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.
Rudbeckia maxima – Cabbage Leaf Coneflower
Majestic flowers and powder blue foliage.
Thalictrum rochebrunianum – Meadow Rue
Top shade perennial highly recommended.
Amelanchier Autumn Brilliance, Apple Serviceberry
Showy flowers, berries and foliage.
Aesculus parviflora, Bottlebrush Buckeye
Large showy hard to find shrub.
Aesculus pavia, Red Buckeye
Bright red flowers attract hummingbirds.
Amelanchier laevis, Allegheny Serviceberry
Showy multi-seasonal interest.
Amsonia tabermontana – Blue Star
Award winning native with starry blue flowers.
Asclepias incarnata – Swamp Milkweed
Missouri native with clouds of pink blossoms.
Asclepias syrica – 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.
Astilbe – Pumila False Spirea
Makes a fantastic ground cover for shade.
Callirhoe involucrata – Purple Poppy Mallow
2019 Native of the Year.
Calycanthus floridus, Carolina Allspice
Award winning Missouri native shrub with highly scented flowers.
Cladrastis kentukea, Yellowwood
Missouri native tree with showy flowers and foliage.
Clethra Ruby Spice, Summersweet
Award-winning fragrant pink flowers.
Echinacea pallida – Pale Purple Coneflower
Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant of Merit Winner.
Hamamelis vernalis – Ozark Witch Hazel
Award winning native shrub.
Hydrangea Incrediball, Smooth Hydrangea
Huge flowers the size of basketballs on sturdy stems.
Hydrangea Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea
Showy flowers and foliage.
Itea Henry’s Garnet Sweetspire
Beautiful scented flowers on a rugged, adaptable shrub.
Lobelia cardinalis – Cardinal Flower
Choice Missouri native perennial.
Magnolia Bracken’s Brown Beauty Southern Magnolia
Glossy foliaged evergreen tree with showy flowers.
Physocarpus opulifolius, Ninebark
Showy native shrub. Perfect for borders, erosion control and pollinator gardens.
Thuja – Sugar and Spice Arborvitae
A gorgeous evergreen that grows 10' tall but only 30" wide.
Viburnum Blue Muffin, Arrowwood Viburnum
Award winner. Showy blue berries follow large white flowers.
Viburnum prunifolium, Blackhaw Viburnum
Showy flowers, berries and foliage.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: Preorder online ordering is now closed. Nursery open for in-house shopping, find thousands and thousands of beautiful plants.
IMPORTANT PLANT PREORDER INFORMATION: Preorder plants will be available for pickup mid to late April, onward. We will contact you once your items are ready to pick up.
Preorder online ordering is now closed. Shop the nursery for thousands and thousands of beautiful plants.

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