Best plant was Nepeta x faassenii 'EarliBlue', according to visitors, taking 32% of the vote. Next was Salvia Tropicolor Sunrise, with 15% and Salvia Cherry Melba with 14%. Entry list is here.
Both the Nepeta and 'Sunrise' are grown and launched onto the UK market by Farplants. Plants for Europe is breeders' agent.
Best product was voted as Proptek Cool Pots.
Judges choices are here for plants and here for products.
Sadly, the show plant on the awards bench went missing at the end of the Four Oaks event. Plants for Europe's Graham Spencer said: "We are not surprised that people cannot wait to get their hands on Nepeta EarliBlue! In our trials, it has been a stand-out variety, with better performance than any of the varieties that we compared it with. It is early, with perfect branching and tidy habit and a seemingly endless supply of flowers. Nepeta have also been great performers in this tough summer (early wet, then hot and dry) – EarliBlue has shrugged off the challenges of the season and been 100% reliable.
"EarliBlue has been developed by Rick Grazzini of GardenGenetics. Rick has a good eye for developing and selecting new plants that are outstanding performers in the nursery, on the sales bench and in the garden. Watch this space for more varieties from his breeding house!"
