The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has take the 2020 Gold Medal plant , recognizing especial plant life for both home gardeners and professional landscaper . The PHS Gold Medal Plant Program spotlights salient trees , shrubs , vines , and perennials for gardens in the mid - Atlantic neighborhood ( growing zones 5 to 7 ) . industrial plant are prefer for their knockout , hardiness , and bionomical welfare .
“ PHS has integrate these plants in many of the gardens and landscapes that we carry off and can recommend them as authentic plant for our region ’s growing weather condition . Many promote pollinator and birds in the garden and are deer resistive ” , enjoin Julia Thomé , Director of Gardener Engagement at PHS . “ A pick of Gold Medal Plants will be on video display at the 2020 Flower Show , and PHS staff and volunteers are uncommitted to talk with you about these and other plant choices for the dwelling house garden . ”
Since 1979 , the Gold Medal Plant program has reward and promote industrial plant of outstanding meritoriousness . The platform was primitively consider by noted nurseryman Dr. J. Franklin Styer , who recognise homeowners and gardeners needed to memorize about ranking woody plants for their landscapes . Five years ago , PHS began include repeated plants in improver to woody plants , in its survival of the fittest . plant are nominate from submission by menage gardeners , garden designers , horticulturists , landscape architects , nursery owner , and propagators .
Once nominated , works are survey by a committee of expert horticulturist led by Chairman Steve Mostardi of Mostardi Nursery . Through in - individual discussion and an online rating arrangement , the Gold Medal Plant Committee selects the advance plant , on a annual foundation , that meet the tight criterion for excellency coiffure forth by PHS .
gardener who acquire a Gold Medal designated plant can be assured the plant will exhibit standard of excellence for pest and disease impedance , as well as informality of growing when implant and maintained appropriately . To view a searchable database of all retiring and present winner , please visitphsonline.org/programs/gold-medal-plants/.
2020 PHS Gold Medal Plants
Aronia melanocarpa “ Viking ” | Black ChokeberryFlowers bloom in leaping , follow by showy dark fruits and ruddy decline foliation . Fruits are edible when cooked into jams , salsa , or sunbaked goodness . Plant in combination with Virginia bluebell , Bowman ’s base and/or short - toothed mountain mint . Can be planted in good deal as a screen . Deciduous shrub ; tiptop 3 - 6 ’ ; zones 3 - 8 .
Carpinus caroliniana | American Hornbeam ( aka Ironwood , Musclewood)Small size understory tree diagram , idealistic for residential website . Catkins in March give way to yellow nutlets in late summer . Yellow - orange dusk foliage . Steel gray-haired bark provide winter pursuit . plant life in combination with native viburnums , Gunter Grass , and/or sedges . Deciduous tree ; height 20 - 30 ’ ; slow growing , zones 3 - 9 .
Coreopsis verticillata ‘ Zagreb ’ | Threadleaf CoreopsisBright yellowed blossom , compact and upright , easy to develop in - ground or container . Reblooms if sheared mid - summertime . Great in combining with evergreen shrubs , Little Bluestem ornamental grass , native butterfly stroke weed , and/or veronica . Herbaceous perennial ; stature 12 - 18 ” ; geographical zone 3 - 9 .
Geranium disco biscuit cantabrigiense ‘ Biokovo ’ | Cranesbill GeraniumLow turn and thickset ; will spread slowly as a ground cover . White flowers touch with pink in spring . Plant in combination with a variety of bulb such as Narcissus pseudonarcissus or Allium ‘ Summer Beauty , ’ lady ’s mantle , and/or fall bloom toad lily . Herbaceous perennial ; height 10 - 12 ” ; zone 5 - 8 .
Hydrangea arborescens ‘ Haas ’ Halo ’ | Smooth HydrangeaLarge lacecap prime , blue - fleeceable foliage . worn-out bloom provide winter interest . Drought immune once demonstrate . industrial plant in combining with the ninebark shrub , Siberian bugloss , Plumbago europaea , Jacob ’s ladder , smooth aster and/or reed grass . Deciduous , woody bush ; height approx . 4 ’ ; zona 3 - 9 .
Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘ Little Spire ’ | Russian Sage , Little SpireCompact and erect sub - shrub , drought tolerant . Striking light blue to violet colouring bloom . redolent silver foliage . Great in combining with purple coneflowers , phlox ‘ Jeana , ’ sneezeweed , betony , and/or Foerster ’s feather reed grass . Woody perennial ; peak 2- 3 ’ ; zone 5 - 9 .
