> OUTSTANDING VARIETIES 2023


‘TRUE ROMANCE’ HYPERICUM Floral Chain Direct What once might have been seen as a winter holiday accent, red hypericum is becoming more of an everyday product, Kennicott said. He scored this variety high for its vivid color and healthy foliage. Wheat, too, was taken with the color. “It has a couple of tones,” she said. “You’re getting shades of that color, which is really nice.”


‘COOL ROMANCE’ HYPERICUM Floral Chain Direct The healthy, leathery foliage on this hypericum let the large white berries take center stage. “The foliage is usually not very good, and everybody picks it off ,” Wheat said. “And this foliage was really nice. You wouldn’t have to take it off .” The berry is “a very strong white that stands out,” Kennicott said. “It adds a lot of nice texture to wedding work or everyday work.”


Amanda Jedlinsky is the senior content strategist for the Society of American Florists and editor in chief of Floral Management.


Blue Ribbon Winners


2023 OUTSTANDING VARIETIES COMPETITION JUDGES


The Society of American Florists extends its thanks to the following Outstanding Varieties Competition judges for their time and expertise:


Retailers • Jodi McShan, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, McShan Florist, Dallas, Texas


• Lori Wheat, AAF, Lafayette Florist, Gift Shop & Garden Center, Lafayette, Colorado


• Carrie Moore, AAF, Jenny’s Floral, Custer, South Dakota


Wholesalers • Lani Callister, AAF, Ensign Wholesale Flower Market, Salt Lake City, Utah


• Harrison “Red” Kennicott, AAF, Kennicott Brothers • Ryan Alders, Alders Wholesale Florist, Campbell Hall, New York


Growers • Erik Hagstrom, Albin Hagstrom & Son, Pierson, Florida • Ben Dobbe, Holland America Flowers, Arroyo Grande, California


• Leo Roozen, AAF, Washington Bulb Co., Mount Vernon, Washington


SAF also would like to thank Chrysal USA for supplying the flower food, Syndicate Sales for the hundreds of vases used for the entrants, and Dave and Megan Mitchell of Mitchell’s Flowers & Events in Orland Park, Illinois, for setting up for the competition.


40 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | November/December 2023 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG ‘TRUE ROMANCE’


‘COOL ROMANCE’


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