National Green Centre - Kansas City (Overland Park Convention Center) Presented by the Western Nursery & Landscape Association

The 2011 Sweet Melissa Fashion Show

50 of the trendiest new plants appeared on the runway - double the anticipated number of inaugural entries.  To reserve your spot for the 2012 Sweet Melissa Fashion Show, email Sarah at exhibits@nationalgreencentre.org or check out the entry information here.

Dr. Michael Dirr and his wife, Bonnie hosted the Sweet Melissa Fashion Show: the trendiest new plants in horticulture (thanks to American Nurseryman).  The fashion show showcased new plants as you've never seen them before - being carried down the runway by beautiful (and some handsome) models with lights, music - the whole "shebang!"  Dirr's Tree and Shrub Finder App for iPhone was also featured on the runway.  Following the fashion show, attendees were able to bid on the spectacular new plants in the Sweet Melissa Silent Auction.  The fashion show and silent auction benefited the Sweet Melissa Fund that helps lung transplant patients and their families. Thanks to R.W. Rogers Company for supplying the tables for the silent auction.

2011 Sweet Melissa Fashion Show entries Included:

• Ball Horticultural Company's Petunia Pinstripe
  Ball Horticultural Company's Petunia Phantom
  Ball Horticultural Company's Foliage Begonia Gryphon
  Ball Horticultural Company's Petunia Black Velvet

• Endless Summer Bella Anna^TM / from Bailey Nurseries / a new pink mophead Hydrangea arborescens / developed by Dr. Michael Dirr and Plant Introductions, Inc. / grown by Endless Summer licensed grower group /  EndlessSummerBlooms.com

• The Rising Sun^TM Red Bud / from Greenleaf Nursery Company / developed by Jackson Nursery

 

 

 

 

• Merlot Red Bud / grown by Honey Creek Nursery / developed by Dr. Dennis Werner, NCSU / introduced by PlantHaven

• Ruby Falls Red Bud / grown by Honey Creek Nursery / developed by Dr. Dennis Werner, NCSU / introduced by PlantHaven

• Scarlet Collonade Oak / grown by Cedar Valley Nurseries / developed by Willet Wandell / introduced by Discov-Tree Partners
  
  

 

 

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  City Slicker River Birch / grown by Cedar Valley Nurseries / developed by Dr. Carl Whitcomb / introduced by Lacebark, Inc.

• Firespire^TM American Hornbeam / grown by Cedar Valley Nurseries / developed by Michael Yanny / introduced by Johnson Nursery

• Aeryn Trident Maple / grown by Cedar Valley Nurseries / developed by Southern Selections / introduced by Moon's Tree Farm, Inc.

• Eternal Gold^TM Juniper / LCN Selections / introduced by Novalis Plants That Work

• Encore Azalea Autumn Lilac^TM/ grown by the Encore Azalea licensed grower group / developed by Robert "Buddy" Lee / introduced by Plant Development Services, Inc. 

• Flirt^TM Nandina, from the Southern Living Plant Collection / grown by the Southern Living Plant Collection licensed grower group / developed by Magnolia Gardens Nursery / introduced by Plant Development Services, Inc.

• Jubilation^TM Gardenia / from the Southern Living Plant Collection / grown by the Southern Living Plant Collection licensed grower group / developed by Robert "Buddy" Lee / introduced by Plant Development Services, Inc.

• Early Bird^TM Crapemyrtles from the Southern Living Plant Collection / grown by the Southern Living Plant Collection licensed grower group / developed by John Davy / introduced by Plant Development Services, Inc.

• October Magic^TM Inspiration Camellia / from the Southern Living Plant Collection / grown by the Southern Living Plant Collection licensed grower group / developed by Bobby Green / introduced by Plant Development Services, Inc.
  
