Our favourites for the coveted KVBC Medals at the forthcoming Plantarium|Groen Direkt 2024 show

An absolute cream of the crop: Clematis ‘Pistachio Cake’.

Plantarium|Groen Direkt 2024  (21-22 August) is the ideal platform to showcase your newest  plants if you’re involved in ornamental horticulture and the gardening industry. Arguably, the show’s most coveted prize for excellence in plant selection and breeding is the KVBC Award (read: medal) for Best in Show. This year, 42 entries will battle it out to vye for the highest honour.  The overview below is a run-down of what FCI thinks  are the most distinctive novelties. It’s not exhaustive and judging has been done based on product photography and details. There’s a lot more to discover at this year’s show but it gives an idea of the show’s wide-ranging appeal. Here are our favourites.

Seductive, peat-free Sedums

Granted. Officially, the plant series only vyes in the Visitors Vote category and is not an entry for the KVBC contest. However, we think Sedum telephium Seduction still deserves a mention.

Sedum telephium makes a great plant for in the border, patio pot or in the roof garden. They are drought and heat resisant and their blooms are magnet for bees and other pollinators. But Sedums do have a tendency to flop over late in the season, a problem which can be solved by pinching them back in the mid of June.

Tip pruning is no longer needed with the new, compact Sedum telephium Seduction series, bred by Florensis and grown in the Netherlands by Streng Growers from Boskoop, which this year has approximately 8,000 plants available. The series comprises six varieties, all of which features excellent basal branching, relatively small leaves and short, upright stems bearing large, floriferous blooms.

What’s more, Streng Growers produces Seduction Sedums in a peat-free compost, recognising the importance of peatlands for nature and climate.

Seduction Sedums are ideal for autumn mixes.

Clematis featuring striped petals with wavy edges

Botanically speaking, Clematis ‘ZO24010’ (Glorious Surprise), bred and submitted by J. van Zoest BV,  classifies in the viticella group, native to Southern Europe and including decidious, free flowering, vigourous and hassle free Clematis.
This new, semi double variety features slender pink and white striped petals with wavy edges.

The 8 to 10 diameter flowers appear from June to September, and the plant reaches a height of 300 cm.

This Clematis is claimed to be very robust and resistant to wilt disease.

Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHRL’ (SUBLIME ANNABELLE®) is claimed to be a good cut flower too

Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHRL’ (SUBLIME ANNABELLE®) is the latest addition to the Proven Winners® Hydrangea arborescens range. SUBLIME ANNABELLE® has very large flowers that change from light to dark lime green, with a striking pink center.

The variety is claimed to be heat resistant. Non-fading flowers rise above sturdy stems until late autumn. The dark green leaves contrast beautifully with the lime-green flowers.

Sublime Annabelle, bred by Tim Wood in Grand Haven, Michigan, makes a great shrub for in the garden but can also be used as a cut flower.

Valkplant B.V. from Hazerswoude and Spring Meadow Nursery Inc. from Grand Haven are marketing the plant. Valkplant B.V. has submitted it for the novelty inspection.

Cornus alba ‘Verpaalen 03’ (NIGHTFALL) ; nearly as dark as night

Cornus alba ‘Verpaalen 03’ (NIGHTFALL) prompts true garden lovers to consult the Cornus bible of Andre Gayraud to check whether a dark-leaved dogwood is an absolute first or not. Gayraud, in his Cornus compendium, describes dark red leaved Cornus sanguinea species and cultivars such as Cornus x rutgeriensis ‘Rutlan’ which only turn into spectacular crimson red in autumn. But the book gives no firm proof of widely existing dark-leaved Cornus.

Nightfall is a striking shrub with dark purple leaves that offer a colorful display in the fall. In the spring, the foliage is dark green, becoming darker as the year progresses.

The underside of the leaves has a gray, velvety sheen, which contrasts beautifully with the dark plant.

In winter, the red branches stand out, making the plant attractive even outside the growing season. The plant has an upright growth habit, is hardy down to -30°C, and can grow in both full sun and partial shade. ‘Nightfall’ is suitable as a hedge or screen and as background planting. Regular pruning promotes the formation of new branches and enhances the color contrast. Without pruning, the plant reaches up to 1.5 meters in height and width. The plant was bred and submitted by Harrie Verpaalen from Zundert and is protected with PBR.

Long awaited; the thornless Rosa rugosa ‘Take it Easy®’

Nothing rivals with the beauty of garden roses but everyone knows that they are high maintenance. Expect from Rosa rugosa which, particularly in seaside locations, slopes and banks, thrive effortlessly.

These rugged roses” are also known for strong fragrant scent and colourful hips that appear in late summer. Yet, no flower is perfect: their prickly stems may well be ideal for hedging or warding off wildlife or intruders, they are a true nightmare when pruning them.

Take It Easy® is a new double bloom Rosa rugosa variety that enchants with its profuse blooms in bright crimson. As it names evokes, it is easy to care for as it has no thorns, making it easy to handle.

It blooms repeatedly throughout the summer and fills the garden with heavenly fragrance. The rose is easy to grow; plant it in well-drained soil and in full sun for best results. With low maintenance, this rose is the ideal choice to add colour and fragrance to your garden. The added value of this plant: thornless, compact growth, lots of flowers. Rosa rugosa ‘Take it Easy®’ is marketed by Hinrichs Pflanzen from Edewecht, which also sent the plant in for testing.

Super food, super flowers, flower power

Ugni molinae ‘PI16’ (PRETTY BERRY) is a new easy care product from FlorAmor. Its name raised a few eyebrows as we had never heard of Ugni molinea before. Also, under the letter U in plant encyclopedia you usually find no more than seven plant genus.

