The Ball Colegrave Annual Summer Showcase is one of the UK’s premier trade events. With more than four acres of seasonal plant displays and variety trials, set in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside, the event attracts an audience of more than 3,000 growers, independent and multiple retailers, parks and landscapers, garden writers, plant breeders, trades associations, students and home gardeners.
This year saw a record number of visitors attend, each voting for their favourite varieties and colour schemes using a blue marker flag. With over 1300 catalogue varieties, 300 new varieties and 700 experimental products on display, there was certainly plenty to choose from! However, the products which received the most flags once again leaned heavily towards new plant varieties and novelties, suggesting the market continues to hunger for innovative new plant products as growers and retailers look to stay one step ahead of the trend.
The winning varieties as voted for by 3,000 visitors:
1.Petunia NightSky® New to the garden market this season, it has proved such a retail success that it has moved up the results table for blue flags from last year’s third place position to overall blue flag winner this year. Petunia NightSky really shines in baskets and containers with the white spots on dark violet flowers looking like an ever-changing constellation in the night sky. It’s easy to see why this variety was shortlisted in May for the RHS Chelsea Show ‘Plant of the Year’ awards and has received numerous industry awards since its launch.
This is simply an extraordinary breakthrough colour pattern. An absolute first for Petunia and a rising star in UK garden centres.
2.Grandaisy® Pink Halo is the latest in interspecific plant breeding, carrying super large 6cm diameter pink flowers with a striking rose-pink ring around the eye. This cutting-raised Argyranthemum is a strong, disease-free performer which blooms early, is cold and heat tolerant and therefore thrives in most climates. Plants are very free-branching and strong, making mounded bushy plants that flower abundantly throughout the Summer. Grandaisy® grows to about 45-60cm height and spread and looks spectacular as a patio plant, in balcony boxes and as a bedding plant. The plants take little care and is bound to become a consumer favourite. Pink Halo is just one of 4 striking colours in the new Grandaisy® series, which includes White, Red and Bright Yellow.
3. Calla Lily Callafornia Red. The introduction of the Callafornia range of Calla Lily last year created enormous interest with visitors, receiving three out of the top 10 blue flags. This year suggests the interest for this product has not changed with four Calla Lily in the top 10 favourite varieties. Why? Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia hybrids) are incredibly quick and easy to grow, trouble free and with their exotic flowers have enormous retail appeal and should command a premium price. Their garden performance is outstanding, having demonstrated in Ball Colegrave’s three years of plant trials they can tolerate a wide range of summer weather conditions, delivering great garden success for the home gardener. Plants will flower from June to September. Callafornia Red was the top voted Calla Lily. Flowers open pink to red and deepen to a true red.
