'Tattooed' vinca series scoops award at Cultivate’18

This year PanAmerican Seed introduced their new vinca series: Vinca Tattoo. At this year's Cultivate'18 in Columbus, Ohio, the new series took home the Industry's Choice Best New Variety Medal of Excellence. What is so special about this new series?

“Each petal of the Vinca Tattoo looks like it’s inked with saturated color and contrasted by soft brush strokes of black. Tattoo is a bold and head-turning twist on traditional vinca and a series that tunes your greenhouse into what today’s plant-lover is looking for. The series includes four varieties of multi-colored, striped flowers: Black Cherry, Papaya, Raspberry and Tangerine. The plants are floriferous and well-branched, displaying unique flowers with an overlapping, fully rounded form. The blooms display the best color contrast under warm conditions with high light. The black eye and swirls in the flowers will be more intense with warmer summer temperatures."

Besides the award for Vinca Tattoo, PanAmerican Seed also won the prize for Industry’s Choice, Best Performing Variety: Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’. "This plant delivers maximum flower power, and continues to shine in landscapes with its superior performance. With a broad and consistent palette that includes shades of red, orange, purple, scarlet, cream, yellow, and white, it has excellent heat and drought tolerance and winter hardiness." Both awards were announced during Greenhouse Grower magazine's Evening of Excellence reception on July 16.

Industry's Choice Award finalists are selected by a panel of industry members that attended the California Spring Trials and see introductions in person. The award was expanded for 2018 to include top-performing genetics, recognizing strong products that excel in trials nationwide.

Birdie Lenard Fountain at the California Spring Trials presenting Tattoo Vinca Tangerine Vinca.

"PanAmerican Seed is thrilled for the recognition of new breeding, as well as established performers," says Anne Leventry, President of PanAmerican Seed. She accepted the award for 'Cheyenne Spirit' and touted its enjoyment on a personal level; it is widely planted in her home garden. She also thanked the hard work of breeder Ping Ren and product manager Lisa Lacy, who were instrumental in bringing this winner to market.