Missouri Botanical Gardens Plants of Merit Winners
Plants of Merit are plants selected by the Missouri Botanical Gardens for their outstanding qualities and dependable performance for the lower Midwest. We have found Missouri Botanical Gardens Plants of Merit to be outstanding choices, guaranteeing you success in your garden. Missouri Botanical Gardens Plants of Merit selection criteria:
- Easy to grow and maintain
- Not known to be invasive in our area
- Resistant or tolerant to diseases and insects
- Has outstanding ornamental value
- Reasonably available to purchase
IMPORTANT NOTE: All of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Plants of Merit listed here are available in the nursery, subject to availability. Some of these plants may be ordered online for pick up at the nursery.
We do not ship.
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Plant Type
Genus
Common Name
Light Requirements
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Bloom Time
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Type
Genus
Common Name
Light Requirement
Flower Color
Bloom Time
Height
Uses
Resistance
Asclepias incarnata – Swamp Milkweed
Missouri and Illinois native with clouds of pink blossoms.
Asclepias syriaca – Common Milkweed
Essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars. Mo Bot Garden's Plant of Merit winner.
Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Milkweed
#1 best selling Missouri native perennial.
Aster oblongifolium – Aromatic Aster
Important Missouri native pollinator plant.
Baptisia sphaerocarpa – Yellow Wild Indigo
Spectacular Missouri wildflower.
Callirhoe involucrata – Purple Poppy Mallow
2019 Native of the Year. Long-blooming native Illinois and Missouri ground cover.
Calycanthus – Simply Scentsational Carolina Allspice
Highly fragrant flowers with fruity fragrance.
Cephalanthus occidentalis – Buttonbush
A pollinator powerhouse plant!
Chionanthus virginicus – Fringe Tree
Missouri native tree with elaborate blooms.
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.
Lindera benzoin – Spicebush
Illinois and Missouri native host plant to Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.
Lobelia cardinalis – Cardinal Flower
Choice Missouri and Illinois native perennial with brilliant cardinal red blossoms.
Monarda bradburiana – Bee Balm
Important Missouri native pollinator plant.
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 maxima – Cabbage Leaf Coneflower
Majestic flowers and powder blue foliage.
Acer griseum – Paperbark Maple
Showy red leaves create a pretty understory or focal point tree.
Acer saccharum – Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple
Intense fall color on a delight native cultivar.
Aesculus parviflora, Bottlebrush Buckeye
Large showy hard to find shrub.
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.
Amelanchier laevis, Allegheny Serviceberry
Native plant with showy multi-seasonal interest.
Amsonia tabermontana – Willowleaf Blue Star
Top award-winning native with starry blue flowers.
Aristolochia tomentosa – Dutchman’s Pipe
Pipe shaped blossoms on rapidly growing native vine.
Aronia – Autumn Magic Chokeberry
Multi seasonal nativar perfect for most locations.
Aruncus dioicus – Goat’s Beard
Top Missouri native perennial for shade.
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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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