New varieties honored at 2014 Farwest Trade Show

Spring Fleecing Fringe TreeWilsonville, Oregon - Every year, the New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest Trade Show features dozens of plants that are new to the trade. The show, held August 21 to 23, 2014, at the Oregon Convention Center, serves professionals engaged in the nursery industry and related trades, including retail nurseries, wholesale growers, landscapers, landscape designers, and others involved in the green industry. This year's showcase featured 52 different trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals with interesting shapes, colors, growth habits and other characteristics.

“This was one of the most outstanding collections of plants we’ve ever featured,” said Ann Murphy, director of marketing for the Oregon Association of Nurseries, which produces Farwest. “It’s the quantity as well as the quality. Our judges and attendees were truly impressed with the plants that were submitted.”

The winner of the New Varieties Showcase Best in Show award, chosen by judges, was Spring Fleecing Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus ‘Spring Fleecing’). The judges are horticultural experts with longtime experience in the green industry. Winning the People’s Choice award, chosen by those attending, was 'Lemon Lace' Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa ‘SMNSRD4’ PPAF, CBRAF).

 'Lemon Lace' ElderberryThe judges also chose three Plants of Merit: 'Lemon Lace' Elderberry, First Editions 'Toscana' Barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘BailJulia’ PPAF, and 'Mighty Velvet' Stachys (Lamb’s Ears) (Stachys ‘Bello Grigio’ PPAF).

Making its public debut at this year’s Farwest Trade Show was Oregon Snowflake(Ribes sanguineum ‘Oregon Snowflake’ PPAF), a new flowering currant bred by Dr. Ryan Contreras at Oregon State University. It is novel for its highly dissected foliage and low-growing, compact growth form. Hardy to USDA zone 6, it offers full-size panicles of white flowers that appear in mid-spring. It grows to only 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

To learn more about the varieties in this year’s New Varieties Showcase at Farwest Show, visit www.FarwestShow.com/nvs.