Awards

The New Zealand Iris is a perennial with a grass-like appearance. The leaves are striking bronze-green with a yellow stripe (Goldfinger). The variety ‘Taupo Sunset’ changes colour from yellow-green to purple-red in winter. It blooms in June–July. The iris-like flowers are white.
The concept is that each tray consists of a mix of Golfinger'® and 'Taupo Sunset'®, which is offered in garden centres.

To provide both consumers and professionals with clear information, Plant Select developed the 'One Boo' concept. This concept represents non-spreading bamboo cultivated via in-vitro. ‘One Boo’ highlights its non-invasive nature and compact, bushy growth. The brand includes several varieties that differ in stem colour, applications, size, ..., and is available all year-round. Since Fargesia One Boo thrives in pots, the PoS materials are designed with terrace and patio owners in mind. The concept is suitable for all European distribution channels, from DIY stores to retail and garden centres.

Lavandula intermedia Sensational! has broad, thick, silver-colored leaves. The flowers are exceptionally large (11 cm) and intensely purple, arranged on densely flowered spikes. It blooms profusely from summer to autumn, thanks to a second flowering cycle. Sensational! has a compact, upright growth habit, forming a well-branched plant approximately 60 cm high and wide. The plant is highly resistant to leaf spot and root diseases and emits a delicate floral fragrance.
The jury was charmed by the long flowering period, the large flowers and the strikingly thick ‘succulent’ leaves. For wet soils, the resistance is an added value. The plant is drought-resistant and has a chance of becoming a stayer in the assortment. The attractiveness for bees and bumblebees is an added value.

A small, compact, low-growing Japanese mountain hydrangea. This bushy, profusely flowering ground cover spreads via underground runners. It blooms from June to September with flat pink or blue flower clusters.
The jury appreciates also its potential as a low-growing ground cover in a shady environment.

Winter heather (Erica carnea and also Erica x darleyensis) has a very high nectar content, making it a valuable food source for bees early in the spring. ‘Torero’ blooms from February to April, producing striking red (heliotrope) flower spikes up to 8 cm long, which contrast vividly with the dark green foliage.
The jury appreciated the large deep red flowers. The variety blooms a little later than other Ericas, but offers a lot of nectar at a time when there is little flowering, which is valuable for bumblebees and bees.

Agapanthus 'Blue Curaçao' is a deciduous Agapanthus with exceptional floriferousness and beautiful light sky-blue flowers. In the selection field, this cultivar stood out year after year because of its abundant flowering. A particularly characteristic is its ability to continue flowering, which is rare in deciduous varieties. 'Blue Curaçao' is highly winter-hardy, making it an excellent choice for borders and perennial plant combinations, but it also thrives well in pots.

On the occasion of this anniversary, Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo' from Best Select was selected from all previously awarded cultivars as the 'Pearl of the Awards'. Awarded Gold in August 2010, Bobo has fulfilled its potential as an award-winning novelty. Hundreds of thousands of Bobos are now sold worldwide every year, with over six million sold since its launch. Kristiaan Van Laecke (ILVO) and Lucas De Nolf (President Best Select) received the trophy during the closing event.

With a group of fresh young girls – friends from their daughter Hanne – they give each cultivar its own unique face. Hanne already had a new variety named after her: ‘Hanne de Lo’, a sport from ‘Linde de Lo’ by breeders Marc and Jeroen Drieghe. The jury appreciated the decision to feature Flemish girls instead of professional models, which further emphasizes the natural beauty of azaleas.. The initiative also successfully highlights the recognition of the Ghent azalea by the EU in 2010 as the first non-edible regional product.

The jury finds this new cultivar of a very old garden plant very attractive with its vibrant flowers and distinctive leaf colour. It is attractive to bees and birds. The plant tolerates pruning perfectly, even by non-experts. It is a very healthy plant with a charming appearance, thriving not only in the garden but also in a pot, flower box, on the balcony or terrace. Moreover, it is suitable for planting in groups in public green areas.

In winter this tree stands out thanks to multiple trunks, on which the peeling bark provides an extra visual effect. It’s an early bloomer, with leaves appearing as early as the end of March and lasting until December. It is one of the few plants that flowers in the summer, from August to the end of November.

This mutant of ‘Teddy Bear’ is a slow grower that requires little pruning, though it tolerates pruning well. The colour of the scales is striking. The plant can withstand drought well and adds structure to a rock garden, where it can be perfectly combined with flowering plants. It is a versatile plant that also does well on the patio, in a pot, and is suitable for small gardens.