino'- the leaves are big and amazing on this variety, the whole series is really fun... very cool stuff!

2. Bacopa BOUTIQUE 'Tie Dye White'- there has never been a new bacopa that spices things up like this one. The flowers are big with an outlandish eyezone that makes them pop. Excellent grower!

3. Petunia PANACHE 'Hells Bells'- get out the sunglasses for this new orange petunia. In comparison, there has never been an orange petunia before.

4. Cordyline CENTERPIECE 'Flamingo Road'- a new Ti Plant from our Tres Chic Tropical collection. A thriller beyond compare for the container garden.

5. Lobularia SNOW GLOBE- a most diminutive form of vegetative Alyssum. Won't devour the other plants in baskets in the Spring. This variety is great in the landscape all Summer!

6. Coleus UNDER THE SEA 'Molten Coral'- a standout in trials this past year. The neon orange color comes to life in combinations and the compact habit is perfect for the grower. Wow!

7. Alocasia 'Nile High'- imagine the combination of a giant Elephant Ear with an African Mask type Alocasia... this is Nile High! Every IGC needs to have this in stock next Spring!

8. Petunia PANACHE' Pink Provocateur'- very sophisticated new petunia that lights up a garden. Superb performance in many applications. Electric Pink!

9. Lantana SOUTH BEACH 'Compact Bullion'- our Lantana are simply the best in the world. The addition of this very bright and tight variety takes the series to a new level!

10. Calibrachoa KIMONO 'Hot Pink'- we had very limited production last year but plenty this year of the genetic breakthrough in Calibrachoa... a standout variety!

It is hard to stop at just ten with other great new plants like Petunia PERFECTUNIA 'Peachy Keen' and Coleus UNDER THE SEA 'Hermit Crab' not listed here. We are working hard to keep the best new plants at the local garden center. If you are an IGC, it is so important that we differentiate our plants so we have something better and different than the big box. If you are a consumer reading this, please support small business!

Happy New Year!

IGC Trends 2012

2011-12-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

Trends sometimes slow when the economy is retracting but the world of gardening has seen the changing times lead to lots of opportunities for 2012. Finding new, fun ways to make up dollars that we are losing on items such as traditional chemicals and more expensive nursery stock are important.

Many of the newest and hottest ideas for the Independent Garden Center revolve around the idea of growing our own foods. Canning, backyard chickens, seed sowing and buying organic are all opportunities for the IGC to capitalize on in 2o12. This phenomenon also gives way to sales in catagories such as hydroponics, drip irrigation and organic controls.

Here goes our list of the Top Ten Trends to be prepared for in 2012 at your IGC-

1. Locavores- The demand for local vegetable and herb plants will continue to grow in 2012. With the local IGC leading the way as the experts in "grow your own" we can continue to grow this catagory for years to come. At Hort Couture we are partnering with companies such as Peace Tree Farm in Pennsylvania to produce our Culinary Couture Collection to bring not only the finest varieties and quality to the market but also from repuatable companies that are going the extra mile to not only use sustainable processes but are working to pioneer them. Promote your local grown plants!

2. Worm Castings- This is a fast growing catagory in soil conditioners. We particularly like Worm Power that is a company working to produce a very high quality product. Visit http://www.wormpower.net/ to learn more. This is a high margin item that gardeners will be looking for in 2012.

3. Backyard Chicks- Many gardeners are looking to add a few beautiful poultry to their gardens in 2012. Insect control, free fertilizer and fresh eggs are part of the allure. There are tons of exotic varieties that can be offered. Find out what your local laws are for selling and also for raising chickens in your town. Imagine a fun event with a truck of baby chicks arriving on a Saturday morning. Kids will never forget your store!

4. Miniature Gardening- Talk about a fun trend! Both miniature and fairy gardening continues to be a hot catagory for the IGC. From miniature plants to very cool accessories to even fairy potting soil... get this catagory going early at your store with an early Spring seminar or two to get some interest started. Companies such as Georgetown Home & Garden and Jeremie both have great accessories such as furniture, fairies, fencing and more.

5. On Line Gardening- Wow! This is such a different world to garden in. Many gardeners now spend endless nights discussing gardening on Twitter at events such as the popular #gardenchat, reading through the endless array of gardening blogs and websites or joining Facebook Groups with names such as Garden Geeks and Plant Porn. There is even a new on line gardening game called GARDEN QUEST that will help lead customers to our stores. The IGC can really learn and gain new customers through social media. How can your company meet new customers on line?

6. Outdoor Orchids- Orchids are gorgeous in the house but have never been part of the container gardening and landscaping discussion. The new PATIO & GARDEN Orchids from Hort Couture are game changers. After excellent results in trials in such hot spots as the Dallas Arboretum and at our trialing facilities in Homestead, Florida... these orchids can take the heat and keep blooming all summer. Think of this as the new "Geranium" for the mixed container!

7. Canning- Becoming the local expert on vegetable and herb gardening is a great opportunity for the IGC... offering some seminars on canning can be a fun event that can attract new customers to your business. Consider carrying canning supplies at your store this Spring to let people know they can use your staff expertise to learn how to grow and store fresh veggies.

