Allan Armitage

Athens Select is a collection of heat- and humidity-tolerant  plants, selected by Dr. Allan Armitage after being tested in his trial gardens at the University of Georgia. In addition to heat tolerance, plants are selected for their uniqueness and superior landscape performance. In order to support the University of Georgia and Dr. Armitage's quest to introduce outstanding plant varieties to the industry, the program was designed so that a portion of the proceeds from each plant sold goes to the university to help fund continued plant research.

These plants weren't meant to make cookie-cutter four-inch-pots, and growers might find some of them to be more suitable in five-inch pots and combos. And while Athens Select™ plants don't require heat to perform, they do thrive in warm temperatures, so it's best for growers to start them after the regular vegetative annual crops. Waiting until February, March or later to start will result in much faster finish times than a January start would. They're also great season extenders for sales into summer, especially with today's popularity of the "tropical look."

For the gardener who loves unusual, colorful plants, and is tired of everything looking tired in the heat of the summer, these tough plants are for you.