The Garden Center Group
Fifteen plants and products from 12 companies were recognized during the Retailers' Choice Awards at the Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon, this year.
The winners were selected by a group of garden retailers acting as judges. Learn more about the 15 winners below (listed alphabetically by company).
Bailey Nurseries: Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
The judges said the foliage that’s dark purple and almost black was "a standout." Eclipse holds that dark color all season, even after being cut back or when grown in warm climates where other hydrangeas start to go green. baileynurseries.com/new-varieties/eclipse-bigleaf-hydrangea
Ball Seed/Darwin Perennials: Centaurea 'Silver Swirl' (Centaurea ragusina)
The judges were drawn to this unique, low-maintenance perennial (Zones 6-9) that's drought tolerant and rabbit resistant with colorful and attractive foliage. ballseed.com/PlantInfo/?phid=014608610031657
Ball Seed: Petunia Frosted Sapphire (Petunia hybrida)
The judges said the beautiful blue and white picotee pattern makes this double petunia a great component for hanging baskets, containers and mixes. ballfloraplant.com/Series_Info.aspx?phid=048800763051713
Ball Seed: Echinacea Double Scoop Watermelon Deluxe (Echinacea × hybrida)
A favorite of the judges, this double flower form features clean leaves and brilliantly colored blooms. ballseed.com/PlantInfo/?phid=024103656051630
Bountiful Gardens: 'Alley Cat' Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The judges said this unique Redbud has green foliage splashed with white that makes it a one-of-a-kind. Its dark pink pea-shaped flowers emerge in April just before the leaves begin to show, with shades of copper pink and soft green. The white splashes on the green leaves emerge as the leaves mature and then turn a reddish bronze color in the fall. bountifulgardens.com/product-page/alley-cat-eastern-redbud
Briggs Nursery: Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina)
The judges said they were drawn to this woody shrub, which is not actually a fern. It has glossy green leaves that are aromatic when abraded. Native to the northeastern United States, it's very adaptive but prefers full to partial sun in well drained conditions and is drought and wildlife tolerant once established. briggsnursery.com/plant/comptonia-peregrina
Cascade Tropicals: Alocasia 'Frydek' (Alocasia micholitziana)
According to the judges, the mature, broad, velvety black leaves on this easy care plant have striking white veins. The juvenile leaves appear as bright lime green, and the pale leaf stems have a purplish jagged banding. cascadetropicals.com/products/alocasia-frydek-6in
Dramm Corporation: BP-4Li Battery Operated Backpack Sprayer
The judges said they were excited to see this new backpack sprayer with such fine droplet distribution and powered by a rechargeable battery. Operating at a maximum of 150 psi, the BP-4Li atomizes spray solutions for excellent coverage. Fully variable pressure allows the BP-4Li to change psi with the turn of a knob. The battery-operated pump ensures even flow rates, perfect for even application of plant growth regulators, insecticides, fungicides and other greenhouse chemicals. The BP-4Li, which has a 4-gallon capacity, runs for 45 minutes on a charge with a swappable battery, with the judges saying it's perfect for spot treatments or concentrated applications but small enough to still be comfortable. dramm.com/html/main.isx?sub=496
Iseli Nursery: Moonstone Globe Spruce (Picea pungens)
The judges said this plant (hardy to Zone 2) has bright blue foliage and maintains a compact rounded form from youth to maturity, making it the perfect size and shape for suburban gardens. iselinursery.com/picea-pungens-inhwb-u-s-pp34321
Monrovia: Banana Split Daphne (Daphne odora ‘Monzulzay’)
The judges said they were amazed by the vigor of this Daphne, saying it's an exceptional new selection with variegated foliage, leaves with a wide yellow edge and rose-pink buds that open to white, sweetly fragrant flowers. monrovia.com/borealis-variegatedwinter-daphne.html
Monrovia/ThinkPlants: Guatemala Gold Coneflower (Echinacea × 'Guatemala Gold')
The judges said this plant is a very short and compact variety with golden yellow blooms, with the low foliage creating a dense mound. monrovia.com/guatemalatmgold-coneflower-46758.html
NewGen Boxwood: NewGen Liberty Belle (Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘RLH-BI’)
The judges said they were impressed with the smallest leaf and form of the NewGen introductions of blight resistance boxwoods, with a low, spreading, billowing form and glossy, deep green foliage. This boxwood performs best in shade to part sun and is excellent as a specimen or container plant. It can also be pruned or sheared for low hedges. It's demonstrated superior boxwood blight resistance in trials, good boxwood leafminer resistance and deer resistance. newgenboxwood.com/newgen-liberty-belle
Treleaf: Monstrella wall mounts
The judges said they were impressed with these sets of customizable wooden leaf cut-out trellises that adhere to walls. They come in sets of three or five depending on the size.
Van Belle Nursery: Dragon Baby Hardy Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
The judges were impressed by the compact and tight form of this new Hydrangea paniculate, saying it "delivers extraordinary flower power in a petite form for modern outdoor spaces." bloomineasyplants.com/products/dragon-baby-hardy-hydrangea
Youngblood Nursery/Concept Plants: Cotinus 'Old Fashioned' (Cotinus coggygria)
This different form of Smoketree has new shoots that are purple before the leaves transition to blue/green. In autumn, the leaves become pinkish. It has smoke-like tresses in midsummer and bright yellow-green flowers in spring. youngbloodnursery.com/product-page/cotinus-coggygria-old-fashioned
The Retailers' Choice Awards was a joint presentation by the Farwest Show (farwestshow.com, 503-682-5089) and The Garden Center Group (thegardencentergroup.com, 678-909-7770).
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