Fleuroselect, the international organisation for the ornamental plants industry, announced six new Gold Medal awards this week. The plants will be available to the wholesale trade this year and in retail in 2016.

The Fleuroselect Gold Medal is awarded to new varieties that have been tested by Fleuroselect's independent judges at trial grounds across Europe and proven to clearly supersede existing varieties in terms of breeding, innovation and beauty.

Calamintha nepeta ‘Marvelette Blue’

Breeder: van Hemert & Co.

Attractive to bees, this compact Calamintha from seed is a first-year flowering perennial, blooming in 12 weeks from a spring sowing. Early flowering and large flowers of Marvelette Blue will have POS impact and shelf life is excellent.

Cosmos bipinnatus Xanthos

Breeder: van Hemert & Co.

This new Cosmos bipinnatus is a unique, soft, stunning yellow colour. Dwarf, early flowering and uniform, the plants are well branched and very suitable for containers. Its compactness, makes it ideal for transport. Xanthos adds a new colour in the compact Cosmos range and the short production time will make it a top attraction on garden center shelves.

Echinacea purpurea ‘Feeling Rose’

Breeder: HM Clause

‘Feeling Pink’ is more compact and floriferous than its comparisons in the trials and is easy to produce thanks to its shorter cycle, allowing a higher rotation. Compact with a good basal branching habit, it is also earlier flowering than others.

Helenium autumnale ‘Western Mixture’ (pictured above)

Breeder:  HM. CLAUSE

Western Mixture will be appreciated by growers for its early flowering and better branching, allowing this variety to be grown in a wider range of pots. Although not required, cutting back plants will reduce plant height and encourage branching. Fabulous flame colour make it easy to sell at retail. Its compactness and tolerance of even difficult conditions will go down well with consumers.

Ocimum basilicum Purple Ball

Breeder: NARIC Fruitculture Research Institute

This purple, ball-formed basil, is a brand new colour, enabling retailers to promote both its ornamental and culinary value. It makes a decorative pot in the kitchen or a unique filler in balcony boxes and flower beds.

Petunia x hybrida ‘Tidal Wave® Red Velour’

Breeder: PanAmerican Seed

A truly unique, rich red colour sets it apart from all other seed Petunias on the market. Thanks to its spreading habit, this fast grower can wind around a fence to create an attractive hedge, make ground cover in the bed or fill a large container as a patio showpiece. It boasts terrific botrytis tolerance, quick recovery from rain, and long-lasting flowers.

Pictures of the varieties not shown here can be found in the gallery below.