Great Plants
The Great Plants™ program, a joint effort of the Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, was introduced in 1997. Its mission is to identify plants with potential to do well in the Great Plains area, promote public awareness of new or underused plants, generate consumer enthusiasm and increase the selection of plants available to the consumer. Members of the Great Plants™ committee include Nebraska Statewide Arboretum staff, University of Nebraska Horticulture Department staff, plant explorers, breeders and Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association representatives. An important goal of the program is ensuring that selected plants are in production and available to the gardening public. Royalties collected help fund plant exploration and breeding. For further information about the Great Plants™ program, contact the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum at 402-472-2971. Great Plants™ has been recognized by Garden Design magazine as "one of the top 5 plant awards worth watching"! Perennial of the Year 2025 - Salvia nemorosa 'Rose Marvel' Grass of the Year 2025 - Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Blues' GreatPlants™ Releases and Introductions
2024 - Agastache 'Blue Fortune'
2023 - Vernonia lettermannii
2022 - Anemone Sylvestris
2021 - Asclepias incarnata
2020 - Callirhoe involucrata
2019 - Aster oblongifolius
2018 - Pycnanthemum virginianum
2017 - Liatris ligulistylis
2016 - Oenothera macrocarpa subsp. fremontii
2015 - Thermopsis villosa
2014 - Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa
2013 - Filipendula rubra 'Venusta'
2012 - Chelone lyonii
2011 - Phlox divaricata
2010 - Eupatorium purpureum 'Gateway'
2009 - Amsonia hubrichtii, Bluestar
2008 - Geum triflorum, Prairie Smoke
2007 - Solidago 'Fireworks', Goldenrod
2006 - The Pulsatilla genus, Pasque flower
2005 - Baptisia minor
2004 - Polygonatum multiflorum 'Variegatum', Solomon's Seal
2003 - The Echinacea genus, Purple Coneflower Genus
2002 - Geranium sanguineum, Cranesbill
2001 - The Penstemon genus, Beardtongue
2000 - Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Milkweed
1999 - Amorpha canescens, Lead plant
1998 - Schizachyrium scoparium, Little bluestem
2024 - Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks'
2023 - Carex 'Blue Zinger'
2022 - Melinis nerviglumis
2021 - Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
2020 - Carex rosea
2019 - Carex pensylvanica
2018 - Carex eburna
2017 - Andropogon gerardii 'Pawnee'
2016 - Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues' PP# 11,202
2015 - Sporobolus wrightii
2014 - Carex grayi
2013 - Schizachyrium scoparium 'MinnBlueA' PP# 17,310 Blue HeavenTM
2012 - Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'
2011 - Carex muskingumensis
2010 - Eragrostis trichodes
2009 - Panicum 'Shenandoah', Switchgrass
2008 - Bouteloua gracilis, Blue Grama
2007 - Calamagrostis brachytricha, Reed Grass
2006 - Miscanthus sin. V. pur. 'Autumn Red'
2005 - Bouteloua curtipendula
2004 - Sorghastrum nutans, Indian Grass
2003 - Sporobolus heterolepis, Prairie Dropseed
2014 Release - Iris spuria 'Fontanelle'(In Honor of Harlan Hamernik)
2011 Release - Hibiscus moscheutos 'Pink Clouds'
2010 Release - Liatris microcephala White Sprite Strain
2010 Release - Euonymus carnosus
2009 Release - Clematis hexapetala 'Mongolian Snowflakes'
2008 Introduction - Dianthus 'Wink'
2006 Release - Dianthus c. 'Prairie Pink'
2006 Release - Liatrus p. 'Eureka' blazing Star
2006 Release - Andropogon 'Silver Sunrise'™
2006 Release - Penstemon g. 'Prairie Snow', Beardtongue
2005 Introduction - Fallopia aubertii 'Lemon Lace', Silver Lace Vine
2005 Introduction - Penstemon g. 'War Ax', Beardtongue
2005 Introduction - Penstemon Prairie Splendor, Beardtongue
2005 Introduction -Solidago 'Wichita Mountains', Goldenrod
2004 Introduction - Allium sen. Subsp. Sen. 'Mongolian Gem'
2004 Introduction - Scabiosa superba 'Mongolian Mist'
2003 Introduction - Scutellaria resinosa 'Smokey Hills', Skull Cap
2003 Introduction - Scutellaria scoridifolia 'Mongolian Skies', Skull Cap
2003 Introduction - Tradescantia tharpii, Spiderwort
2002 Release - Dalea purpurea 'Stephanie', Stephanie Purple Prairie Clover
2001 Release - Oenothera macrocarpa 'Comanche Campfire', Primrose
2000 Release - Callirhoe alcaeoides 'Logan Calhoun', Poppy Mallow
2000 Introduction - Clematis fremontii, Fremont's Clematis
1999 Release - Aster fendleri 'My Antonia'
1999 Introduction- Clematis fruticosa 'Mongolian Gold'
