Best of the Best

- a quick compilation of some of the best plants in their class -

From the boardroom to the classroom, from the greenhouse to the field, people like to know they are working with the best. In our case, the color that fills the greenhouse is only as good as the demand to fill the landscape. That demand is predicated on having the best plants, with the best color, essentially those that perform well over a long period of time with the minimum of maintenance. Thank goodness, our breeders have yet to come up with real plastic plants, so we put up with a few warts and blemishes. Every year we share the half dozen or so finest plants from the Gardens at UGA, and describe them as the Classic City Award Winners. Click here for the Classic City Awards 2008 winners. We also expand that list each year to plants that simply were the finest among their leafy peers, such as the best red-flowered, or white-flowered begonia, or the best blue petunia.

At the Gardens at UGA, plants are evaluated every two weeks throughout the season, and then averaged in November. Many cultivars performed heroically, only to give their lives to the challenge of heat, humidity and drought. However, others thrived, and these we share with you. Those that received the mantle of Best of the Best were chosen the good old fashioned way, they earned it. Congratulations to the breeders and distributors who shared these plants with us.

Plant Name	Company	Rating	Photo
Acalypha 'Ceylon Lime' Trial Year: 2008	The University of Georgia	4.79
Acalypha 'Ceylon Lime' Trial Year: 2008	The University of Georgia	4.50
Acalypha 'Microphilla' Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.79
Acalypha 'Bronze Pink' Trial Year: 2008		4.93
Acalypha 'Bourbon Street' Trial Year: 2008	Athens Select	4.79
Alternanthera 'Gail's Choice' Trial Year: 2008	Athens Select	4.79
Alternanthera 'Brazilian Red Hot' Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.79
Angelonia angustifolia 'AngelMist Spreading White' Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.79
Angelonia angustifolia 'Serena White' Trial Year: 2008	PanAmerican Seed Co.	4.86
Begonia 'Edinburgh' Trial Year: 2008		5.00
Begonia 'Bonita Shea' Trial Year: 2008	Athens Select	5.00
Begonia hybrid 'Anna Feile' Trial Year: 2008		4.93
Begonia semperflorens 'Volumia White' Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.64
Begonia semperflorens 'Ikon Blush White' Trial Year: 2008	Floranova Seeds	4.71
Begonia x benariensis 'Big Red Green Leaf' Trial Year: 2008	Benary Flower Seeds	4.64
Bracteantha bracteata 'Mohave Basket Yellow' Trial Year: 2008	Selecta First Class, Inc.	4.71
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Aloha Tiki Pink' Trial Year: 2008	Dummen U.S.A.	4.64
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Noa Mega Pink' Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	4.71
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Million Bells Chiffon' Trial Year: 2008	Suntory Collection	5.00
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Million Bells Plum' Trial Year: 2008	Suntory Collection	4.93
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Aloha Blue Sky' Trial Year: 2008	Dummen U.S.A.	4.79
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Noa Ultimate Pink' Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	4.79
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Aloha Tiki Strawberry' Trial Year: 2008	Dummen U.S.A.	4.71
Calibrachoa hybrid 'Million Bells Trailing Yellow' Trial Year: 2008	Suntory Collection	4.79
Capsicum anuum 'Purple Flash' (Ornamental Pepper) Trial Year: 2008	PanAmerican Seed Co.	4.64
Capsicum anuum 'Explosive Ember' (Ornamental Pepper) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.64
Capsicum anuum 'Calico' (Ornamental Pepper) Trial Year: 2008	PanAmerican Seed Co.	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Nirvana Pink Blush' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.86
Catharanthus roseus 'Cora Violet' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Pacifica XP Magenta Halo' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	PanAmerican Seed Co.	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Cora Deep Lavender' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Pacifica XP White' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	PanAmerican Seed Co.	4.86
Catharanthus roseus 'SunStorm White with Eye' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Sun Devil Extreme Peppermint' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Floranova Seeds	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Cora Lavender' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Cora White' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.93
Catharanthus roseus 'SunStorm Orchid' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Catharanthus roseus 'Nirvana Red' (Periwinkle) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Chrysocephalum apiculatum 'Flambe Yellow' Trial Year: 2008	Proven Winners	4.79
Chrysocephalum apiculatum 'Flambe Orange' Trial Year: 2008	Proven Winners	4.79
Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' Trial Year: 2008		4.64
Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' Trial Year: 2008		4.64
Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' Trial Year: 2008		4.79
Colocasia esculenta 'Diamond Head' Trial Year: 2008	James Greenhouses	4.44
Cuphea cyanea 'Candy Corn' Trial Year: 2008	Athens Select	4.36
Cuphea hyssopifolia 'High Gloss Dark Pink' Trial Year: 2008		4.86
Dendranthema 'Warm Igloo' Trial Year: 2008		0.00
Duranta 'Gold Edge' Trial Year: 2008		4.50
Duranta 'Thai Yellow' Trial Year: 2008	Suntory Collection	4.86
Duranta 'Gold Edge' Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.86
Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' Trial Year: 2008	Proven Winners	4.71
Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' Trial Year: 2008	Proven Winners	4.93
Euphorbia 'Silver Fog' Trial Year: 2008	Dummen U.S.A.	4.71
Graptophyllum 'Tricolor' Trial Year: 2008		4.64
Graptophyllum 'Chocolate' Trial Year: 2008		4.79
Graptopyllum 'Granada Yellow' Trial Year: 2008		4.71
