Salvia Mystic Spires Blue
T
he Department of Energy’s collaboration with Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, Illinois proves that good things can come in small packages. Leveraging the equipment and expertise at DOE’s Neutron Irradiation Facility, Ball has been able to develop and commercialize new ornamental plants that may very well be in your garden! Commercial successes include several New Guinea impatiens vegetative cultivars.
Of particular importance is Salvia Mystic Spires Blue, a compact salvia that is well-suited to landscapes and mixed containers. Salvia Mystic Spires Blue received US Patent PP 18,054 on September 18, 2007. Today, Salvia Mystic Spires Blue is available to growers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
Federal funding through the Department of Energy was used to build the accelerator facilities in support of its high energy physics missions. Operating funds for the Neutron Irradiation Facility have been provided by other institutions, most recently Northern Illinois University. This project was funded entirely by the industrial partner through an SPP Agreement.