Best Plants of the Year Awards

Debbie Teashon

Best Container Plant

Plants that go into containers have to put on a long floral or foliage show. We ask them to act tough enough to grow and compete with other plants sharing in a limited space.

The winner goes to creeping gloxinia (Lophospermum erubescens) for outstanding foliage and long-blooming times as a single specimen in hanging baskets. This Lophospermum beats out the Petunia for a unique performance. As much as we love Petunias, they've played a starring role in containers for many years. Lophospermum is the newer kid on the block, and we suspect this one to become the plant of choice for hanging baskets for years to come. They also make great spillers in large pots with mixed plantings. The white variety, Lophospermum 'Bridal Bouquet' (above photo), is also outstanding in containers.

Outstanding Foliage for a Shade Garden

Foliage in the shade has a lot to overcome. There are no shrinking violets allowed here, they must stand out with bold statements, or they may find themselves upstaged by a sea of other green characters.

The winner goes to the variegated false aralia (Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'). One of its tradenames is Camouflage™. Many of us hold out for the plant's correct botanical name while the executives in charge want to market them under staged names. No matter what its name is, this Fatsia's tropical-like leaves and stunning looks are not only hardy here; it thrives in open to deep shade conditions.tropical-like leaves and stunning looks are not only hardy here; it thrives in open to deep shade conditions. When surrounded by a dull cast of characters such as Rhododendrons after their blossoms fade, Fatsia gives a lovely year-round performance in comparison. To round out their show presence, off stage the foliage is an excellent source of greenery for bouquets.

Outstanding Foliage for a Sun Garden

There's stiff competition in the foliage category when it comes to tolerating full sun. Plus, foliage has an uphill battle for competing for attention when cast next to flowers. Although leaves play a respectable supporting role next to flamboyant blossoms, some leaves give an over-the-top-performance no flower can match.

The winner goes to Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'. When this plant comes into the garden, everyone takes notice. Although not hardy here in the Pacific Northwest, you can easily winter it over in an unheated garage. When it first unfurls, the large leaf is burgundy-red and ages to green with burgundy edges while underneath tends to show off a darker burgundy shade. Adorn your garden stage with a plant that gives the garden a lot of drama. This banana spells drama with a big D.

Hummingbird's Choice Awards

Let's face it; hummingbirds go for just about anything red. What keeps them coming back is the nectar. When hummingbirds choose, they elect for the outstanding quality of nectar in a bright red tube.

The Hummingbird's choice award goes to beebalm (Monarda 'Jacob Cline'). The purple bracts set in a whorl hold the large, bright red, tubular flowers, while the edible fragrant foliage adds a delectable taste to salads. This bee balm is the most mildew resistant of all. 'Jacob Cline' is not too fussy about the soil, but it does want it moist in summer, but not too wet in winter. Give it what it needs, and its character comes alive in the garden.

Best Flower

What do we want in a flower? It helps to have a long bloom time, looks great with a lot of other plants such as perennials and grasses, and the plant needs to be disease and insect resistant.

Out of the Western Himalayas comes the winner for the Best Flower goes to Deutzia corymbosa. When this 6' shrub springs onto center stage in May-June, it owns the show. During its commanding role, this plant smothers itself in white flowers with a blush of pink that opens from hint-of-pink buds.

Most Unusual Flower

We all know marigolds, lilies, and roses. This category is about flowers that are not often known or grown.

The winner of the Most Unusual Flower goes to Paris fargesii, a darling in the shade garden. Even though this one only grows six-inches tall, the Paris flower invites you to take a closer look. Some people may easily overlook its subtle beauty, especially those who merely appreciate the average lavish floral garden displays. Related to our native trilliums, P. fargesii originates from the mountains of Western China and looks splendid growing alongside our native plants that grow in the darker spaces of our woodland gardens.

Best Vine

This category salutes the plants that aim for the sun. No matter where planted, they scramble up and over anything in the way of reaching the light.

The winner for best vine this year is Clematis 'Gravetye Beauty'. Named after the famed Gravetye Manor in England, this crimson-flowering, tulip-shaped beauty blooms in summer on a six-foot vine. The vine can grow in the ground or a container, wind up through a silvery shrub, or climb a lamppost. It brings splashes of bright color wherever planted. Prune this one in late February and let it sprawl across a lower bush to enjoy its presentation from above, looking down into its flowers.

Best Fragrance

Fragrance can be sweet, or spicy; however, the best scent is what you enjoy while walking through the garden. Whether it makes an appearance by floating in on a breeze, or having to reach for it with your nose, the fragrance is an essential element in the garden.

The winner is Daphne × transatlantica 'Blafra', frequently sold as Daphne Eternal Fragrance™. This three-feet high shrub does not do just one performance for a few weeks and done for the year. It lives up to its tradename by exuding its sweet fragrance from its white flowers for you to enjoy over three seasons. The shrub's most significant performance launches in spring, but it follows up with encore shows in summer and fall too.