Update on 9/20: Six nominations have been received. Nominations are now closed. The next phase will be voting in October.
If you are a GNPS member, why not consider nominating a plant for GNPS’s Plant of the Year (POY) for 2017? All GNPS members are encouraged to nominate a plant that they feel deserves this honor. The nomination period for GNPS POY 2017 opens at the stroke of midnight (12:01 am) on Monday, September 19th, 2016 and closes as soon as six (6) acceptable nominations have been submitted.
Only GNPS members may nominate a plant, and only GNPS member may vote for GNPS Plant of the Year 2017. Last year all six acceptable nominations were on the first day of nominations, so try to submit your nomination as soon as possible.
We highlight Georgia’s native plants that are under-utilized in commercial and residential landscapes and/or which are vital components of our Georgia ecology for our Plant of the Year Program. We are looking beyond beauty, even though we acknowledge that this is often what draws us to a special native plant in the first place.
For a nomination to be acceptable, the nominated plant should be:
- Native to the state of Georgia. (Maps of native ranges are available on http://plants.usda.gov ; indicate if search is for a common name or a botanical/scientific name.)
- Adaptable enough that it doesn’t demand growing conditions that are difficult for most Georgia gardeners to provide or achieve.
- Under-utilized in residential and/or commercial landscapes.
- One that has not been a previous GNPS Plant of the Year. For quick reference, here is a table of previous GNPS POYs, or click this link for more information and photos of each plant: https://gnps.org/education/plant-year/
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Previous GNPS Plants of the Year |
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| Year | Botanical Name | Common Name |
| 2016 | Spigelia marilandica | Indian pink |
| 2015 | Symphyotrichum georgianum | Georgia aster |
| 2014 | Aesculus pavia | Red Buckeye |
| 2013 | Sassafras albidum | Sassafras |
| 2012 | Sanguinaria canadensis | Bloodroot |
| 2011 | Viburnum acerifolium | Mapleleaf viburnum |
| 2010 | Asclepias tuberosa | Butterfly weed |
| 2009 | Quercus alba | White oak |
| 2008 | Polystichum acrostichoides | Christmas fern |
| 2007 | Itea virginica | Virginia sweetspire |
| 2006 | Lobelia cardinalis | Cardinal flower |
| 2005 | Amelanchier arborea | Downy serviceberry |
| 2004 | Oxydendrum arboreum | Sourwood |
| 2003 | Tiarella cordifolia | Foam flower |
| 2002 | Morella cerifera | Wax myrtle |
| 2001 | Rhododendron canescens | Piedmont azalea |
| 2000 | Hydrangea quercifolia | Oakleaf hydrangea |
Notes about nominations:
- Nominations will be confirmed by email as soon as a nomination is submitted. Acknowledgement of a nomination’s acceptance status will be sent as soon as possible, usually the same day the nomination is submitted.
- Members nominating a plant should provide the plant’s botanical and common names, and may write as much or as little about why the nominee should be the next GNPS Plant of the Year. Reasons why the nominee is beneficial to Georgia’s wildlife and/or ecology are always appreciated. Whether known or as yet unknown, we assume that all of Georgia’s native plants benefit our ecosystems or they would not exist together.
- GNPS membership will be confirmed prior to acceptance of a nomination.
- If you have any questions, please send email to the committee at gnpspoy@gnps.org