Award-Winning Plants of 2012

February 14th, 2012

Assorted plant organizations each year pick one or a few particular plants they’ve deemed to be the best of the best.

Most are new introductions, but some are “veterans” that just deserve more attention in the landscape.

If you’re looking to add a few good plants to your yard this spring, here’s the 2012 “all-star team:”

Redbud 'The Rising Sun'

* Pennsylvania Gold Medal

A panel of experts from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (best known for running the Philadelphia Flower Show) each year picks several trees and shrubs worthy of greater use in Pennsylvania landscapes. Four woody plants made the grade this year:

Redbud ‘The Rising Sun’ (Cercis canadensis). A small native tree that gets rosy flowers in early spring. Main attraction is the heart-shaped leaves that emerge a tangerine color and then turn golden-apricot for the summer. Shade to mostly full sun. 15 to 20 tall and wide.

Viburnum ‘Darts Duke’ (Viburnum rhytidophylloides). A tall, semi-evergreen and low-care shrub with leathery leaves, white flower clusters in May and red berry-sized fruits that ripen black. Sun or shade. 8 to 10 feet tall and wide.

Portugal laurel (Prunus lusitanica). A tall, dense shrub with glossy, evergreen leaves and reddish stems. Gets bottle-brush white flowers in spring and black fruits (toxic when eaten) in fall. Often used as a screening hedge. Part shade, 30 feet tall, 20-25 feet wide if not sheared.

Japanese cornel dogwood (Cornus officinalis ‘Kintoki’). A small, multi-stemmed tree that produce small bright-yellow flowers very early in spring and tart, cherry-like small edible berries in fall. Part shade, 15 feet tall and wide.

More information: www.goldmedalplants.org.

* Perennial Plant of the Year

Members of the Perennial Plant Association vote to honor one outstanding perennial plant each year. The 2012 winner is…

Brunnera 'Jack Frost' in bloom.

Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ (Brunnera macrophylla). Also known as false forget-me-not, this particular brunnera stands out for its heavily silver heart-shaped leaves with green veins. Spring flowers are blue, long-lasting and reminiscent of forget-me-nots. Shade or at least afternoon shade. 18 inches tall.

More information: www.perennialplant.org.

* All-America Selections

Independent researchers each year evaluate hundreds of new flowers and vegetables in dozens of trial gardens throughout the U.S. and Canada. The highest scorers get All-America Selections awards. Three new flowers and two new vegetables made the grade for 2012:

Ornamental pepper ‘Black Olive.’ A compact, heat-tolerant annual with dark leaves and lots of small, cone-shaped hot peppers that ripen from purple to red. Full sun, 20 inches tall.

Salvia ‘Summer Jewel Pink.’A hummingbird-attracting annual flower that sends up flower spikes lined with pink flowers. Full sun, 18 to 24 inches tall.

Vinca 'Jams 'n Jellies Blackberry'

Vinca ‘Jams ‘n Jellies Blackberry.’ A heat- and drought-tough annual with velvety, deep-purple rounded flowers – almost black in some light. Full sun, 12 inches tall.

Pepper ‘Cayennetta.’ A mildly hot chili pepper that produces narrow, hanging fruits that ripen from green to red. Bushy habit and good for pots. Full sun. 24 inches tall.

Watermelon ‘Faerie.’ A watermelon with a rind that ripens creamy yellow instead of green. Meat is pink and very sweet, and fruits are about 4 to 6 pounds. Full sun, allow 11 feet for vines to spread or climb.

More information: www.all-americaselections.org.

* American Garden Award

'SunPatiens Spreading White'

This is one where the public gets to vote. Some two dozen public gardens grow displays of several new annuals nominated by growers, and visitors cast ballots for their favorite. Winner of the 2011 voting is:

‘SunPatiens Variegated Spreading White.’ A hybrid of impatiens and New Guinea impatiens, this flower caught eyes mainly for its heavily variegated green-gold leaves and large white flowers. Sun or part shade, 12-15 inches tall.

More information: www.all-americaselections.org.

* All-America Rose Selections

This rigorous testing program is one of the nation’s oldest, dating to 1938. Judges around the country evaluate new roses in 10 categories, and only the top few get AARS awards. Only one scored well enough to win a 2012 honor:

‘Sunshine Daydream.’ A grandiflora type with cup-shaped light yellow flowers that finish creamy yellow. Particularly disease-resistant. Full sun, 4 feet tall.

More information: www.rose.org.

* Garden Club of America Plant of the Year

This award is bestowed by the national organization of garden clubs, which appointed a plant-expert panel to name one outstanding plant each year that’s worthy of the Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal. The latest winner is:

Concolor fir (Abies concolor). Also known as white fir, this pyramidal evergreen is a popular Christmas tree but also makes a sleek, blue-tinted specimen in the landscape. Full sun or light shade, 40 feet tall, 20-25 feet wide.

More information: http://www2.gcamerica.org.

* Ivy of the Year

Each year since 2001, members of the American Ivy Society have selected an interesting ivy variety as “Ivy of the Year.” This year’s winner is:

‘Henriette.’ Heavily variegated, this miniature ivy is more white than green and takes on a pinkish hue in cool weather. Shade or light sun, ideal in hanging basket.

More information: www.ivy.org.

* Rhododendrons of the Year

Rhododendron 'Janet Blair'

Members of the American Rhododendron Society have a Rhododendron of the Year Committee that selects top rhododendrons and azaleas in eight different regions. This year’s four winners for the mid-Atlantic region are:

‘Janet Blair.’ A large-leafed type with pale, pinkish-mauve flowers that have frilly edges. Afternoon shade, 6 feet tall, 8 feet wide.

‘Windbeam.’ Narrower-leafed type with flowers that open pale apricot and turn light purple. Afternoon shade. Compact at 3 to 4 feet in 10 years.

‘Sandra’s Green Ice.’ An evergreen azalea with nearly pure white flowers, except yellow-green tint at the base and a greenish center as the flower ages. Afternoon shade, 4 feet tall and wide.

‘Aromi Sunny-Side-Up.’ A leaf-dropping azalea with bright yellow flowers and orange-yellow spotting. Sun or part shade, 6 feet tall and wide.

More information: www.rhododendron.org.

* All-American Daylily

The All-American Daylily Selection Council oversees a network of growers who rate daylilies on 50 performance characteristics across five growing zones to come up with one superior variety each year. The 2011-12 winner is:

‘Lady Elizabeth.’ One of the strongest white bloomers, this one blooms for about 5 weeks in summer and then repeats sporadically in fall. Sun or part shade, 18 to 24 inches tall.

More information: www.allamericandaylilies.com.

* Hosta of the Year

Hosta 'Liberty'

And finally, members of the America Hosta Growers Association each year vote on a favorite hosta variety that must be a superior performer nationwide. This year’s winner:

‘Liberty.’ A sport of the popular ‘Sagae,’ this 40-inch-tall hosta has blue-green leaves with a wide yellow margin that morphs to white as the season progresses. Lavender flowers. Shade or part shade.

More information:www.hostagrowers.org/Hosta_of_the_Year.html