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Muhlenbergia capillaris Pink Muhly, 2012
Abies concolor or White Fir, 2011
Spigelia marilandica, 2010
Baptisia 'Purple smoke', 2009
Garryea elliptica 'James Roof', 2008
Viburnum nudum flower, 2007
Wisteria fructens, 2006
River Birch exfoliating bark, 2005
Ulmus Americana 'Princeton', Princeton Elm, 2004
Cladrastris kentukea, 2003
Thuja plicata, 2002
Acer pensylvanicum, 2001
Taxodium distichum, 2000
Aesculus parviflora, 1999
Cotinus obovatus, 1998
Carpenteria californica, 1997
Magnolia virginiana, 1996
Rhododendron prunifolium, Plumleaf Azalea, 1995
The GCA Plant of the Year: 1995 to 2012
The Montine McDaniel Freeman Horticulture Medal is awarded annually to acknowledge the cultivation and use of native plants: trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, and perennials that are little known but are deemed worthy to be preserved, propagated, promoted, and planted.
2012
Winner: Muhlenbergia capillaris, Pink Muhly
Hardiness Zones: 6 - 10
Nominated by: the Naples Botanical Garden, Brian Holley, Director, Naples, FL
Endorsed by: The GC of the Halifax Country, Zone VIII
Nominated by: the Naples Botanical Garden, Brian Holley, Director, Naples, FL
Endorsed by: The GC of the Halifax Country, Zone VIII
Special Recognition: Echinacea
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9
2011
Winner: Abies concolor White Fir
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 8
Nominated by: Provisional members of Akron GC, Zone X
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 8
Nominated by: Provisional members of Akron GC, Zone X
Special Recognition: Pinus palustris Longleaf Pine
Nominated by: Jane Perry McFadden, Palmetto GC, Zone VIII
2010
Winner: Spigelia marilandica Indian Pink
Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Nominated by: Barbara Gould, Hardy GC, Zone VI
Nominated by: Barbara Gould, Hardy GC, Zone VI
Honorable Mention: Sibbaldiopsis tridentata Three-toothed Cinquefoil
Hardiness Zones: 2 - 8
Nominated by: Beazie Larned, Stamford GC, Zone II
Nominated by: Beazie Larned, Stamford GC, Zone II
2009
Winner: Baptisia x ‘Purple Smoke’ False Indigo
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9
Nominated by: Lili Ouzts & Mercer Brokenbrough Davis, Junior Ladies GC, Zone VIII
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9
Nominated by: Lili Ouzts & Mercer Brokenbrough Davis, Junior Ladies GC, Zone VIII
Honorable Mention: Rhododendron vaseyi Pink Shell Azalea
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Ellen Petersen, Millbrook GC, Zone III
Nominated by: Ellen Petersen, Millbrook GC, Zone III
2008
Winner: Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
Hardiness Zones: 7 - 10
Nominated by: Carmel-by-the-Sea GC, Zone XII
Nominated by: Carmel-by-the-Sea GC, Zone XII
Written by: Diana Fish for club submission
Honorable Mention: Illicium floridanum ‘ Ellis’ Florida Anise
Hardiness Zones: 8 - 10
Nominated by: Susan Treadway, GC of Philadelphia, Zone V
Nominated by: Susan Treadway, GC of Philadelphia, Zone V
2007
Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' Smooth Winterod
Haridiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Barbara B. Shea, Green Spring Valley GC, Zone VI
2006
Wisteria frutescens, American wisteria
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Anne Segrest & Lili Ouzts, Junior Ladies GC, Zone VIII and Jeff Lewis, Director, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2005
