2 NANDINA-DOMESTICA CULTIVARS PERFORM WELL AS INTERIOR FOLIAGE PLANTSIN MARKET EVALUATIONS

Tissue-cultured plugs of Nandina domestica Thunb. 'Harbour Dwarf' and 'San Gabriel' were grown in 1.5-liter pots under 30%, 47%, or 62% shad e. After 20 weeks, plants were moved to a simulated consumer environme nt (SCE) maintained at 21C, almost-equal-to 60% relative humidity, and a 12-hour photoperiod with an irradiance of 7 mumol.m-2.s-1. Final qu ality ratings (after 35 weeks in the SCE) for both cultivars were good , but the plant quality of 'San Gabriel' declined more quickly than th at of 'Harbour Dwarf'. Final quality rating of 'Harbour Dwarf' grown u nder the highest percentage of shade was higher than that of plants gr own under 30% or 47% shade; production shade percentages had no influe nce on the final quality rating of 'San Gabriel'. Plants (of both cult ivars) grown in 0.6-liter (11-cm-diameter) pots were test-marketed thr ough six supermarket floral departments and captured 16% of total 10- to 11-cm-size foliage plant sales. Sixty percent of consumers indicate d the plant's ''newness'' as the primary consideration for its purchas e. These two N. domestica cultivars could be marketed successfully as interior foliage plants.