Proven Winners ColorChoice varieties awarded at 2024 Farwest Show
The Oregon Association of Nurseries Farwest Show concluded gave nurseries the opportunity to present cutting-edge plant varieties for display and award consideration in the New Varieties Showcase.
Here are the winners of the 2024 Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase:
Judges’ Best in Show – New Variety
Of the 25 plants entered in the Showcase, Proven Winners ColorChoice varieties earned two of the four top contender spots. The Judges’ Choice Best in Show – New Variety was awarded to Proven Winners ColorChoice styrax ‘Starway to Heaven’ (Japanese Snowbell) and leucothoe ‘Paisley Pup’ was recognized in the same category with an Award of Merit.
Retailers’ Choice Award
Proven Winners ColorChoice trees ‘Starway to Heaven’ styrax also snagged one of 15 Retailers’ Choice Awards. Chosen by the Garden Center Group’s garden retailer judges, these awards recognize products or services they feel deserve special recognition for their ability to find a new approach to an old formula.
People’s Choice Award
Finally, in addition to these judges’ awards, the show presents People’s Choice awards. Chosen by attendees voting on the show floor, the award is announced on the final day of the show. Proven Winners ColorChoice ‘Starway to Heaven’ styrax was also honored with this exciting award.
Introduced by Spring Meadow Nursery and bred by Chris and Josh Robinson of Robinson Nursery in Amity, Oregon, ‘Starway to Heaven’ styrax is a striking ornamental tree with fragrant, five-petalled flowers that resemble a galaxy of stars upon spring blooming – and then again when it reblooms in fall. Each flower has a shimmering, almost metallic effect that sparkles in the landscape. Deep green foliage emerges bronze. Its space-saving 20-30 feet tall, 5-8 feet wide habit makes it ideally suited to beautifying smaller landscapes. It is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9.
Award of Merit
Bred by Megan Mathey at Spring Meadow Nursery, the Award of Merit recipient ‘Paisley Pup’ leucothoe is a handsome broadleaf evergreen with variegated pink, green, cream, white, bronze, and yellow foliage. Racemes of fragrant white flowers appear in spring. With a versatile (3-4 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide) habit, shade tolerance and outstanding deer resistance, ‘Paisley Pup’ is the perfect problem-solving shrub.
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