Official Winners at Farwest

Ellen C. Wells

Every year, attendees and official Oregon Association of Nurseries judges choose their favorites during their time at Farwest in Portland, Oregon. This year was no exception.

The People’s Choice Best of Show Award winner is voted on by show attendees visiting the New Varieties Showcase and this year the majority of the votes went to Sofia Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). This same plant won a Retailers’ Choice Award at Cultivate this year, so it must be a great plant! Introduced by Concept Plants, Sofia is an easy-care ornamental cherry with fine-textured foliage in a compact habit of no more than 40-in. tall. Hardy to Zones 5a to 8b. 

People’s Choice Awards of Merit also went to Centennial Ruby Hydrangea from Monrovia, Candybox Chilean Guava from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs and DreamScape Smooth Hydrangea through First Editions Shrubs & Trees from Bailey Nurseries.

In addition to the People’s Choice Best of Show award, the professional judges awarded the New Varieties Showcase Judges Choice awards, and Best in Show went to Saturnalia Oak from Heritage Seedlings & Liners. This is a hybrid of Silverleaf (Q. hypoleucoides) and Red Oak (Q. rubra) found among seedlings grown at Heritage Seedlings & Liners. Red-blushed new leaves mature to glossy dark green with acute lobes and thick texture with a silvery green underside. Long-lasting fall color is bronze-green to rusty red. Many of its attributes, such as a vigorous upright growth and being, widely adaptable make it an excellent choice as an urban tree nationwide. Grows to 25-ft. wide by 40-ft. tall and is hardy in USDA Zones 5b to 9b.

The judges also gave three Awards of Merit to Lantana Luscious Vanilla Breeze from Proven Winners, Sofia Cherry Laurel from Concept Plants and Crimson Feathers False Spirea from Concept Plants. GP

Top: Sofia Cherry Laurel from Concept Plants
Bottom: Saturnalia Oak from Heritage Seedlings & Liners