HTA National Plant Show
© STEVER BURDON PHOTOGRAPHY
Brisk business at the HTA National Plant Show
It’s all about the plants At the HTA National Plant Show in June visitors were treated to a rich selection of introductions to fire up interest in plantaria and houseplant areas.
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t was heartening to see an impressive number, more than 137, of new introductions at the HTA National Plant Show in June illustrating the health and vigour of the plant market. Many of the cultivars won’t be ready for stocking until next spring and summer but at the show retailers were placing reserve orders, and nurseries and growers reported steady business with positive responses to their new catalogues and stock lists. The demand for houseplants continues with suppliers reporting that decorative foliage is the way forward. This held out in the new plant awards with the number of entries in the houseplant category showing the highest increase. The HTA’s New Plant Awards are a useful barometer of plants likely to appear in the media and be in demand by customers, and this year the Best in Show was Impatiens walleriana ‘Glimmer Appleblossom’. Exhibited by Ball Colegrave, Reading, it is one of seven colours in a new series of double
8 July 2022
flowering busy lizzies which importantly boast high resistance to impatiens downy mildew. The company’s Gareth Powell says it is now working on ideas and ways of merchandising with point of sale so retailers can easily communicate to customers why ‘Glimmer Appleblossom’ and the other colours in the series work well in all garden situations. “It’s a great consumer product,” says Gareth, “with a good habit, fresh coloured flowers and leaves and we will be promoting it in 2023”. The judges said they were all looking forward to welcoming impatiens back into the garden after a significant time not being able to grow them. Visitors reflected this sentiment by making it their favourite in the Visitors Vote.
happy to grow in sun or part shade and tough during times of heat and drought. It was entered into the competition by Newey Perennial Plugs and Liners, West Sussex. Darren Selvery from Newey, said interest in the geranium was high as it was also for Salvia ‘Pink Amistad’ introduced in May at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Annual and perennial winners Getting the most marks in the herbaceous perennial category was Geranium ‘Kelly Anne’ touted as a pink ‘Rozanne’. Large, pink-veined flowers appear from late spring to the first frost. It’s a great all-rounder,
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