8. Salad Mania- There are so many ways we can sell lettuce to our customers. Decorative containers, growing crops in our empty greenhouses in slower times to service local restaurants, offering endless mixes to keep customers coming back for more. Look at our Culinary Couture Seed Collection for unique mixes such as our Soul Food Salad and Urban Jungle. Fun ideas that are so easy and delicious!

9. Bright Colors- The 2012 Pantone Color of the Year is Atomic Tangerine. Bright colors in flowers are going to be hot for the next few years. People are going to want to get the maximum bang for their buck so why not make it Atomic Tangerine! Take a look at our new Petunia PANACHE 'Hells Bells' for something totally new in the catagory, and yes it is Atomic Tangerine in color! Pottery is moving the same way. Check out the new bright colors from Jackson Pottery in larger containers. Make gardening fun with bright colors.

10. The Smart Horticulturist- The trend of local shopping is for real. People are tired of the fight to purchase at the big boxes. We have an amazing secret weapon that will make the IGC a great experience for the consumer. WE ARE SMART! There are so many amazingly creative and articulate horticulturists out there. The big chains can not replicate this and we have to leverage this to the max. Be confident and make your store the source for great information and conversation about gardening in your community.

We hope you will take the time to plan properly to make your 2012 your best year yet. The key for the Independent Garden Retailer is to find ways to differentiate your store from the others. Maybe some small part of this blog will help!

Happy New Year from Hort Couture

Bullish Strategy for Spring 2012 for the IGC

2011-09-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

I have a "guest blogger" this time... Jim Eason is a great friend and owner of Eason Horticultural Resources. His insight below is typical of the sharp thinker that Jim is. Enjoy...

In the planning process for 2012 that we help our grower/retailer customers with each year, a distinct opportunity is presenting itself to the trade for 2012. Consider the facts: 1) A good portion of the eastern half of the US has been hit with rather horrific weather conditions for the last two spring seasons resulting in rather drastically reduced sales of most ornamentals for many operators; 2) The once in a decade deterioration of economic conditions (unemployment, increased food, fuel, and insurance costs) from 2009 and beyond drastically reduced what the average consumer had to spend on non essentials resulting in even further reduced sales of ornamentals. 3) Most manufacturers (and growers and retailers) are once again reducing their production and inventories as the US (and world) economy "appears" to be sliding back towards a recessionary position; 4) Those growers and retailers in regions of the eastern half of the US that had half way decent weather during the past two springs actually did OK and some actually increased sales which once again proves the well known importance of weather in the sales of ornamentals REGARDLESS of the condition of the economy!

So......... what should a grower or retailer plan to do for next spring? If you consider the facts above you can do one of two things. You can further cut your production plan and your inventory availability for 2012 OR you can take a deep breath and "trust" that most operators will NOT have the gumption nor the line of credit with their bank or their brokers to INCREASE their production and inventories and FORGE AHEAD AGGRESSIVELY WITH AN INCREASED VOLUME OF UNIQUE, DIFFERENTIATED products. This is commonly referred to as a contrarian strategy. These strategies almost always work well when the rest of the world is in the fetal position and living in total fear of failure. An old saying in the nursery business goes: When everyone else is cutting back, plant aggressively. It takes guts (and good credit) but if there was ever a year to use this approach, 2012 may well be the best one we've seen in a long time.

Jim Eason, Eason Horticultural Resources, www.ehrnet.com

Why Hort Couture?

2011-08-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

As we prepare to go to the IGC Show in Chicago next week, I feel so energized to spread the word about what HC is doing. We feel that we doing more to make a difference for the IGC than any company in the industry. We just have to translate this to the IGC community. Why Hort Couture? It is a common question and we need to be able to communicate why what we are doing is so important. Times are changing in the industry and right now we need to differentiate more than ever! So here is why I think Hort Couture is a great choice for your company and ever more so, A REVOLUTION!

Hort Couture is dedicated to helping the Independent Garden Retailer be more successful. We are working with plant breeders around the world to keep the best new plants in the independent channel and out of the box stores. This message is resonating with both retailers and breeders to create a cooperation that will help differentiate the IGC from the masses. We are making a difference in this arena and hope that you will consider supporting our company to help make this phenomenon a reality.

Our team is working hard to also change the way that logistics work in our industry to gain competitive advantages for the IGC. We are using innovative shipping methods, packaging and business philosophies to make great plants available to retailers of all sizes. With our Allied Wholesale Grower Network we are creating new distribution channels for our sub brands such as Tres Chic Tropicals, Sunny Succulents and other specialty programs.

The essence of the Hort Couture brand is to create a fun, luxury perceived product line that the consumer will view as “the best”. With upgraded pot sizes, stylish packaging and an amazing collection of unique plants and marketing accessories to make your business successful.

