Best of Show - Bracteantha 'Strawburst Yellow' from Syngenta Flowers

Touted by the breeder as having superior genetics, this variety survived the rigorous evaluation process to be selected as “Best of Show” due to its outstanding appearance all summer long. Blooms are very large, extremely prolific and created a long lasting show with the bright yellow flowers. This was a standout not only on evaluation day but was the only plant in the garden that kept its flowers in good shape after a devastating hail storm decimated the garden in June. Blooms were noted for growing above the foliage. It looked great both in the ground and in containers. This strawflower loved the heat and can take a light frost.

Best New Variety – Gomphrena 'Fireworks' from PanAmerican Seed

‘Fireworks’ was an appropriate name for this variety for several reasons, one of which describes the impressive vigor of the plant as it grew taller than the surrounding plants. The large, mounding growth habit looks great in the landscape and it also makes a great temporary hedge. The flowers also fit the ‘Firework’ name in that the blooms start out fairly round and then develop a multi-dimensional look by turning into a cluster of small globe that stretch outward as they grow. Bright yellow anthers add to the name as they create the appearance of small explosions leaping from the flowers.

Best Novelty – Alternanthera 'Red Thread' from GroLink

This plant was a standout without even having a flower. Grown for its dense, colorful foliage it created a very uniform overall appearance. The long thin leaves were so dense that it created a fuzzy appearance. The leaf color added to the overall interest. It has a bi-color appearance with a dark red surface to the underside of the leaf and a dark green surface on top. It is a great addition for mixed containers or mounding over the edge of a wall planting.

Best Angelonia – ‘Angelmist Deep Plum Improved’ from Ball FloraPlant

The prolific flowers had a deep, rich purple color that continued throughout the summer and into September. Plants were vigorous and were not affected by the summer heat.

Best Argyranthemum – ‘Madeira Red’ from Ball FloraPlant

Noted for its bold red flowers, this variety also impressed the evaluators with a strong bloom in summer and with many blooms going into the fall. The plant had an excellent mounded uniform growth habit.

Best Bacopa – ‘Bahia Lavender’ from Red Fox by Dummen USA

Vigorous plants were covered with soft lavender flowers which makes an attractive presentation as it trailed over the edge of the container. Flowers were also relatively large and bloomed throughout the plant and not just on the ends.

Best Begonia (hybrid) – ‘ Solenia Apricot’ from Paul Ecke Ranch

Abundant flowers had a very attractive apricot-colored glow. Glossy dark foliage adds to the overall appearance. The long lasting blooms and vigorous growth habit give it both good garden and landscape use.

Best Begonia (wax) – ‘Coco White’ from Bodger Botanicals

The numerous double, white flowers sit atop dark foliage and resemble frothy cream on top of a mug of coffee. The color contrast between flowers and foliage was especially attractive. The double flowers create a unique texture when compared to other wax begonias. Plants were vigorous and pest free.

Best Calibrachoa – ‘MiniFamous Pink’ from Selecta First Class

This variety had clear deep pink flower that were very abundant and bloomed throughout the plant and not just on the ends. Flowers were a bright fluorescent color and shimmered in the sunlight. The mounding plants had great vigor and no chlorosis.

Best Coleus – ‘Colorblaze Dark Star’ from Proven Winners

Foliage was impressive with a strong dark chocolate color that had no bleaching despite being planted in full sun. It was also noted for having almost no flowering. Plants displayed great vigor and were extremely uniform.

Best Dahlia – ‘Dark Angel Dracula’ from GroLink

Bold, rosy wine colored flowers combined with dark foliage which created a very unique visual appearance. Plants had a very uniform, compact growth habit.

Best Dianthus – ‘Polar Coral’ from American Takii, Inc.

This variety was just one of the ‘Polar’ series that was noted for a good range of flower color. ‘Polar Coral’ had great flower power and bloomed throughout the summer with a solid canopy of coral blooms at its peak. Growth habit was very uniform which added to an attractive overall appearance.

Best Geranium (interspecific) – ‘ Caliente Orange ’ from Syngenta Flowers s

Another plant with impressive flower power, this variety had abundant orange blooms covering the top of each plant. The great orange color combined very well with the dark green foliage. Both plants and blooms had excellent uniformity.

Best Geranium (ivy) – ‘ Pacific Violet ’ from Red Fox by Dummen USA

Compact, uniform plants were very floriferous and showy with semi-double blooms. Plants had clean foliage with no disease or insect problems.

Best Geranium (seed) – ‘Pinto White’ from Syngenta Flowers

Strong, healthy plants produced abundant flowers that were also relatively larger than most geraniums. Besides the exceptional vigor, blooms were a clear, bright white.

