Perennial Plant of the Year

Excerpt from the Perennial Plant Association website:

"The Perennial Plant of the Year Program promotes the use of perennials. Four perennials are selected by the Perennial Plant of the Year Committee from an extensive list of nominations made earlier by Perennial Plant Association members. Each year members cast their vote for one of the four selected plants with the following attributes:"

• suitable for a wide range of climate types
• low maintenance
• easily propagated - easily comes true from seed or vegetative propagation
• exhibits multiple seasonal interest

2012 Perennial of the Year™ Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'.

"Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ PP13859 grows 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide in a mounded form. This hardy perennial grows well in hardiness zones 3 to 8.

Brunneras are treasured for their shade tolerance and early baby-blue, forget-me-not like flowers. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ has enchanting silvery leaves with green venation and a thin green margin. One common name for this perennial is heartleaf brunnera because the emerging leaf enlarges to a heart shape."

Past winners include:

• 2011 Amsonia hubrichtii

• 2010 Baptisia Australis
  
  
• 2009 Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola'
  
  
• 2008 Geranium ‘Rozanne’


• 2007 Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’

• 2006 Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Feuerhexe’

• 2005 Helleborus xhybridus

• 2004 Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'

• 2003 Leucanthemum 'Becky'

• 2002 Phlox 'David'

• 2001 Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

• 2000 Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'

• 1999 Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'

• 1998 Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

• 1997 Salvia 'Mainacht' (May Night)

• 1996 Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'

• 1995 Perovskia atriplicifolia

• 1994 Astilbe 'Sprite'

• 1993 Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'

• 1992 Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'

• 1991 Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple'


• 1990 Phlox stolonifera