Grower Alexandra Farms won seven awards at this year's Society of American Florists (SAF) Outstanding Varieties Competition, including one of the top honors: Best in Class. The competition was part of the 139th annual SAF convention, held in Miami from August 6 - 9, 2024.
This year, the Colombian grower entered varieties from its dahlia collection in addition to its garden roses and was thrilled that some of those exquisite dahlia varieties were also recognized with awards, alongside its roses.
Alexandra Farms’ Winning Varieties at the SAF Outstanding Varieties Competition
Like any other contest, SAF's Outstanding Varieties Competition presents a galaxy of floral superstars, each looking to have their name in the top awards. Each year, a team of judges evaluates hundreds of these floral entries based on criteria including color and commercial appeal, stem and foliage, bloom shape, bloom size, and overall quality and presentation.
But even in the heat of the contest, and the rigorous standards required, several of Alexandra Farms’ varieties came out triumphant demonstrating the grower’s unique touch and a knack for producing exceptional varieties. So, here are the flowers that won it for the farm.
Rose Millicent
Rose Millicent was awarded a Best in Class Ribbon and a Blue Ribbon. The Best in Class prize is awarded to flowers with the highest scores in their category. Rose Millicent, a new variety from David Austin Wedding Roses, is a cornucopia of wonderful things. She's a vintage beauty of warm mid-pink tones, developing hints of lilac and mauve.
Her blousy blooms are filled with textured, swirling petals that unfurl to form an outstanding rosette. Rose Millicent's medium scent of citrus and old rose provides her final flourish, and her adorable character suggests the vintage, reserved glamour of a bygone era. No wonder she was irresistible to the judges!
Dahlia Hybrid Pink Quartz
Alexandra Farms’ Dahlia Hybrid Pink Quartz was awarded a Blue Ribbon at the competition. With her striking shade of bubblegum pink, this large bloom with long, sturdy, and abundant petals is captivating, feminine, and audacious. She is vibrant and full of dimension, showcasing a regal-like delicacy and alluring freshness.
Rose Hettie
Yet another beautiful flower from the grower’s collection, Rose Hettie, bred by David Austin Wedding Roses, was awarded a Red Ribbon. Garden Rose Hettie is bright and sassy. She is a striking pink rose with layers of with layers of wavy petals opening into a wide, shallow, rosette-shaped cup. She opens quickly and has a long vase life. While her scent is elusive, her charm and beauty are confident and captivating. She is an excellent choice for a splash of color in any bridal bouquet.
Rose Miyabi
The grower’s Rose Miyabi was awarded a Red Ribbon at the competition. Her name — given by her breeder Wabara — signifies the traditional Japanese idea of authentic elegance, an ideal that she embodies and exemplifies without even trying.
The rose’s pink-colored outer petals usually part to reveal light pink petals inside, forming a star shape. And she is tinted with warm peach at the heart of the blossom.
Dahlia Hybrid White Quartz
Dahlia Hybrid White Quartz was awarded a Red Ribbon. This large and magnificent frosty white Dahlia unfurls into a star shape as she blooms, reminiscent of a waterlily. She is an eye-catching flower ever demanding a viewer's attention, with sharp-edged petals that create a magnetic sense of depth along endless layers.
Dahlia Hybrid Orange Stone
Alexandra Farms’ Dahlia Hybrid Orange Stone generally shines in shades of soft carnelian orange. This Dahlia was awarded a Red Ribbon at the competition. She is a medium-sized bloom of symmetric curled petals that radiates warmth as she opens, thus radiating a vintage elegance. A perfect allusion to autumnal settings or rustic-style gatherings, this hardy Dahlia is sure to stand out with her all-around stardom.
Acknowledging the awards, Alexandra Farms said:
“Recognition in the competition carries weight with buyers and a sense of reward for everyone at our farm in Colombia. We're honored to be awarded ribbons in this year's competition!”
The Dreamlike, Flower-Filled World of Alexandra Farms
A boutique grower specializing in nostalgic, romantic, fresh-cut garden roses, Alexandra Farms is located on the fertile savanna of Bogotá in the Andes Mountains of Colombia. Here, the warm days and cool nights are perfect for growing garden roses, which the grower is widely known for. The flowers are proudly grafted, grown, harvested, graded, bunched, and packed by hand, and the collections include more than sixty unique and popular varieties with special shapes, colors, and fragrances.
Since 2005, the grower - certified through Florverde Sustainable Flowers and One Carbon World - has been dedicated to producing varieties with the best appearance and performance possible while keeping up with demand and trends. The long-lasting, award-winning garden roses - and other varieties - from the farms are available year-round through floral wholesalers worldwide from where you can acquire them.
Photos courtesy of Alexandra Farms, unless otherwise noted.
