Danziger selections receive RHS Recommended Award of Garden Merit

Danziger has announced that two selections from its GEM Lantana Series, GEM Compact Yellow Topaz and GEM Diva Pink, have received the RHS Recommended Award of Garden Merit (AGM) following the Royal Horticultural Society’s first-ever Lantana Trial at RHS Garden Wisley.

The landmark trial featured 74 Lantana entries, with only 11 cultivars receiving the award. Two of them are from Danziger’s GEM Series, placing GEM Compact Yellow Topaz and GEM Diva Pink among the first Lantana cultivars ever to receive this RHS recognition.

GEM Compact Yellow Topaz impressed the judges with its floriferous performance, uniform habit, and distinctive yellow-and-cream bicolored flowers. Its dark foliage creates a strong contrast with the blooms, adding to its overall garden presence.

© DanzigerGEM Compact Yellow Topaz

GEM Diva Pink stood out with its open, spreading habit and strong, bright flowers that are well displayed across the plant. The judges also highlighted its uniform pink color as the flowers mature and its performance in containers.

“Receiving RHS recognition for two selections from our GEM Series is an important acknowledgment of the work behind our breeding,” says Ori Danziger, Deputy CEO of Danziger. “We aim to develop varieties that combine strong visual appeal with reliable performance and real value for growers and the market. Seeing two GEM selections, each with its own distinct characteristics, recognized in the first-ever RHS Lantana Trial reinforces that direction.”

© Danziger

Two different strengths
The recognition reflects Danziger’s approach to breeding varieties that offer more than an attractive flower. From compact, uniform plants to spreading habits and bold color, the GEM Series was developed to give growers a diverse Lantana assortment backed by strong performance. The RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit is intended to help identify plants with proven garden value and reliable performance. With GEM Compact Yellow Topaz and GEM Diva Pink now joining the award list, growers and retailers have an additional independent point of reference when selecting Lantana for their programs.

© DanzigerGEM Diva Pink

More than just color
The RHS trial was designed to evaluate how Lantana perform in real garden conditions, looking beyond flower color alone to assess the qualities that make a plant valuable throughout the season. Entries were evaluated for floriferousness and length of flowering season, flower-to- foliage balance, attractiveness of foliage, health and vigor. Each selection was grown both in containers and in the ground, with minimal intervention and no pruning, allowing judges to assess its natural performance and habit. For Danziger, having two different GEM selections recognized in the same trial highlights the diversity and performance built into the series.