Interesting and close to nature at Elmia Garden 2018

The latest gardening trends, the Perennial of the Year for 2019, and the shortlisted selections for the Elmia Garden Award for garden product of the year 2019 were some of the highlights that attracted great interest to this Elmia Garden fair in Jönköping, Sweden. The fair drew many exhibitors and strengthened its position as northern Europe’s largest meeting place for the garden retail trade.

“It’s been a great time and we’ve had lots of enjoyable and important meetings with both exhibitors and visitors where we talked about the green possibilities for the future,” comments Johanna Rahm, fair manager for Elmia Garden. “There’s such a wonderful and positive mood in the industry and we have yet again proved that this is a very important and appreciated meeting place that people don’t want to miss.”

This year 150 exhibitors from 10 countries took over the halls.

“Both exhibitors and visitors say that Elmia Garden is an incredibly beautiful fair, that it provides inspiration, and that it is unique in thereby being able to bring together the industry and media around gardening issues,” Rahm says.

Perennial of the Year 2019, a flowering butterfly magnet

The long-flowering purple oregano Origanum Laavigatum “Herrenhausen” has been chosen by the perennial group of the garden section of the Federation of Swedish Farmers as Perennial of the Year for 2019.

The statement from the perennial group: “The purple oregano ‘Herrenhausen’ is pleasantly scented, stays beautiful for a long time, and the favourite of pollinating insects. It forms fluffy, flowering cushions in soft purple shades and is as beautiful in flowerbeds as in pots and as ground cover. For its beauty, versatility and generosity to our flying friends, the Perennial Group has chosen the purple oregano Origanum Laavigatum ‘Herrenhausen’ as Perennial of the Year for 2019.”

“I’m incredibly fond of plants that combine usefulness and enjoyment,” says Jessica Lyon, who presented Perennial of the Year this year. “This year’s perennial of the year is a plant that fits well into both a herb garden and in a flowerbed together with other perennials. Just the dark stems alone are delightful.”

Smart innovations

The three new garden trends for 2019 that were presented at Elmia Garden Trends this past spring were apparent throughout the inspirational areas of the fair. It was also the premiere showing of the five smart and innovative products that were nominated for the Elmia Garden Award for garden product of the year 2019.

The five shortlisted products are a long-handled tool, outdoor furniture in recycled plastic, an app for remote controlled watering, a biodegradable textile fabric, and refined soil suitable for trees and bushes. The winner will be chosen by a jury in early spring before the start of the gardening season.

“All the entries are new and exciting innovations with technical solutions and a clear focus on the future. This year’s shortlisted products also have a clear focus on the environment and ergonomics, are smart solutions, and are products that encompass everything from assistive aids, digital technology, and improvements that everyone can benefit from,” concludes Johanna Rahm.