Presenting the 2026 Industry’s Choice Award Finalists for Best New Variety
June 24, 2026 After many new introductions earlier this year, some varieties stand out from the rest. Greenhouse Grower will give out three awards in breeding at the Evening of Excellence during Cultivate’ 26 on July 13. One of these awards, the Industry’s Choice Award, is determined based on feedback from a panel of growers who attend California Spring Trials and rank their favorite new introductions.
Check out the slideshow above for a closer look at this year’s Industry’s Choice Award finalists, and keep reading to learn more about each variety. The Evening of Excellence is held on Monday, July 13 in the Short North Ballroom at Cultivate’26, powered by AmericanHort. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the event begins at 5:30 p.m.
Agastache ‘Honeysticks Gold’ (Dümmen Orange)
Honeysticks Gold features bright-yellow tubular flowers with hints of orange on upright flower spikes that stand above the body of foliage.
Helianthus ‘Always Sunny Gold’ (PanAmerican Seed)
Tall and strong-stemmed, these golden-yellow flowers with dark centers keep coming all season on highly branched plants for a stunning display in landscapes and gardens.
Pentas Street Art Series (Benary)
Street Art features extremely large flower clusters and a broad, well-branched plant habit, making it ideal for mixed combos.
Rudbeckia ‘Claire Orange’ (Takii)
The world’s first pollen-free F1 hybrid Rudbeckia, this compact, early-flowering plant boasts a tidy, uniform habit and an abundance of bright, clear orange blooms.
Sedum Spectacular (PanAmerican Seed)
This seed alternative to S. spectabile has a compact habit and sturdier flower clusters. The tight habit creates more color impact in the landscape, in smaller pots, and mixed patio containers.
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