Wow Sol,
FIVE IS HARD!! Actually my five picks would all be seedlings or cultivars in the process of being propagated for introduction of mine right now but that's hardly fair. I would pick one of the toothpicks and several of the football-sized ones. A quick walk and I had my list.
'Gisela Volker'. For a roller to impress, it has to be special. It has a rather unique form for a roller and occasionally makes fasciated rosettes. Seems to be impervious to everything.
'Adamina'. This is newly received from Germany but the color is striking. Sort of sunset shades and some true orange tones at several stages. A large nicely-formed rosette. Can't wait until I can use this as a parent.
'Bros'. OK I now this one is a slow-poke but it isn't too bad a grower for me and the color is a WOW red even now. It takes the smooth waxy finish to an extreme. The seedlings have been interesting although confusing as they are vigorous and not as red.
'Silver Song'. This was one of my favorites since I was a kid in MA. As Bill Nixon once said "that plant is special". It has more the wulfenii form and it is MAGIC as a parent, giving blues, pinks and even stripes. It NEVER looks bad or shabby.
'Pink Lotus'. I like a lot of my named varieties but this is one that also looks good all year long and it really is pink.
OK some other honorable mentions: 'Waldmeister' a wonderfully formed dark green with brown shadings; 'Frosch Konig', a very clear soft lime green; 'Picasso', a very nice medium large with very dark leaf bases, strong grower; 'Patent Leather Shoes', it really can go BLACK; 'Positively Glowing', SO bright; 'Persephone', a very wide-leaved and larger cultivar, green with red bases that unfortunately fade quickly.
Kevin
