Fleuroselect, the International Organisation for the Ornamental Plants Industry, proudly presents the three Gold Medal winners for the 2017 season.
A Gold Medal is awarded to a genuine innovation in breeding. These new varieties excel in innovation, floriferousness, flowering season and overall appearance. The 2017 Gold Medals are great garden performers and represent the latest breeding breakthroughs for bedding.
Begonia semperflorens SenatoriQ Rose Bicolour
Earlier, better and longer… That's what SenatoriQ Rose Bicolour stands for. The bronze leaf counterpart of the green-leaved Ambassador Begonia series with its innovative rose bicolour bloom shows a striking contrast between flower and foliage. SenatoriQ is an excellent garden performer thriving in full or partial sun with exceptional heat and drought tolerance. This latest exceptional addition to the series not only looks wonderful in hanging baskets and container combinations, but also performs in the garden beds and landscapes. Deadheading spent blooms and moist soil conditions guarantee continuous flowering.
The Fleuroselect judges lauded this breakthrough Begonia semperflorens for its “improved plant habit, earlier flowering, intense pink flower colour and attractive darker foliage.”
Lupinus polyphyllus MiniGallery Blue
Meet Mini Gallery Blue, the latest addition to HM.CLAUSE's famous Gallery Lupins. This beauty presents many spikes in a true deep blue colour held well above the deep green foliage. Mini Gallery Blue is dwarf, compact, very early flowering and thrives in a full sun position and in well-drained soil. This newcomer will provide a striking centrepiece in the herbaceous border and thanks to its smaller size can now also be used in container combinations or as stand-alone item in pots. Mini Gallery Blue adds height and colour to the smallest spot in the garden!
The judges praised Mini Gallery Blue for its intense blue colour, earlier flowering and uniform plant habit.
Penstemon barbatus Twizzle
This first year flowering perennial from Van Hemert & Co. has taller flower stems than the existing varieties on the market while preserving the natural elegance of wild Penstemon. The half-high flower spikes (approx. 70-80 cm) present small bell-shaped flowers in vivid scarlet. Twizzle is beautiful border plant thriving in a sunny spot and well-drained soil. It blooms over a long period, stretching from summer to autumn and attracts beneficial insects in the garden. Twizzle, the perfect strong but gentle touch for pots, containers and beddings.
In addition to the striking red colour, the jury especially noted the new plant habit and superb flowering performance during the first year.
Source: Fleuroselect