Winner: Betula nigra 'Little King' Fox Valley (TM), River Birch
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9
Introduced by: Chicagoland Grows, 1991
Nominated by: Westy Lovejoy, Piscataqua GC, Zone I
Honorable Mention: Amelanchier canadensis 'Glenform' PP9092 Serviceberry tree
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9
Nominated by: Dedee O'Neil, Akron GC, Zone X
Special Recognition: Iris douglasiana 'Canyon Snow' Douglas Iris
Hardiness Zones: 7 - 9
Nominated by Jessie Schilling, Woodside-Atherton GC, Zone XII
2004
Winner: Ulmus Americana 'Princeton' Princeton Elm
Hardiness Zones: 2b - 9
Nominated by: The GC of Chevy Chase, Zone VI
Nominated by: The GC of Chevy Chase, Zone VI
Honorable Mention: ltea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' Virginia Sweetspire Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: The Carolina Foothills GC, Zone VIII and The River Oaks GC, Zone IX
2003
Winner: Cladrastis kentukea (lutea), Yellowwood Tree
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8
Nominated by Michael Berkley, Growild, Inc., Fairview, TN
Endorsed by: The GC of Nashville, Zone IX
Honorable Mention: Aster laevis 'Bluebird' Smooth Aster ‘Bluebird’,
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8
Introduced by: Mt. Cuba Center
Nominated by: Kathy Kristol, GC of Wilmington, Zone V
Introduced by: Mt. Cuba Center
Nominated by: Kathy Kristol, GC of Wilmington, Zone V
Honorable Mention: Cornus florida 'Appalachian Spring' Flowering Dogwood
Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Introduced by: The University of Tennessee
Nominated by: Mary Nell Farmer, Knoxville GC, Zone IX
Introduced by: The University of Tennessee
Nominated by: Mary Nell Farmer, Knoxville GC, Zone IX
Special recognition: Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon or California Holly
Hardiness Zones: 8 - 10
Nominated by: Fran Neumann & Cathy Tosetti, Diggers GC, Zone XII
Hardiness Zones: 8 - 10
Nominated by: Fran Neumann & Cathy Tosetti, Diggers GC, Zone XII
2002
Winner: Thuja plicata Western Giant Arborvitae (Western Red Cedar)
Hardiness Zones: 5 -7
Nominated by: Katie Heins, Stony Brook GC, Zone IV
Hardiness Zones: 5 -7
Nominated by: Katie Heins, Stony Brook GC, Zone IV
Honorable Mention: Itea virginica Virginia Sweetspire
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Pedrick Lowrey, Carolina Foothills GC, Zone VIII & Bitsey Hail, River Oaks GC, Zone IX
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Pedrick Lowrey, Carolina Foothills GC, Zone VIII & Bitsey Hail, River Oaks GC, Zone IX
Honorable Mention: Chionanthus virginicus Fringetree
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9
Nominated by: Kenny Powell, Little GC of Birmingham, Zone VIII
Special Recognition: Franklinia alatamaha Franklin Tree
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8
Nominated by: Philadelphia Committee of GCA, Zone V and Historic Bartram's Garden
2001
Winner: Acer pensylvanicum Striped Maple
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 7
Nominated by: Joanne Lenden, Ft. Orange GC, Zone III; Betsy Whitman, GC of Englewood & Essex County Adirondack GC, Zone III and Bill Pollard, Rocky Dale Gardens, Bristol, VT.
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 7
Nominated by: Joanne Lenden, Ft. Orange GC, Zone III; Betsy Whitman, GC of Englewood & Essex County Adirondack GC, Zone III and Bill Pollard, Rocky Dale Gardens, Bristol, VT.
