Oglesby Plants to introduce new caladium at TPIE
Oglesby Plants International reported plans to introduce a new caladium at the 2024 Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE), taking place Jan. 17-19 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Kaladium ‘Fairytale Princess’ is from breeding at the University of Florida. The variety does not have a dormancy requirement like other caladiums, allowing year-round growing, which gives commercial growers advantages in planning and production that get the variety into the marketplace at any time, not tied to dormancy schedules. Liners will be available in limited quantities from Oglesby in 72-cell packs this month, and availabilities will increase throughout the year.
New foliage colors are expected in late 2024 as well.
In addition to its year-round growing ability, ‘Fairytale Princess’ (U.S. Patent PP25,612) has other distinguishing characteristics: it produces few, if any, flowers that can disrupt leaf development; natural branching is excellent; and no PGR applications are required to produce a full container.
For consumers, ‘Fairytale Princess’ offers striking red foliage and rich, green borders. It stands up well as a traditional garden plant or an eye-catching interior foliage plant.
Liners are grown directly from Oglesby’s tissue culture lab, providing clean, year-round starts.
“At Oglesby, we have always felt that Caladium was the perfect foliage plant; grower friendly, striking color combinations and great consumer recognition,” said Gary Hennen, president of Oglesby Plants International. “Unfortunately, tuber-grown caladiums have high startup costs and seasonal requirements that are difficult to get around. ‘Fairytale Princess’ is such a standout that we decided to give it a marketing name, Kaladium. … Tissue-cultured ‘Fairytale Princess’ greatly reduces input costs while giving foliage and outdoor growers a colorful product they can grow and sell year-round.”
For more information, visit oglesbytc.com.
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