Florall awards najaar 2023

The autumn edition of Florall on august 22 counted a total amount of 70 producers and twelve suppliers and export companies. A fairly complete range of green and flowering houseplants and all kinds of visually attractive plants was shown, often with multiple applications for the garden and patio, but also suitable for indoor use. There was confidence among the participants that it will be a decent autumn. There were many visitors from the Netherlands and abroad, with a remarkable number of visitors from Norway, Sweden, Italy, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands.

A professional jury once again awarded potentially interesting novelties. There were 20 entries in the 'variety' category, an absolute record. A new concept was also awarded with 'Ceci n'est pas Une Rose'. The jury assessed climate and future resistance, distinctive character, added value within the current range, visual attractiveness and the general impression the novelty made on them. Gold went to: Buddleja Butterfly Candy® Little Ruby, which stood out because of its compact growth and ruby red flowers. The silver was for: Symphoricarpos chenaultii Fiesta Berry and the bronze for: Helleborus niger 'Winterfall'.

For the first time, visitors were also allowed to vote. The audience award went to Echinacea SunSeekers Sweet Fuchsia, a DS Plant entry.

Gold

CONCEPT: Ceci n’est pas Une Rose - Meerplant

The name may already sound a bit familiar, because during Florall in March, Rosa 'Green Summer'; one of the 3 varieties sold under this concept, was awarded gold as a new variety. At first sight this ground cover does not look like a rose. The small-flowered florets have been selected for their health, climate resistance, abundance of flowers, user-friendliness and beautiful colours. The jury appreciated that this concept emphasizes the use of roses as ground cover. These climate-resistant varieties can also do well on the patio, with the rose hips providing additional decorative value afterwards.

Gold

VARIETY Buddleja davidii ‘BotEx 006’ - Willy De Nolf

Brand name: Butterfly Candy® Little Ruby. The flowers have a light, sweet scent and are very attractive to butterflies and bees. The jury praised this compact, well-filled and richly flowering type, with striking ruby-red flowers, also for its climate resistance, biodiversity value and all-round application options. This plant fits in small gardens, but also in a pot on the terrace.

Silver

VARIETY Symphoricarpos chenaultii ‘Rant02’ - Boomkwekerij Antonissen (Groot Groen Plus)

Trade name: Fiesta Berry. Beautiful, compact cultivar with distinctive fine, variegated foliage. Healthy plants with a fresh appearance. The jury appreciated the very strong climate features of this plant. It can withstand both drought and wet conditions and is very disease resistant. The variegated drawing is stable and does not turn green. This entry also won silver at GrootGroenPlus 2022. This fair always submits 3 novelties for Florall.

Bronze

VARIETY Helleborus niger ‘Winterfall’ - Helleborus

Winterfall is a compact helleborus whose flowers are clearly visible. The lot presented was very uniform. Very positive is that this variety blooms before Christmas. Besides in the garden, there are also possibilities on the terrace or balcony. The variety is very disease resistant.

Gold

VISITORS AWARD Echinacea SunSeekers Sweet Fuchsia - DSPlant

This variety won the hearts of visitors with its bright and vibrant fuchsia-pink petals. It stays short (up to 45 cm), thrives in sunny gardens and flower beds and adds a splash of colour to any outdoor space. It is also useful as a cut flower and attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators, adding to the ecological value of the garden.

Florall Awards Voorjaar 2023

The spring edition of Florall attracted 84 exhibitors and a lot of visitors from Flanders and abroad. A fairly complete range of green and flowering houseplants and all kinds of visually attractive plants was shown, often with multiple applications for the garden and patio, but also suitable for the living room.

Once again, a professional jury awarded potentially interesting innovations. In the category 'variety' there were 16 entries, including beautiful acquisitions. After an intense deliberation, in which the botanical characteristics, the possibilities for application and the added value in the garden center were weighed, the jury decided to award Rosa 'Green Summer' with gold; Distylium 'Swing Low' (PIIDIST-VI) - (First Editions®) took silver and Taxus baccata 'TINY T' took bronze. In its assessment, the jury weighed heavily on the added value the new cultivars bring to the existing range of their species.

With 'For every garden' there was also a new concept awarded.

Gold

Rosa ‘Green Summer’ – (Ceci n'est pas Une Rose®) - Meerplant BV

At first sight this ground cover does not look like a rose, hence the brand name. This cv. forms an extreme dense carpet of green glossy leaves that gives no chances to weeds. The small white, fragrant single florets are frequented by bees.
In autumn, the red hips provide extra ornamental value. The selection was based on disease resistance, climate resistance, flowering richness, user-friendliness, beautiful colours and their ground-covering character. They fit perfectly in the front of perennial borders, beds and public green areas, but also in a pot on a table, both indoors and outdoors. Height: 20 – 30 cm – Plant distance: 50 cm.

The jury judged that this was the most innovative cultivar of the sixteen candidates. This rose looks very decorative both inside and outside.

www.meerplant.be

Silver

Distylium ‘Swing Low’ (PIIDIST-VI) - (First Editions®) - Willy De Nolf nv

Distylium 'Swing Low®' is a low-growing evergreen shrub that makes a perfect sprawling groundcover. The plant grows only 75 cm high and 150 cm wide and has blue-green leaves, which are densely packed on the horizontal branches. Like all First Editions® Distylium CVs, Swing Low® is a multifunctional plant that can be used in multiple applications. It tolerates pruning well and is resistant to diseases and insects.

The jury believes that the Distylium species deserve more attention, because they are healthy plants that add value to the garden. This low staying cv. can also be used as a ground cover.

www.denolf.com

Bronze

Taxus baccata ‘HER2016T02’ (TINY T) - Herplant BV

This is a very compact Taxus with an upright habit and fine, dark green needles. The plant is very suitable for low planting or low hedges and requires very little maintenance.

The jury sees as additional assets that it is a native species, which is drought tolerant.

www.herplant.be

Gold

Concept: For Every Garden - Kris Stevens

This concept for ornamental grasses is designed to inform the customer as well as possible, so that he can make an independent choice within the wide range of ornamental grasses. The plant height is clearly indicated on each label, accompanied by the words 'Small', 'Medium' or 'Large', as well as pictograms to indicate evergreen and hardy grasses. An information board fits both on CC trolleys and on the concept table. There are also information boards with smaller dimensions and banners with the inscription: 'For Every Garden'.

planten.stevens@gmail.com