New Varieties Earn High Marks at Farwest Plant Showcase
September 8, 2020 
Three plants and four runners-up were named as People’s Choice Award winners this year for the Oregon Association of Nurseries and Farwest Show 2020 New Varieties Showcase, sponsored by Hip Labels.
This year’s Farwest Show did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that didn’t stop the New Varieties Showcase from happening. Some 39 plant selections were accepted into this year’s showcase after demonstrating improved qualities from prior selections, such as color, form, habit, or disease resistance.
“It was important to us to keep the New Varieties Showcase relevant despite the cancellation of Farwest, and to offer a venue for growers and breeders to show off their newest and hottest selections,” says showcase organizer Zen Landis. “We want to thank all the growers participating in the New Varieties Showcase this year, as well as the thousands of individuals who voted through the HIP Engager augmented reality technology and online platform.”
Selections were displayed on the Farwest Show website and in the August issue of Digger magazine. Voters were able to choose their favorites online at the show website or by scanning the plant images in Digger magazine using the HipEngager feature. More than 1,000 votes were collected before voting ended August 28.
After a final tallying of the votes, the three highest-voted plants, as well as some honorable mentions, were as follows:
First place: Sweet Potato Vine ‘Treasure Island Makatea’ (Ipomoea batatas)
Bred by Louisiana State University (LSU) and introduced by Concept Plants, the Treasure Island sweet potato series combines flavor and beauty, making it a real treasure for growers and gardeners alike. Makatea bears vigorous vines with chartreuse, heart-shaped leaves that look luscious spilling out of hanging baskets or containers. At the end of the season, gardeners can harvest the edible white-flesh tubers, which are ideal for Asian and Caribbean cuisine. Available as quarts from Walla Walla Nursery, and as liners and finished plants from Metrolina Greenhouses and Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants.
Second place: Alpine Wood Fern ‘Jurassic Gold’ (Dryopteris wallichiana)
Discovered by Bob Hollister near the Jurassic Coast, UK, and introduced by Concept Plants, Dryopteris ‘Jurassic Gold’ is a unique fern that has an excellent spring foliage color. The young shoots are golden orange fading to bright golden-yellow and green. Compared to Dryopteris erythrosora (autumn fern), the new shoots of ‘Jurassic Gold’ are bigger, bolder, and richer in color. Its fresh orange fronds brighten up shaded places in the garden or on the terrace. Plant ‘Jurassic Gold’ in a moist, humus-rich soil. It performs well in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9 and so far, no diseases have been observed. Remove the dead leaves of this deciduous plant after winter. Available as tissue culture and liners from Emerald Coast Growers, JRT Nurseries, and Meridian Young Plants.
Third place: Clematis ‘Little Lemons’ (Clematis tangutica)
Hybridized by J. van Zoest B.V. in the Netherlands and introduced by Concept Plants, this unique variety was selected because of its compact size, yellow bell-shaped flowers, seed heads, and long flowering period. Perfect as a garden plant, in containers and hanging baskets, its cheerful yellow blooms contrast nicely against the shiny, compact foliage. After flowering, the shiny seed heads appear, giving an extra decorative effect. ‘Little Lemons’ flowers from mid-May to early September. Prune in March to 4 inches above the ground. Available as tissue culture, liners, and finished plants from JRT Nurseries and Meridian Young Plants.
Honorable Mentions
The following plants earned runner-up titles:
- Trees: The Miss Congeniali-Tree Award went to Maple ‘Ruby Sunset’. Introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., ‘Ruby Sunset’ features a compact form, heat and drought resistance, and stunning scarlet fall color.
- Shrubs: The Brilliant Blossom Award went to Hydrangea ‘Akadama’. Introduced by Star Roses & Plants, the vibrant flowers of this haute Hydrangea are guaranteed to turn heads. Rich, reddish-pink flowers change to a deeper shade of magenta throughout the season, adding a splash of color to any container or flower bed.
- Perennials: The Pinnacle of Perennials Award went to Artisan Coneflower ‘Red Ombre’. Introduced by PanAmerican Seed, this new flowering perennial is the first F1 hybrid Echinacea from seed and offers vermillion flowers, drought tolerance, and winter hardiness.
- Annuals: The Five-Star Foliage Award went to Coleus ‘Heartbreaker’. Introduced by Ball FloraPlant, the velvety multi-color foliage of this Solenostemon has frilly chartreuse margins of each leaf that give way to a luxurious maroon border which contrasts against the hot pink center.
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