6 plants named as 2011 Florida Garden Select

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) has named six plants as 2011 Florida Garden Select. Each year, a selection of Florida's best plants are hand-picked by a jury of horticulturists each representing a unique facet of the state's diverse nursery and landscape industry.

The 2011 selections were chosen for their exceptional appeal, marketability and projected success for Florida's diverse climate and beyond.

The six plants include one flowering accent tree, one low-growing conifer-like shrub, a seemingly constant-blooming vine, a dainty-looking, yet heat-tolerant annual, a spreading ground cover ideal for Florida and a distinctive, hybridized palm.

"2011 brings a new and refreshed approach to the program's marketing. We're taking aim at gardening enthusiasts and casual gardeners through the development of a Florida Gardening consumer website and Facebook interface designed to spur enthusiasm for these plants and for gardening in general," said Rick Brown, co-owner of Riverview Flower Farm (Wimauma, Fla.) and a member of FNGLA's marketing committee.

Last year, the Florida Garden Select name replaced Florida Plants of the Year.

The winners are:

Gold Medallion Tree (Cassia leptophylla) – Pictured

Prostrate Yew or Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata')

Caranday Palm (Copernicia alba)

Snow Princess (Labularia hybrid 'Snow Princess')

Yellow Butterfly Pea Vine (Callaeum macropterum (formerly Mascagnia macroptera)
Wire Vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris)

Click here for descriptions and photos of the plants.