Salvia Blue Marvel from Darby Nursery Stock has been crowned best in show at the New Plant Awards on the opening morning of the HTA National Plant Show. The show, sponsored by Hortipak, takes place today and tomorrow (21 and 22 June) at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.
The New Plant Awards, sponsored by the RHS, are the beating heart of the show and create an area bursting with inspiration for our visitors.
Salvia Blue Marvel is a striking deep blue Salvia with the largest flowers of this type of Salvia. It re-blooms reliably over a long period.
Judging Panel member Jim Gardiner, Executive Vice-President of RHS comments, “As a panel of judges we were really thrilled with the large number of new plants put forward. The quality and vibrancy of new plant introductions is in good hands in this country.”
He adds, ”The judges were really excited by the quality of all the category winners. However, the best in show, Salvia Blue Marvel, was for all of us a revelation in breeding of an already established herbaceous plant. The flower quality and in particular the size of Salvia Blue Marvel was quite exceptional. This plant will see uses far beyond the herbaceous border.”
The winners are:
Annuals
Gold and Best in Category – Petunia Tumbelina Maria Channel Island Plants UK
Gold Calibrachoa Rave Pink Pentland Plants
Gold Begonia Funky Pink Benary
Gold Bella Fuchsia Lydia Javado UK
Gold Bella Fuchsia Olivia Javado UK
Silver Nemesia Aroma Yellows Rhubarb & Custard Channel Island Plants
Bronze Petunia Chic Collection Raspberry Stripe Earley Ornamentals
Bronze Petunia Chic Collection Rose Star Earley Ornamentals
Bronze Petunia Tumblelina Francesca Channel Island Plants UK
Bronze Calibrachoa Caloha Bumble Bee Channel Island Plants UK
Bronze Nemesia Aroma Yellows Plums & Custards Channel Island Plants UK
Herbaceous Perennials
Gold and Best in Category – Salvia Blue Marvel Darby Nursery Stock
Gold Geum Scarlet Tempest Allensmore Nurseries
Silver Tiarella Angel Wings Seoint Nurseries
Silver Geranium Miss Heidi Johnsons of Whixley
Bronze Geranium ‘Foundlings Friend’ Kernock Park Plants
Bronze Salvia guarantica Black & Bloom Javado UK
Bronze Cirsium Frosted Magic Fairweathers/Lowaters
Bronze Salvia Joy Darby Nursery Stock
Bronze Salvia nemorosa hort. Rianne Javado UK
Houseplants
Gold and Best in Category – Begonia Elatior Valentino Pink Garden Centre Fresh
Silver Phalaenopsis Tinkerbell Profitplant UK
Silver Saintpaulia Blue Wave Javado UK
Silver Oncidium Claudia Black Eye Javado UK
Bronze Clerodendrum Thompsoniae Helios Profitplant UK
Bronze Spathiphyllum Romeo Cupido Garden Centre Fresh
Bronze Brassia Shelob Tolkien Javado UK
Shrubs and Climbers
Gold and Best in Category –Rose Lovely Parfuma Rosemasters
Gold Clematis Nubia Evipo59 Darby Nursery Stock
Silver Pieris Japonica Polar Passion Profitplant UK
Silver Hebe Celebration The Bransford Webbs Plant Company
Silver Buddleja x Blue Chip Junior The Bransford Webbs Plant Company
Sliver Buddleja x NC20102 Pink Micro Chip The Bransford Webbs Plant Company
Silver Hydrangea macr Magical Ruby Tuesday Garden Centre Fresh
Silver Lavandula Meerio Fairweathers Nursery
Silver Rosa Pretty Parfuma Rosemasters
Silver Rosa Royal Parfuma Rosemasters
Silver Rosa Secret Parfuma Rosemasters
Silver Rosa Lovely Parfuma Rosemasters
Silver Hibiscus Magenta Chiffon Farplants
Silver Hydrangea macr. Charming by Magical Lisa Javado UK
Silver Hydrangea macr. Charming by Magical Lisa Blue Javado UK
Silver Hibiscus syriacus ‘America Irene Scott’ Sugar Tip The Bransford Webbs Plant Company
Bronze Rhododendron Golden Green Gift Garden Centre Fresh
Bronze Lonicera nitida ‘Van Gogh’ Profitplant UK
Bronze Hydrangea Tutti Frutti Darby Nursery Stock
Bronze Clematis Pamina New Leaf Plants
Trees and Conifers
Gold and Best in Category – Betula pendula ‘Fastigiata Joes’ EU20141206 – Frank P Matthews
Silver Prunus domestica ‘Toptaste’ Kulinaria Frank P Matthews
Silver Acer platanoides ‘Sensation’ Ulmers Sensation Frank P Matthews
This year’s judging panel include Marcus Cousins from Aylett Nurseries, David Mitchell from Wyevale Garden Centres, David Hurrion from Gardeners World Magazine, Michael Perry from Thompson &
Morgan and Jim Gardiner from RHS. All the entries were validated by Joy of Plants.
In addition to the formal announcement in the New Plant Awards area on the opening morning of the show we will also have a seminar session focussing on the winners where Andy McIndoe along with our judging panel will highlight the victorious plants and give you the background on their benefits and how these can bolster your plantarea offering.
All New Plant Award entries can be viewed at the show and visitors too can have their say by taking part in the Visitor Vote Awards, sponsored by Floramedia. The winner of the Visitor Vote Award will be announced on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 June.
The HTA National Plant Show takes place on 21 and 22 June at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. For more information and to register in advance please visit