Babycakes Blackberry takes top prize at Farwest New Varieties Showcase

Portland, Oregon — There were 55 new trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and vines on display at the 2016 New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest Show in Portland. But BabyCakes Blackberry (Rubus x ‘APF-236T’) and Lavalamp Sublime Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Kolmakilma' PPAF, CBRAF) stood out from the crowd.   

The dwarf thornless blackberry bush, bred by the University of Arkansas and jointly selected by Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc. and the University of Arkansas, was chosen by the Farwest Show judges for Best in Show honors. Meanwhile, show attendees chose Lavalamp Sublime Hydrangea for the People's Choice Award.

The 2016 showcase featured plants with interesting shapes, colors, growth habits and other characteristics, all displayed in an attractive format. The Farwest Show is produced by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN). 

“Every year, the New Varieties Showcase offers nursery professionals a chance to see the best in new plants, and this year is no exception,” OAN director of events Allan Niemi said. “This year offers one of our largest assortments of new plants, with 55 in the lineup.”  

Best in Show winner BabyCakes Blackberry was introduced by Fall Creek and is available from Farwest exhibitors Alpha Nursery, Bailey Nurseries Inc., Fisher Farms LLC  and Monrovia.

In addition to the Best in Show award winner, the judges chose three other plants for honorable mention status.  

Purple Pillar Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Purple Pillar’), which was discovered by Marinus Adrianus Cornelis van Aart and introduced by Proven Winners Color Choice Flowering Shrubs. It is available from Farwest Show exhibitor Van Essen Nursery Co.

First Editions Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'PIILAG-IX' PPAF) was hybridized by Jeff Beasley, Michael A. Dirr, Mark Griffith, Rhonda Helvick and Oren McBee in Watkinsville, Georgia, and introduced by Bailey Nurseries Inc. It is available from Farwest exhibitor Bailey Nursery.

Cherry Berries Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens 'GaulSid5’) was hybridized by Gurjit Sidhu, Sidhu & Sons Nursery, and introduced by Briggs Nursery.  It is available from Farwest exhibitor Briggs Nursery.

There were three runners-up in the balloting for the People's Choice Award. They were:

Cherry Berries Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens 'GaulSid5'), described above.

First Editions Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'PIILAG-IX' PPAF), described above.

Hollywood Hibiscus Hot Shot (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis '8117-8' PPAF), which was bred by Lannes Nursery in Toulouse, France and introduced by J. Berry Nursery. It is represented by UpShoot LLC and is available from Farwest exhibitor Fessler Nursery Company.

For more information on these plants — and all 55 of the plants featured in this year’s Farwest New Varieties Showcase — log on to www.farwestshow.com/nvs.shtml.  

Top photo (L to R): BabyCakes Blackberry, Purple Pillar Rose of Sharon, First Editions Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle

Inset: Lavalamp Sublime