The Society of American Florists (SAF) announced the 2019 Outstanding Variety winners from their Outstanding Varieties Competition. Nine different varieties were awarded with the best variety award for their respective class and one variety was awarded Best in Show, namely decorative (cut) foliage Cotinus of The Sun Valley Group. On top of that, they also won the People's Choice for the Anouska Roselily and took home 5 Blue and 3 Red Ribbons.
Lane DeVries, owner of Sun Valley Group with Cotinus. On the right Anouska Roselily .
Each year, hundreds of entries are evaluated by a team of three judges on the following criteria: color and commercial appeal; stem and foliage; bloom form; bloom size; and overall quality and presentation.
In the category best in class. the cut roses were divided into three separate classes: the rose, the garden rose, and the spray rose. For the standard rose the Queen Berry variety from Continental Farms took the honors. For the garden rose Bellalinda Cerise by Fresca Farms was the variety that came out on top. Finally, for the spray rose, RioRoses' Sweet Sensation was voted best in class.
Lilium Papaso of Oregon Flowers
Oregon Flowers' Lilium Papaso variety took the highest honors in the cut bulb class. "This award is an honor to receive. Lilium Paposo has always been a favorite of our company and now to receive national recognition, we are delighted. The variety was hybridized by Gebr. Vletter & den Haan, supplied by Zabo Plant bv and grown by Oregon Flowers, Inc. Its year-round availability, pure white flowers, massive bloom size, and sweet fragrance were a few attributes were areas the variety scored high in", says Tyler Meskers of Oregon Flowers, Inc.
For the gerbera, Kitayama Brothers' Landmark variety was voted best in class. Clarice by Natural Flowers was voted best in the class of alstroemeria. For the dianthus class, Dümmen Orange's Damascus variety took the highest honors and chrysanthemum variety Shortcake by Deliflor Latin America was voted best in its respective class.
Finally, for the "other cut flower" category the Hydrangea grown by Groflowers won.
Ribbons
Besides the ten awards, also blue and red (runner-up) ribbons were handed out, click here for the full list of winners.
8 ribbons for Sun Valley Group
Besides the Best in Show and People's Choice award, Sun Valley also took home 8 ribbons, 5 blue and 3 red. They received Blue Ribbon for Salmon Spirit Ilex, Cimone Lily, Anouska Lily, and Cotinus
Maxima Lily.
The following varieties were awarded with Red Ribbon: Monica Lily, King's Cross Lily, and Amethyst Hydrangea.
4 ribbons for Alexandra Farms
One of the other Ribbon winners is Colombian farm Alexandra Farms. They took home 4 ribbons and are very honored. "Recognition in the competition carries weight with buyers, as well as a great sense of reward for everyone at our farm in Colombia. We’re honored to be recognized in this year’s competition", the farm states in a press release.
Two of Alexandra Farms's roses were awarded Blue Ribbons and two Red Ribbons.
Mayra's Rose and Princess Hitomi (Beautiful History) were awarded Blue Ribbons.
Mayra's Rose was introduced to their Deluxe Garden Rose Collection in 2015. Medium pink at the center yields to a lighter pink at the outside of Mayra’s Rose. "She opens fully to a medium size, assuming a classic rosette shape. This Spanish rose has a vase life of 10 days and a light rose fragrance."
Princess Hitomi (Beautiful History) was introduced to their Princess Japanese Garden Rose Collection in 2019. "She is exclusively grown by Alexandra Farms. A medium to large rose with a seductive but not overpowering fragrance of lavender, Princess Hitomi is remarkable for her pure color, a cotton-candy pink. Because the tone of her hue is so even, it brings to the fore delicious contrasts in the form of her petals: her inner petals are rolled into four hearts, while her outer petals curl under into a layered array of starry points. This Japanese rose has a vase life of 10 days and a medium strong lavender fragrance."
Amnesia and Princess Maya (Night Rain) were awarded Red Ribbons.
Amnesia was introduced to their Deluxe Garden Rose Collection in 2019. "Her delicate, muted hue seems to shift from lavender to gray-lilac, suffused with hints of creamy café au lait and set off with pale green in the outermost petals. Her spiraled petals open partway to a shapely flower head, medium in size. Subtle and sophisticated, this unique beauty was bred in France and has no fragrance."
Princess Maya (Night Rain) was introduced to their Princess Japanese Garden Rose Collection in 2018. "With petals of a pure light peach, Princess Maya opens into a medium-size rose with outer petals that curl under, forming starry points, and inner petals that make elaborate folds in the classic garden-rose quartered pattern. This Japanese variety has a vase life of 12 days and a strong lavender fragrance."
4 ribbons for Jet Fresh Flower Growers
Also, Jet Fresh Flower Growers submitted varieties from their farm and also won four ribbons for their new varieties. Also, they are very proud with the recognition."This is the second year we’ve submitted roses from our farm to compete since becoming rose growers in 2018. As a young farm, we’re very proud to compete for recognition in the company of prestigious flower farms around the world."
This year, they submitted new varieties available at their farm. Pomarosa won a blue ribbon; and their red ribbon winners are Lighthouse, Sandy and Hotspot.
Pomar
osa
"Our new peachy-blush favorite, Pomarosa won a blue ribbon in the category of roses. — the highest award under Best in Show, where other amazing rose varieties were also awarded also won in this selective competition. Pomarosa is one of our newest rose varieties available at our farm in Cotopaxi, Ecuador, Pomarosa won for its impressive head size and versatility for weddings and events.
Ligh
thouse
"Our most demanded yellow rose, Lighthouse proudly won a red ribbon this year. This golden yellow variety from the breeder, United Selections, opens fully revealing vibrant petals that ruffle as they bloom."
Sandy
"Our new Sandy roses have also won a red ribbon this year. This variety is gaining a lot of attention as a dusty-cream rose with a soft hint of blush; comparable to the popular “Sahara” and “Quicksand” roses. Sandy is a wonderful variety for weddings and events bred by Jan Spek Rozen and Conectiflor, S.A."
HOTSP
OT
"Last but certainly not least, our new Hotspot roses also earned a red ribbon at SAF’s 2019 Outstanding Varieties Competition. This hot pink rose is another one of our new varieties growing at Jet Fresh Flower Growers. Hotspot is an incredible opener revealing spiraled petals that capture your attention and put you in a daze, with no confusion of its beauty. Hotspot is proudly bred by NIRP International."