Aug 23, 2024

American Society of Cut Flower Growers named Woody Cut of the Year

The American Society of Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) named its 2024 Cut Flowers of the Year. Chosen by the group’s 1600 members, the criteria for the awards are the varieties’ ease of culture, productivity, and marketability.

Recipient of the 2024 Woody Cut of the Year, Proven Winners ColorChoice Brandywine Viburnum nudum, shares the honor with Fresh Cut Flower of the Year snapdragon ‘Potomac Appleblossom’; Bulb Cut Flower of the Year daffodil ‘Cheerfulness’ and Cut Foliage of the Year thornless raspberry ‘Joan J’.

Brandywine is a highly ornamental Witherod viburnum. Starting in late spring, it bears clusters of foamy white flowers, and handsome, glossy green foliage carries it through summer. Late in August, the green berries turn ivory, then vivid pink, then blue. Each berry cluster often displays all three colors simultaneously for a truly memorable effect! As the berries change color, so does the foliage, taking on a vivid red that makes the berries seem even more colorful.

Brandywine viburnum is a North American native species selected for its more refined, compact habit (5-6 feet tall and wide, versus 10 feet or more in the wild) and abundant flowers and berries. It does not require a different variety to pollinate it; however, it serves to pollinate the variety ‘Winterthur,’ in which case both plants will bear abundant fruit.

One of many outstanding Proven Winners ColorChoice shrubs to earn this honor, Brandywine viburnum joins last year’s Woody Cut of the Year, Pinky Winky panicle hydrangea, along with previous years’ winners Quick Fire and ‘Limelight’ panicle hydrangeas and Coppertina ninebark.