Lastly, we have created something much bigger than a brand. Hort Couture has the great plants and ideas that make our company poised for success, but the idea of a cooperation between growers, breeders, brokers and retailers for a common good has become our purpose.
We hope that you will share in our excitement and make Hort Couture a part of our strategy to differentiate your business from the rest in 2012.

Garden Retailing Trends for 2011

2011-01-19T14:04:00.000-08:00

The trade show season is in full swing and we have seen lots of products and trends that will either be new for this year or continue to grow.

1. Grow You Own Food- This has gone from trend to lifestyle for many people. Garden retailers have a great opportunity here to offer more products, more finished (ready to harvest) products and establish their local garden store as the source for information and products. We hope that our easy to execute Culinary Couture program will be a part of the Spring plans for many retailers. There is still SO MUCH potential for growth in this catagory for the IGC.

2. Wooly Pockets- We first saw this California based company about a year or more ago and fell in love with the simply idea that this company has capitalized on. Go vertical in your store in 2011 and give your clientele ideas on how to dress up walls both inside and out with living plants. Visit http://www.woolypockets.com/ for more info.

3. Tropical Color- There has been so much focus on drought tolerance, eco friendly etc that people are starving for bold COLOR! Tropical such as our INGENUE Hibiscus and PERGOLA Mandevilla are exclusive to the IGC and offer a big punch of color. Tropicals are also very difficult for the box store to ship and maintain so the IGC has a great opportunity here.

4. Facebook- Garden retailers are learning how to use social media to attract younger customers, provide information in a cheap and efficient format and create a unique conversation about thier business with Facebook. If you are a retailer that is not sure how to do this- call us at 866.955.HORT and we will show you how to get started. There is a great group on Facebook called "Independent Garden Centers and Nurseries" that was started by a "Blogging Nurseryman" in Northern California as a 24/7 live conversation about our industry- great networking and information.

5. Terrariums- This trend is still growing and offering cool apothecary jars and mini conservatories is a great new product line. Combine this with lots of cool miniature ferns, baby tears, hoyas, mosses and foliage plants to complete your sales area. A couple of possible vendors for this product line are http://www.hpotter.com/ and http://www.napahomeandgarden.com/.

6. Succulents- Amazingly as much hype as this group of plants has been given in the last few years that there is still great opportunity in most IGC's to capitalize on this long lived trend. We have moved our Sunny Succulent production from California to Florida to provide a better source for the east coast and midwest retailer to have better access to these products. Easy to grow and gorgeous both inside and out.

7.Wellies- We have been wearing rubber gardening boots for years but now they are uber trendy as a fashion statement. There are tons of great companies making these in every color in the rainbow.

8. Coupons- Give your customers a reason to come into your store. A coupon is a great way. Newspapers, Facebook, email newsletters, local clippers and Groupon are all great ways to get people thinking about your store. A word of advice is to use the coupon discount not to discount a product but to engage the customer to purchase more. "Buy Two Get One Free" is far more profitable than "33% OFF".

9. Hort Couture- We have really struck a cord with the IGC channel of our industry with our cool plants, sophisticated marketing and commitment to the IGC. We are seeing an amazing increase in our business in markets such as Washington / Baltimore where our sales are off the chart. We are gaining steam everyday on our goal to be the premier brand of plants for the Independent Garden Retailer.

10. Organic Controls and Ferilizers- For many IGC's this catagory continues to grow but we are still just scratching the surface of educating the consumer about eco friendly products. Espoma has been a great line for many garden centers as an organic fertilizer line and they now offer many organic controls. Visit http://www.espoma.com/ to see what all they are up to. Establish your store as the source for not only products but advice on this growing catagory.

Let us know what you saw at Atlanta Market, TPIE or another regional show that you are excited about for this Spring. We hope you have the Spring you have always dreamed of in 2011!

Great Change in the Garden Center Industry

2010-12-16T12:30:00.000-08:00

In the last year we have seen many well known nurseries struggle or close. Monrovia, Hines, Carolina... the list goes on. Small business is hurting everwhere with banking relationships, increases in taxes and government controls and competition for limited consumer dollars from mass merchants. Garden Centers have added to this the fact that success in our industry is extremely dependent on good weather. This all adds up to tough sledding in the IGC industry. Our company, Hort Couture, is here to help the independent channel be more successful. Here are a few of the things I want to point out:

1. We will NEVER be in the box stores. We are a brand developed by an IGC for the IGC. This never does mean never. Not in five years or fifty years with this commitment change. IGC's are pesimistic when they hear this after experiences with Proven Winner, Henri Studio, Hines, Monrovia, Christopher Radko and other brands that have jumped ship to the mass merchants. We are different.

2. We are dedicated to preserving the dynamic that the best new plants are at the IGC. Many great new plants now begin their careers in the boxes. Whether you are selling televisions or petunias, as a retailer you must have the latest new products to be appreciated and supported by your customers. We need the support of the industry to band together to give the breeders the promise of financial return (royalties) from the IGC that is competitive with the return from the boxes. Together we can keep the good stuff at the Indy where it belongs. Breeders want to help, they just need to make a living too.

