Agapanthus ‘AMB001’ ‘Fireworks’ takes Best in Show at New Plant Awards

STONELEIGH, UK: Agapanthus ‘AMB001’ ‘Fireworks’ from Fairweather’s Nursery has been crowned this year as Best in Show at the New Plant Awards on the opening morning of the HTA National Plant Show which took place June 18 – 19,  at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.

When discussing the winner, the judges commented, “The agapanthus has the ‘wow factor’. It has a romantic, naturalistic look and looks exceptional even when in tight bud. It is a good commercial plant and looks to be a good improvement on its predecessor, ‘Twister’, because it is more robust and fills the pot quicker, therefore better value for money. It is exciting to have a fantastic plant that looks great in the container and in the border.”

The judges also recognised that the houseplant category was worthy of note due to an increased number of entries, with foliage houseplants on trend. There was also an increase in new retail concepts, with some good plant names for retail and those new to gardening.

The New Plant Awards, sponsored by the RHS, are the beating heart of the show and create an area bursting with inspiration for visitors. This year there has once again been over 100 entries – meaning that over the history of the show over 1,000 new plants have been showcased.

The winners are:

Annuals

Gold and Best in Category – Impatiens walleriana ‘Beacon®’ – Ball Colegrave Ltd

Silver – Hypoestes phyllostachya hippo ‘Rose’ – Kernock Park Plants Ltd

Silver – Nemesia fruticans hybrid ‘Boysenberry’ – Kernock Park Plants Ltd

Silver – Solanum ‘F1 2414’ Plum Tomato’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Helianthus annuus ‘Sunsation® Yellow F:1’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Fuchsia ‘Bella Faya’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Fuchsia ‘Bella Laura’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Fuchsia ‘Bella Maria’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Fuchsia ‘Bella Fuchsia ® Lisa’ – W D Smith & Son

Bronze – Petunia x hybrida ‘Amore Pink Hearts’ – Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Bronze – Petunia x hybrida ‘Amore King of Hearts’ – Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Bronze – x Petchoa hybrida ‘BeautiCal French Vanilla’ – Earley Ornamentals Ltd

Herbaceous Perennials

Gold and Best in Category – Agapanthus ‘AMB001’ ‘Fireworks’ – Fairweather’s Nursery

Gold – Agapanthus ‘Poppin Purple’ – Wyevale Nurseries Limited/ Fairweather’s Nursery

Gold – Buddleia davidii ‘Monarch® Blue Knight’ – Allensmore Nurseries Ltd

Gold – Dianthus x allwoodii hort ‘Cherry Burst’ – Whetman Plants International

Gold – Digitalis isabelliana (‘ISOB007’PBR) PBRAF ‘Bella’ – Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Gold – Lysimachia christianiae ‘Sunburst’ – Kernock Park Plants Ltd

Gold – Nepeta nervosa ‘Neptune’ – Allensmore Nurseries Ltd

Silver – Agapanthus ‘Andbin’ ‘Ever Sapphire’ – Fairweather’s Nursery

Silver – Dianthus ‘Aztec Star’ – Whetman Plants International

Silver – Dianthus ‘Blushing Star’ – Whetman Plants International

Silver – Dryopteris wallichiana ‘Jurassic Gold’ – Seiont Nurseries Ltd

Silver – Nepeta ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ – Fairweather’s Nursery

Silver – Salvia guaranitica ‘Amante’ – Wyevale Nurseries Limited and Darby Nursery Stock

Silver – Sempervivum arachnoideum ‘Coral Red’ – Lovania Nurseries Ltd

Bronze – Agapanthus ‘WP001’ ‘Ever White’ – Fairweather’s Nursery

Bronze – Digitalis x hybrida ‘Pink Panther®’ – Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Bronze – Geum ‘Fiery Tempest’ – Farplants Sales Ltd

Bronze – Geum ‘Coral Tempest’ – Farplants Sales Ltd

Bronze – Salvia greggii ‘Amethyst Lips’ – Seiont Nurseries Ltd

Bronze – Salvia greggii ‘Cherry Lips’ – Seiont Nurseries Ltd

Bronze – Sempervivum ‘Gold Nugget’ – Lovania Nurseries Ltd and Newey Ltd

Houseplants

Gold and Best in Category – Aloe zebrina ‘Danyz’ – Javado UK

Gold – Rhapidophora tetrasperma ‘Minima’ – Javado UK

Gold – Senecio peregrinus ‘Jumping Dolphin’ – Javado UK

Silver – Anthurium andreanum  ‘Anthfytwal’ – Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Silver – Philodendron bipinatifidum ‘Philodendron’ – Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Silver – Philodendron hastatum – Javado UK

Silver – Tradescantia nanouk – Javado UK

Bronze – Asplenium nidus ‘Campio’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Cambria Odontioda ‘Nippon’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Philodendron atom selloum ‘Atom’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Tillandsia intermedia x streptophylla ‘Curly Slim’ – Javado UK

Shrubs and Climbers

Gold and Best in Category – Clematis ‘Elodi™ Tudor Patio® Evipo 115 (N)’ – The Bransford Webbs Plant Company & The Guernsey Clematis Nursery

Silver – Clematis ‘Sugar Sweet’ – New Leaf Plants Ltd

Silver – Hebe ‘Sunrise’ – The Bransford Webbs Plant Company

Silver – Hydrangea paniculata ‘Early Harry’ – Lovania Nurseries Ltd

Silver – Lavandula angustifolia ‘BeeZee Blue’ – Darby Nursery Stock

Silver – Lavandula angustifolia ‘BeeZee Pink’ – Darby Nursery Stock

Silver – Lavandula stoechas lamorosia ‘TM Purple Flag ®’ – Javado UK

Silver – Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Breebay’ – Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Silver – Vaccinium angustifolium aiton × V. corymbosum L. ‘Berrybux’ – Javado UK

Bronze – Cordyline australis (‘TUS019’PBR) EU 49536 ‘Pink Star’ – Hillier Nurseries Ltd and Newey Ltd

Bronze – Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Kazan’ – Javado UK

Trees and conifers

Gold and Best in Category – Tilia x europaea ‘WILTIL’ ‘Golden Sunset’ – Frank P Matthews Limited

Silver – Prunus pumila var. besseyi x armeniaca ‘Aprikyra’ – Frank P Matthews Limited

This year’s judging panel include Sabatino Urzo from the RHS, Ken Cox from Glendoick Garden Centre, Tamsin Westhorpe co-chair of the Garden Media Guild and Melanie Livingston plant buyer from Fron Goch Garden Centre with HTA’s Director of Operations Martin Simmons overseeing.

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.

↑ Back to top