Geum Totally Tangerine, bred by Sussex-based plantsman Tim Crowther, has been recognised in a leading US trial of perennial plants.

Totally Tangerine has been selected as a Plant Of Merit in the garden trial of perennial plants at the Univeristy of Georgia in Athens, GA.

Dr Allan Armitage of UGA said "The gardens at UGA have many plants [in trial], so for a plant to get noticed and put up front is a great endorsement."

Young plants of Totally Tangerine are now available from selected EU licensees. Contact us for more details.

Plants For Europe has today issued a press release and written to growers around Europe to remind them that Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow is protected by Plant Variety Rights. The text of the press release is as follows (you can also download the press release by clicking here):

Plants For Europe Limited, the independent plant breeders’ agent, is taking steps to remind growers that Euphorbia martinii Ascot Rainbow is protected by European Plant Variety Rights.

Graham Spencer, director of Plants For Europe, said “We are concerned that there are plants in the trade that are not carrying PVR information, either on the label, on delivery notes or in catalogues/websites. We wish to gain the support of growers and retailers to ensure that all plants are correctly marked, in accordance with current regulations.”

“We will be writing to all licensed growers of this plant as well as their customers to ensure that this message is understood.”

The Plant Variety Rights are the property of the breeder of Ascot Rainbow, David Glenn. The rights allow Mr Glenn, through his agent Plants For Europe, to control the propagation, marketing, sale, distribution and import/export of Ascot Rainbow. Growers and retailers found to be handling unlicensed product will be subject to legal action by the breeder and agent.

Ascot Rainbow is a stunning new introduction that has proven to be amazingly popular with growers and gardeners alike. It offers handsome brightly variegated foliage that is attractive through the year. It is hardy and easy to grow, making a compact and bushy plant.

You can now follow Plants For Europe on Twitter. Graham posts frequently (but not 100 times a day!) on the Twitter account grahampfe.

To follow us, simply click here:

We were impressed by the new HTA National Plant Show at Stoneleigh Park this week. It got a large proportion of the UK’s major growers together under one roof. There seemed a few prominent companies missing, but perhaps they were waiting to see how the first year worked out.

One of the best features was the new plant competition. It was great to see more than 50 entries covering all types of garden plants. A few creases need to be ironed out (why were some Nemesia varieties classed as annuals whilst others were classed as perennials? Surely it would be better to have a “patio and bedding” class instead) but overall our impression was positive. We’ll be looking to support this further in coming years.

This year, five PFE-managed varieties were in the competition. It is a reflection of the quality of output from our breeders that four of these plants were given awards:

• Nemesia Framboise (bred by Martine Tellwright) – GOLD
• Leucanthemum Real Galaxy (Richard Read and Keith Lintott) – SILVER
• Geum Totally Tangerine (Tim Crowther) – BRONZE
• Nemesia Mirabelle (Martine Tellwright) – BRONZE

For details on any of these plants, please contact us.

Horticulture Week has picked up the story on the exclusion of Plant Variety Rights from the proposed “Patent Box”. See here.

Yucca gloriosa Bright Star, raised by PFE client Tim Crowther and managed in Europe by Plants For Europe, has won the "Best Novelty 2009" award at IPM Essen 2009 in the category Container Plants.

The award citation highlights the innovative features of the plant, its ease of cultivation and its drought resistant qualities. The judges believe it will be an important variety in the current trend for "exotic" plants.

Bright Star was submitted for the competition by Fitzgerald Nurseries Limited of Stoneyford, Republic of Ireland. We wish to thank them and congratulate them on achieving this award.

More information on Yucca Bright Star can be found here.