Story: Ball History and Salvias
Episode: 5
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 30th March 2024

Trevor learns about Ball Australia’s history and gets his hands on some salvias.

• Ball Corporation founded in 1905 by George J. Ball in the USA as a wholesale cut flower operation before expanding globally, colouring gardens worldwide.
• In 2016 they moved to a purpose-designed 16-hectare facility in Skye for increased production capacity, and in 2023 they also acquired Outback Plants, enhancing their tissue culture program and genetic commercialization.
• Ball Australia’s mission is: Leading research, breeding, production, and marketing of ornamental crops.
• Salvias are diverse easy-to-grow plants which are drought-tolerant, heat and frost tolerant, with abundant blooms, varying heights, and sizes, making them ideal for summer gardens, blooming from spring to autumn.
• Salvia “Mystic Spires” are from the ball flora plant, are compact, well-branched, and known for true blue flowers and excellent summer garden performance, with a long flower hold.
• Salvia “Blue Chill” are also from the ball flora plant and share many similarities, however, are slightly taller than the “Mystic Spires Blue” and are known for their light blue and lavender hues.

For more information, head to:
https://ballaustralia.com/