Retailers’ Choice from 2024 Farwest Show
As part of the Retailers’ Choice Awards, volunteer garden retailers highlighted 15 different products that caught their attention at the 2024 Farwest Show.
The awards as chosen by the judges were presented at the show, in a presentation emceed by Danny Summers, managing director of The Garden Center Group. Both live goods and hard goods were eligible.
The awards winners were as follows:
Artemisia ‘GardenGhost’ PP33773 — by Walla Walla Nursery, Walla Walla, Washington
‘GardenGhost’ is one of the newest additions from Garden Genetics. Starting out slightly green in color, watch ‘GardenGhost’ mature throughout the season to a nice bright silvery foliage accent piece. This densely branched, groundcover type artemisia is proven Zone 4 hardy. Info: https://garden-choice.com/plant/artemisia-gardenghost/
Philodendron ‘Carmel Marble’ — by Cascade Tropicals, Snohomish, Washington
Philodendron ‘Caramel Marble’ has serrated leaves that are a true sight to behold! The foliage is wonderfully variegated with streaks of cream, white and yellow variegation throughout the leaves.
Cherry-Go-Round reblooming hydrangea — by Van Belle Nursery, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Cherry-red flowers adorn its compact frame and rebloom through summer and fall.
Forsythia ‘HILLIER Discovery’ — by Meridian Young Plants, Lynden, Washington, introduced by Plant Haven
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Discovery,’ is part of the HILLIER Collection, from Hillier Nurseries, United Kingdom. Elegant cream-white, broadly edged foliage. Tidy compact habit. Extended impulse sales opportunities.
Laurel ‘Skinny Skip’ — by Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas, Woodburn, Oregon, introduced by Colony Nursery
Glossy dark green leaves and dense upright growth habit make ‘Skinny Skip’ laurel the perfect privacy hedge. Very little trimming required. USDA Zones 6-9, hardier than Laurus schipkaensis.
Basil ‘Everleaf Lemon’ — by Ball Seed, West Chicago, Illinois
Bring bright, lemon flavor to your table all season long with this late-flowering basil. This herb is a great addition to dressings, marinades and salads. Upright plants deliver an abundant harvest. Performs well in-ground and in containers.
Beneficial Insectary — by Sound Horticulture, Bellingham, Washington
Ambylseius cucumeris is a predatory mite that feeds on immature thrips, broad mites, russet mites, and spider mite eggs. Adults are pear-shaped, tan in color, and less than 0.5mm long. Eggs are round, transparent, and 0.14mm in diameter.
Cercis ‘Flame Thrower Redbud’ — by Monrovia, Azusa, California
Light-pink spring flowers are followed by an ever-changing display of colorful foliage that continues all the way to fall. New foliage emerges burgundy, fades to yellow, and matures to green. Branches display all the colors at once for a stunning effect. A wonderful landscape specimen. Deciduous.
Cercis ‘Garden Gems Amethyst’ — by Alpha Nursery, Salem, Oregon, introduced by Star Roses & Plants
This compact cercis tree is an elegant focal point in small gardens and when potted on patios. Its size and burgundy foliage give a similar effect as a Japanese Maple, with the benefit of being native to North America. A spring flush of pink blooms will attract pollinators.
Styrax ‘Starway to Heaven Snowbell’ — by Robinson Nursery, Amity, Oregon
This Japanese Snowbell is a reblooming styrax with petite, five-petaled flowers that resembles a galaxy of stars when it blooms in the spring, and again in the fall, when it reblooms. Each flower has a shimmering, almost metallic effect that sparkles in the landscape. Its deep green, glossy foliage emerges red, and its narrow, space saving habit beautifies landscapes both large and small.
‘Lime Zest’ Japanese forest grass — by Briggs Nursery, Elma, Washington
‘Lime Zest’ is a new addition to complement its predecessor Hakonechloa macra ‘HakBri1’ Lemon Zest. It looks great when planted alone or is mass plantings and brightens up those lower light areas. Reaches 12–14 inches tall by 18–24 inches wide. Hardy in Zones 5-8.
‘Mojo Berry‘ mulberry — by Briggs Nursery, Elma, Washington
‘Mojo Berry’ is a perfect patio selection reaching 3–5 feet tall and producing fruit on old and new wood allowing for fruit in the first year compared to the usual 5-6 years with other mulberries. Mojo berry also has extended berry production, other varieties produce over a 3-week period whereas Mojo produces berries in Late May through September. This European variety is a home gardener’s dream with long fruiting, self-pollinating, and compact growth. Grows well in full sun. Hardy to zone 8.
Trachelospermum ‘Ogon Nishiki’ — by Youngblood Nursery, Salem, Oregon
Spectacular bright orange, golden yellow, and dark green foliage. Trailing habit to 8′ or more. Rarely flowers. Part sun, regular watering. Evergreen. Zones 7–9.
Canna ‘Red Golden Flame’ —by Youngblood Nursery, Salem, Oregon
A vibrant and striking perennial plant known for its brilliant red-orange blooms and striking golden foliage. Zones 7–11.
Sustee Innovative Water Checker — offered by Sustee Innovative, Japan
For the first time ever, a home-grade moisture checker has been equipped with a pF indicator (available water capacity). This way the root’s ability to absorb water, or the plant’s “thirst,” becomes visible (patented in Japan, No. 5692826). The high quality of SUSTEE prevents root rot caused by improper watering. To better our product we keep testing and researching in cooperation with the Tokyo University of Agriculture and farmers.
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