Honorable Mention: Ilex verticillata ‘Sparkleberry’ Winterberry
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9
Nominated by: Joanne Lenden and Audrey Hawkins, Ft. Orange Garden Club, Zone III
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9
Nominated by: Joanne Lenden and Audrey Hawkins, Ft. Orange Garden Club, Zone III
Honorable Mention: Viburnum bracteatum 'Emerald Lustre'
Hardiness Zones: 5a - 8b
Nominated by: Lili Outzs, Junior Ladies GC, Zone VIII
Nominated by: Lili Outzs, Junior Ladies GC, Zone VIII
2000
Winner: Taxodium distichum Common Baldcypress
Hardiness Zones 4 - 9
Nominated by: LeRoy Simpkins, Augusta, GA
Nominated by: LeRoy Simpkins, Augusta, GA
Endorsed by: Sand Hills Garden Club, Zone VIII
1999
Winner: Aesculus parviflora Bottlebrush Buckeye
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8
Nominated by: Fred Spicer, Manager of Horticulture, Morristown PA Park Commission
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8
Nominated by: Fred Spicer, Manager of Horticulture, Morristown PA Park Commission
Endorsed by: GC of Morristown, Zone IV
Honorable Mention: Hibiscus 'Moy Grande ' Texas Giant Hibiscus
Honorable Mention: Hibiscus 'Moy Grande ' Texas Giant Hibiscus
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Ying Doon Moy, San Antonio Botanic Garden, San Antonio, TX
Nominated by: Ying Doon Moy, San Antonio Botanic Garden, San Antonio, TX
Endorsed by: Alamo Heights-Terrell Hills GC, Zone IX
Honorable Mention: Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower
Honorable Mention: Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9
Nominated by: Mrs. John Kauffman, GC of Darien, Zone II
Nominated by: Mrs. John Kauffman, GC of Darien, Zone II
1998
Winner: Cotinus obovatus American Smoketree
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8
Nominated by: Don Shadow, Winchester, TN
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8
Nominated by: Don Shadow, Winchester, TN
Endorsed by: Cherokee GC, Zone VIII
Honorable Mention: Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbett' Columbine
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 8
Nominated by: St. George's GC, Zone VI
Nominated by: St. George's GC, Zone VI
1997
Winner: Carpenteria californica 'Elizabeth' Bush Anemone
Hardiness Zones: 7- 10
Nominated by: The Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation, Santa Barbara, CA
Nominated by: The Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation, Santa Barbara, CA
Endorsed by: GC of Santa Barbara, Zone XII
Honorable Mention: Vaccinium x 'Northblue' Half-Highbush Blueberry
Hardiness Zones: 3 - 7
Nominated by: Dr. James Luby, University of Minnesota
Endorsed by: St. Paul GC, Zone XI
Nominated by: Dr. James Luby, University of Minnesota
Endorsed by: St. Paul GC, Zone XI
1996
Winner: Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: The New England Wildflower Society & the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts
Endorsed by: Mrs. Edward N. Dane, North Shore GC, Zone I
Honorable Mention: Asimina triloba Pawpaw
Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Nominated by: Christopher Daeger, Rowe Arboretum, Cincinnati, OH
Endorsed by: GC of Cincinnati, Zone X
Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Nominated by: Christopher Daeger, Rowe Arboretum, Cincinnati, OH
Endorsed by: GC of Cincinnati, Zone X
Honorable Mention: Rhododendron 'Northern Hi-Lights' Azalea Northern Hi-Lights
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 7
Nominated by: Dr. Harold Pellett, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Twin Cities Campus
Nominated by: Dr. Harold Pellett, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Twin Cities Campus
Endorsed by: St. Paul GC, Zone XI
1995
Winner: Rhododendron prunifolium Plumleaf Azalea
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Dr. William E. Barrick, Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, GA
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Dr. William E. Barrick, Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, GA
Endorsed by: Mrs. Bayard M. Tynes, Red Mountain GC, Zone VIII
Honorable Mention: Ceanothus ‘Blue Cascade’ Wild Lilac
Hardiness Zones: 8 - 10
Nominated by: Bart O'Brien, Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA
Endorsed by: Diggers GC, Zone XII
Honorable Mention: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ Oakleaf hydrangea ‘Snowflake’
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Nominated by: Mrs. John N. Wrinkle, Little GC of Birmingham, Zone VIII
Nominated by: Mrs. John N. Wrinkle, Little GC of Birmingham, Zone VIII