3. We are creating new business channels and supply chain ideas to help the independent. We have made branding easier for the small grower or retailer and have a new innovative way to delivery product from Florida to the IGC. We are looking at the future of the IGC and how we can be a better partner to them.

4. We have a value added brand. We want the Hort Couture brand to give the IGC a destination brand with a luxury feel that will lead to better margins for growers and retailers at all levels of the supply chain. We can not survive as an industry with the attitude that cheaper is how to compete.

5. We are actively looking for ways to attract new gardeners to the IGC. Hort Couture is on the forefront of digital media and how it can be used to educate and attract new customers to the IGC. Cultivating new customers is an important aspect of iGC success in the future.

I hope if you are a small business in our industry that you will take a closer look at what we are doing. The consumer dreads the trip to the box and looks forward to the trip to the independent. We hope that you will consider our brand a unique and profitable way to make your store different than the big box.

Fresh Fusion Salad Mixes

2010-11-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

Our collection of salad greens are trendy and oh so delicious. Here are the mixes available for 2011.

Asian Stir Fry is a gorgeous, easy to grow mix that is perfect for fresh salads, stir fry or saute.

Contains: Pak Choi New Nabai 25%, Mustard Green Wave 25%, Mustard Mizuna 25%, Swiss Chard Prima Rossa 25%.

Culinary Couture™ Mesclun Mix is a sophisticated, earthy mix that is great with red meats, seafood and hearty recipes.

Contains: Chervil Curled 20% , Arugula Rocket 20%, Lettuce Speckles 20%,Endive Batavian 20%, Spinach Hellcat 10%, Swiss Chard Prima Rossa 10%

Going Green™ Mix is a light combination of lettuces with a punch of smokey European greens to infuse a great taste combination.

Contains Butternut Buttercrunch 24%, Lettuce Simpson Elite 22%, Lettuce Green Wave 21%, Arugula Rocket 11%, Chicory Rossa di Verona 11%, Endive Batavian 11%

Soul Food Salad™ Collard Mix is a hearty southern green with must a hint of Arugula and red lettuce to give it color and a softer taste.

Contains: Collard Georgia Southern 65%, Arugula Rocket 10%, Lettuce Speckles 25%

C’est la Vie Corn Salad Mache is a great combination of this lovely mild French green with colorful red lettuce and the texture and punch of a hint of kale. PICTURED.

Contains: MixCorn Salad Mache 40%,Lettuce Red Sails 30%,Kale Red Russian 30%

Urban Jungle Mix™ is a lettuce lovers dream. Specialty lettuce in a perfect percentage to give this a wonderfully fresh taste.

Contains: Lettuce Butternut Buttercrunch 15%, Lettuce Cimmaron 17% , Lettuce Green Wave 17%, Lettuce Red Sails 17%, Lettuce Simpson Elite 17%, Lettuce Speckles 17%

The new FRESH FUSION MIXES from Culinary Couture are going to be a big hit in 2011 with gardeners and cooks alike!

Our First Spring Trials

2010-04-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

We spent ten great days in Carpinteria, California at California Spring Trials. Great plants (45 new varieties for 2011), great people visiting all week and even greater opportunity.

The highlights of the week were our introduction of the first Smart Gardening Tag to Horticulture. Using "Quick Response" (QR) Code technology, we can link our tags and signage to webpages, video and text messages. Wow! The possibilities are endless. Visit our Facebook page to see several videos about this!

As for the plants, Calibrachoa KIMONO 'Hot Pink' is a great new plant. There are lots of pics from Spring Trials on FLICKR at hortcouture. Check them out!

Also our new Argyranthemum DRESS UP from Heuger were well recieved. Excellent new breeding that will revolutionize the genus. We are excited! Chocolate Princess is among the best in the series.

The other series that got lots of attention from the cameras are the new PERFECTUNIAS. This is a very exciting new compact Petunia in very cool colors. They will be very popular!

It was an incredible experience to be the new company at an event like this. The excitement for our new genetics and ideas was very high. We were the only genetics in the entire trial that are exclusive to the independent garden retailer. That speaks volumes about what Hort Couture means to the industry. We are proud!

Patio & Garden Orchids

2009-11-27T13:03:00.000-08:00

What Makes Patio & Garden Orchids Different?

These are the most durable orchids ever developed for outdoor use.

Thriving in heat and high humidity, these orchids bloom all summer in the garden as a landscape feature, on the patio or terrace as a container specimen or mixed with other summer blooming plants in combination. An amazing addition to the container garden palette, these beauties will
transform the look of planters on America’s patios, decks and porches. These orchids are
easy to grow with excellent foliage quality and numerous long lasting scapes. Most
varieties reach an ultimate height of 18-24”. Bring Patio & Garden Orchids inside for the
cooler months and move back out after danger of frost. Gorgeous and a great value!

Think of Patio & Garden Orchids as the upscale “geranium” of the future!

