Linda from UK-based Wyevale Nurseries wins competition to name new Phormium

 Phormium ‘Bohemian’.

A  team member at one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries has won a competition to name a new Phormium bred by new variety managers at Plantipp.

Linda Price, Wyevale Nurseries’ supply chain trading foreman, was the lucky winner picked by Plantipp’s owner Peter van Rijssen, who has also selected the company to produce the new plant.

Linda Price, Wyevale Nurseries’ supply chain trading foreman, whose entry to name a new phormium was selected. She is pictured with the new plant, called Phormium Bohemian.

Peter says: “We all really liked the name Phormium Bohemian that Linda put forward and are delighted with her suggestion. We had many brilliant options from the team members at Wyevale Nurseries, who entered the competition, but Linda’s really stood out.”

Plantipp supports plant breeders, manages their new varieties and specialises in royalty management.

Peter adds: “We’ve a large network of breeders, growers and traders worldwide. Our collection of new varieties is diverse and innovative.

“This new evergreen Phormium has outstanding foliage with dark plum centres and creamy pink outer edges. The sturdy, stiff leaves stay upright and have less flopping than other varieties. Use to add dramatic interest as an accent, specimen or container plant.”

The team at Wyevale Nurseries was told earlier in the year that there was a new Phormium in production, which needed an exciting, marketable, selling name and asked to suggest ideas.

Wyevale Nurseries was selected to grow the plant as it’s a leading grower of Phormiums. It’s well-known also for being one of a few nurseries in the country to still offer onsite propagation facilities. Plus, it boasts robust biosecurity too.

Production manager, Kyle Ross explains: “Peter approached me to ask if we could bulk up the material of a brand new Phormium. We’re known for our quality Phormium production, producing more than 30,000 every year in sizes ranging from three litres up to 20 litres.

“All our Phormium crops are propagated in-house via splits from clean motherstock and this was a deciding factor in us being selected to produce this new product.”

Phormium Bohemian will be available for garden centres to stock and landscapers and garden designers to use in 2025.

Linda was presented with a £40 Amazon gift card prize for her winning suggestion.

She says: “I am delighted to have won. It’s an amazing plant with lots to recommend it and I am looking forward to following it on its journey and seeing it out in the world making a name for itself.”

Wyevale’s main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.