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The Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal
Abies concolor or White Fir, 2011 GCA Plant of the Year
Pinus palustris, or "Longleaf Pine" was awarded special recognition.
The 2011 GCA Plant of the Year
The Pinaceae or Pine family swept the Freeman awards this year. Abies concolor or White or Concolor Fir, received the Garden Club of America Plant of the Year: the Montine McDaniel Freeman 2011 Horticulture Medal.
This year, the Freeman Medal selection was limited to trees, shrubs and woody vines. This elegant silver fir has beautiful color in the landscape and is resistant to pests. Because its needles are soft, remain longer on the branches and emit an orange pine fragrance it is a good choice for Christmas trees. It grows in USDA Zones 3 – 7 across the country from the California Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east coast. It has great versatility in the garden, lending an architectural note and unusual silver color. Wildlife loves it as it serves as protective habitat for game birds, song birds, eagles, owls and small woodland animals.
Abies concolor was found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1849 by William Lobb on the California Expedition of 1849-1853. It has been commercially available since the 1890’s and is used to replant forest areas in its natural range and to stabilize soil along road cuts.
The Akron Garden Club Provisional Members of 2008 nominated the plant. Each provisional member selected a native plant from a list submitted by Ken Cochran, Director of the Secrest Arboretum and did her own research. Then she presented her choice to the group. A vote determined the final nomination. What an interesting way to involve the provisional members!
Special Recognition is awarded to Pinus palustris or Longleaf Pine. Longleaf Pine was the dominant tree in the original conifer forests which stretched across the south from southeastern Virginia just into eastern Texas, USDA Zones 7 – 10A . Longleaf pines provided most of the materials for the building and maintenance of wooden sailing ships, from timber to naval stores, such as rosin, tar, turpentine and pitch. It was also was the primary wood for coffins early on and therefore was over harvested for 200 years in early American history. Fire suppression stifled regeneration.
Plantings of this tree are now being reestablished on private and public lands from South Carolina to Texas because its ecosystem provides habitat for threatened and endangered species such as Venus flytrap and red-cockaded woodpecker.