UK: Helianthus Ballad wins RHS sunflower award

The Fleuroselect Home Garden Association along with the Royal Horticultural Society have completed one of the largest trials of Sunflowers ever undertaken in Europe. Roughly 137 cultivars, submitted by Fleuroselect Members, were grown at the RHS headquarters’ gardens at Wisley (United Kingdom) and were assessed by a panel of expert judges throughout the summer. Twelve varieties have been awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), and among the winners is PanAmerican Seed’s Helianthus Ballad.

The Sunflower Trial Assessment Forum inspected the trial on six occasions during 2015 using the following criteria:

Quality of flower and foliage
Period of flower
Overall impact
Pest and disease resistance
Ease of cultivation and germination

Helianthus Ballad is a dwarf type, suitable for containers. Average flower diameter 5in. / 13cm. The Forum commented that Ballad is one of the earliest cultivars with a long season. It had even growth, is well branched and floriferous with good foliage.

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