15 Products That Stood Out to Garden Retailers During TPIE 2025
January 28, 2025 Members of The Garden Center Group had a super Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE) last week. During the event, a group of garden retailers sought out great plants and products on the trade show floor to recognize with Cool Product Awards. The group presented 15 awards. Keep reading for an overview and links for more information on products awarded, or check out the slideshow above.
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Vanilla planifoli ‘Sunshine State’ (Agri-Starts, Inc.)
The idea a home plant collector could grow their own vanilla beans is pretty amazing. Agri-Starts’ Ty Strode says this Vanilla vine is self-pollinating and easy to grow in protected conditions (indoors) as it is sub-tropical. Blooms (and beans) begin to appear 24 to 36 months into plant development. It has a fabulous glossy-green leaf.
Variegated Money Tree/Pachira glabra variegate (Aroid Greenhouses)
A unique variegated sport of common money trees, Aroid’s Paula and Melanie Amezquita, shared details of their recent find. They said the variegation can show ranges of white to cream. Variegation is grafted onto a standard of the green variety. http://www.aroidgreenhouses.com
Drain Drawer Pots
This is a remarkable story of a couple who experienced issues watering their own plants and decided to create a new planter to perform better (and their own company). Drain Drawer Pots have a unique design that allows them to both hold water for the plant when needed and drain water away. The drawer is the key to this multi-function design. When the drawer is even with the outside of the pot, it drains. When pushed in about ¼ inch, it holds water for the plant to absorb. To empty, simply remove the drawer. Several sizes and colors will be available.
Glass Purses, Slippers and Wine Bottle Terrariums (Flori-Design, Inc.)
Flori-Design has created many unique terrariums and has received more Cool Product Awards than almost anyone (now at 11 awards total). This year, they presented three new designs, all custom-blown glass: a Purse in two sizes, a slipper, and a wine bottle. All of these come pre-planted (or landscaped) and retail ready.
Tradescantia zebrina ‘Pink Paradise’ (ForemostCo)
This new hybrid from ForemostCo has been in trials and is now being released into production. It features a remarkable neon-purple leaf that is so eye-catching. It will be great for hanging baskets as well as smaller sizes in mixed planters.
Androlepis ‘Party Dress’ (large form Bromeliad) (Grant’s Farm Nursery)
This new Androlepis from Grant’s Farm Nursery is a gorgeous large, variegated bromeliad spreading 5 feet wide and 5 feet tall. A sport from skinneri, it was Stephen Grant’s pride and joy that will be available in late 2026. The leaves are green, white, and a deep beautiful fuschia pink. A must-have in every landscape, it’s a stunning centerpiece.
Medinilla magnifica (Living Colors Nursery, Inc.)
This showy sub-tropical plant is a true marvel of nature. Its stunning pink flowers, which bloom in clusters at least two times annually, are a sight to behold. The plant’s glossy, dark-green leaves only add to its beauty. It is a popular choice for indoor gardening due to its low maintenance requirements and striking appearance. While Living Colors is now shipping this in 14-inch size, they also will have a red selection late in 2025.
Everlasting Preserved Rose Display With Necklace (Mossify)
Mossify has introduced something totally different than you usually see from them. Founder Lucas Picciolo said they are always looking for something really unique, especially as a gift item, and this is undoubtedly just that. The Everlasting Memories Rose is a 100% real rose, meticulously preserved to last for years, and is available in two colors: red and pink. It comes in a small, elegant box with a glass top that showcases the stunning rose. Below the rose is a delightful surprise: a beautiful heart-shaped necklace that includes a small ball in the center. When shone against the light, it reveals “I Love You” in 100 different languages.
Dieffenbachia ‘Big Ben’ variegated (Northland Floral)
Dieffenbachia ‘Big Ben’ from Northland Floral has stunning variegation. It is a large-form specimen plant that has stunning green and white variegated patterns. While Northland is currently shipping in 8-inch pots, it can reach about 6 feet in height at maturity.
Philodendron ‘Red Congo’ variegated (Penang Nursery, Inc.)
Cool Product Award judges have certainly seen and recognized a number of amazing Philodendrons in the last few years. This selection has all the fantastic characteristics of an award winner. Penang’s Brady Lo said, “The parents of this hybrid are Philodendron ‘Tatei’ and Philodendron ‘Red Imperial’, which produced Philodendron ‘Congo Rojo’, and this Philodendron ‘Red Congo’ variegated is a mutation which produces this stunning foliage.” Its leaves exhibit a captivating exhibit of deep red stems and a blend of deep green and coppery red and striking contrast.
Peperomia ‘Crème Brulee Less Orange’ (The Plant Company)
Owners Jason van Wingerden and Frank Paul presented two new award winners. This new Peperomia is part of the LeafJoy Trial Collection, which was found by a plant collector, and The Plant Company now has it in production. It has the most incredible color variations. The photo does not show the range of colors in this Peperomia.
Anthurium ‘Dark & Handsome’ (The Plant Company)
This new Anthurium comes from Dr. Jeff Block at DocBlock and is now in production as part of The LeafJoy Collector’s Edition Plant Collection. It features striking dark foliage that develops red veins to separate the textured leaf sections. Jason van Wingerden said availability is very limited, but they are introducing quantities as quickly as possible.
Biodegradable Moisture Meter (PlantDoc)
This new moisture meter was developed by Daphne & Austin Peters and the idea came from their infant son. It is the first and only 100% biodegradable, color-changing soil moisture meter. Daphne owns a plant shop in Portland (Daphne’s Botanicals), and they saw a bath-time book for their son that, when exposed to water, changed colors. They also saw diapers that had a color-changing feature. This gave them the idea: why not a simpler plant moisture meter? That idea and search for the right materials lead to the creation of a new product and company: PlantDoc, the first and only 100% biodegradable, color-changing soil moisture meter.
Philodendron florida ‘Ghost’ (R&D Nurseries, Inc.)
Robert & Natalie Roe have received a number of Cool Product Awards over the last few years for excellent new plant finds. This one certainly raises the bar for Philodendrons. The new foliage emerges a creaming white and, over time, then turns green. Robert said the white leaves do not produce chlorophyll, so the larger the green portion is for the plant, the faster it will grow, first producing the young white leaves. The contrast is spectacular.
Leaf-Shaped Plant Supports and Extendable Trellises (Treleaf)
Treleaf’s founder and creator, Zeba Parkar, has received multiple awards over the past three years for the creative products she is designing and producing, all in their Acworth, GA, location. Following their original leaf-shaped trellises, they are now adding a new Flora fiddlehead-shaped trellis and leaf-shaped plant saucers, the SAUSR! The new SAUSR comes in two sizes and three colors.
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