Chelsea Flower Show

Burpee’s ‘Ms. Mars’ sunflower selected as one of top 20 plants in
Chelsea Flower Show’s 2014 ‘Plant of the Year’ competition

World renowned as the most prestigious garden showcase, the Chelsea Flower Show has been held in London on the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital since 1913.

Bred by W. Atlee Burpee & Co.,and ideal for pots and containers, Helianthus annuus ‘Ms. Mars’, is a dwarf sunflower with a bushy habit, purple foliage and deep rosy-purple flowers with creamy-yellow tips. ‘Ms. Mars’ follows Cha-Cha Chive, a 2013 finalist, as the second Burpee bred product in successive years to reach the top 20.

Simon Crawford, a Burpee director, noted that “US visitors to Chelsea, who are a significant proportion of the 157,000 attending the show, were very interested to see the Burpee name on the ‘Plant of the Year’ display. Burpee is the only overseas breeder to have succeeded in attaining two finalists in successive years.”

Ms. Mars was also displayed in the South West in Bloom garden which won a Gold Medal, in addition to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for the best exhibit in the Grand Pavilion. The garden was opened on Monday, May 19 by rock group ‘Deep Purple’s lead singer Ian Gillan, who is an ardent supporter of gardening for children.

About Burpee
A true heritage brand, the Burpee Co. was founded in Philadelphia in 1876 by W. Atlee Burpee, an 18-year-old with a passion for plants and animals, and a mother willing to lend him $1,000 of “seed money” to get him started in business. Within 25 years he had developed the largest, most innovative seed company in the world. By 1915 Burpee was mailing a million catalogs a year to America’s gardeners. Today, Burpee is owned and operated by George Ball. It is still a family seed and plant company and still in the Philadelphia area. All Burpee products are Non-GMO. Burpee’s seeds and plants are available — and guaranteed — for all growing zones and for all seasons. The company’s highly recognizable catalog is available in December each year. Seeds and plants can be ordered by mail, phone and online. For more information, gardening techniques, recipes, gift cards and more, visit //www.burpee.com or call 1-800-888-1447.