This revolutionary group of Orchids are easy to grow in full sun or partial shade. They perform
best with regular watering and a regular regiment of liquid fertilizer. They must have well
drained soils. They like pine bark based soils which offer good drainage and acid properties.
Hardy to Zone 9, these free flowering varieties are happy
in the harshest of landscape conditions, thriving in hot areas. Great companions to Patio & Garden Orchids in mixed containers are Sweet Potato Vine, Coleus and Lantana. They also combine will with bold textured tropicals such as Bananas and Elephant Ears and graceful ornamental grasses.
You will be impressed by the summer performance of these plants. It is an incredible breakthrough to find varieties that will take direct sun in an outdoor environment.
Patio & Garden Orchids also make a great gift for the special gardener and give designers, architects and home gardeners a new palette of opportunities for using orchids in ways never
thought of before. Experience the exotic beauty of orchids outdoors.

]
There are limited quantities available for 2010. Order early!!!

Guaranteed Success!

2009-11-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

The three brokers that offer Hort Couture® are offering a money back guarantee on both liners and finished plants for Spring 2010.

If you do not recoup the cost of the plants, we will
refund the difference!

“This gives the grower or retailer the opportunity to purchase Hort Couture with little risk of not succeeding with this exciting new product line. We all realize that this is a weird time in the economy and we want companies to experience the opportunity that Hort Couture offers the industry.”

This statement comes from Eason Horticultural, Fred C. Gloeckner Co. and McHutchison. The program details are available from these companies or their national network of over 90 combined sales representatives.

The joint effort of these brokerage companies to promote the Hort Couture brand is an unprecedented concept in the floriculture industry. This guarantee is a way to show the combined confidence that all of the partners in the Hort Couture alliance have in these plants and products.

With liners from such fine companies as Raker Greenhouses and Euro American Propagators and finished plants from numerous growers across North America, the accessibility of Hort Couture products is greater than ever.

According to Jim Monroe, CEO of Hort Couture,

“We want IGC’s and growers to get behind our brand to make it the leading choice for those companies that are impassioned to see the independent sector of our industry thrive. This guarantee makes getting involved in Hort Couture stress free.”

Hort Couture is the only young plant company with flowering annual genetics that are exclusive to the independent channel of our industry.

For more information on any of the exciting new plants from HORT COUTURE™, please call us at 866.955.HORT or visit our website at www.hortcoutureplants.com.

Hort Couture™ combines the world’s finest plants with sophisticated marketing programs creating an upscale brand for independent garden retailers.

Also visit the websites for the brokerage companies at:

www.EHRNET.com for Eason Horticultural
www.MCHUTCHISON.com for McHutchison Inc.
www.FREDGLOECKNER.com for Fred C. Gloeckner Co.

New Petunia PANACHE shine in summer trials

2009-10-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

The new PANACHE Petunias from Hort Couture were a big hit in summer trials in MI and WV this summer. From Kerley Plants in the UK, we are very pleased to bring this superior line of genetics to the market. The Kerley family is best known for Priscilla, a gorgeous double petunia that has been a staple of the Proven Winner program for many hears. Another recent introduction is the popular Bermuda Beach variety also from PW.

PANACHE Petunias exhibited sturdy plants with good vigor while maintaining excellent compact habit in pots, baskets and plantings. The flowers are large with excellent ruffling and the colors are simply spectacular. Both trialing sites have seen great weather tolerance to the blooms and the varieties are very early blooming.

If you are looking for a great line of vegetative petunias that are EXCLUSIVE to the independent garden retailer, look no further than the PANACHE Petunias from Hort Couture.

I welcome your comments about these exciting new plants or any other Hort Couture plants.

Sophisticated New Gerbera

2009-06-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hort Couture has a great relationship with renown Dutch breeder Lekkerkerk. The breeding at Lekkerkerk is the hottest program on the planet for cool new gerbera for the potted crop market. You will be amazed by what you will see from this program over the next three years!

The SOPHISTICATA line is a new bi color mix that is sensational. This is an exclusive product through RAKER for 2010. Not only are the flowers hot but the plants are a joy to grow.

There are also several other genetic lines that are very exciting. The double EYECATCHERS are the easy, large flowered doubles in electric colors. Wow is all you can say about this program.

There are also very cool new single colors such as PINK PANTHER. Spider types, Mini types for 4" pots and many other products are in the line.

WE LOVE THE CRAZY DAISY- YOU WILL TOO!

Broker Message Board Now Up

2009-05-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

We now have a message board set up for the brokers and propagators for Hort Couture to discuss issues and ideas for this exciting new program. We hope you will utilize this forum to make this a successful product line for your company!

Royal Hawaiian Colocasia are Hot

2009-01-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

Last week we were at the TPIE Show in Ft. Lauderdale and the most asked about plant in our booth were the new Colocasias from Plant Haven call the Royal Hawaiian Collection.

This sensational collection comes from internationally
acclaimed breeder John Cho who has achieved outstanding success
with his new line of ornamental Colocasias. This series features
varieties unlike any available in today’s market.

