Highlights from Cultivate'25

Photos © GIE Media Horticulture Group staff

Tasting ‘the’ purple tomato

Nathan Pumplin, CEO of Norfolk Heathy Produce, introduced The Purple Tomato, a product with 18 years of scientific research. Pumplin, a plant breeder turned CEO, said the key was when a British professor found two geness from snapdragon that turned on the tomato’s “color light bulb.” Since that point, Pumplin and his team have used traditional plant breeding methods to develop a variety that grows well and looks great while still being tasty.

The Purple Tomato is available through two growers: Little Prince of Oregon and Riverbend Nursery. It’s also available at retail at some grocery stores in North Carolina through the Washington, D.C. area.

Disappearing plant accessories

Sustainability has been a hot topic in the industry, and HIP Labels is offering customers a truly biodegradable plant tag. The BioTag (pictured below) meets ASTM D5988 requirements for soil biodegradability. That means that even after breaking down into microparticles, the BioTag breaks down further until it becomes part of the soil.

HIP Labels CEO Bob Lovejoy said adhering to this standard is important to avoid claims of “greenwashing,” or portraying a product as more environmentally friendly than it truly is. BioTag was developed with help from Kelvin Okamoto, whose consulting firm, Green Bottom Line, focuses on sustainable materials and packaging.

Climb-itt houseplant supports (pictured above) from Proven Winners and leafjoy are another sustainable solution. These poles, clips, stakes and wire are made from elephant grass and potato skins to create a sustainable choice in climbing and vining houseplant poles. These 100% plastic- and chemical-free supports are designed with climbing plants’ natural habitats in mind.

By offering the natural, bark-like texture plants would find in the wild, Climb-itt poles attract aerial roots. While Climb-itt poles will last for years indoors, they are completely biodegradable and will break down in the landfill.

Along with their extendable line of poles, the company also released a biodegradable horticultural “wire” made of the same material with all the properties of metal wire, as well as a moldable pole that can be formed into any shape after being heated in warm water.

The company was the only one in the hard goods space to receive a Retailers’ Choice Award at Cultivate.

Editor’s note: See our videos with these products at greenhousemag.com/media

More Retailers’ Choice Awards

Judges for The Garden Center Group’s Retailers’ Choice Awards at Cultivate’25 found 15 winners on the trade show floor.

The Garden Center Group’s Danny Summers and Tim Quebedeaux led the search as garden retailer judges walked the show floor during the Sunday of Cultivate, looking for the best new plants and products.

The judges submitted 53 nominations before narrowing it down to 15 winners of the awards, which are a joint presentation by AmericanHort and The Garden Center Group during the Monday of Cultivate. Here are a few of the winners.

Autumn Kiss, the newest addition to the Encore Azalea line, features bicolor semi-double blooms with a deep pink center and outside edge. It flowers heavily and reblooms season after season, with a compact, rounded habit and maturing to 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.

Monrovia is marking its century anniversary in 2026 with the debut of a new hydrangea: Centennial Ruby, which features deep red blooms that darken as they mature. This Hydrangea macrophyllastays compact, topping out at 3 feet tall and wide. It is recommended for Zones 4 to 9.

Centennial Ruby was prominently placed at Monrovia’s Cultivate booth, and CMO Katie Tamony said it will also be the marquee of the company’s 2026 marketing. The first 5,000 plants will include a tag with a limited-edition number. The hydrangea will be available on a limited basis to Monrovia customers in 2026.

Asiatic Pot Lily Looks ‘Tiny Massive’ from Growing Colors features bicolor black and yellow flowers with a large bud presentation and three to six large flowers per stem. The judges said it would make a strong fall sales item.