Campsis Summer Jazz Fire awarded best new plant at Plantarium 2014

Campsis 'Takarazuka Fresa' (Summer Jazz Fire) has been selected as the best new plant at Plantarium 2014, an annual event in Boskoop, Netherlands. The plant was submitted by Hoogeveen Plants b.v. from Hazerswoude. According to the jury, the Summer Jazz Fire is a striking, compact plant which already flowers at a height of around 60 cm, which is unique within the Campsis range. The jury also praised the warm, orange-red flower colour and the healthy, dark-green leaves.

Hoogeveen Plants entered two cultivars from the Campsis Summer Jazz series for the new plant awards. The plants were bred by Koichi Sakaue of Takarazuka, Japan and are marketed by Ball Ornamentals. European PBR protection has been applied for. The varieties in the Summer Jazz series stand out from the traditional varieties for their compact habit. However, this variety also constitutes an improvement for consumers as a climbing plant for a wall, fence or pergola. This healthy climbing plant has excellent growing habits and requires little maintenance on the part of the consumer. The flowers already appear at a height of 1.5 meters instead of 2.5-3 meters. The flowers keep their color and do not fade. The nectar in the flowers is very attractive to insects, particularly bees. Campsis 'Takarazuka Fresa' (Summer Jazz Fire) has orange-red flowers. Campsis 'Takarazuka Yellow' (Summer Jazz Gold) has golden-yellow flowers.

Summer Jazz Fire was the only Gold Medal awarded in the shrub category this year… and there were more than 50 shrub entries. Campsis 'Takarazuka Yellow' (Summer Jazz Gold) won a Bronze Medal.

Three gold medals

As well as the best new plant, two other plants were also awarded gold medals by the jury. The first was Hydrangea macrophylla 'Deep Purple' by De Jong Plant BV from Boskoop. The jury felt that these were robust plants with highly uniform flowers. The flowers are deep purple with paler centres and are extremely attractive. Nandina domestica 'Lemon-Lime' by Kolster BV from Boskoop received the following verdict from the jury: very uniformly grown and well-presented plants. In the Nandina range with purple and red shoots, this cultivar with its pale-green shoots is an innovative addition to the family.

The jury also awarded 14 silver medals and 22 bronze medals.

99 plants judged

In the 32nd edition of Plantarium, 131 plants were entered for the new plant awards. In the end, a total of 99 were judged. Sadly, several participants were forced to withdraw their entries due to unforeseen circumstances. The new plants were judged by an expert judging committee from the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. More than 17,000 visitors attended the trade fair.

Plantarium 2015 will take place from the Aug. 26-29 in the Plantarium building at the Boskoop-Hazerswoude International Trade Centre. For further information, please visit the updated website: www.plantarium.nl.

Information provided by Ball Ornamentals and Plantarium.