2018 SAF Outstanding Varieties Competition

The Society of American Florists (SAF) held their 134th Annual Convention in Rancho Mirage, California. It was three action packed days of educational sessions and workshops, thought-provoking breakfast sessions, the Sylvia Cup Design Competition and the Outstanding Varieties Competition featuring the best flowers, foliage and plants from farms around the world.

The Outstanding Varieties Competition has always been a great way for us to help educate wholesalers, florists, designers and other farmers about the amazing Proteas we grow, especially some of the lesser known varieties. It puts our flowers and foliage in front of the attendees so they can see them up close as well as touch and feel them. This year we had nine entries competing in three categories: Other Cut Flowers, Decorative Foliage and Flowering Potted Plant. And they were all Blue and Red Ribbon Winners… Here's how we fared:

People’s Choice & Blue Ribbon:

Protea Madiba – Other Cut Flower

Blue Ribbon:

Protea Arctic Ice – Other Cut Flower

Red Ribbon:

Leucospermum Ayoba Sun – Other Cut Flower

Protea Ivy – Other Cut Flower

Leucadendron Senorita – Decorative Foliage

Leucadendron African Tulip – Decorative Foliage

Leucadendron Phylica – Decorative Foliage

Eucalyptus Macrocarpa – Decorative Foliage

Protea King – Flowering Potted Plant

Tetragona Wins ‘Best in Class’ Decorative Foliage

Another Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Outstanding Varieties award winner: Eucalyptus Tetragona. This fabulous foliage was dubbed Best in Class - Decorative Foliage during the 132nd Annual Convention in Maui, Hawaii. The entry was among the 184 different varieties from 20 farms. Judges scored each entry based on color and commercial appeal, stem and foliage, bloom form and size, and overall presentation. The judging panel included three retailers, three farmers and three wholesalers.

Floral Management Magazine's November issue cites, “Looking to shake up Christmas? Look to ‘Tetragona.’ The variety’s stems have broad, aromatic, gray-blue green leaves with a very prominent central vein. Judges loved the silvery-white tones along the length of the stems and leaves and said the foliage would be ideal in formal bridal bouquets, especially those with a silver color theme. Flowers are grouped in threes and have masses of white stamens grouped together in the four corners of each flower head. “Tegtragona’ nuts are a naturally chic addition to floral arrangements, and look stylish in Christmas flower wreaths,” said Diana Roy of Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers. They’ll also last the holiday season with an expected vase life of four weeks.”

Here's a few fabulous ways we’ve seen Tetragona used in designs.

Serruria Wins ‘Best in Class’ - Other Cut Flower

The Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Outstanding Varieties Competition has always been a great way for us to help increase visibility and demand for the flowers and foliage we grow, especially for the ‘newer’ varieties. During this year’s annual SAF convention in Maui, wholesalers, florists, designers and farmers awarded Serrruia ‘Best in Class’ in the Other Cut Flower category, and we were Thrilled!

Floral Management Magazine’s November issue states, “Attendees and judges alike had one thing – weddings- on the brain when discussing the prize-winning protea. “I love this one for its texture, white and pale pink color and vase life,” which can extend up to four weeks, said James McArdle of McArdles’s Florist and Garden Center in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I see it being a great filler in a low and lush arrangement.” Mitchell said ‘Blushing’ would be the ideal flower to show a bride who wants to blend an “edgy and cool” aesthetic with soft, feminine colors. The unique beauty also delivers in cost per stem, said Chivery, noting “the stems were laden with flowers.” Serruria, one of the most delicate flowers in the Proteaceae family, was technically extinct in the wild for almost a century until an accidental fire germinated seeds in South Africa’s Franschoek Mountains, according to Roy. “Conservation efforts in the 1960s and 70s saved it,” she said.

To learn more about Serruria and our first harvest – Click here:

For Serruria design and care information - Click here: