Sep 30, 2021

‘Flame Thrower’ Cercis Wins 2021 Chelsea Plant of the Year

Star Roses and Plants has announced that ‘Flame Thrower’ cercis has won Plant of The Year 2021 at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year 2021 award celebrates the exciting range of new plants launched at the show. The show is the ideal global platform for the launch of many new plants and the prestige of winning this award is recognized around the world.

“The Chelsea Flower Show is one of the world’s most prestigious horticultural events and we’re thrilled that ‘Flame Thrower’ was recognized as the most exciting, innovative and diverse new plant of 2021,” said Bradd Yoder, president at Star Roses and Plants.

Sold as ‘Eternal Flame’ in the United Kingdom and Europe, ‘Flame Thrower’ cercis is a result of Denny Werner’s breeding and developed by the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University. Werner is a JC Raulston Distinguished Professor of Horticultural Science and plant breeder at North Carolina State University. ‘Flame Thrower’ was introduced through Star Roses and Plants in 2019.

‘Flame Thrower’ is a highly impressive redbud with bold foliage colors and a stunning color display that is persistent throughout the season, often showing hues of reds, oranges, yellows and greens all on a single branch. The intensity of colors changes throughout the seasons with reds and oranges more prominent in spring, followed by yellows and greens in summer.

The eye-catching display is a color breakthrough for the cercis category. Not only will the foliage give you color throughout the season, but clusters of pink blooms are also produced in early spring for added garden appeal. This tree will grow to about 15 to 20 feet and will perform best in Zones 5-9.

To learn more about ‘Flame Thrower’ cercis and other Star Roses and Plants’ introductions, visit www.starrosesandplants.com/plants/flame-thrower-cercis/. To learn more about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, visit www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show.