A deep pink daisy chrysanthemum with a perky lime green center captured judges’ hearts to win the Society of American Florists’ Outstanding Varieties Competition, held in conjunction with the organization’s 136th annual convention in Orlando.
“The first thing you notice is its intense color,” says Jim DelPrince, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, associate extension professor at Mississippi State University. “The rays are a red-violet, and the disks are a yellow-green. These are direct opposites on the color wheel, which gives a very strong presentation.”
Additionally, he notes, the chrysanthemum was very “floriferous” and boasted long laterals. “Those traits make it easy to use in a vase, foam, wire mesh, chicken wire, coconut coir, and rockwall base,” he says. “There’s so many reasons this entry was head and shoulders above the rest.”
Fellow judge Lani Callister, fresh flower manager of Ensign Wholesale Floral in Salt Lake City, Utah, echoes his comments. “It’s a really appealing claret wine color,” she says. “And those laterals are amazing. One stem could serve as a focal flower.”
‘Amor Candy’ was among 146 entries from 24 growers.
Judges scored each entry based on color and commercial appeal, stem and foliage, bloom form and size, and overall presentation. The judging panel, which included three retailers—three growers and three wholesalers—evaluated specific categories of flowers, and the highest scored entry of each won “Best in Class.” From this elite group, judges chose their Best in Show winner.
Below is a roundup of the Best in Class recipients:
Alstroemeria: ‘Romance’, presented by Natural Flowers, Inc.
Cut Bulb: ‘Maxima’ roselily, presented by Oregon Flowers
Dianthus: ‘Bubblicious’, Golden Flowers, Inc.
Garden Rose: ‘Leonora’, presented by Rosaprima
Rose: ‘Free Spirit’, presented by Natural Flowers, Inc.
Spray Rose: ‘Babe’, presented by Equiflor — Rio Roses
Other Cut: ‘Hanoi’ ranunculus, presented by Equiflor — Rio Roses
In addition to DelPrince and Callister, the following members served as judges:
Retailers:
Jodi McShan of McShan Florist in Dallas, Texas
Jordan Prosser of Botanica International Decor and Design Studio in Tampa, Florida
Renee Tucci, AIFD, of Renee Tucci Creative in CITY, Pennsylvania
Wholesalers:
Tim Dewey of DVFlora in Sewell, New Jersey
Miguel Yepez of Orlando Wholesale Florist in Orlando, Florida
Growers:
Ben Dobbe of Holland America Flowers in Arroyo Grande, California
David Register of Ferntrust in Seville, Florida
Chrysal USA supplied the plant food, Syndicate Sales supplied the vases, and Dave and Megan Mitchell of Mitchell’s Flowers & Events in Orland Park, Illinois, and their team coordinated the competition.
Look for more on the competition in the November/December issue of Floral Management magazine.
Katie Vincent is a contributing editor for the Society of American Florists.
