Award Winning Plants
Take the guesswork out of plant selection with these award-winning plants. Top world plant experts have selected these jewels for their outstanding qualities and dependable performance. Truly, these plants are the finest plants the world has to offer.
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Common Name
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Type
Genus
Common Name
Light Requirement
Flower Color
Bloom Time
Height
Uses
Resistance
Zizia aurea – Golden Alexander
2025 Native Plant of the Year - gorgeous, easy, and, most importantly, supports pollinators and wildlife.
Asclepias incarnata – Swamp Milkweed
Missouri and Illinois native with clouds of pink blossoms.
Aster laevis – Bluebird Smooth Blue Aster
Few plants can top the intense robin's egg blue exuberant display. Ranked #1 Best Aster in top study.
Baptisia sphaerocarpa – Yellow Wild Indigo
Spectacular Missouri wildflower.
Colocasia – Thailand Giant Elephant Ears
A behemoth that grows as big as a car in one summer! Sun, tender. Bulbs can be lifted and stored over winter.
Colocasia – Waikiki Elephant Ears
Escape to the tropics with this award-winning dream.
Coreopsis – Li’l Bang Daybreak Tickseed
Stunning blossoms just keep coming, member of the 2025 Perennial Of The Year Li'l Bang Tickseed Series.
Coreopsis – Li’l Bang Starlight Tickseed
Fascinating flowers change color, 2025 Perennial Of The Year Li'l Bang Tickseed Series.
Coreopsis – Li’l Bang Starstruck Tickseed
Brilliant blossoms, 2025 Perennial Of The Year Li'l Bang Tickseed Series.
Coreopsis lanceolata – Lance Leaf Coreopsis
Named 2021 Missouri Native Plant Of The Year for its outstanding qualities.
Echinacea – Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Fabulous colors, winner of major awards.
Hydrangea – Haas’ Halo Smooth Hydrangea
Highly sought after, rare and limited.
Hydrangea Fairytrail Bride – Cascading Hydrangea
First-ever Cascading Hydrangea!
Hydrangea Fairytrail Fresco – Cascading Hydrangea
First-ever Blue or Pink Cascading Hydrangea!
Lilium – Friso Tree Lily
Jumbo 8" intensely fragrant blossoms on tall 4-6' stems.
Monarda bradburiana – Bee Balm
Important Missouri native pollinator plant.
Muhlenbergia capillaris – Pink Muhly Grass
Clouds of rich pink fall flowers.
Nepeta – Nova Catmint
Lavender purple blossoms all season on low 4" tall sun perennial.
Oenothera macrocarpa – Missouri Evening Primrose
Top Missouri native perennial highly recommended.
Pycnanthemum muticum – Blunt Mountain Mint
Top choice to attract butterflies and more, multiple award winner. Missouri Botanical Garden Plant of Merit, Perennial Plant Association 2025 Perennial of the Year.
Rudbeckia – American Gold Rush Black-Eyed Susan
2023 Perennial Plant of the Year, winner of top 3 horticulture awards.
Rudbeckia – Indian Summer Black-Eyed Susan
Major award-winner and staff favorite!
Rudbeckia maxima – Cabbage Leaf Coneflower
Majestic flowers and powder blue foliage.
Salvia – Blue By You Meadow Sage
2024 Perennial Of The Year, a vast improvement over old varieties.
Acer griseum – Paperbark Maple
Showy red leaves create a pretty understory or focal point tree.
Amelanchier – Autumn Brilliance Apple Serviceberry
Award-winning small tree with multi-season interest.
Amelanchier arborea Downy Serviceberry
Colorful year round with flowers, berries, foliage and bark.
Amsonia tabermontana – Willowleaf Blue Star
Top award-winning native with starry blue flowers.
Aralia Sun King
2020 Perennial Plant Of The Year.
Aristolochia tomentosa – Dutchman’s Pipe
Pipe shaped blossoms on rapidly growing native vine.
Aronia – Autumn Magic Chokeberry
Multi seasonal nativar perfect for most locations.
Asimina triloba – Pawpaw Tree
2022 Tree Of the Year, Missouri's Official State Fruit Tree
Astilbe – Look At Me False Spirea
Huge pink plumes with dramatic red stems.
Astilbe – Pumila False Spirea
Makes a fantastic ground cover for shade.
Bignonia capreolata – Cross Vine
2" trumpet shaped blossoms, Missouri and Illinois native vine.
Buddleia – Pugster Blue Butterfly Bush
Multiple award winner. Plump full-sized flowers on dwarf shrubs.
Buddleia – Violet Cascade Butterfly Bush
Ginormous weeping flowers.
Calamintha – Calamint
2021 Perennial Plant Association Perennial Plant Of the Year. Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Of Merit. Sun-loving perennial.
Calycanthus floridus – Carolina Allspice
Award winning Missouri native shrub with highly scented flowers.
Carpinus betula Fastigiata, European Hornbeam
Award winning regal tree.
Carpinus caroliniana – American Hornbeam
Award-winning native tree for understory plantings.
Chionanthus virginicus – Fringe Tree
Missouri native tree with elaborate blooms.
Clethra Ruby Spice – Summersweet
Award-winning fragrant pink flowers.
Cotinus obovatus – Smoke Tree
Showy foliage and airy flowers on a small tree.
Echinacea – Pow Wow Wildberry Coneflower
Major award winner.
Echinacea pallida – Pale Purple Coneflower
Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant of Merit Winner.
Frangula (Rhamnus) caroliniana – Carolina Buckthorn
Showy foliage and airy flowers on small Mo native tree.
Gymnocladus dioicus – Kentucky Coffee Tree
Award-winning tree to create shade.
Halesia carolina – Carolina Silverbells
Hard to find tree with showy white bells
Hamamelis vernalis – Ozark Witch Hazel
Award winning native shrub.
Hibiscus – Holy Grail Rose Mallow
Only a gift from heaven could be named Holy Grail.
Hydrangea – Bobo Panicle Hydrangea
Award-winning tiny shrub with huge white flowers.
Hydrangea – Incrediball Smooth Hydrangea
Huge flowers the size of basketballs on sturdy stems.
Hydrangea – Limelight Panicle Hydrangea
Huge fluffy flowers reliably bloom in abundance every year. Comes in shrub or tree form.
Hydrangea arborescens – Smooth Hydrangea
2024 Native Plant Of The Year
Itea – Henry’s Garnet Sweetspire
Beautiful scented flowers on a rugged, adaptable shrub.
Juniperus – Taylor Juniper
Award winning nativar shrub. Perfect for focal points and living walls.
Leucanthemum – Becky Shasta Daisy
Top award winner.
Lindera benzoin – Spicebush
Illinois and Missouri native host plant to Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.
Magnolia Bracken’s Brown Beauty Southern Magnolia
Gorgeous tree with glossy evergreen foliage and showy flowers.
Magnolia Butterflies
Lemon-yellow blossoms on an award-winning tree.
Malus – Royal Raindrops Crabapple Tree
Award-winning, easy-care tree with multi-seasonal interest.
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FILTER THE ITEMS ON THIS PAGE BY:
Plant Type
Genus
Common Name
Light Requirements
Bloom Color
Bloom Time
Height
Uses
Resistances
Type
Genus
Common Name
Light Requirement
Flower Color
Bloom Time
Height
Uses
Resistance
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