Among the spring classics, the new pansies from the successful 'Fancy' series are leading the field of the low-energy plants. Just as genetically compact and free-flowering as their sister varieties, the new 'Fancy Purple & Orange' features a stunning, unique tricolor flower pattern. Newcomer 'Fancy Primrose' has a clear vibrant flower color and produces an overwhelming profusion of flowers. 'Fancy Purple & White' has been improved to stay compact with an abundance of short-pedicelled flowers and an intense flower color even under high light intensity. All 18 'Fancy's meet the high requirements of industrial production for spring and fall.

Since its introduction, the unique 'Cats'® series has been winning lots of friends with its unique flower pattern, excellent branching and long shelf life. Just like its partner colors from the trend-setting 'Cats'® series, the rich orange 'Cats® Orange' combines a unique flower pattern with the proven advantages of an F1 hybrid.

Great hardiness and good tolerance of wet and cold conditions make Polyanthus (Primula elatior) F1 'Crescendo'® the No. 1 of the energy efficient perennials. Following a very good uniform young plant development, all eight 'Crescendo'® colors start to flower early. The new 'Crescendo® Wine' is an exceptionally splendid color. Planted non-flowering from packs or pots in October, 'Crescendo'® produces a marvelous blaze of colors for weeks on end from late February onwards. 'Crescendo'® primroses have a high sales potential and are ideal for a wide range of uses in bedding and containers alike.

With the new Arabis 'Snowfix', Benary is offering a hardy spring perennial that can be grown along with pansies. In the same growing conditions as pansies, Arabis 'Snowfix' produces compact, extremely free-flowering plants for sales in March. 'Snowfix' is the only Arabis on the market that does not require vernalization to flower. Easy to grow, it offers growers and retailers several sales windows for extra sales

• As a profitable supplement to myosotis, bellis, aubrieta and alyssum for March sales
• As an attractive first-year flowering rock garden perennial in borders, planters and containers from May onwards.

Just like 'Snowfix', the new FastraX Astilbe 'Astary'® is the first vernalization-free Astilbe on the market. Its narrow flowering window makes the 'Astary'® series of three colors a fast low-resource crop that is ideal for 10-12 cm/4-5" pots. In addition, its programmable production opens several sales windows both in spring and the B&B season. At the point of sale, the 25 cm/10" multi-talent offers a great variety of display possibilities as an indoor plant or hardy perennial in flower beds, containers, or window boxes.