Who is SynRG™
SynRG™ is the founding organization behind the Handpicked for You® program and created by the following producers:
These growers collaborate with plant breeders from around the world and independent garden center retailers in the United States and Canada to test and evaluate new plants, with the goal of awarding only the best tested and most trusted new plants the Handpicked for You® trustmark. This is not a new branding program, but rather a certification program that buyers can depend on. The Handpicked for You® trustmark will help consumers make good choices while providing reassurance that each item identified with the trustmark has been rigorously tested and locally scrutinized, only making the final cut when the plant variety has proven its performance.
Handpicked for You®
Handpicked for You® is a trustmark awarded to superior performing plants following two or more years of regional and local testing. The certification is supported by a collaboration of plant breeders, growers and independent garden center retailers. Together we’re working to identify and introduce the best tested and most trusted plants available to you.
The plant trials focus on evaluating and testing new plant introductions. However, we know there are some exceptional plants available today. 60+ of our favorite, most trusted plants have been awarded the Handpicked for You® designation as Tried and True picks. These plants are available in select independent garden centers in 2017. Starting in the spring of 2018, the first of our trial plants will be available as Handpicked for You® selections at local garden centers in Eastern and Midwestern portions of the United States and Canada.
Selection Criteria
The ultimate selection of Handpicked for You® plants is based on a series of core performance criteria that plants must meet in order to earn the Handpicked for You® trustmark. This certification is awarded to plants that demonstrate superior performance during both regional grower trials along with feedback from local garden centers on how the plants performed in their unique geographic area. Handpicked for You® plants must meet or exceed expectations on the following performance criteria:
● Overall Performance
● Reliability for Garden Success
● Different and/or an Improvement over what is Currently Available
● Low Maintenance
● Foliage and Bloom Interest
● Heat and Cold Tolerance
● Disease Resistance
● Non-Invasiveness
● Retail Appeal
● Ease of Production
The goal of the core performance criteria is to ensure Handpicked for You® plants are evaluated not only on general plant quality but also on those factors that help to make a plant successful in your customer's garden or yard.
In addition to these core criteria, a number of value-added factors are considered as well. While each plant might not meet all of these additional criteria, their performance on these factors are considered in the selection process. Value-added criteria include:
● Multi-Season Interest
● Multiple Uses in the Garden or Landscape
● Size Suitable for Small Yards
● Stress Tolerance
● Salt and/or Pollution Tolerance
● Adaptable to Several Soil Types
● Deer Resistance
● Low Water Usage
● Nativar
● Additional Features (such as being a pollinator species or having edible fruit or berries)
Plant Trials
To be awarded the Handpicked for You® trustmark each plant must pass a rigorous series of core performance criteria so it can be certified as suitably reliable for your garden.
During the first years, promising plants introduced by hybridizers from around the world undergo regional trials at independent grower locations in the United States and Canada.
Potential new plants are tested on their performance and are evaluated as often as weekly throughout the spring and summer growing season and at regular time intervals year-round. As they proceed through the evaluation process, their performance is measured and the data is regularly recorded for:
- Plant uniformity
- Height & width
- Bloom quality
- Bloom duration
- Floriferousness
- Foliage quality
- Pest & disease resistance
- Hardiness
- Overall plant performance
The plants are also evaluated on additional criteria designed to consider their overall suitability for today’s yards. This additional evaluation takes into account factors such as their: multi-season interest, native origins, maintenance requirements, water needs, deer resistance and pollinator friendliness.
Plants that perform particularly well at the regional grower locations are then selected to move on to local evaluations at independent garden centers. These plant experts in your neighborhood understand the unique requirements for garden success in your area. As this local trialing advances, these independent retailers are able to sell, in some instances, limited quantities for feedback from customers such as yourself. This feedback is regularly shared as part of the testing process.
This additional year of local trials is a key part of the plant evaluation process that provides the final go-ahead for which plants receive the coveted Handpicked for You® trustmark.
Watch the Handpicked for You® Introduction Video: (Click on image below)
How Can My Center Participate?
You be the judge! We’re looking for your input in 2018 on whether these plants meet the Handpicked for You™ criteria and should be Handpicked for You™ plants.
If you would like to be part of the 2018 Plant Evaluation Process or sell plants with the Handpicked for You® trustmark, contact any one of the 5 Founding Growers, or contact the SynRG office at [email protected] , Tel: 888-440-3122.
Watch for our new website in Spring 2017: www.handpickedplants.com
A special THANK YOU to SynRG™ for their support of The Garden Center Group and The Fall Event 2017!
