Spring Meadow launched the Landscape Plant of the Year program in 2016 to highlight a Proven Winners ColorChoice variety of particular interest to the landscape market. It proved so popular that we were asked by the Proven Winners Retail Advisory Board to expand it to garden centers and consumers. Starting in 2019, the Proven Winners National Plant of the Year program highlights a hydrangea of the year, a rose of the year,  flowering shrub of the year and landscape shrub of the year, in addition to its perennial and annual Plants of the Year. The Shrubs of the Year will be decided by a vote from our Gold Key growers. Selections will be made based on ease of growth, wide geographic and cultural adaptability, and retail appeal.

Hydrangea of the Year: LITTLE LIME PUNCH® Hydrangea

Similar to Little Lime^® hydrangea with its useful, compact stature and emerging lime-green blooms, but it differs as the flowers age to pink. New blooms emerge to give you a festive mix of pink, green, white, and Hawaiian Punch-red blooms all on the same plant.

Rose of the Year: REMINISCENT® Coral Rose

This rose boasts blousy, bowl-shaped flowers with deep pink-coral tones and an appealing copper center. Dark green foliage accents the flowers and stays clean and healthy throughout the season. 

Flowering Shrub of the Year: SCENTARA® Double Blue Lilac

Knock-your-socks-off fragrance! Selected for its fragrance and bloom color, Scentara^® Double Blue lilac creates the unforgettable spring display you crave.

Landscape Shrub of the Year: NORTH POLE® Arborvitae

arborvitae is a narrow columnar selection of 'Wintergreen' has excellent hardiness and dark green winter foliage color. Fast growing, with a handsome, dense habit. More narrow than 'Emerald Green'.

Shrubs of the Year will receive additional promotion to landscapers, retailers, and consumers in print, radio, and online, including on the Proven Winners Plant of the Year website.

Read the 2025 professional grower and landscape Book

To help you plan your production and shipping, we are pleased to share future Shrubs of the Year:

2026:

Landscape Shrub of the Year: LIMELIGHT PRIME® Hydrangea 

Rose of the Year: RISE UP LILAC DAYS® Rosa

Hydrangea of the Year: LET'S DANCE LOVABLE® Hydrangea

Flowering Shrub of the Year: DOUBLE PLAY DOLLY® Spirea

Heat Loving Shrub of the Year: JAZZ HANDS VARIEGATED® Loropetalum

Tree of the Year: SHOW TIME® Crabapple

2027:

Landscape Shrub of the Year: KODIAK® Red 2.0 Diervilla

Rose of the Year: OSO EASY EN FUEGO® Rose

Hydrangea of the Year: PUFFER FISH® Panicle Hydrangea

Flowering Shrub of the Year: BLOOMERANG BALLET® Reblooming Lilac

Heat Loving Shrub of the Year: RICO SUAVE™ Tropical Hibiscus

Tree of the Year: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS® Cercis

See all of the Proven Winners Plants of the Year at nationalplantoftheyear.com.