Awards

Decadt – Verhelst offers garden centres a "Summer Herb Mix for the Patio" in five different colours in 23 cm pots. Each colour is reflected in the label, which clearly indicates the use of the fresh herbs. The themes are: pizza, aqua, cocktail, gin, and BBQ. The herbs are available from June to September, 17 pots per layer in a mix of five different themes.
The jury unanimously recognized the added value for consumers, who can pick fresh herbs from their patio instead of using dried herbs. The five different labels and pot colours allow for an attractive presentation in garden centres.

A deciduous shrub with fragrant, lavender-blue flower plumes. This cultivar was selected for its compact, upright growth (to approximately 150-200 cm tall) and exceptional winter hardiness. The narrow, palmate leaves are fresh green and emit a pleasant fragrance when touched. The plant attracts a large number of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. It is suitable for borders, combinations with shrubs, or as a specimen plant.
The jury appreciated, among other things, the compact growth, which makes this plant suitable for smaller gardens, as well as its late flowering period, at a time when there are fewer flowering plants in the garden. Being a drought-tolerant plant of Mediterranean origin, it offers promising opportunities in the context of climate change.

A very hardy shrub whose powdery, silvery-grey foliage adds unique texture and contrast in the garden, especially when combined with other plants. Iceberg Alley blooms in spring with silver catkins with red stamens, is tolerant of moist soil, and is therefore an excellent choice for rain gardens.
The jury appreciated the decorative foliage, which can also be used as cut greenery. It is a compact Salix, valued as a bee-friendly plant and suitable for planting in wadis.

Caryopteris is a months-long blooming bee magnet that also tolerates drought and heat. Caryopteris blooms so profusely that some varieties experience slight discoloration and dropping of leaves and flowers. But with Beyond Midnight®, the foliage remains a beautiful dark green until the end, and the flowers retain their stunning deep blue colour.
The jury clearly recognized the added value of this Caryopteris within the current range and appreciated its visual appeal and climate resilience.

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.