Farwest Announces Top New Varieties
Every year, the New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest Trade Show features dozens of plants that are new to the trade. The 2014 showcase featured 52 different trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals with interesting shapes, colors, growth habits and other characteristics.
“This was one of the most outstanding collections of plants weve ever featured,” said Ann Murphy, director of marketing for the Oregon Association of Nurseries, which produces Farwest. “Its the quantity as well as the quality. Our judges and attendees were truly impressed with the plants that were submitted.”
The winner of the New Varieties Showcase Best in Show award, chosen by judges, was Spring Fleecing Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus Spring Fleecing). The judges were horticultural experts with longtime experience in the green industry.
Winning the Peoples Choice award, chosen by those attending, was Lemon Lace Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa SMNSRD4 PPAF, CBRAF).
The judges also chose three Plants of Merit: Lemon Lace Elderberry, First Editions Toscana Barberry (Berberis thunbergii BailJulia PPAF, and Mighty Velvet Stachys (Lambs Ears) (Stachys Bello Grigio PPAF).
Spring Fleecing Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus Spring Fleecing), was selected by Sam Allen of Tarheel Native Trees in North Carolina. It is offered by Heritage Seedlings Inc. “Even when not in bloom, it is attractive,” Murphy said. “Judges said the foliage is beautiful and the stems are gorgeous. It should be used more in the landscape, especially as a street tree, and it has broad appeal across many zones.”
Peoples Choice winner Lemon Lace Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa SMNSRD4 PPAF, CBRAF), was discovered by Tim Wood, Spring Meadow Nursery Inc., Michigan, and introduced by Proven Winners ColorChoice. It is available from Farwest exhibitors Spring Meadow Nursery Inc./Proven Winners ColorChoice and Fisher Farms LLC. “People really liked the bright chartreuse leaves in a modest-sized elderberry,” Murphy said.
Plant of Merit winner First Editions Toscana Barberry (Berberis thunbergii BailJulia PPAF), was bred by Don Selinger of Bailey Nurseries Inc. and introduced by Bailey Nurseries Inc.
Plant of Merit winner Mighty Velvet Stachys (Lambs Ears) (Stachys Bello Grigio PPAF), was developed by Goos Bartels, The Netherlands, and introduced by Agricola Management Group for the HGTV HOME Plant Collection. It was available at the Farwest Trade Show from exhibitor Van Essen Nursery Co.
The Peoples Choice award had four runners-up in the voting. They were Sombrero Adobe Orange Coneflower (Echinacea x purpurea PPAF), introduced by Darwin Perennials and offered by T & L Nursery, second place; Avantgarde Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla Avantgarde PP23466), hybridized by Agriom and introduced by Ball Ornamentals, third place; Skyline Heather Collection (Calluna vulgaris Stockholm PPAF and Sydney PPAF), hybridized by Henk Hoekert and Henrick Rietberg, Edens Creations, and introduced by Ball Ornamentals, fourth place; and Marleys Pink Parasol Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus JLWeeping PP23755), introduced by JLPN Inc. and represented by Upshoot LLC, fifth place.
____Making its public debut at this years Farwest Trade Show was Oregon Snowflake (Ribes sanguineum Oregon Snowflake PPAF), a new flowering currant bred by Dr. Ryan Contreras at Oregon State University. It is novel for its highly dissected foliage and low-growing, compact growth form. Hardy to USDA zone 6, it offers full-size panicles of white flowers that appear in mid-spring. It grows to only 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
The 2014 Farwest Trade Show took place Aug. 21 to 23, 2014, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.
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