Wisconsin Nursery and Landscape Association`s 2015 PLANT OF

Wisconsin Nursery and Landscape Association’s
2015 PLANT OF THE YEAR 
The Plant of the Year Program was initiated by the Wisconsin Nursery and Landscape Association to promote quality—
and underused plants to the public. Two categories were created to consider all plants:
 Woody Ornamental Plant of the Year, including deciduous trees, evergreens, vines, deciduous shrubs and shade trees
 Perennial of the Year, including herbaceous perennials, subshrubs, grasses, and ferns
Musclewood
Carpinus caroliniana
Height: 20’ to 30’ tall
Spread: 20’ to 30’
Grows in full sun all the way to full shade
in moist, slightly alkaline soil
Does well in zones 2-9, if proper
provenance material is used
2015 Woody Ornamental of the Year:
Carpinus caroliniana, Musclewood
2015 Perennial of the Year : Penstemon ‘Dark
Towers’ PP 20013, Dark Towers Beardtongue
The smooth sinewy gray bark of the
Musclewood resembles the muscles of a
flexed arm, hence the name. It’s a slow
grower and may live up to 100 years,
displaying shiny bluish-green leaves that
turn a clear yellow or a brilliant scarletorange in the fall. This Wisconsin native is
a small and handsome tree with a papery
pendulous fruit that many songbirds love to
eat. From full sun right through full shade,
Carpinus caroliniana makes an excellent
screening plant with its dense habit, and
also is a great specimen plant
for all seasons.
Dark Towers Beardtongue
Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ PP20013
Height: 30-36” tall
Spread: 30”
Prefers a very well drained soil in full sun
Does well in zones 3-8
An abundance of tubular pink flowers
contrasts beautifully with the glossy
burgundy foliage of Dark Towers
Beardtongue in late summer, a treat for the
eye and for the hummingbirds. It’s an
outstanding accent plant with enough
height for the back of a sunny border.
This fast grower tolerates
heat and humidity in style.
PAST PLANT OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS
2002
Woody: Hydrangea paniculata ’Unique’
Perennial: Phlox paniculata ‘David’
2003
Woody: Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’
Perennial: Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’
2004
Woody: Amelanchier x grandiflora
‘Princess Diana’
Perennial: Polygonatum falcatum 'Variegatum'
2005
Woody: Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’
Perennial: Hosta ‘Patriot’
2006
Woody: Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’
Perennial: Panicum virgatum ‘Northwinds’
2007
Woody: Malus ‘Louisa’
Perennial: Pulmonaria longifolia subsp. cevennensis
2008
Woody: Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’
Perennial: Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’
2009
Woody: Chionanthus virginicus White Fringetree
Perennial: Baptisia australis Blue False Indigo
2010
Woody: Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin Oak
Perennial: Calamintha nepeta var. nepeta ‘Montrose
White’
2011
Woody: Acer miyabei ‘Morton’
Perennial: Stachys monnieri ‘Hummelo’
2012
Woody: Malus sargentii ‘Select A’ Firebird®
Crabapple
Perennial: Allium ‘Summer Beauty’ Ornamental
Onion
2013
Woody: Pinus cembra cultivars Swiss Stone Pine
Perennial: Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Lucerne’
Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass
2014
Woody: Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor’ Tor Birchleaf
Spirea
Perennial: Echinacea ‘CBG Cone 2’ Pixie
Meadowbrite™ Coneflower