Meet the Retailers' Choice Awards from 2025 Farwest Show

Fifteen new plants and products were recognized during the 2025 Farwest Show with Retailers' Choice Awards, selected by a jury of volunteer garden retailers.

The awards were presented Aug. 21 at the Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon, in a presentation emceed by Danny Summers, managing director of The Garden Center Group. Both live goods and hard goods were eligible.

Ball Seed and Monrovia each received two recognitions, while Proven Winners had three. The judges picked several plants with black or dark foliage colors, which could be indicative of the “goth gardens” trend, said Summers, who added that the same trend appeared at the Retailers' Choice Awards at Cultivate'25.

The 2025 Farwest Show Retailers' Choice Awards winners, in alphabetical order by company name, are:

Ruby Ruffle Ornamental Patio Peach (Prunus persica) from Alpha Nursery, developed by the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University and part of the Star Roses and Plants Bloomables collection, is a compact ornamental tree that blooms with clusters of dark pink, ruffled flowers in the spring followed by burgundy foliage with unique wavy edges. This selection is well-suited for patio containers.

© All photos courtesy of The Garden Center Group

Dahlia Venti Fireburst from Ball Seed/Selecta One is a dahlia that is more red than Dahlia Dalaya Fireball, with a bigger anemone “burst” flower pattern.

Centaurea Silver Swirl (Centaurea ragusina) from Ball Seed/Darwin Perennials has distinctive silvery white foliage with wavy leaf edges. It offers better winter hardiness and is ideal for combination plantings and front-of-the-border plantings.

Edge of Night Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus) from Iseli Nursery is a form of black mondo grass with a very narrow white stripe that runs down the outside of each blade-like leaf, providing a subtle contrast with the predominant shiny black color.

Winter Moonbeam Hellebore from Meridian Young Plants has deep green leaves that are variegated and intricately veined in silver-grey.

Pink Spike Snakeroot (Actaea simplex) from Monrovia has chocolate-purple foliage with long, slender, light pink flower spikes in the late summer and fall.

Dark Fire Montbretia (Crocosmia) from Monrovia has smoky purple-green foliage with red and yellow bicolor flowers in summer. It’s a vigorous, clump-forming perennial and a hummingbird favorite.

The Growth Technology GT Focus range of plant fertilizers from PlantHaul is available for different types of plants, including succulents, vegetables, herbs, roses and orchids. Featuring a concentrated formula, with most only requiring 1 cap per gallon, each is designed for a specific plant type. These Australia-produced fertilizers are warehoused and shipped in the U.S.

Kodiak Jet Black (Diervilla rivularis) from Proven Winners is a tough, easy-growing shrub with dark burgundy-black foliage. The color is especially intense in spring and autumn. The bright yellow flowers add contrast in early summer.

Mop Top Fountain Butterfly Bush (Buddleia alternifolia) from Proven Winners has a unique fountain habit with long weeping branches covered in clusters of pale purple flowers. This butterfly bush blooms in spring.

Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Shadowstorm ornamental sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) from Proven Winners has heart-shaped, near-black leaves that are speckled with green.

Funky Flow Mahonia from Star Roses and Plants is a compact evergreen with bright green spring foliage that matures to a deep glossy hue in time for summer. It has a pop of neon yellow flowers through the winter.

Sausr from Treleaf is a leafy twist on plant pot saucers. They come in the shape of a leaf or lily pad in various sizes and colors. The veins on the drip trays prevent the pot from standing in water.

Moonshadow Morello Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) from Van Belle Youngplants has big raspberry-red blooms that pop against deep purple-black foliage.

Camellia sinensis ‘Yellow Tea’ from Youngblood Nursery is a small shrub that grows to 6’ with shiny green and yellow variegated leaves and small yellow flowers.