Colocasias,native to Southeast Asia over 50,000 years ago, moved with human migrations eastward until arriving in Hawaii about 900 to 1000 AD. In Hawaii, Colocasias, known as taro (kalo in Hawaiian), became a major source of sustenance along with breadfruit and sweet potatoes. Taro is revered in Hawaiian culture

as a sacred food source. Growing taro was not merely an activity of food production but was strongly bound to native culture and beliefs about creation. Mindful of the native beliefs about
taro, ornamentals developed for the Royal Hawaiian® Colocasia program do not use Hawaiian taro cultivars and instead combine the desirable attributes from other genetic sources.

DIAMOND HEAD PINEAPPLE PRINCESS HILO BAY

The Royal Hawaiian® Colocasias have been bred to be sturdy garden performers and container specimens. Each is disease resistant with fabulous foliage and stem interest, and with their
tidy clumping habit would be a welcome addition in any garden.

Hardy to Zone 7b, these new varieties are very exciting!

Culinary Couture Seeds Ready to Ship

2008-12-23T17:11:00.001-08:00

The new Culinary Couture Seed Collection is getting all packaged up and ready to head out to garden centers after the first of the year. We like to call this collection "Heirloom meets Gen X".

Although many of the varieties are classic old European varieties, the packaging and approach makes them seem brand new. To the young consumers that are entering your stores looking for sustainable products, they truly are new!

We have some awesome tomatoes in the seed collection. Green Zebra, Cream Sausage, Purple Russian and Pink Accordian are among our personal favorites.

There are also great melons, unique peppers and maybe the finest mixes of salad greens in the industry. The Culinary Couture mix is very chic.

With the increased interest in home gardening and sustainability, the timing of this is perfect and the packaging makes it exciting and fun. Who said gardening had to look boring!

We are looking forward to expanding our seed offering in the future to include unique flowers and other cool plants. We hope you will give the seeds a try, the minimum is low and the rack display is a good value.

We will have the display at several trade shows this winter for you to see first hand. We only have a limited number of displays for this first year so don't wait too long.

Lovin the New Stuff Video

2008-12-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

Check out this new video featuring our newest varieties for 2009. Lots of new plants coming in the years to come that will really excite your customers. We have some amazing things in the works for the future.

The genetics that you will see from our company over the next two years will blow away the big boys. Very cool tropicals, cutting edge annuals and a perennial program that will grow leaps and bounds over the next five years.

Enjoy the video...

http://animoto.com/play/G90NON1EXG1g3xye2dn0bw

Top Twenty New Plants for 2009

2008-12-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

Hort Couture has over 130 new plants for 2009 so picking a Top Ten list is no easy task. We have narrowed it down to twenty. That was not easy. Check out these favorites that will be "classics" for years to come. In more particular order. Try them all!

1. Acalypha 'African Sunset'

2. Alternanthera 'Sommelier Pinot Gris'

3. Coleus 'Bi Polar By Golly'

4. Coleus 'Zesty Zucchini'

5. Impatiens 'Golden Congo Cockatoo'

6. Ipomoea 'Refried Beans'

7. Lobelia 'Magadi Basket Blue'

8. Plectranthus 'Fuzzy Wuzzy'

9. Colocasia 'Blue Hawaii'

10. Caladium 'Lemon Grass'

11. Salvia 'La Crema'

12. Orchid Patio & Garden 'Cosmopolitan'

13. Ajuga 'Planet Zork'

14. Vinca 'Angel Tutu'

15. Mandevilla 'Red Fury'

16. Cordyline 'Caruba Black'

17. Phormium 'Pink Panther'

18. Coleus 'Juicy Lucy'

19. Cordyline 'Mocha Latte'

20. Cuphea 'Purple Nurple'

Unique varieties that will shine in the mixed container. Make Hort Couture you choice for the beset new varieties for Spring 2009. Call you local grower for availability. Its time to plan your Spring. Don't wait to see what is available in season, work with your local growers to plan for the best Spring ever!

Autumnale...a pleasant surprise

2008-11-12T20:49:00.000-08:00

I went over to visit a neighbor here in West Virginia where we live that had asked me early in the Spring to help her with some planters for a party she was having. I always try to take advantage of these opportunities to "trial" plants that maybe we are less familiar with or that I need a better photo of. I was back over again to visit our nice neighbor again and was blown away by the Fuchsia 'Autumnale'. This selection of F. austromantaina does produce flowers in areas with longer growing seasons and is somewhat of a perennial in Zone 7b in more temperate areas but it is really underused as an annual for mixed containers. The picture here speaks volumes about the beauty of this plant.

Autumnale is really a prostrate grower that seems to change color with every changing month of the summer and fall. Spectacular!

Try it and you will have customers and neighbors coming back for it year after year.

Sunny Succulents

2008-10-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

Succulents are hot right now. Pick up any garden magazine or plant catalog and there they are. Hort Couture has one of the finest collections in the plant industry. With one of the most developed unrooted programs in the world supporting our program, our line has breadth and unique varieties.

Our SUNNY SUCCULENTS offer named varieties with nationwide shipping in a 9cm (3.33") branded containers with our Lady Couture tags. These plants work well when merchandised with programs like Rock Stars, Stepables or Jeepers Creepers. They are irresistably cute little plants that gardeners love.