Hemigraphis 'Moonlight Improved' Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.36
Hemigraphis 'Moonlight Improved' Trial Year: 2008		4.71
Hemigraphis 'Moonlight Improved' Trial Year: 2008		4.36
Hibiscus 'Panama Red' Trial Year: 2008	Athens Select	4.64
Impatiens hawkeri 'Harmony Snow' (New Guinea Impatiens) Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	4.86
Impatiens hawkeri 'Fanfare Orchid Improved ' (Spreading Impatiens) Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.57
Impatiens walleriana 'SunPatiens Vigorous Orange' (Sun New Guinea Impatiens) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.71
Impatiens walleriana 'SunPatiens Vigorous White Improved' (Sun New Guinea Impatiens) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.71
Impatiens walleriana 'Spellbound Strawberry Star ' (Trailing Impatiens) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.64
Impatiens walleriana 'SunPatiens Vigorous Coral' (Sun New Guinea Impatiens) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.79
Impatiens walleriana 'Spellbound Scarlet ' (Trailing Impatiens) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.79
Ipomoea 'Sidekick Black Heart' Trial Year: 2008		5.00
Ipomoea 'Sidekick Black' (Sweet Potato) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	5.00
Ipomoea 'Sidekick Black' (Sweet Potato) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.86
Ipomoea 'Sidekick Black Heart' (Sweet Potato) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.86
Manihot esculenta 'Variegata' Trial Year: 2008	The University of Georgia	4.79
Pelargonium floribunda 'Stardom Bright Pink' (Floribunda Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.71
Pelargonium floribunda 'Stardom Red' (Floribunda Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.79
Pelargonium interspecific 'Caliente Coral' Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.79
Pelargonium interspecific 'Caliente Rose' Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Pelargonium x hortorum 'Eclipse Velvet Red' (Zonal Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.79
Pelargonium x hortorum 'Fantasia Strawberry Sizzle' (Zonal Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.86
Pelargonium x hortorum 'Calliope Dark Red' (Zonal Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.64
Pelargonium x hortorum 'Rocky Mountain Deep Rose 09' (Zonal Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Pelargonium x hortorum 'Allure Hot Coral' (Zonal Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.71
Pelargonium x hortorum 'Patriot Watermelon' (Zonal Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.86
Pelargonium x peltatum 'Glacier White' (Ivy Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Selecta First Class, Inc.	4.86
Pelargonium x peltatum 'Acapulco Compact Cascade Pink' (Ivy Geranium) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.71
Pennisetum 'Princess' Trial Year: 2008	Athens Select	4.79
Petunia x hybrida 'Ray White ' (Petunia) Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	4.71
Petunia x hybrida 'Red Ray' Trial Year: 2008		4.93
Petunia x hybrida 'Petitunia Happy Dream' (Petunia) Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	5.00
Petunia x hybrida 'Littletunia Red ' (Petunia) Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	4.92
Petunia x hybrida 'Supertunia Raspberry Blast' (Petunia) Trial Year: 2008	Proven Winners	4.79
Purslane 'Pazazz Salmon Glow' Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	4.71
Purslane 'Pazazz Salmon Glow' Trial Year: 2008	Danziger Flower Farm	4.57
Salvia 'Mystical Blue Spires' Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.79
Scaevola 'Surdiva Light Blue' Trial Year: 2008	Suntory Collection	4.71
Scaevola 'Surdiva White' Trial Year: 2008	Suntory Collection	4.71
Setcreasea pallida 'Blue Sue' Trial Year: 2008	The University of Georgia	4.64
Solenostemon 'Electric Lime' Trial Year: 2008		4.79
Solenostemon 'Velvet Lime' Trial Year: 2008		4.93
Solenostemon 'Stained Glassworks Emerald and Snow' Trial Year: 2008		4.79
Solenostemon 'Electric Lime' Trial Year: 2008		4.86
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Candy Store' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.71
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Micanopy' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.79
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Stained Glassworks Emerald and Snow' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.57
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Defiance' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.71
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Defiance' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Grolink	4.71
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Trailing Plum' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008		4.71
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Henna' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.86
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Mint Mocha' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.79
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Stained Glassworks Emerald and Snow' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.71
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Stained Glassworks Molten Lava' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.71
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Stained Glassworks Daffy' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Paul Ecke Ranch	4.79
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Indian Summer' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Ball Floraplant	4.86
Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Mariposa' (Coleus) Trial Year: 2008	Athens Select	4.56
Verbena x hybrida 'Rapunzel Lilac' (Vervain) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.79
Verbena x hybrida 'Tapien Purple' (Vervain) Trial Year: 2008	Suntory Collection	4.71
Verbena x hybrida 'Lanai Bright Pink' (Vervain) Trial Year: 2008	Syngenta	4.79
Zinnia 'Profusion Golden' Trial Year: 2008	Sakata Seed America, Inc.	4.79
Zinnia 'Zahara Double Orange' Trial Year: 2008	All-American Selection	4.64