News & Media
Featured Event
“Why do we need new plants?”
January 29, 2025 at IPM Essen, Germany
GardenGenetic’s Rick Grazzini spoke at the TASPO exhibition stand in Hal 2, Stand B32 on January 29 at IPM Essen in Essen, Germany. Hosted by HortWeek and moderated by Mr. Plant Geek, Michael Perry, the debate explored key industry questions, including whether there are too many new plants and if home gardeners truly understand. Click here to view the live recording.
Basil Piedmont™: AAS Edible Winner
GardenZest disease-tolerant basil Piedmont wins regional AAS award
Based on its performance in the 2023 AAS trials, GardenZest Basil Piedmont™ has been recognized as a regional AAS award winner for the Northeast and Midwest. Commercial trials for seed dealers and brokers are available from Seeds by Design, Willows, CA. Commercial inventory is also available for sale beginning in January 2025.
2026
- Nursery Magazine, Green Thumb Award winners, Basil Treviso
https://www.nurserymag.com/news/2026-green-thumb-award-winners-national-garden-bureau/ - Garden Center Magazine, Japan Flower of the Year, coleus Lime Edge
https://www.gardencentermag.com/news/coleus-lime-edge-2025-2026-flower-year-japan-proven-winners/
- Greenhouse Management, Japan Flower of the Year, coleus Lime Edge
https://www.greenhousemag.com/news/coleus-lime-edge-2025-2026-flower-year-japan-proven-winners/ - The Digger, Oregon Association of Nurserymen newsletter, Japan Flower of the Year mention, coleus Lime Edge
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/OAN-Update–Oregon-congressional-delegation-pushes-for-funding-to-restart-Japanese-beetle-mitigation-efforts–ODA-appoints-Nurse.html
2025
- Greenhouse Product News, Japan Flower of the Year coverage, coleus Lime Edge and Skeletal
https://gpnmag.com/news/skeletal-coleus-2025-26-japan-flower-of-the-year/ - Lawn and Garden Retailer, Japan Flower of the Year coverage, coleus Lime Edge
https://lgrmag.com/news/coleus-named-2025-26-flower-of-the-year-in-japan/ - Floral Daily, Japan Flower of the Year coverage, coleus Lime Edge and Skeletal
https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9796860/lime-edge-skeletal-coleus-named-flower-of-the-year-in-japan/ - Japan Flower Selections Association, Flower of the Year award, coleus Lime Edge
https://jf-selections.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/フルバージョン★日本フラワー・オブ・ザ・イヤー2025_ニュースリリース②【受賞品種解説】２_2025.12.12.pdf - Lawn and Garden Retailer, Green Thumb Award announcement, Basil Treviso
https://lgrmag.com/news/ngb-announces-2026-green-thumb-award-winners/ocimum-dolce-fresca/
- National Garden Bureau, Professional’s Choice Green Thumb Award, Basil Treviso
https://ngb.org/green-thumb-award-winners/ - YouTube, AAS award announcement video, Basil Treviso
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s6s1bdCUSmU - Greenhouse Product News, AAS award announcement, Basil Treviso
https://gpnmag.com/news/aas-announces-2026-new-winners/ - Lawn and Garden Retailer, AAS award announcement, Basil Treviso
https://lgrmag.com/news/new-aas-winners-named-for-2026/basil-treviso/ - All-America Selections, National Edible and Vegetable winner, Basil Treviso
https://all-americaselections.org/product/basil-treviso/ - Quality Cuttings, GardenFest announcement, coleus GardenFest Bright Day
https://qualitycuttings.com/product/coleus-gardenfest-bright-day/ - Basil Piedmont™, All-America Selections (AAS) Winner for 2025
Regional Winner: Great Lakes and Heartland
Piedmont is a disease-resistant basil with classic flavor and abundant harvests.
