In this journal we have compiled a collection of plants that have received the status of ‘Plant of the Year’ as recognized by various entities based on their garden merits. We hope this list inspires you to try something new and to perhaps start your own Plants Map collection of ‘best plants of the year’ from your own experiences as well.
And the 2016 Plants of the Year are:
- Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ – Perennial Plant of the Year™ by the Perennial Plant Association. This low maintenance plant has intensely white, 2-3” flowers in late summer. It’s clump forming habit ads a bright spot among other shade loving plants. Grows well in part sun to part shade. Average size is 3’ tall.
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- Conifer Thuja occidentalis ‘Jantar’ – 2016 American Conifer Society Collectors Conifer of the Year. A narrow upright selection of arborvitae with invigorating, cheerful yellow foliage
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Picea pungens ‘Ruby Teardrops’
Conifer Picea pungens ‘Ruby Teardrops’ – 2016 American Conifer Society Collectors Conifer of the Year. A striking dwarf blue selection of Colorado spruce that provides a vibrant color display early in the growing season. Also see ‘Ruby Teardrops’ from our Plants Map community
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- Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium var. angustatus ‘Raydon’s Favorite’) – The Garden Club of America 2016 Plant of the Year: Montine McDaniel Freeman Horticulture Award
- Daylily ‘Rose F. Kennedy’ – 2016 American Hemerocallis Society Stout Silver Medal Winner.
- Herb Mountain Mints ((Pycnanthemum Michx.) – 2016 Notable Native Herb™ from the Herb Society of America selected by the Native Herb Conservation Committee due to its unique properties, utility, history, or potential for use.
- Hibiscus – Terrace Plant of the Year by the Dutch flower auction FloraHolland. The beautiful and exotic flowers of hibiscus come in a range of colors. They are a great choice for summer containers and are easy to grow.
- Hosta Curly Fries
Hosta ‘Curly Fries’
– Hosta of the Year by the American Hosta Growers. Miniature to small hosta with highly ruffled narrow leaves in shades of pale chartreuse to yellow that fade to near white. Lavender flowers in mid to late summer.
- See ‘Curly Fries’ from our Plants Map community Hosta Curly Fries
- Holly ilex opaca ‘Maryland Dwarf’ – Holly of the Year by the Holly Society of America, Inc. Recognized as the best dwarf form of American holly as it rarely grows over three feet tall but grow horizontally wider. Mature specimens can reach 10’ wide. Perfect as a groundcover from sunny locations to part sun.
- Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’ – Landscape Plant of the Year, by Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs | Lawn & Landscape. This compact version of the popular Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ is great as an accent plant or as a hedge growing. Average size is 3-5’ tall. The lime green blooms mature to rich pink. Other awards include 2011 Best New Plant from ANLA.
- Rose – Look-A-Likes® Phloxy Baby Regional Award Winner 2016 from American Garden Rose Selections. Phloxy Baby is a Polyantha hybrid that displays extremely good disease resistance and is more upright than other Polyanthas.
- Rose – Thomas Affleck Regional Award Winner 2016 from American Garden Rose Selections. Thomas Affleck is a thornless, fragrant, intensely pink, semi-double rose bred at the Antique Rose Emporium.
- Rose – Dee-Lish® Fragrance Award 2016 from American Garden Rose Selections. Dee-Lish is a tall Hybrid Tea rose with an old fashioned flower. It has a very strong fragrance described as verbena and citrus.
- Zelkova serrata ‘Musashino’ – Urban Tree of the Year by the The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA). This award is based on characteristics that make it adaptable to a variety of harsh urban growing conditions with strong ornamental traits. this unusual cultivar creates a nice vertical design & appears to be one of the hardiest zelkova cultivars. Fall color is also excellent with bright yellow to rusty red foliage.
- Wildflowers of the Year
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)
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- Northern Rattlesnake-master (Eryngium yuccifolium) – 2016 Wildflower of the Year co-sponsored by the NC Botanical Garden and the Garden Club of North Carolina.
- Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) – 2016 Wildflower of the Year from the Virginia Native Plant Society.
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- 2016 All-America Selections Winners – Best new varieties of vegetables and flowers grown from seed or young plants as determined by All-America Selections judges. A few of our favorites are:
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- Pumpkin Pepitas F1 – a winner in both the decorative and culinary arenas
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- Salvia Summer Jewel™ Lavender – an early blooming, compact, and continuous flowering salvia
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- Tomato Chef’s Choice Green F1 – A uniquely colored yet delicious tomato
- Geranium Brocade Cherry Night -Striking foliage with large semi-double blooms of cherry pink
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- National Garden Bureau annual ‘Year of The’ awards are chosen based on a combination of characteristics that make easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, versatile and popular among gardeners.
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Allium christophii
Bulb – Allium – Ornamental alliums can add a ‘wow’ factor to your garden
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- Edible – Carrot – One of the most popular & nutritious home vegetables
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- Annual – Begonia – Easy to grow annual that adds a tropical look
- Perennial – Delphinium – Tall spikes of blue flowers make this a perennial fav
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What’s your Plant of the Year? We would love to know. Add your favorite plant to Plants Map and share it’s growing story with our community.
