FUTURE GreatPlants Plants of the Year and Releases--2009-2011
NOMINATION form for future GreatPlants
Tree of the Year
2011 Carya ovata , shagbark hickory
2010 Cladrastis kentukea , American yellowwood
Evergreen of the Year
2011 Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis , Canaan fir
2010 Pinus cembra , Swiss stone pine
Shrub of the Year
2011 Heptacodium miconioides , seven-son flower
2010 Aesculus parvifolia , bottlebrush buckeye
Perennial of the Year
2011 Phlox divaricata, woodland phlox
2010 Eupatorium maculatum Gateway', Gateway Joe-Pye plant
Grass of the Year
2011 Carex morrowii Ice Dance', Ice Dance sedge
2010 Eragrostis trichodes , sand lovegrass
2009 Tree of the Year
Cornus mas, corneliancherry dogwood
This durable small tree deserves more use in the landscape with its bright yellow flowers in spring, among the earliest blooms to appear. It has lustrous dark green leaves and bright cherry red fruit in late summer. The fruits are relished by songbirds or can be used to make jam or jelly. This European native remains free of insect, disease and cold injuries. It tolerates high pH, as well as heavy clay soils, better than any dogwood. Grows 20-25’ h, 15-20’ w. Zone4.
2009 Evergreen of the Year
Picea omorika, Serbian Spruce
This handsome spruce has a slender trunk with short, ascending branches creating a graceful, ballerina effect. Lustrous dark green needles with silver bands underneath. Hardy and adaptable throughout the Great Plains. 50’h, 20-35’ w. Hardy to zone 4.
2009 Shrub of the Year
Mahonia repens, creeping mahonia
This stoloniferous groundcover grows along the rocky ridges and thinly wooded slopes of Nebraska’s Pine Ridge. The stiff, spine-tipped leaves turn a rich bronzy purple in late fall, lasting through the winter months. It has clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers in early spring, followed by dark blue fruit. It can be used as an evergreen groundcover in full sun to part shade and is soil adaptable. Growing only 12-15” high, this drought tolerant gem is best sited where it is protected from winter winds. Hardy to zone 4.
2009 Perennial of the Year
Amsonia hubrichtii, Arkansas bluestar
This durable perennial forms a 3’ mound of very fine, threadlike leaves that turn a stunning yellow and gold in the fall. In spring the stems are topped with clusters of pale blue, starlike flowers. All summer this winner is deep green and upright, creating a lovely mass of foliage. This easy to grow plant is best planted in full sun and well-drained soils, but is quite adaptable. Hardy to zone 4.
2009 Grass of the Year
Panicum ‘Shenandoah’, Shenandoah switchgrass
Unmatched for burgundy fall color. The leaves take on dark red tones by July and turning wholly wine-colored by September. Only 4’ tall in flower it is very easy to grow, tolerating drought and soggy soils, high pH and full, hot sun. One of the best for maintaining upright habit and tight clump form in the garden. Hardy to zone 4.
Nomination Form
The goal of the GreatPlants program is to bring superior ornamental landscape
plants into commercial production to meet the challenging growing conditions
of Nebraska and the Great Plains. We need your help in developing a list
of candidates for consideration as "Plant of the Year" candidates.
Your suggestions are important to the success of the program. The plants
should:
- Be an underutilized tree, shrub or herbaceous perennial
- Exhibit superior qualities for Nebraska landscapes: hardiness, adaptability and appropriate for general landscape use
- Be available from Midwest wholesale nurseries
- Be available in landscape size stock.
Please take the time to submit your nominations for GreatPlants by filling out the following form and returning it to: Bob Henrickson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, P.O. Box 830715, Lincoln, NE 68583-0715. Fax to 402-472-8095 or e-mail rhenrickson2@unl.edu
Tree of the Year
Comments/Experience with Plant
Shrub of the Year
Comments/Experience with Plant
Perennial of the Year
Comments/Experience with Plant