However, it soon turned out that Ugni molinea is also known under a more familiar sounding name; Myrtus ugni or strawberry mirtle. This bushy, upright, evergreen shrub features leathery leaves, nodding, bowl shaped and fragrant white flowers followed by edible berries. It also goes by the moniker Chilean guave. We have believe that in the current era of super foods this shrub has good potential in the market.

Pretty Berry is drought-resistant, with its inflorescence and fruits it has beautiful visual ornamental value as well as delicious edible berries. The plant is marketed by FlorAmor from Lochristi (B), which also submitted it for judging. There are 10,000 plants available for the coming months.

The goldie locks in Hydrangea petiolaris

Hydrangea petiolaris ‘HBHP05′ (BRIGHT SIDE) is a golden-leaved form of the well-known woody climbing vine plant Hydrangea petiolaris.

In spring, the plant sprouts very striking yellow leaves. In summer, the leaves retain a yellow-green colour. The large, lacecap white flowers bloom from early to mid-summer. This climber is very suitable for a north-facing wall or fence. For good results, do not plant in a sunny location. This plant was selected by Huisman Nursery from Boskoop, plant breeders’ rights protection has been applied for. Huisman Boomkwekerij has submitted this golden-leaved Hydrangea for the novelty test and is also marketing it.

Sweetly innocent

Rubus (chingii var. suavissimus) Sugarleaf® ‘Innocent’

Rubus (chingii var. suavissimus) Sugarleaf® ‘Innocent’ is a remarkable raspberry because its  edible leaves can be used to sweeten food.  It is claimed that the leaves have a higher sweet content than sugar: 1 gram of dried leaves is equivalent to 15 grams of white sugar.

The leaf is reminiscent of that of Cannabis, but it is not, of course.

Sugarleaf® ‘Innocent’ is not a raspberry like the fruit-bearing raspberries, but an independent Rubus species from Asia, Rubus chingii var. Suavissimus.

The plant is very hardy and has tremendous vigour, growing to about 250 cm tall. But by topping the shoots at a height of 50 cm, the plant branches well and grows less tall. The plant comes with a large photo label and is available in sufficient numbers and immediately deliverable. Rubus Sugarleaf® ‘Innocent’ has been submitted by Joh. Stolwijk en Zonen Boomkwekerijen B.V. of Boskoop, the Netherlands.

A never seen before Clematis ‘Pistachio Cake’

Clematis ‘Pistachio Cake’ PBR is truly unique in that it features vintage-coloured, filled flowers  outlined with soft pinkish edges and a green centre. This two-toned hardy Clematis is already sure to make every head in the garden turn as there is no comparable species or hybrid with this colour combination.

The plant was won by Szczepan Marczynski PHD of Poland and is protected by plant breeders’ rights in the EU. Propagation by other companies is not allowed. The plant comes in a tall pot (80 cm, C2), tied to a stick with a large photo label and is available from now on. Clematis ‘Pistachio Cake’ PBR was submitted by Joh. Stolwijk en Zonen Boomkwekerijen B.V. of Boskoop, which also markets this plant.

A new chaste tree

For inhabitants from the island of Crete and other parts of the Mediterranean, Vitex agnus-castus aka chaste tree or monk’s pepper is nothing new as it grows wild practically everywhere. First Editions® Vitex agnus-castus ‘Bailtexthree’ (First editions® Queen Bee) produces masses of lavender-blue flowers arranged in graceful, elongated clusters.

The flower clusters grow to about 25 cm long and are true magnets for pollinators. The product details says that Queen Bee has a prolonged flowering starting in June (in the Netherlands Vitex usually begins flowering in August.

The leaf is palmate and consists of five to seven lanceolate leaves. The leaf colour is grey-green. The plant has an impressive tolerance to drought, heat and cold compared to other Vitex varieties. This shrub can reach a height of 2 to 3 metres, depending on growing conditions and pruning.

Queen Bee is ideal for creating a colourful hedge or a striking focal point in the garden. The PBR protected plant was bred, submitted, and marketed by First Editions® licensed growers in Europe and the UK, supported by Bailey Nurseries. In Bailey’s stand at Plantarium

Bailey Nurseries is a fifth generation family owned wholesale plant nursery, which will celebrate 120 years in business in 2025.  Operating from sites in Minnesota (where John Vincent Bailey Jr. established J.V. Bailey Nursery in 1905 on the same land where the company is headquartered today in St. Paul),Oregon, Washington and Illinois, the company’s combined growing space spans approximately 5,000 acres of greenhouse and field production. With more than 1,500 plants sold as bare root, liners, half finished and finished plants, the company’s range of products is extremely wide.

Plantarium|Groen Direkt 2024 will be held this week on 21-22 August

Opening hours:
August 21: 07:00 – 17:00
August 22: 07:00 – 16:00

The place to be, because:

• Presentation of the latest products in the green sector;
• Green Retail Awards in three categories: Best Novelty, Best Market Innovation, and Visitor Favourite;
• Green Future Hub with the most current insights on certification;
• Outdoor area with hotspot novelties, exhibitors, catering square, and outdoor terrace;
• Hundreds of exhibitors, mainly garden plant growers but also suppliers;
• Thousands of trade visitors, three-quarters of whom are garden plant purchasers for retail and wholesale;
• Warm welcome with free coffee, tea, soft drinks, and sandwiches.

More information:

www.plantariumgroendirekt.nl
info@plantariumgroendirekt.nl