New hosta, hydrangea and helianthus: these are the top-rated varieties from the Appeltern Plantenfestijn |
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Plantenfestijn Appeltern presents 2025 Novelties Awards
During the Plantenfestijn at Bloemenpark Appeltern, the annual Novelties Awards were presented this past weekend. The professional jury assessed the latest plant varieties in three categories and also selected a 'Golden Oldie' winner per category.
| Award ceremony winning plants PlantenFestijn Bloemenpark Appeltern 2025: Nico Rijnbeek (l) and Robin Reurings (r) |
Annuals category
In the annuals category, the top prize went to Helianthus Sunfinity Double Yellow by Syngenta, scoring 7.9. This sunflower stands out due to its playful, compact growth and intensely yellow flowers. It reaches a height of about 80 to 120 cm and thrives in full sun.
 | | Helianthus Sunfinity Double Yellow (Syngenta) |
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The jury particularly appreciated Helianthus Sunfinity Double Yellow for its playful growth habit, compact form, and intense, bright yellow blooms.
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Second place went to Petchoa Caliburst Yellow by PanAmerican Seed (7.5), a profusely flowering hybrid with bright yellow blooms. This plant combines traits of Petunia and Calibrachoa and stays compact at 25-35 cm, making it ideal for hanging baskets or containers.
Ageratum Monarch Magic by Florensis (7.4) came in third, praised for its abundant flowering and the beautiful contrast between its dark green foliage and purple-blue flowers. It grows to about 25-40 cm and performs well in sunny spots.
Golden oldie
'Golden Oldie' is the honorary title for plants that have been on the market for at least three years but still stand out for their quality, ornamental value, versatility, or reliability. In the annuals subcategory, Dichondra Silver Falls by PanAmerican Seed won with a score of 8. This trailing plant has silver-grey foliage that cascades like rainfall and, according to the jury, is widely usable in combinations and arrangements.
Perennials: narrow hosta stands out
Among the perennials, Hosta Silly String (Planttip) took first place with a score of 8.1. This distinctive hosta has narrow, blue-grey leaves with a graceful, twisting shape. It remains relatively low, about 30-40 cm high, and thrives in partial to full shade. Earlier this year, it also earned a shared second place at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Second place went to Geranium Frivolius Purple by Marco van Noort (7.6), a long- and richly blooming cranesbill with deep purplish-pink flowers and fresh green foliage. It reaches a height of 40-50 cm and is suitable for both sun and light shade.
Lavandula Sensational! (Planttip) achieved third place with a score of 7.5. This lavender stands out for its compact growth (approx. 40-50 cm), long flower spikes with violet-purple blooms, and is suitable for sunny borders and pots.
In the perennials Golden Oldie category, Gillenia trifoliata (Rijnbeek) took the prize with a score of 8.1. This graceful plant features fine, star-shaped white blooms in spring and turns to warm orange-red tones in autumn. It grows to about 80-100 cm in height and prefers light shade to sun. Earlier this year, our perennial editor Marlien van der Linden included this Gillenia trifoliata in her top 10 plants for rain gardens.
Shrubs and roses: dark-leaved hydrangea wins
In the shrubs and roses category, the top prize went to Hydrangea First Editions Eclipse (First Editions), scoring 7.8. This hydrangea stands out for its dark foliage and contrasting pink to reddish-purple flowers. It reaches a height of about 90-120 cm and prefers partial shade.
Salix candida Iceberg Alley (First Editions) came in second with a score of 7.5. This compact willow (approx. 80-100 cm) has silvery-grey, felt-like foliage and produces catkins early in the season. It prefers a sunny, moist location.
Rosa Boskoops Glory by Jan Spek Rozen came in third with a score of 7.3. This rose has richly filled, pale pink flowers with a delicate fragrance and grows to about 60-80 cm.
Professional jury
This year's jury consisted of BartJan Bakker (Kasteeltuinen Arcen), Elise Wieringa (Intratuin), Onno Zonneveld (Perennial Power), Ineke van Teylingen (Special Plant Nursery), and Ron den Dikken (garden and landscape architect).
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This article was first published on 18 June 2025 on the website of De Hovenier.
| Antoon Rijnbeek Handelskw... | |
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