Anyone who has grown something from the vividly hued Supertunia collection of trailing, floriferous, hybrid plants in their garden can testify to their beauty and ease of propagation. This vigorous group of annuals is registered among a group of plants know as the Proven Winners, and unlike so many of the plants starting to be propagated in greenhouses across our state over the next few weeks, these plants aren’t grown from seed. They are vegetatively produced by a handful of growers across the country, and world, and then distributed to smaller growers in our local communities.

Proven Winners is an international marketing cooperative composed of some of the world’s best propagators. As a group, they are dedicated to developing new hybrid color varieties that will perform well for both the grower and consumer. Proven Winners plants are found at more than 5,000 retailers nationwide.

Judging by sales and distribution of the plant material, Proven Winners are a raging success across the United States. Good news for the growers of the plants came from across the Atlantic recently, when the Royal Horticultural Society dubbed several of the plants exceptional. According to Marshall Dirks, director of marketing for Proven Winners, in 2002 the RHS conducted trials of vegetatively raised petunia hybrids at their Wisley Gardens near London. Plants were judged on their performance in hanging baskets and patio containers. The trials were open to all suppliers of modern trailing petunia hybrids.

Of the 76 entries that were submitted by companies in Europe and the United States, only 12 were granted the RHS prestigious “Award of Garden Merit,” which is granted only to plants that “are of outstanding excellence for garden use.” The Supertunia series from Proven Winners won three awards.

‘Mini Blue Vein,’ ‘Mini Purple’ and ‘Mini Strawberry Pink Veined’ Supertunias won the Award of Garden Merit.

Entries were assessed by the RHS Floral Trials Subcommittee between June and August 2002 and were rated on their continuity and evenness of flowering. Their color quality, growth habit and overall weather resistance also were evaluated.

Gardeners in Maine easily may recognize the Supertunia series, which is widely available at garden centers throughout the state. These luscious plants are displayed and marketed with the trademarked Proven Winners label.

To find a location near you, visit www.provenwinners.com. Photos are available from the Proven Winners online photo library. This free service allows you to download high-resolution photos at your convenience. To sign up for the library, go to www.pwcertified.com/

photolib/login.cfm and create a user name and password. Viewing the vivid collection of plant material there will make summer seem just a breeze away.

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, 512 North Ridge Road, Montville 04941, or e-mail them to dianagc@midcoast.com. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include name, address and telephone number.