We are debuting a new product for 2009. The Sunny Succulent Sampler is a great gift for the gardener that blurs the line between plant and gift in a way that is very new and exciting.

We will have some interesting exclusive varieties in the years to come that will make our program unique in the market. Our industry is just scratching the surface of the potential these plants have. Green Roofs are now very untilitarian but could become great architectural and artistic palettes in the future.

I am very interested in what kinds of sales and programs retailers are doing with succulents. Are you selling succulents? Are they assortments or by variety? Does this matter to you? Do you think having these in a branded program with good POP would increase sales? Where do you think the retail price points should be for a product like this? Let me know. Hort Couture really wants to use this blog forum to learn what you (our customers)think.

Succulents could be a big growth area for you next Spring. I think we have made it very easy to enter into the market with our easy to order program with nationwide shipping. Make up some awesome mixed containers and then merchandise our pots around them with a nice Sunny Succulent Sign to top it all off. Give it a try! Offer a discount on ten plants or more to promote purchasing for mixed pots.

Let me know what you think!

Hort Couture Meets You Tube

2008-09-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

Check out this new You Tube video featuring Shirley Bovshow and Jennifer Monroe. Shirley is a nationally recognized garden designer and popular home and garden television host. Proclaimed, the "Garden Goddess," by Reader's Digest Magazine, Shirley's down to earth style, creative designs and joyful personality have made her an audience favorite! Designer and co-host of "Garden Police" on the Discovery Home Channel. She is also the garden expert for the CBS Early Show and appears on Martha Stewart Radio and HGTV. Visit www.GardenCenterTV.com to learn more.

The video was shot at IGC Show in Chicago last month. The finest garden retailers from across America were really excited by Hort Couture. We hope to you will make us a part of your plans for Spring 2009!

For more information about the exciting plants and ideas we offer, please visit www.hortcoutureplants.com or call 866.955.HORT.

Couture Caladiums

2008-08-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting programs we have for 2009 is our Taste of Thailand Caladiums.

Wow! They bring colors and textures to the mixed container that are totally new and exciting.
Chocolates, purples, pure whites and even yellows are part of the new line. These plants were part of the collections of the royal families in Thailand for centuries and only have been known for less than ten years to the outside world. We are very connected to the finest collectors and breeders and have the finest varieties not only from an aesthetic standpoint but also from the criteria of vigor and sun tolerance. Ask you local Hort Couture Grower Network member for more information about this new Caladiums.

We just returned from IGC and FARWEST and I know it sounds like a broken record but we were absolutely blown away with interest. Hort Couture is really something special for the garden retailer. Culinary Couture is destined for greatness in the market. We had nothing but excitement about this program. We are adding several new growers for 2009 that will improve the availability of our products in all markets. According to one of the key note speakers at IGC, we had the busiest booth in the entire show. It is hard to explain the response we get from retailers the first time they see the program and you can see the wheels turning of how they are going to reinvent the way they sell color. Very cool stuff!

Back to the Caladiums, we will have 18 varieties for 2009 and six new patented varieties for 2010. Order early...

OFA Short Course Was Incredible

2008-07-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

OFA Short Course was again beyond anything we could have expected. Hort Couture® was one of the busiest booths at the show and we more than doubled our customer count on brochures from last year. The Sunny Succulent™ Sampler boxes at the registration drew many visitors to our booth.

Our new Culinary Couture™ program was very popular. We had many growers and retailers interested in the concept. This is a whole new way to look at selling herbs and vegetables that is really exciting! The eco-friendly packaging looks great as well. This should be available in most major markets next Spring.

The new Taste of Thailand™ Caladium Collection was also of great interest. Barry Yinger was with us to explain the program in more detail and the new varieties are really beautiful. These new Caladiums are perfect for mixed containers and are unlike anything ever seen in the market.
The new header for The Fashion Plate™ box was also a big hit. Also, the new “Dressed for Success” Paper Doll dresses for Lady Couture were the source of many photos. This allows the retailer to create wonderful endcap displays with our silhouettes for dramatic merchandising.
New plants in the booth such as Vinca ‘Angel Tutu’, Cordyline ‘Mocha Latte’ and Salvia ‘La Crema’ were among the best new plants in the entire show. The Chris Baker Signature™ Coleus varieties are really nice and many of the growers will pick them up for 2009. We are quickly becoming a company with a great arsenal of proprietary plants for our high fashion brand.
Check out our website at http://www.hortcoutureplants.com/, or contact me at jim@hortcoutureplants.com. Please call 866-955-HORT or 304.890.6565 to discuss HORT COUTURE® anytime!

Culinary Couture Makes Its Debut

2008-07-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

Long before Hort Couture hit the market, we had a great idea that we felt would change how garden retailers sell herbs and vegetables. Culinary Couture gives consumers ideas and direction on how to use these products. By offering these products in collections, it educates and inspires the shopper. Collections such as Thai Restaurant, Salsa in the City and A Zest for Garnish are funfilled boxes of quality plants that can be merchandised in our "Trunk Show Box" in many non traditional ways. We also offer a Culinary Couture three-pack carrier with collections as well.

