Best of Show – Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ from Proven Winners

Plant was selected due to an exceptionally long lasting display of delicate white flowers. Plant growth habit was very uniform. Foliage was covered by a canopy of airy blooms. ‘Diamond Frost’ looks excellent by itself or in a combination with other flowers in beds or containers.

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Best New Variety Celosia ‘Fresh Look Gold’ from Benary Seed

The showy flowers were large plumes of golden feathers on dark green plants. Growth habit and flowering were very uniform. Flowers were resistant to fading.

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Novelty – Cuphea ‘Flamenco Samba’ from Proven Winners

A bold and brilliant purple and red bicolor flower bloomed all through the season. Growth habit was uniform, creating a mound of foliage.

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Novelty – Achillea ‘Gypsy’ from Fischer USA

The bright white double flowers were very prolific against the dark green foliage which makes a great contrast. Plants did well in ground and in containers with a rounded compact growth habit.

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Novelty – Salvia longispicata x farinacea ‘Mystic Spires Blue’ from Ball FloraPlant

Plants have stately spires of abundant blue flowers and are well branched. An annual flower with a long bloom period.

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Best Argyranthemum (bed) – ‘Sunlight’ from The Flower Fields by Ecke Ranch..

Plant was selected for a non-stop display of primrose colored flowers. The compact and uniform growth habit makes it an excellent choice for containers.

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Best Argyranthemum (bed) – ‘Sunlight’ from The Flower Fields by Ecke Ranch.

Prolific yellow flowers made this a winner for the third year in a row. Excellent flowering with a vigorous and uniform growth habit. A strong performer in the ground with self-cleaning old flowers.

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Best Begonia (tuberous type) – Begonia ‘Solenia Salmon Coral’ from Oglevee.

Beautiful salmon-coral flowers bloomed early and lasted late through the season. The continual bloom was complimented by a vigorous plant with a good growth habit.

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Best Begonia (wax type) – ‘Nightlife Rose’ from Benary Seed.

Abundant rose colored flowers covered this uniform plant with dark foliage. This variety was noted to be the best “black on black” variety (dark flowers, dark foliage) developed in about the last thirty years. It will also tolerate a more sunny location.

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Best Calibrachoa – ‘MiniFamous Compact Blue’ from Selecta First Class.

A good performer both in the ground and in containers. Flowers were a showy shade of blue/purple and opened earlier in the morning than other calibrachoas. It was rated high for the dark foliage and uniform growth habit.

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Best Coleus – ‘Black Knight’ from Proven Winners

This coleus was selected in part for the “kaleidoscope” of foliage color and unique leaf shape. The very vigorous plant was described by some as to be “on steroids”.

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Best Dianthus – ‘Elation Red’ from S&G Flowers

The dark foliage with the rich cardinal red flowers resulted in a stunning display of color. Plants were noted for the excellent uniformity, healthy appearance and good heat tolerance.

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Best Geranium (exotic) – ‘Graffiti Double Salmon’ from Fischer USA

Flower petals were double and had a jagged edge which create a unique appearance resembling shooting stars. Flowers bloomed continually all season. Plants were attractive with dark foliage and a uniform growth habit.

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Best Geranium (ivy) – ‘Acapulco Compact’ from Fischer USA

Plants had prolific flowering combined with a uniform and compact growth habit. It performed great in both ground and containers. Blooms have a unique color with an eye and were free flowering.

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Best Geranium (zonal) – ‘Rocky Mountain Dark Red’ from Fischer US.

The fantastic dark red and abundant flowers made a stunning display. The plant had medium vigor and a uniform growth habit.

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Best Impatiens – ‘Envoy Red’ from Bodger Seed

The large, dark red flowers were striking against the dark green foliage. Plants were vigorous but had good uniformity.

Best Impatiens (New Guinea) – ‘Super Sonic Magenta’ from Fischer USA

The flower color combined well with the dark foliage. The large flowers were showy on these uniform plants.

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Best Lobelia – ‘Waterfall Azure Mist’ from Ball FloraPlant

Flowers were a true blue with an attractive bright eye. Good looking flowers persisted all summer and into the fall. Plants were noted for excellent vigor and cascading growth habit Good plant for use in containers.

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Best Osteospermum – ‘Tradewinds Purple Bicolor’from Fischer USA

A long blooming cultivar that flowered in 100 °F summer days while still looking good in September. Flowers were a light purple with a halo center. The compact plants also had a good branching habit.

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Best Pentas – ‘Graffiti Red Lace’ from Benary Seed

The long white stigma in the center of the flower created a unique appearance against the dark red bloom. Flowers were self-cleaning. The uniform growth habit, good foliage color and leaf shape set this cultivar apart from the other pentas.

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Best Petunia (spreading) – ‘Sunray’ from The Flower Fields by Ecke Ranch

An award winner in our trials for the 2 nd year in a row, ‘Sunray’ gained attention for the prolific display of yellow flowers and uniform growth habit. Flowers has a two-toned appearance with a darker throat.

Best Petunia (small flower/spreading plant) – ‘Whispers Blue’ from Fischer USA.

Blooms were a “breeder’s blue” (rich purple) color that were showy and had great contrast. Flowering was strong all season. Plants were low and spreading with uniform appearance.

Best Petunia (seed) – ‘Plush Salmon’ from S&G Flowers

Flowers were a light salmon-pink color and were prolific. Growth habit was uniform with flowering well into the fall.

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Best Vinca –‘Nirvana Lavender with Eye’ from Fischer USA

This cultivar had exceptional plant vigor and large flowers. The lavender/white bi-color flowers were very showy and abundant. Plants were uniform in growth habit.

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Best Zinnia – the entire Zesty series but especially ‘Zesty Scarlet’ from Ball Seed.

The entire series was superior and showy with all colors having 100% double flowers and a near perfect growth appearance. The white cultivar was described as a major breakthrough in white zinnias. ‘Zesty Scarlet’ was selected above the other in the series for its flower color and excellent uniform growth habit.

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Additional "Plants Rated as Superior" for 2006

Begonia ‘Inferno Red’ from Sakata Seed America

A taller cultivar with great growth vigor and prolific flowering. Flowers were a brilliant red against dark green foliage. These plants did extremely well in a semi-shaded location.>

Impatiens (New Guinea) ‘Kokomo XL Bright Violet’ from S & G Flowers.

Flowers were a vivid shade of violet and held above the foliage. Plants were vigorous and very uniform.

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Geranium (ivy) ‘Caliente Coral’ from Fischer USA

This plant is vigorous and looks great in the landscape or in a container/basket. The flower color is unusual for an ivy geranium.

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