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"Athens Select™ Unveils its Best and Brightest for Spring 2005"

The Athens Select Marketing Association is pleased to announce that its newest varieties will hit stores in Spring 2005.

Athens Select “hangs its hat” on tough summer weather conditions. It has built a reputation for offering gardeners the best and most colorful assortment of heat and humidity tolerant plants on the market. The group’s rigorous selection process ensures that only the most innovative, unique and hardy plants will carry the Athens Select name.

“This year’s new introductions are some of our best performers yet,” said Dr. Allan Armitage of the University of Georgia, ex-officio member of the board and “plant guy” of Athens Select. “Each of our new plants will stand up to the pains of summer heat and humidity without losing their vibrancy or color. It’s this extra zest that is sure to make them favorites with gardeners.”

Five new plants will be available in stores for the 2005 lineup from Athens Select.

Acalypha ‘Bourbon Street’ truly lives up to its colorful Louisiana roots. This plant scoffs at heat and humidity, yet maintains its grace incooler, northern temperatures. ‘Bourbon Street’ shows off a coat of multi-colored leaves that perform from spring through late fall. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and gardeners can count on ‘Bourbon Street’ reaching 20-30 inches in the garden.

Coleus ‘Velvet Lime’ features rich, burgundy leaves surrounded by lime green edges, adding depth and elegance to any garden. Still one of the hottest plants in landscapes today, ‘Velvet Lime’ is ideal for beds, boxes and mixed plantings. An easy-growing coleus that thrives in sun to partial shade, ‘Velvet Lime’ promises a colorful show that will last all season. Plants typically reach a height of 18-20 inches.

Cuphea ‘Susan’s Little Gem’ joins ‘Firefly’ and ‘Plum Mist’ to round out Athens Select’s line of cupheas. Ready to burst onto the gardening market, this charmer boasts delicate pink and white blooms that are stunning additions in baskets or beds. Reaching a height of 9-15 inches, ‘Susan’s Little Gem’ is sure to grow on gardeners.

Duranta ‘Cuban Gold’ shines in containers, baskets and borders, holding its dazzling chartreuse color even in the toughest of summer heat.An exceptionally versatile plant, ‘Cuban Gold’ boasts great branches and will spread out in the garden. Its low-growing habit and great garden overage make it perfect for edging or in containers. ‘Cuban Gold’ will thrive in full sun to partial shade and should reach a height of 8-12 inches. 

Graptophyllum ‘Black Beauty’ features glossy, almost-black leaves that create an eye-catching show when paired with lighter foliage. Third in the series from Athens Select, ‘Black Beauty’ is immune to the effects of heat and humidity, promising non-stop color through summer and beyond. ‘Black Beauty’ will reach 18-30 inches and should be planted in full sun to partial shade.