Sep 1, 2011
New Varieties Showcase Spotlights Top Plants at 2011 Farwest ShowSource: Oregon Association of Nurseries

Picking the very best plants displayed in the 2011 New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest Show was a tough task falling to no single group. Show judges handed out the official awards, while show attendees voted separately on the People’s Choice Awards.

It turns out, however, the two groups agreed more often than not.

Flutterby Grande Peach Cobbler Nectar Bush from Ball Ornamentals won Best of Show. “It is certified by the Oregon Department of Agriculture as sterile, which means our nurseries can add Buddleia back into their growing inventory,” said Ann Murphy, director of marketing for the Oregon Association of Nurseries. “The wonderful fragrance, full-sized inflorescences and silvery leaf color would be welcome in any garden. The fact that the plant also attracts pollinators, a popular gardening trend, is an added bonus.

Other official selections included the following:

Best Annual/Tender Perennial – mimulus Georgie Red Monkey from Ball Ornamentals
Best Tree – Gleditsia triacanthos Street Keeper Honeylocust from J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
Best Shrub – Ilex x meserveae Little Rascal Improved Holly from Monrovia Growers
Best Perennial/Grass – Bouteloua gracilis Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass grown by Blooming Nursery Inc.
Best Edible – Bountiful Blue blueberry from Monrovia Growers

Perennials took the top three spots for the People’s Choice favorites, ranking Darwin Perennial’s echinacea ‘Sombrero Salsa Red’ as the hands down favorite. Misaka Itoh peony from Monrovia was ranked number two, followed closely by Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass.

The New Varieties Showcase grows in popularity each year as a special feature of the Farwest Show. “Many growers are looking for new plants to add to their growing mix, and retailers want new plants for their customers with strong performance for the home landscape,” Murphy said. “The New Varieties Showcase provides easy access to new plant material for show guests and points them to exhibitors growing the plants for fall or next year’s spring sales.

To find out more about the varieties in this year’s New Varieties Showcase at Farwest Show, and to view photos, visit www.farwestshow.com/nvs.

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