  

• Phlox Candy Store^TM Bubblegum Pink / Phlox Candy Store^TM series / grown by Novalis Network Growers / developed by Peter Kolster / introduced by Novalis Plants that Work

• Phlox Candy Store^TM Coral Creme Drop / Phlox Candy Store^TM series / grown by Novalis Network Growers / developed by Peter Kolster / introduced by Novalis Plants that Work

• Phlox Candy Store^TM Grape Lollipop / Phlox Candy Store^TM series / grown by Novalis Network Growers / developed by Peter Kolster / introduced by Novalis Plants that Work

• Phlox Candy Store^TM Cotton Candy / Phlox Candy Store^TM series / grown by Novalis Network Growers / developed by Peter Kolster / introduced by Novalis Plants that Work

• First Editions Little Devil^TM Ninebark / from Bailey Nurseries / a new compact, easy to care for Physocarpus opulifolius / grown by the First Editions licensed grower group /  FirstEditionsPlants.com

• First Editions Bali Hibiscus / from Bailey Nurseries / new, hardy Hibiscus syriacus / grown by the First Editions licensed grower group / FirstEditionsPlants.com

• First Editions Fiji Hibiscus / from Bailey Nurseries / new hardy Hibiscus syriacus / grown by the First Editions licensed grower group / FirstEditionsPlants.com

• First Editions Tahiti Hibiscus / from Bailey Nurseries / new, hardy Hibiscus syriacus / grown by the First Editions licensed grower group / FirstEditionsPlants.com

• Easy Elegance Pinktopia Rose / from Bailey Nurseries / a new hardy, own-root rose / grown by the Easy Elegance licensed grower group / EasyEleganceRoses.com

• First Editions Great Star Hydrangea / from Bailey Nurseries / a new hydrangea paniculata / discovered at the renowned French garden of Princess Sturdza / grown by the First Editions licensed grower group / FirstEditionsPlants.com

• Gator^TMAloe hybrid / Savvy Succulents Collection / introduced by EuroAmerican Propagators

• Supertunia Pretty Much Picasso^TM Petunia hybrid / introduced by Proven Winners / grown by EuroAmerican Propagators

• Senetti Magenta Bicolor & Senetti Blue Bicolor / developed by Suntory/ introduced by EuroAmerican Propagators

• Superbells Coralberry Punch Calibrachoa hybrid / introduced by Proven Winners / grown by EuroAmerican Propagators

• Goldilocks Rocks^TM Bidens hybrid / introduced by Proven Winners / grown by EuroAmerican Propagators

• Dirr's Tree and Shrub Finder App for iPhone

• American Nurseryman, December New Plants issue

• Bahama Pink Sky^TM Enjoy 24/7^TM Daylily / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. / developed by Dr. Ted L. Petit / introduced by Garden Debut

• Kokomo Sunset^TM Enjoy 24/7^TM Daylily / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. / developed by Dr. Ted L. Petit / introduced by Garden Debut

• Aruba Red^TM Enjoy 24/7^TM Daylily / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. / developed by Dr. Ted L. Petit / introduced by Garden Debut

• Jamaica Sunrise^TM Enjoy 24/7^TM Daylily / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. / developed by Dr. Ted L. Petit / introduced by Garden Debut

• Montego Melon^TM Enjoy 24/7^TM Daylily / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. / developed by Dr. Ted L. Petit / introduced by Garden Debut

• Caribbean Coral^TM Enjoy 24/7^TM Daylily / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. / developed by Dr. Ted L. Petit / introduced by Garden Debut

• Orange Rocket Barberry / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. and PlantHaven Shrub Members / developed by Michal Andrusiv / introduced by PlantHaven

• Golden Rocket Barberry / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. and PlantHaven Shrub Members / developed by Michal Andrusiv / introduced by PlantHaven

• Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea / grown by Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. / developed by Dr. Tom Ranney, NCSU / introduced by Proven Winners ColorChoice

• Incrediball Hydrangea / grown by Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. / introduced by Proven Winners ColorChoice

• Bloom-A-Thon^TM Red Azalea / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. and Spring Meadow Nursery / developed by Bob and Lisa Head / introduced by Proven Winners^TM ColorChoice^TM Shrubs 

• Bloom-A-Thon^TM White Azalea / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. and Spring Meadow Nursery / developed by Bob and Lisa Head / introduced by Proven Winners^TM ColorChoice^TM Shrubs 

• Bloom-A-Thon^TM Pink Double Azalea / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. and Spring Meadow Nursery / developed by Bob and Lisa Head / introduced by Proven Winners^TM ColorChoice^TM Shrubs 

• Bloom-A-Thon^TM Lavender Azalea / grown by Greenleaf Nursery Co. and Spring Meadow Nursery / developed by Bob and Lisa Head / introduced by Proven Winners^TM ColorChoice^TM Shrubs

To enter your new plant in the 2012 Sweet Melissa Fashion Show, email Sarah at exhibits@nationalgreencentre.org.  Limited to the first 50 entries.