Polar Star Rose Wins Best In Show Just In Time For Christmas

Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF

In September 2006, the Society of American Florists (SAF) held its Outstanding Varieties Competition where almost 400 different varieties of flowers went head to head with the hopes of taking the coveted Best in Show award. Only one flower variety did that-the Polar Rose, a gorgeous white rose that's sure to be seen in countless Christmas arrangements this December.

The Polar Star was entered into the competition by Eufloria Flowers of Nipomo, California. It is the latest white rose to be introduced by the company and was bred by Rosen-Tantau, a rose breeder with more than one hundred years of experience. Rosen-Tantau is based in Uetersen, Germany. Eufloria Sales Manager Chad Nelson said they chose to enter the Polar Star after researching it at Horti Fair in Holland. They put the Polar Star into production shortly after Valentine's Day this year.

Dean Knight, owner of Knight's Flowers in Clinton, Tennessee, who was one of the nine judges at the Outstanding Varieties Competition described the Polar Star like this: "[Polar Star] is picture perfect, just about every bud is uniformly open and exactly the same."

Judge Tim Farrell, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Farrell's Florist in Drexel, Pennsylvania said, "Every bit of this flower, from beginning to end, stands out. This is something that, as a wedding flower, would be absolutely stunning."

In addition to roses, the competition included flower varieties from a multitude of other flower species. The Polar Star was chosen Best in Show over the winners in all other classes. Best in Class winners included:

Alstroemeria: "Orange Queens," Golden Flowers.

Chyrsanthemum: "Atlantis Pink," Dole Fresh Flowers.

Cut Bulb: "Mozart," Hyperactive Farms, Inc.

Decorative Foliage: "Australian Pine," Mellano and Company.

Dianthus: "Rum," Golden Flowers.

Gerbera: "Dune," Green Valley Floral.

Other Cut Flower: "Jumbo White" (hydrangea), Fresca Farms.

Potted Flowering Plant: "Fashion," Poulsen Roser A/S.

Spray Rose: "Jana," Koch California.

This stunning white rose will indeed be a huge hit for weddings, but I believe we'll also see them in a number of lovely Christmas-themed arrangements. They'll be an excellent compliment to Christmas-red roses and other red flowers.


About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. His shops provide flower delivery worldwide through Flower Delivery Express. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com