Wisconsin Nursery Association names plants of the year

GREENFIELD, Wis. – The Wisconsin Nursery Association (WNA) has announced its 2011 Plants of the Year. They were selected as the Plants of the Year at the Wisconsin Nursery Association’s annual membership meeting and workshop.

The Woody Ornamental Plant of the Year is the Acer miyabei ‘Morton’ (State Street Miyabe Maple). A medium sized shade tree with an upright-oval, dense form, the Acer miyabei ‘Morton’ is a moderately fast grower and is not invasive. Its dark green, glossy leaves turn a warm yellow late in the fall and contrast beautifully with its corky, grayish bark. The State Street Miyabe Maple, a native to northern Japan, is adaptable to most soils and pH levels. Because it is urban and heat tolerant, and is moderately tolerant of drought and salt, it is an excellent street tree, and a great replacement for ash trees and Norway maples. The State Street Miyabe Maple grows to a height of 35- to 50-feet tall with a width of 30 to 40 feet. It prefers full sun and is hardy to zone 4a.
 

The Perennial Plant of the year is Stachys monnieri ‘Hummelo’ (Hummelo Alpine Betony). The spikes of rose-lavender flowers of the Stachys monnieri ‘Hummelo’ are the most striking feature of this European native. It blooms on strong stems in late June until early August and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Hummelo Alpine Betony is a floriferous plant that will attract butterflies, but is deer and rabbit resistant. It is drought and urban tolerant and is not susceptible to any insect or disease problems. It is spectacular in masses, and also looks dazzling in perennial borders and containers. Hummelo Alpine Betony does well in full sun to partial shade, is hardy to zone 4, and can grow 1½- to 2-feet tall and 1- to 1½-feet wide.
 
The Wisconsin Nursery Association’s Plant of the Year Program was initiated to promote quality – and underused – plants to the public. Two categories were created to consider all plants:  the woody ornamental category, which includes deciduous trees, evergreens, vines, deciduous shrubs and shade trees, and the perennial category, which includes herbaceous perennials, subshrubs, grasses, and ferns.