Two Proven Winners Varieties Earn 2015 Direct Gardening Association Green Thumb Awards

Two Proven Winners® ColorChoice® introductions were among the five new varieties to win 2015 Green Thumb Awards presented by the Direct Gardening Association (DGA), the world’s largest nonprofit association of companies that sell gardening products via print catalogs, websites, magazines, and professional supporting companies. Lemony Lace™ Sambucus and Lo & Behold® ‘Pink Micro Chip’ Buddleia were honored in the Plants, Bulbs and Seeds division by the independent panel of garden writers and editors. Competing plants were available from DGA members during the 2014 season, and selection criteria were based on the plant’s uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to solve a gardening problem and potential appeal to gardeners.

Lo & Behold® ‘Pink Micro Chip’ Buddleia brings the first pink to the popular series made famous by Lo & Behold® ‘Blue Chip’ Buddleia. The tightly packed, petit flowers are reminiscent of Salvia and bloom continuously from mid-summer to frost without deadheading. Its compact habit and small size of 18-24” tall and wide allow it to be used in a full sun landscape in ways butterfly bush traditionally couldn’t: colorful mass planting, a low hedge, or in a container garden. True to the series, ‘Pink Micro Chip’ is sterile and legal for sale in Oregon and Washington. It is a garden workhorse, proven to be drought tolerant, deer resistant, and enticing to pollinators. ‘Pink Micro Chip’ is hardy from USDA Zones 5 to 9.

Lemony Lace™ Sambucus, a showy cut leaf elderberry, has bright golden foliage and improved sunburn resistance.  It is a delightful addition to semi-shaded, woodland gardens although it will tolerate full sun in northern climates.  Lemony Lace elderberry’s eye catching gold threads are accented with red new growth.  The foliage is more deeply cut than 'Sutherland Gold' or Black Lace™ elderberry. The result is a three to five foot irregular mound with extremely fine texture.  White spring flowers produce red fruit in the fall. This native, deer-resistant plant is easy to grow and will thrive from USDA Zones 3 to 7. It has also won a bronze medal at Plantarium, the 2014 Farwest Show New Plants Showcase Award of Merit, and Garden Center Group’s Retailers Choice Award.

Lemony Lace™ Sambucus and Lo & Behold® ‘Pink Micro Chip’ Buddleia were added to the Proven Winners® ColorChoice® line in 2014. They are currently available through mail order companies such as Garden Crossings, www.gardencrossings.com, and will be widely available at retail garden centers in spring 2015.

Source: Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.