> OUTSTANDING VARIETIES COMPETITION 2026


Judges immediately recognized that appeal.


Wholesaler Tom Alders of Alders Wholesale called the color “super marketable,” noting that there are very few spray roses available in the tone. Gary Staton of Bill Doran Company was even more emphatic: “This is THE color for wedding season.” But ‘New Moon’ doesn’t merely look expensive. It


gives florists plenty to work with for their investment. “I see dollar bills when I look at this variety,” said judge


Sarah Ekberg, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Lazy Acres Décor and Floral. Left intact, one stem bearing several substantial blooms can


make a statement in a bud vase or provide considerable volume in an arrangement with little effort. Broken apart, those same blooms become ingredients for wearable flowers and other detailed work. And unlike many spray roses, which may carry a mix of larger and smaller flowers, ‘New Moon’ produces remarkably consistent, generously sized blooms. “Usually spray roses have two big blooms and two


small ones,” said judge Xavier Alvarez Naranjo of Protean Farms. “It’s very distinctive to have all [blooms] this big.” He also praised the flowers’ wide opening and thick stems, the latter of which he associated with good vase life. Presented by Rosaprima,


‘New Moon’ earned the Ecuadorean farm consecutive Best in Show wins. In 2025, the company’s butterfly ranunculus ‘Moderna Dolce’ charmed judges with its elegant aesthetic. ‘New Moon’ was


among 165 entries from 28 companies in the competition, sponsored by Chrysal, Syndicate Sales and FloristWare. Judges scored each entry


based on color and commercial appeal, stem strength and foliage quality, bloom form and size, and overall presentation. The judging panel, which included three retailers, three growers and three wholesalers, evaluated specific categories of flowers. The highest scoring variety in each category entry won “Best in Class.” From this elite group, judges chose their Best in Show winner.


READ ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OTHER BEST IN CLASS AND BLUE RIBBON– WINNING ENTRIES IN THE COMPETITION.


18 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | November/December 2026 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


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