Best Geranium (zonal) – ‘Americana Dark Red’ from Syngenta Flowers

The flower petals had a very attractive rich red color that made this variety standout. The vigorous plants produced many flowers but also maintained a uniform overall appearance. This variety has been in the trial for several years and is a consistently good performer

Best Impatiens (seed) – 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved' from PanAmerican Seed

Flowers were abundant all summer long and were still creating new buds in September. Flowers were especially showy with a vibrant rose color on very uniform plants.

Best Impatiens (double) – ‘Fiesta Ole Purple’ from Ball FloraPlant

Plants were a model of controlled vigor and uniformity with an excellent mounding growth habit. Flowers were numerous and buds were still coming on even into September. It would work well in both the ground and baskets.

Best Impatiens (New Guinea) – ‘Tamarinda Shocking Pink’ from Fides North America

This variety maintained strong flower power which was better than any other entry in the trial. Flowers were above the foliage for optimum show on very uniform plants.

Best Impatiens (trailing) – ‘Fanfare Bright Coral’ from Ball FloraPlant

This impatiens was noted for doing well in both shade and full sun. In both locations, this variety had very uniform growth habit with very compact branching. Flowers were very numerous and the color was a unique shade of coral.

Best Ipomea – ‘Sidekick Black Heart’ from Syngenta Flowers

Besides a very attractive heart shape to the foliage, this variety had excellent vigor yet maintained a controlled growth habit that did not spread like many similar varieties. The heart shaped leaves were a nice dark color.

Best Lantana – ‘Bandana White’ from Syngenta Flowers

Picture perfect uniformity was the main characteristic of this variety. The mounding plants were covered with ivory colored flowers all season long.

Best Lobelia – ‘Techno Heat Upright Light Blue’ from Syngenta

This plant rated high in both the ground and in containers. Besides being very floriferous, it kept blooming late into the season. Plants had superior vigor with no dieback.

Best Osteospermum – ‘Margarita Yellow ’ from Fides North America

Abundant flowers and a unique bright yellow flower color on the upper surface to the petals and dark shading on the lower surface made a great aesthetic combination. Later in the season it garnered admiration for resistance to disease that affected many of the other varieties in the trial. Flowering was strong late into the season.

Best Petunia (mini-spreading) – ‘Littletunia White Grace’ from Danziger

This winner was chosen for exceptional performance in both the container as well as the ground. The clean, dark green foliage contrasted nicely with the abundant white flowers. The growth habit was compact, dense and very uniform which lead to a superior overall appearance.

Best Petunia (seed propagated) – ‘Plush Deep Pink’ from Syngenta Flowers

This variety was selected for a winning combination of clean, bright blooming pink flowers and a nice uniform, mounding growth habit. Plants maintained a good appearance with even blooming throughout the plant.

Best Petunia (spreading) – ‘Supertunia Vista Silverberry’ from Proven Winners

This is one of the few plants in the garden that people notice from a long distance. The flower power was amazing along with the plant vigor. The mounding growth habit rose above the surrounding varieties. Flowers have dark veins and a unique silvery color which were resistant to rain and overhead irrigation.

Best Salvia farinacea – 'Velocity Blue' from Syngenta Flowers

Deep blue flowers were abundant on every plant. Plants began flowering early and maintained their appearance for a long bloom period with no deadheading required. Beside the showy display of blue flowers, the overall appearance was more stunning since plants were very uniform and compact.

Best Verbena – ‘Rapunzel Lilac’ from Syngenta Flowerss

This was a strong consistent blooming plant with a clean and uniform overall appearance. Lilac flowers were layered throughout the plant. The fine foliage combined with the flower color and created a delicate look.

Best Vinca – ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo ’ from PanAmerican Seed

Plants were very floriferous with attractive burgundy flowers that had a white eye. The overall uniformity of the plant was excellent. This variety also remained disease free despite an unusually wet period early in the summer.

Best Zinnia – ‘Profusion Coral Pink’ from Sakata Seed America

This plant had an appropriate name considering the profuse soft pink flowers. It was noted for unique shades of pink as it aged which added to it overall attractiveness. The lack of powdery mildew late in the season added to its overall good performance.

Ageratum 'Patina Purple' from Syngenta Flowers

This variety was acclaimed for its solid canopy of flowers and plants that held their shape. It required no deadheading and seemed to love the heat.

Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' from Proven Winners

Prolific blooming and attractive growth habit were the outstanding features of this variety. Plants were well branched and had controlled vigor. It tolerated the summer heat and maintained clean foliage all season. This plant would make an attractive temporary hedge.

Delphinium 'Diamonds Blue' from PanAmerican Seed

The smaller plant size (~18” tall), good branching, and plants that didn’t flop over were some of the qualities that set this apart from the crowd. At its peak in early September, the abundant blooms captured attention with its vibrant blue color.

Lobularia 'Snow Princess' from Proven Winners

This variety kept flowering strong all season – even through the summer heat. The bright white flowers were very fragrant on vigorous plants with a uniform, spreading growth habit.