2024
- “How Rick Grazzini Built a Legacy in Plant Breeding,” Article in Greenhouse Grower, December 2024 – and cover story for this issue
- “How Rick Grazzini finds opportunities to develop new plants that fill the negative space,” Greenhouse Management, October 2024
- Artemisia GardenGhost™, FarWest, Retailers’ Choice Award
https://diggermagazine.com/fws-retailers-choice-2024/ - Medal, Gardeners World Live, best new annual, coleus Skeletal
https://www.plantsforeurope.com/four-new-plant-varieties/ - Medal, Cultivate 24, Editors Choice award, coleus Skeletal, jointly with Kientzler NA
https://www.greenhousegrower.com/crops/why-new-coleus-from-kientzler-stands-out-in-the-garden-video/
https://aiph.org/floraculture/news/master-breeder-rick-grazzini-celebrates-big-wins-at-cultivate-24/
- Medal, Cultivate 24, Medal of Excellence, Greenhouse Grower, Industry Achievement award, Rick Grazzini
https://www.hortweek.com/plant-breeder-rick-grazzini-wins-big-us-show-cultivate-24/ornamentals/article/1881964 - Press Release, Plants for Europe
https://www.plantsforeurope.com/master-breeder-rick-grazzini-wins-big-at-cultivate-24/ - Press Release, AIPH, RG Cultivate award
https://aiph.org/floraculture/news/master-breeder-rick-grazzini-celebrates-big-wins-at-cultivate-24/ - Star release, third New Age syringa from G2 breeding, New Age Pink Flush
https://issuu.com/starrosesandplants/docs/newvarietiesbooklet?mode=window
2023
- People’s Choice award, UGA Trial Gardens, rudbeckia MinIBeckia Flame
https://plantcenter.uga.edu/files/2023/10/Shades-of-Green-July-2023.pdf - Medal, Plantarium GroenDirekt, diervilla Kodiak Mixx
https://lgrmag.com/news/new-gardengenetics-diervilla-receives-gold-medal/ - Chelsea short list, Philadelphus Pearls
https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9529470/nine-plantipp-novelties-shortlisted-for-chelsea-2023/
- Mr Plant Geek, Lavender Sensational!
https://mrplantgeek.com/2023/07/01/lavandula-sensational-a-scent-sensation/ - Mr Plant Geek, Philadelphus Pearls of Perfume
https://mrplantgeek.com/2023/04/30/philadelphus-pearls-of-perfume-the-scent-of-summer/ - October, Southern Living Plants
https://southernlivingplants.com/the-collection/plant/pearls-of-perfume-philadelphus/ - November 2023, Floral Daily, lavender Sensational!
https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9578307/lavender-sensational-selected-as-top-performer-in-multi-year-perennial-trial/
2022
- David Wilson, Overdevest, dianthus EverBloom series, video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynPGGejmaZM - July, Graham Rice. RHS Bulletin
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plants-blogs/plants/july-2022/philadelphus-pearls-of-perfume-g15097
- August, Aris newsletter, PPA favorite, artemisia GardenGhost
https://garden-choice.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Aris-Trial-Gardens-at-Green-Leaf-Newsletter-August-2022.pdf
2021
- Georgia magazIne, lagerstroemia GreatMyrtle
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202111/index.php?startid=32#/p/32 - Floral Daily, 15 July, Allan Armitage, rudbeckia MiniBeckia Flame
https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9339553/this-new-rudbeckia-variety-which-is-colored-like-flames-is-standing-out-at-trials/
- Lavender Sensational!, FarWest, Best in Show
https://gpnmag.com/news/lavender-sensational-named-best-in-show-at-farwest/ - November, Growers Talks
https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=25455
2020
- Best New Plant award, UGA Trial Gardens, rudbeckia MiniBeckia Flame
https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/AP%20116-8_1.PDF
2019
- Hypoestes Hippo Red, 20 independent trial awards in US
https://www.greenhousegrower.com/crops/growing-tips-from-pleasant-view-gardens-for-hypoestes-hippo-red/
