2010 Fleuroselect Gold Medal Winners

American Native Plants Yield Cultivars for Gardens and Containers

Sep 14, 2009

Fleuroselect 2010 winners belong to three native North American flowering plants. They display qualities like compactness, long flowering seasons, and vivacious colors.

International plantsmen selected for the 2010 Gold Medal Winners variations in populations of:

These selections displayed recent trends in introductions of compact plants that bloom for long periods and produce bright fresh flower colors . These new Gold Medal winners will join earlier Fleuroselect winners at the 49 public gardens that display Fleuroselect selections.

‘Mesa Yellow’ is the first commercial yellow Gaillardia from seed. All America Selections also chose ‘Mesa Yellow’ as one of its 2010 award winners. This perennial blooms the first year after sowing from spring and to late summer with yellow 3" single flowers. ‘Mesa Yellow’ stands approximately 18" high and spreads about 22".

Sow late January to early February at 68°F while keeping soil evenly moist but not saturated. After germination, grow plants at approximately 55°F. Plants are ready for hardening off and planting outdoors about 120 days after sowing. Do not seed directly into the garden.

Plant ‘Mesa Yellow’ in a sunny garden spot. It grows well in almost any situation including hot/humid, hot/dry and cool/moist if the soil is well-drained. It can be a garden perennial to USDA hardiness zone 5 if planted in well-drained soil.

Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Mesa Yellow’ (Yellow Blanket Flower) belongs to the Asteraceae (Daisy) plant family. The species Gaillardia is native to the crescent of dry grasslands that stretch from the Prairie Provinces of Canada to Arizona. The flowers' likeness to brightly patterned blankets made by Native Americans gave rise to the common name, blanket flowers.

‘Crystal Peak White’ is a pure white selection of usually pink–flowering obedient plants.

This perennial blooms early in July and continues until September. Flowers are single, ¾" in diameter and the flower stalks show compactness and uniformity. The plant stands erect at about 12" high and spreads to 18".

Sow ‘Crystal Peak White’ seeds in March at about 68°C for garden plantings. Cover thinly with vermiculite. Keep slightly moist, but not wet. After germination, grow seedlings at about 59°F.

Transplant in May to a sunny garden spot at distances about 8" x 15" apart. Physostegia virginiana ‘Crystal Peak White’ is winter hardy from USDA Hardiness Zone 2 to 9. It prefers moist soil in a sunny spot.

Physostegia virginiana ‘Crystal Peak White’ (Obedient Plant) belongs to the Lamiaceae (Mint) plant family. This plant is native to eastern North America from Quebec to Manitoba, and south to Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and of course, Virginia. Termed the obedient plant, the flower heads take on a graceful upward curve when used as cut flowers.

'Million Suns' is a compact, ball-shaped annual plantwith golden yellow flowersthat are ½" in diameter. It grows approximately 8" high and spreads about 12". This cultivar flowers from May to frost.

Sow seeds in early February at approximately 65°F for garden use, and grow at approximately 60°F. Plant into a sunny spot in the garden at approximately 8" x 10" or into pots or containers. 'Million Suns' is low maintenance and highly resilient.

Sanvitalia speciosa belongs to the Asteraceae (Daisy) family and is commonly called the ‘Creeping Zinnia’. It is native to Southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America and South America.

What is Fleuroselect?

Fleuroselect is an international organization that tests, protects and promotes new flower varieties for the ornamental plants industry. Members are plant breeders, producers and distributors of ornamental varieties. Fleuroselect was founded in Frankfurt, Germany in 1970 and is currently based in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

The copyright of the article 2010 Fleuroselect Gold Medal Winners in Wildflower Gardens is owned by Georgene A. Bramlage. Permission to republish 2010 Fleuroselect Gold Medal Winners in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.