Every year, the New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest Trade Show features dozens of outstanding plants that are new to the trade. This year was no exception.
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 we’ve ever featured,” said Ann Murphy, director of marketing for the Oregon Association of Nurseries, which produces Farwest. “It’s the quantity as well as the quality. Our judges and attendees were truly impressed with the plants that were submitted.”
But only two of these plants could win top honors from judges and attendees.
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 People’s 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 (Lamb’s Ears) (Stachys ‘Bello Grigio’ PPAF). Following are details on each plant that was honored:
- Best in Show winner 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.”
- People’s 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 (Lamb’s 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 is available from Farwest exhibitor Van Essen Nursery Co.
The People’s 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 Marley’s 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 year’s 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.
Blue Heron Farm and Heritage Seedlings Inc. are among the growers currently licensed to grow Oregon Snowflake. For more information contact Ryan Contreras at ryan.contreras@oregonstate.edu. For licensing information contact Denis Sather at denis.sather@oregonstate.edu.
The 2014 Farwest Trade Show was held August 21–23, 2014, at the Oregon Convention Center. The show serves professionals engaged in the nursery industry and related trades, including retail nurseries, wholesale growers, landscapers, landscape designers, and others involved in the green industry.
The New Varieties Showcase remains a very popular and unique feature at the Farwest Trade Show. “Every year, growers and retailers always consider the New Varieties Showcase to be a highlight of the Farwest Trade Show,” Murphy said. “Experienced gardeners are always looking for something new and different for their gardens, and the plants shown in the New Varieties Showcase fill that need. Retailers appreciate being able to find so many new, high-quality plants, all in one place. They can see how the plants actually perform, and visualize how they might look in-store. If they want to place an order for all the new plants that catch their eye, they can do that right from the show floor.”
To learn more about the varieties in this year’s New Varieties Showcase at Farwest Show, visit: www.FarwestShow.com/nvs.
The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN), based in Wilsonville, represents more than 800 wholesale growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers. Oregon’s ornamental horticulture industry is among the state’s largest agricultural commodities, with annual sales of $745 million. Oregon’s nursery industry is a traded sector; nearly 75
percent of the nursery plants grown in Oregon are shipped out of state. For information, visit www.oan.org or call 503-682-5089.
The Farwest Trade Show is produced by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN), a trade organization that represents and serves the interests of the ornamental horticulture industry. Any revenue realized by the OAN is reinvested into the industry through education, research, marketing support and government relations. For more
information about the 2014 Farwest Trade Show, visit www.farwestshow.com or download the Farwest Show app for iPhone or Android.
Source: The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN)
