Today and Tomorrow 

caladium leaf

The ornamental plant industry benefited greatly when UF/IFAS ornamental plant breeders developed varieties with decreased fertility in species that are popular, but often invasive. Controlled hybridization between tetraploids and diploids, progeny ploidy analysis, and multiple rounds of screening led to the release of two new lantana varieties and four ruellia varieties.

Many of the plants in the ornamental plant breeding program are introduced from other parts of the world with traits that are still poorly understood. UF/IFAS ornamental plant breeders plan to expand their germplasm collection to better understand important horticultural traits using somaclonal variation, artificial mutagenesis, somatic hybridization, and molecular markers to complement the technical approaches used for developing new varieties.

The future of the UF/IFAS ornamental plant breeding program lies with expanded production of its varieties outside of the U.S. Plant breeders are working with Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. and licensees to expand commercial production of these cultivars in Canada, Europe, and Asia.

High Impact Releases

Florida Sweetheart (1993): First caladium released and patented by the University of Florida and still popular.

Red Ruffles, USPP13,136 (2000): Strap-leafed caladium well-suited for mass planting.

Florida Moonlight, USPP14,565 (2002): Fancy-leafed caladium produced extensively for the bulb trade.

Royal Glissade® 'UF03-8-10' (2006): Coleus with excellent vigor and jagged, red-and-moss-green leaves.

Electric Lime® 'UF04-33-5' (2006): Coleus with lemon-lime leaves, grown in shade or full sun without fading.

Redhead 'UF06-4-6', USPP21,585 (2008): Most popular red-leafed coleus due to its deep-colored red leaves.

Royal Flush™ 'UF-18-49', USPP24,431 (2010): Fancy-leafed caladium well-suited for sun and shade and awarded one of the 'Best of the Best' at the Ohio State University Annual Cultivar Trial in 2013.

Tapestry™ 'UF-172', USPP24,432 (2010): Fancy-leafed caladium intended for use in large containers and awarded one of the 'Best of the Best' at the Ohio State University Annual Cultivar Trial in 2013.

Wasabi 'UF-08-4-3', USPP23,585 (2011): Coleus widely used in landscape due to bright leaves that don't fade.

Mayan™ Purple, Mayan™ White (2012): Non-invasive ruellia that do not set seed, are season-long, prolific bloomers, and were top performers in the Louisiana State AgCenter's 2014 trials.

Campfire ‘UF12-22-1’ (2015): Copper-colored coleus, exceptional branching and growth habit, and one of the top 20 new plants at the 2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Research Contacts

David Clark

David Clark

Breeding & Biotechnology 
Ornamentals, Coleus
Environmental Hort. | Gainesville

                       
Zhanao Deng.

Zhanao Deng

Breeding & Genetics
Ornamentals, Blackberry & Pomegranate
Environ. Hort. | Gulf Coast REC

                               

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