75+ novelties expected for next edition of Plantarium|Groen-Direkt

At last year's Plantarium|Groen-Direkt Autumn Fair, exhibitors introduced 75 novelties. This year, the organisers expect this number to grow even further.

"We already have 25 submissions. Last year, at this point in time, we had hardly received any entries," the organisation explains. "Companies often submit late to ensure that their product can be presented and assessed at the fair in the best possible stage. The fact that we have already received 25 submissions is probably due to our call to enter earlier. Additionally, we are seeing several new companies presenting innovations. That is why we expect more market introductions of new products this year."

On the first day of the fair, 27 August, the Green Retail Awards for Best Novelty and Best Market Innovation will be presented. The Visitor's Favourite Green Retail Award will be announced at the end of the fair on 28 August.

Best Novelty
Most submissions concern new plant varieties. These are often newly bred cultivars competing for Best Novelty. For this category, the plants are assessed by the KVBC professional jury. Based on the presented quality and the added value compared to the existing assortment, the novelties can be awarded a bronze, silver or gold medal. One plant will be selected as the winner of the Green Retail Award for Best Novelty of Plantarium|Groen-Direkt August 2025.

Buddleja davidii 'Botex 014' (BUTTERFLY CANDY LITTLE BUBBLEGUM): "Various brightly coloured Buddlejas compete for the Best Novelty title."

The novelties submitted so far include a range of plant varieties from different breeders.

• Buddleja davidii '1808mag' (OCTOPUS MAGENTA) - Diderk Heinje Baumschul-Pflanzen-Handel GmbH & Co. KG.
• Buddleja davidii 'Botex 008' (BUTTERFLY CANDY LITTLE MAGENTA) - Van Son & Koot b.v.
• Buddleja davidii 'Botex 009' (LITTLE ROCKSTARS RED) - Florensis
• Buddleja davidii 'Botex 014' (BUTTERFLY CANDY LITTLE BUBBLEGUM) - Van Son & Koot b.v.
• Carex 'ET CRX 904' (MOON FALLS) - Handelskwekerij G. Hoogenraad B.V.
• Cercis canadensis 'JN100' (HEARTS A'FIRE) - Wm. J. hooftman bv
• Dahlia coccinea 'Gardenetta Velvet Crush' - Florensis
• Digitalis purpurea 'Hanabee F1 White' - Takii Europe B.V. / Florensis
• Ficus carica 'Minfigfor' (RED JULY) - Formidable Plant Breeders
• Hibiscus syriacus 'Rwoods8' (PURPLE CHIFFON) - Boomkwekerij Ronald Roos,
• Hochberg Nurseries Ltd. and Kordes Jungpflanzen Handels GmbH
• Hibiscus syriacus 'Rwoods9' (RUBY CHIFFON) - Boomkwekerij Ronald Roos, Hochberg Nurseries Ltd. and Kordes Jungpflanzen Handels GmbH
• Hydrangea arborescens 'Baiful' (FIRST EDITIONS FLOWERWOW) - Concept Factory
• Hydrangea macrophylla 'Hokosiri' (MILLION STARS) - Van der Peijl Tuinplanten
• Lavandula angustifolia 'Felice Silver' - Gebr. van der Salm
• Lilium 'Summer Sun' (LILY LOOKS) - Wetering Potlilium B.V.
• Mahonia eurybracteata 'Hillmah' (METEOR) - About Plants Zundert B.V. and Bloemen Young Plants B.V.
• Molinia caerula 'Banshee' - Plantipp BV > Cammeraat Potcultuur BV
• Pennisetum advena 'TUS022' (TINY TAILS) - Hoogeveen Plants B.V. and F.N. Kempen vof.
• Prunus persica 'Minpechfor' (GOLDEN CAESAR) - Formidable Plant Breeders
• Salvia nemerosa 'Big Blue Bicolour' - Florensis

Best Market Innovation
Plantarium|Groen-Direkt also awards two further prizes for innovations.

Magnolia figo 'Hedgetag': "Magnolia figo '# Hedgetag' by Diderk Heinje Baumschulen is the first candidate for Best Market Innovation."

The Best Market Innovation highlights new brands and concepts. The first submission comes from Diderk Heinje Baumschulen. This German nursery has already introduced many successful concepts to the market and is now doing so with Magnolia figo '# Hedgetag' – a Magnolia suitable for long-flowering, evergreen hedges. The organisers expect another 10 to 15 submissions for Best Market Innovation. These will be extensively presented at the fair. A jury of European retail chains will select a winner, who will receive the Green Retail Award for Best Market Innovation 2025 and is guaranteed a place on the shelves of one of the retail chains.

Visitor's favorite
Visitor's Favourite is the third Green Retail Award. It is open to new products that are immediately available in sufficient quantity for trade. All participating products will in any case be on display at the fair – both at the exhibitor stands and at the GROEN-Direkt trade fair. Hebe Varia® Wild Blue from Addenda Growers Association is the first submission for Visitor's Favourite. A Hebe combining variegated foliage with rich, long-lasting flowering. The organisers expect to present a total of 12 Visitor's Favourites to the public. The visitors' votes will decide which product receives the Green Retail Award.

Hebe 'HOP112' VARIA WILD BLUE: "Hebe Varia Wild Blue by Addenda Growers Association is the first candidate for Visitor's Favourite."

Photos and descriptions of all novelties can be found at plantariumgroendirekt.nl under Green Retail Awards. New additions will be posted almost daily.