'Cherry Choco Latte' Rose Mallow wins judges’ honors at Farwest 2018

Portland, Ore. (August 23, 2018) – An expert panel of judges selected SUMMERIFIC ‘Cherry Choco Latte’ Rose Mallow (Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® ‘Cherry Choco Latte’ PPAF CBRAF) as the Best in Show winner at the 2018 Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase.

‘Cherry Choco Latte’ is just one of 60 new selections on display at the 2018 Farwest Show and available from at least one show exhibitor. The show opened August 22 and continues through August 24 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore.

“Farwest consistently displays the best new selections the horticulture industry has to offer, and our 2018 show is no different,” show director Allan Niemi of the Oregon Association of Nurseries said.

‘Cherry Choco Latte’ is introduced by Walters Gardens Inc. and is available at the Farwest Show from Walla Walla Nursery Co. Inc. (Booth #12019). It is a brand new, long blooming Hibiscus with a smaller size that is more suitable for tighter spaces. Very large, 8–9-inch three-dimensional flowers are white with intense deep pink veining and a notably large red eye. Attractive dark olive green foliage has bronze highlights and forms a compact clump, with flowers covering the entire habit later in the season. Best in full sun but tolerates part shade. Needs average to consistent moisture, is deer resistant, attracts hummingbirds, and is a native hybrid. Best in landscapes.

In addition of the Best of Show award, three Awards of Merit were given by the judges. They were as follows:

• Urban Sunset® Maple (Acer truncatum × platanoides ‘JFS-KW187’ PP27545 — Selected by Keith Warren from the maple breeding program of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., and introduced by (and available from) J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. (Booth #19026). The dark green leaves of this heat- and drought tolerant tree explode with bright, long-lasting redto-deep red tones in autumn. A perfect fit for urban landscapes, this vigorous and upright growing tree calipers well as it develops a uniformly branched canopy with minimal pruning. Compact and narrow, it develops an ideal street tree form and produces very few seeds. Selected as an outstanding performer from the breeder’s 30-plus-year effort to combine the best characteristics of Asian and European maple species, its handsome, pest and disease resistant foliage is glossy and tatter resistant. Urban Sunset® is compact and upright, with a stronger central leader than other Acer truncatum × A. platanoides hybrids on the market, with exceptionally handsome summer foliage. Produces fewer seeds and has deeper red, long lasting fall color. Hardy to Zone 4b.

• Summer Wine® Black Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘SMNPMS’ PPAF, CPBRAF — Bred by Tim Wood at Spring Meadow Nursery in Grand Haven, Michigan and introduced by Spring Meadow Nursery and Proven Winners. Available as 1–3 gallon containers from Proven Winners (Booth #3049).Bred by Tim Wood at Spring Meadow Nursery in Grand Haven, Michigan and introduced by Spring Meadow Nursery and Proven Winners. Its dark purple-black foliage, the darkest of any ninebark, gives Summer Wine® Black a dramatic presence in the landscape. With its semi dwarf, compact habit, and disease resistant foliage, it offers outstanding potential for landscapers and homeowners alike. Summer Wine® can be planted in full sun and used for mixed borders, hedges, specimens and foundation plantings. It is disease resistant, with a compact habit and pink spring flowers. Adaptable to most well-drained soils and tolerates drought once established. This plant is best left unpruned, but it can be pruned after blooming if needed. Hardy down to -40 F (-40 C). Zones 3–7.

• Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® ‘Holy Grail’ PPAF CPBRAF — Introduced by Walters Gardens Inc. and available from Walla Walla Nursery Co. (Booth #12019). The creators called this hardy hibiscus “the holy grail” from its inception because they knew we had something special. There’s a whole lot to love about this plant, beginning with its incredible dark, near-black foliage of beautiful, oval shaped leaves. Rich, deep red flowers are enormous at 8-9 inches across. The red and black colors perfectly complement each other. Height: 4-4.5′ Spread: 4.5-5′ Traits: Best in full sun but tolerates part shade, average to consistent moisture, deer resistant, attracts hummingbirds, native hybrid, best in landscapes.

During the Farwest Show, people in attendance can vote for their favorites. The votes will be tallied, resulting in the selection of three People’s Choice Awards that will be announced on the final day of the show.

All of the New Varieties Showcase selections are viewable at https://farwestshow.com/new-varieties-showcase/