Wisconsin Association Announces Plants of the Year

The Wisconsin Nursery Association (WNA) recently announced its 2009 Plants of the Year. The plants were selected during the association's annual membership meeting and workshop.

The Chionanthus virginicus (White Fringetree) was selected as the Woody Ornamental Plant of the Year. The plant ranges from a small tree to large shurb and is a spreading, multi-stemmed form with a slow to moderate growth rate. The white, lacy, fragrant flowers bloom in late May, and the female plants give clusters of bluish-black fruit in late summer. It prefers full sun to partial shade, and deep, fertile soil. However, it is pH adaptable and is best planted in the spring in moist, well-drained soil. It has moderate drought tolerance while being deer resistant and tolerant to air pollution. It is native to the southeastern U.S. to Texas, and hardy to zone 4b.
 
The Perennial Plant of the year is Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo); a large prairie plant that is native to the Midwest. It has blue green foliage coupled with deep blue flower spikes, which cover the plant in June and July. From fall into winter, attractive black seed pods replace the foliage. The plant requires rich, well drained soil and should be planted in full sun or light shade. It also can be planted individually and can grow up to 4 feet in height with equal spread.

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, deciduous shrubs and shade trees; and the Perennial category, which includes herbaceous perennials, subshrubs, grasses, ferns and vines.