Kernock Park Plants have entered Superbells ‘Pomegranate Punch’ into the New Plant Awards.
Entries are flooding in for the New Plant Awards, sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society, which take place at the HTA National Plant Show on 26 and 27 June at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.
The awards showcase the best in new plant introductions from UK plant suppliers.
This year’s judges HTA President Caroline Owen from Scotsdales Garden Centre, Gardener and TV broadcaster Christine Walkden, plant breeder Peter Catt, RHS Trials Manager Mark Heath and Head of Horticulture at the Garden Centre Group Tim Clapp will have a challenging task in selecting the best plants from a strong field of entries. HTA Operations Manager Martin Simmons will chair the judging panel.
Companies submitting entries this year include: Earley Ornamentals, Fitzgerald Nurseries, Seoint Nurseries, Kilworth Conifers, Hillier Nurseries, Beekenkamp Plants, Young Plants, Farplants, The Bransford Webb Plant Company, Ball Colegrave, Kernock Park Plants, Wyevale Nurseries, Profit Plant UK, Darby Nursery Stock, New Forest Plants, Eagle Plants, Syngenta FloriPro Services, Boweco, Javado UK, David Austin Roses, Frank Matthews, Channel Island Plants, Fairweathers, John Woods Nurseries, west End Nurseries, New Leaf Plants, Suttons Seeds, New Place Nurseries, Young Plants, Florensis Flowers Seeds UK.
The New Plant Awards cover five categories: hardy nursery stock, herbaceous perennials, annuals, house plants and breeder innovation. Gold, Silver, Bronze and Best in Category awards will be presented, and Best in Category will go forward for Best in Show. Winners will be selected for the quality of plant, suitability for the market and whether it is an improvement on other plants currently available.
Results will be announced and presented by the judging panel on the morning of Tuesday 25 June and all entries, along with the winners, will be displayed in the New Plant Area at the show.
In addition to the judged awards, visitors will also get the opportunity to have their say about which plant should win in the Visitor Vote, sponsored by Floramedia. This result of the Visitor Vote will be announced on Wednesday 26 June at 3pm.
HTA Director General Carol Paris comments "The New Plant Awards continue to attract a high number of entries and provide a great focus for the show. It is hugely encouraging that despite the challenging seasons that the industry has been faced with we still see a plethora of new plants coming onto the market helping to inspire consumers."