New and innovative plants remain in the spotlight at the HTA National Plant Show and this year is no exception with the New Plant Awards showcasing the best plant introductions from UK suppliers and a selection of international breeders.
This year the awards welcome a new partnership with the RHS, a first time sponsor of the New Plant Awards. The partnership comes at an opportune time as the RHS celebrated the centennial of its famous Chelsea Flower Show which has proudly showcased flowers since 1914. Plants of the centenary will be on display for visitors to enjoy at the RHS stand.
Judges will select awards from six categories: hardy nursery stock, herbaceous perennials, climbers, 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 judges awards, visitors will also get the opportunity to have their say about which plant should win in the Visitor Vote, sponsored by Floramedia.
The Visitor Vote proved to be extremely popular in 2012 with Hydrangea Macrophylla 'Dark Angel' from Darby Nursery Stock taking the award of Best New Plant (presentation picture above). This year the awards of Best in Category and Best in Show will be presented on Wednesday 26 June at 3pm.
In 2012 the New Plant Awards attracted over 100 entries with Hebe 'Rhubarb and Custard' from Tully Nurseries in Dublin crowned 'Best in Show' (picture below). Following media coverage of the news Tully Nurseries received huge interest from nurseries and garden centres for the plant, and went on to win the best new plant award at the Bord Bia Glas Show and the accolade of best new plant in Ireland and the UK for 2013.
Niamh Tully of Tully Nurseries said: "We were absolutely thrilled when Rhubarb and Custard won Best in Show at the HTA National Plant Show. We secured large orders at the show and in the months that followed for 2013."
