Awards

Plant Raisers’ Award

The Award is granted to any nominated individual or organisation who has raised in New Zealand a cultivar, or cultivars, considered to be sufficiently meritorious.

A cultivar is a cultivated plant which is distinguished by any characters significant for the purposes of horticulture and which when reproduced sexually or asexually retains its distinguishing features.

The requirements of the award are that:

  • it should have been raised in New Zealand
  • it should have been in cultivation for at least 3 years
  • the cultivar should ideally have been registered if it belongs to a genus registered by an International Registration Authority.

Recipients of the Plant Raisers’ Award

2026 Recipient: Elise Hall

2026: Elsie Kazerine Hall

Cultivars:

  • Lavandula angustifolia ‘Azure Leigh’
  • Lavandula angustifolia ‘Grace Leigh’
  • Lavandula angustifolia ‘La Petite Blue’
  • Lavandula angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’.
  • Lavandula stoechas ‘Myrleigh’

Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2026, Vol. 29(1): in prep.

2025 Recipient: David Adams

2025: David (‘Dave’) William Adams

Cultivars:

  • Narcissus ‘Biereton’
  • Narcissus ‘Hokey Pokey’
  • Narcissus ‘Little Kiwi’
  • Narcissus ‘Melody Maree’
  • Narcissus ‘Posh White’.

Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2025, Vol. 28(1): 12–13

2024 Recipient: Bob_Matthews

2024: Robert (‘Bob’) Leonard Matthews

Cultivars:

  • Rosa ‘Anniversary’ (Mattlace)
  • Rosa ‘Cappuccino’ (Mattcup)
  • Rosa ‘Cupcake’ (Mattcisa)
  • Rosa ‘Diamonds Forever’ (Mattdiafor)
  • Rosa ‘My Best Mate’ (Mattbest)
  • Rosa ‘My Mum’ (Mattmum).

Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(2): 21

2023 Recipient: Denis Hughes, alongside Chris Hughes (right) and Graham Smith (left)

2023: Denis Hughes AHRIH

Cultivars:

  • Francoa appendiculata ‘Flower Girl’
  • Francoa appendiculata ‘Starry Eyes’
  • Rhododendron (Azalea) ‘Pink Chiffon’
  • Rhododendron (Azalea) ‘Softlights’
  • Sophora (S. fulvida × S. tetraptera) ‘Quick Silver’

Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(1): 24–25

2007: Mr Mark Jury

Cultivars:

  • Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’
  • Camellia ‘Volunteer’
  • Camellia ‘Jury’s Pearl’
  • Camellia ‘Gay Buttons’
  • Camellia ‘Pearly Cascade’
  • Camellia ‘Topiary Pink’
  • Camellia ‘Apple Blossom Sun’
  • Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
  • Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
  • Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
  • Rhododendron ‘Floral Sun’
  • Rhododendron ‘Floral Gift’
  • Rhododendron ‘Meadow Lemon’
  • Rhododendron ‘Platinum Ice’
  • Rhododendron (Vireya) ‘Jaffa’
  • Rhododendron (Vireya) ‘Sweet Vanilla’
  • Rhododendron (Vireya) ‘Sherbet Rose’
  • Rhododendron (Vireya) ‘Peach Puff’
  • Rhododendron (Vireya) ‘Jellybean’
  • Rhododendron (Vireya) ‘Mango Sunset’
  • Rhododendron (Vireya) ‘Pink Jazz’

Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2007, Vol. 10(1): 21–22

2004: Mr J. R. Finlay

Cultivars:

  • Camellia ‘Scentuous’ (C. japonica ‘Tiffany’ × C. lutchuensis)
  • Camellia ‘Sweet Emma’
  • Camellia ‘Scentimental’
  • Camellia ‘Scentasia’
  • Camellia ‘Fragrant Lady’
  • Camellia ‘Prime Fragrance’
  • Camellia ‘Toni Finlay’s Fragrance’
  • Camellia ‘Jim Finlay’s Fragrance’
  • Camellia ‘Dame Sylvia’
  • Camellia ‘Chekiangoleosa’ × ‘Scentasia’
  • Camellia ‘Chekiangoleosa’ × ‘Kramers Supreme’
  • Camellia ‘Chekiangoleosa’ × ‘Superscent’
  • Camellia ‘Chekiangoleosa’ × ‘Scentasia’

Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2004, Vol. 7(2): 21