MARKET TRENDS

With so many perennial suppliers, you might be asking, “Where do I start?” We can help!

Below is information about some of the Perennial Suppliers that offer plugs and liners through Ball Seed.

We’ve provided each supplier’s current availability list (in a PDF format) for shipping and planting now to have a cut flower crop next season. We’ve also included helpful listings for shipping next spring, but be sure to note that ALL their items are listed, not just cut flower material. So choose wisely.

Note:Any applicable Early Order Discounts (ORD) will show the discounted price on WebTrack if the order is entered before the EOD deadline. ExceptWalters Gardens ORD's are applied manually by the office after the order is completedif you meet the $4,500 minimum.

Walters Gardens in Michigan

Walters Gardens is a well-known, high-quality perennial supplier of liner and bareroot perennials carrying over 1,000 different varieties. They also offer Proven Winners perennials. I highly recommend checking out their website for more information, they have great growing information for each of their crops. https://www.waltersgardens.com

Early Order Discount: 2% off of spring shipped orders over $4,500 if ordered by October 1st.

Ordering Details:

• Supplier offers several tray sizes:

• Liner 20, 30, 72, 128
• Bareroot 1 (multiples of 25)

• No minimum order size, and don’t worry about filling cases!

• Alaskan and Canadian Customers Only – Minimum Order $2,000

Proven Winners Container Exemption: If you are planting Proven Winners varieties for cut flower production then you are exempt from purchasing containers. After booking an order with Walters contact the ColorLink office and ask for a Cut Flower grower agreement to sign. You only have to sign this agreement once and you will be automatically exempt from purchasing PW containers through Walters in the future. Without this agreement PW containers will be automatically added to your order by the supplier. Once shipped, pots cannot be returned. PW tags are not exempt.

*NEW* Update for 2028

In 2028, Walters will convert their liner 20 and 30 trays to a liner 32 tray. You will start to see these new trays July 1, 2027.

Walters Gardens Current Availability (PDF)

Walters Gardens Spring Plant List (PDF)

Swift Greenhouses in Iowa

Swift Greenhouses offers a diverse offering of perennials, grasses, herbs, and miniature roses. I've included info on their larger size liner 50 program. They also offer a 288 tray program of perennials started from seed. Most Swift 50 cell perennial liners shipped in the spring are vernalized and shipped from cold storage so they will look dormant when they arrive. Visit their website for more details. https://www.swiftgreenhouses.com

Ordering Details:

• Supplier offers several tray sizes:

• Liner 50 and 288 (price list will only include 50 tray size)

• Minimum Order: 4 full trays (otherwise $50 below min fee)

• Casing: 4 trays per case (they will NOT mix trays sizes in the same box)

• Pricing: Swift changes their prices multiple times throughout the season depending on how long the plants have been in cold storage.

• Current availability will not show pricing. Pricing is about the same as next spring. If you need pricing for a fall shipped order, the ColorLink office can help you.
• The attached spring price list is their mid-season pricing valid 11/23-2/28. If you need your order shipped after this date I can give you an updated quote, expect a small increase to prices.

• Tags can be removed from most orders if a variety is not patented.

Swift Greenhouses Current Availability (PDF)

Swift Greenhouses Spring Plant List (PDF)

GET Group in Illinois

GET Group is a perennial supplier in Illinois focusing on perennial and grass liners. They offer a 32-count tray with plants that are actually planted in deep 2.5” pots, 32 pots per tray. They also offer the ability to mix trays in multiples of 8. Please see details below on mixing trays. Visit their website for more information. https://www.getgroupinc.com

Ordering Details:

• Supplier offers several tray sizes:

• Liner 32, mixed 32, 72, and 128

• Minimum Order: 4 full trays (otherwise $15 below min fee)

• Casing: 4 trays per case (you can mix & match tray sizes) • You can choose to remove tags from the order, except for mixed trays.

• MIXED TRAY FEE: Supplier will mix liner 32 trays in multiples of 8, you can design your own trays (choose “mix 8” as the form/size on WebTrack®) however there is a $5 surcharge for each variety mixed in a tray (up to $20 if you mix 4 varieties x 8 plants per tray) The $5.00 per variety fee for mixed trays is waived if you book your order before September 4, 2026, to ship weeks 3, 5, 7, or 9 in spring of 2027. A great way to trial smaller quantities of multiple varieties.

• PHYTO FEE: The following states have an additional phyto fee to ship:

• $25 – AL, UT, MT
• $125 - NV, ID, WA, OR, CA, AZ
• IDOA (IL Dept of Ag) charges $25 for an additional IDOA Inspections to: Canada, AL, AZ, CA, ID, MT, NE, NM, OR, UT, WA

Get Group Current Availability (PDF)

Get Group Spring Plant List (PDF)

Creek Hill in Pennsylvania

Creek Hill is a small-tray perennial supplier who prides themselves on their diverse offering of new and interesting genetics. They don’t carry any perennials that aren’t hardy to at least zone 7.

Ordering Details:

• Supplier offers several tray sizes:

• Liner 21, 36, 50, and 72

• No minimum order size

• Casing:

• Liner 21 & 35 – 2 trays per case
• Liner 50 and 72 – 3 trays per case

• Please don’t hesitate to ask for a freight quote before ordering from this supplier.

Creek Hill Current Availability (PDF)

Creek Hill Spring Plant List (PDF)

Additional Suppliers on WebTrack

Here are some additional suppliers that also carry perennials. You can find their product info on WebTrack. If you have trouble finding a perennial variety, contact you Sales Rep or the ColorLInk office and they can usually find it from one of our suppliers.

• Ball Tagawa Growers
• North Creek Nurseries
• Kube Pak Pacific
• Plug & Liner Raker Roberta’s
• Young Plants

As always, if you need help placing an order, contact your preferred Ball Seed Sales Rep, or the ColorLink office at 800 686-7380 to speak to an associate today.