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.

Tomorrow sees the annual Woking Nursery Exhibition. Although a modest sized event compared to some, this is an important event in the British horticulture calendar, noted for its relaxed environment and good range of British growers on display. Graham will be at the exhibition for most of the day, so please feel free to collar him if you see him about.

This year’s event sees the launch of two plants in the PFE portfolio. Geum Totally Tangerine (PVR applied for), bred by Tim Crowther, will be exhibited by Farplants. Meanwhile, New Place Nurseries will be showing Cistus corbariensis Little Miss Sunshine™ (PVR and trademark applied for), bred by well-known Irish plantsman, Kieran Dunne.

Be sure to look out for these excellent new plants. Contact us if you’d like to know more.

Plants For Europe has recently filed two new EU PVR applications on behalf of breeders. These are

• Geranium pratense Laura – CPVO file number 20071771
• Lavandula stoechas With Love – CPVO file number 20071772

Many of you will be familiar with Lavandula With Love – it has just been launched in the UK by Farplants and in the Netherlands by Kwekerij van Heesbeen. Van Heesbeen have entered it into the new plant competition at next week’s Plantarium event. With Love is a fantastic variety, certainly the best pink-flowered type that is currently available, offering compact and bushy plants that are free-flowering and repeat-flowering.

Geranium pratense Laura may be new to you. It is an excellent new fully-double, pure white flowered form of the Meadow Cranesbill bred by Geranium enthusiast Christine Morley. Young plants are now available – contact us if you are interested in testing or growing this variety.

PFE is pleased to announced that we have been appointed as the breeder’s agent by Flip Schram for an exciting new Zantedeschia variety, Zantedeschia aethiopica Snow White.

This is a compact selection from the well-known variety Crowborough, growing to only 60cm high including the flower spathe. The pure white spathes are full-sized, in spite of the compact nature of the plant.

PFE has recently filed the EU PVR application on the breeder’s behalf, CPVO file number 20070529. The application date is 28 February 2007. Under EU law, a pending application for PVR affords the same protection to the breeder as if it had been granted. Therefore, we wish to remind growers that propagation and sale without a licence is prohibited.

Growers in the EU who are interested in testing this variety should contact us. In North America, Snow White is represented by our friends at PlantHaven Inc.

With effect from January 1st 2006, PFE will be the sole European agent for Phlox paniculata Becky Towe. Breeder’s agent arrangements in all other territories remain unchanged.

Becky Towe is a brightly variegated and vigorous Phlox variety. The leaves display a stable broad margin of golden yellow (becoming paler later in the year). The flowers are fresh salmon carmine pink and are scented. Becky Towe also displays improved mildew-resistance when compared to other cultivars.

Becky Towe is subject to EU PVR (CPVO file number 19991579). It is also protected by US Plant Patent (number 12,908). Propagation without a licence is illegal.

PFE will be writing to existing licensees in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, any growers interested in test plants or licence details should contact us.

Several plants in the PFE portfolio that have, until now, been known only by working names have now been given their final marketing names by their breeders. We’ll be writing to everyone that is growing these plants in the next few days to give you the latest information (if we haven’t done so already), but in the meantime, here is a list of the newly-named plants:

• Geranium pratense “double white”
  - now named Geranium pratense Laura in honour of the breeder’s mother
• Phygelius “Coral Prince”
  - now named Phygelius Croftway Coral Princess
• Phygelius “Firebrand”
  - now named Phygelius Croftway Red Emperor
• Phygelius “Purple Prince”
  - now named Phygelius Croftway Purple Prince
• Phygelius “Richer Yellow”
  - now named Phygelius Croftway Yellow Sovereign
• Phygelius “Snow Queen”
  - now named Phygelius Croftway Snow Queen
  (illustrated right)

Readers should also note that, in the case of the Phygelius, it is the breeder’s intention to apply for European and United States trademark protection for the name “Croftway”. Further information on this aspect of the plants’ names shall be published here as it becomes available.

The Phygelius are being launched worldwide this year. For details of sources, please contact us. The licenced propagators in Europe are:

• Minier (FR)
• Jungpflanzen Grünewald (DE)