“Gen X consumers are looking for information and ideas. This program delivers that with great plants and modern packaging. It has tremendous potential in the market.” says Jim Monroe, Hort Couture CEO. “We have several growers that are already on board. They plugs are all certified organic as well so the grower has the option of following through with an organic program if they wish.”

Hort Couture® brings you a great selection of connoisseur vegetables and herbs in our CULINARY COUTURE™ Collection for Spring 2009. This program is exclusive from our Hort Couture Grower Network and features packaging with earth friendly black rice hull pots with our fleur de lis embossed in the pots and biodegradable tags with our Lady Couture decked out in a Hort Couture apron. All liners are produced by certified organic vendors so the grower can offer the program organic if they want. Eco Chic!

There are many exciting new plants in the line with the highlight being our new Salvia ‘La Crema’(tm) that is a wonderful new variegated form of the very popular Berggarten Sage and the wonderful variegated Citronella Plant ‘Frosted’ (pictured above) that is not only a great way to beat the mosquitos but is simply gorgeous in mixed containers.

Creating this program has really been fun to work on. We hope you will enjoy it at your business in 2009!

Beautiful Begonias for 2009

2008-05-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Lois Burke
Lana

Begonias are great mixers for the modern mixed container. Bold textures, exotic flowers and easy care make these true Hort Couture Plants. Look for this category to grow in the years to come. Great for “Shady Lady” combination planters.

Soli Mutata

Bonfire

Escargot

Pigskin

There are many new Beautiful Begonias that we will be offering for 2009. Begonias are great for pots or baskets that get partial or indirect sun. Covered porches, kitchen tables and shady beds are ideal for these gorgeous selections. Begonias offer great bold texture, unique leaf coloring and, in the case of 'Bonfire', incredible flowers. 'Bonfire' has been a huge success in its second year in the north American market. Developed by Anthony Tesselaar in Australia, there is no finer plant for hot summer color in baskets or planters. Unique! Other varieties such as 'Marmaduke' and 'Escargot' offer incredible foliage and texture. Check out the pics here for more.

Most of our recommendations on Begonias have come from Chris Baker of Bakers Acres Greenhouses in Ohio. Look for more interesting new Begonias in the years to come!

A visit from Sompob and Barry

2008-05-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

We had a great visit this week from Barry Yinger of Asiatica and his partner in his Thailand Nursery, Sompob. We spent much time discussing new Caladiums for our Taste of Thailand Caladium Program and other new plants. We ordered Sompob foods like Ribs, BBQ, Chicken Wings, Fried Trout and other local favorites. He was very willing and I think enjoyed his visit very much. Barry is one of the world's leading plantmen. He is responsible for many well know plants in the nursery trade. He was the director of new plants for Hines Horticulture for many years and worked for The National Arboretum and Brookside Gardens in a similar capacity. His knowledge is incredible and I really enjoy spending time listening to his travel stories and realizing his passion for finding new plants. He is a treasure. The world of Horticulture in the United States would not be the same without Barry Yinger.

We visited our Talcott growing facilities (a mess with shipping season in full swing!) and the Beckley garden center. Lot's of fun!

Pack Trials 2008

2008-05-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Our trip to the California Pack Trials was very successful. Jonathan Cottle, Director of Sales and Marketing, and I spent six days visiting with great companies. We want to thank everyone for the time they gave us and the outpouring of support for Hort Couture that we saw at every stop.

Day One was spent in the Santa Barbara area with most of the day spent with Geoff Needham at Plant Haven. We saw lots of cool new things and had a chance to really spend some good time getting to know Plant Haven better and sharing lots of ideas. They are the finest licensing company in the business. Trustworthy and impassioned with horticulture, we were very impressed with the entire experience. They were set up at Island View Nursery that is a very cool California Garden Center. After a quick stop at Suntory on the way home, we were very tired and jet lagged but excited for the opportunities that we saw.

The second day we spent the morning with Tim Wada at Plug Connection. It is a nice facility and Tim was very generous with his time. There were lots of interesting trials, great new plants and ideas at thier site. We hope to do many exciting projects with Plug Connection in the future!

After a quick stop at a specialty breeder we are working with and visiting SD Growers (a member of our Grower Network), we spent the early afternoon at Altman Plants. Deena Altman is a very cool lady that spent a lot of time with us and was very gracious. We toured several locations and were impressed by the quality of the product and how they do business. Smaller growers could learn much from larger mass merchant driven growers like Altman. Altman Plants is the largest succulent nursery in the world and the #10 Grower in the US.

We then went to Selecta First Class for a tour and spent time with Nils Klemm, the president of Selecta from Germany. He was very nice and we look forward to working with them for many years to come. We met Steve Zylstra there and had a great dinner on the ocean that night!

We also visited Euro American Propagators, Ecke Ranch and Rancho Tissue while in California.