The GNPS Plant of the Year (POY) program recognizes native plants that are of benefit to Georgia’s ecology and wildlife. If you are a GNPS member and have a native plant that you think is outstanding, please consider nominating it for POY 2023. Besides beauty, some characteristics to consider are adaptability, seasonal interest, fragrance, wildlife sustentation, and ease of propagation.
Members can only nominate one plant, and only current GNPS members can submit nominations. You can check your membership status by logging into your account at https://gnps.org (upper right corner of page), and clicking on “Manage Membership” in the Member Portal. The dropdown option to “Renew or view my membership” will allow you to check membership status and go on to renew, if necessary.
POY 2023 nominations will open at 7 p.m. sharp on October 11th, 2022. Premature submissions will NOT be accepted. Submissions must include both the common and scientific (“Latin”) names for the nominee, as well a reason why it would make a great GNPS POY. A sentence will suffice, but feel free to elaborate as much as you’d like. We welcome information, especially regarding ecological significance or benefits to wildlife. Photos are encouraged, but not required.
Have those three items ready (common name, scientific name, and reason for nomination), and watch for the email that opens nominations at 7 p.m. on October 11th. The email message will include a link to the nomination form, which will require login to the Member Portal, so make sure that your membership is current and that you know your login credentials. (If you are already logged in with that browser, the link will take you directly to the nomination form.)
Members will be notified by email when submissions close.
All acceptable nominees must be:
- Native to Georgia (you can type USDA after the plant name in a Google search to look up its native distribution);
- Under-utilized in gardens and landscapes and/or vital to the GA ecology;
- Adaptable enough to grow in most gardens;
- NOT a previous GNPS Plant of the Year. Previous winners can be found on the on the table below, as well as on the GNPS website.
Nominations will proceed until six acceptable nominees have been selected. As always, the first six submissions received will be given preference. However, the POY committee can pass over a plant if it is too similar to a previous submission (i.e., in the same genus, or having too similar an appearance and growth habit), or if it is only marginally eligible.
POY 2023 voting dates will be announced later in October, after nominees are selected.
Previous GNPS Plants of the Year |
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Year | Botanical Name | Common Name |
2022 | Fagus grandifolia | American beech |
2021 | Chionanthus virginicus | Fringetree |
2020 | Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides | Southern mountainmint |
2019 | Lonicera sempervirens | Coral honeysuckle |
2018 | Callicarpa americana | American beautyberry |
2017 | Trillium cuneatum | Sweet Betsy |
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 |