Pennsylvania Horticultural Society announces new Gold Medal Plant winners

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has shared its list of Gold Medal Plant winners for 2024. The Gold Medal Plant Program was created by PHS in 1979 to celebrate and showcase beautiful, easy to grow plant species ideal for home gardening.

Gold Medal Plants have been selected for their ease of cultivation, multiple seasons of interest, commercial availability, appropriateness for the Mid-Atlantic region and value to wildlife.

2024 Gold Medal Plants:

1. Asparagus officinalis ‘Millennium’ – Edible: One of the highest yielding asparagus on the market, Asparagus ‘Millennium’ is a stem vegetable that produces uniform, tight tipped, tender spears with excellent flavor. It is hardy and easy to grow. It prefers full sun and loose, organically rich, evenly moist, sandy, well-drained soil. In addition to the edible shoots, asparagus produces attractive ferny foliage that turns yellow in the fall before going dormant in winter. Asparagus officinalis ‘Millennium’ grows up to 3-5 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide. It is disease, deer and drought resistant and grows in hardiness zones 3-10.

All photos courtesy of PHS

2. Cephalanthus occidentalis Sugar Shack - Shrub: An excellent native plant for wet, even boggy sites, this cultivar carries the distinctive round, white fragrant flowers indicative of Cephalanthus, but it differs from conventional buttonbush in that after the flowers are spent, it has showy red fruit rather than the typical green. Sugar Shack buttonbush also boasts a useful, compact habit - about half the size of the straight species at just 4-5 feet tall and wide. The Proven Winners ColorChoice variety was introduced by Spring Meadow Nursery and has green glossy foliage that turns red and burgundy in the fall. It is hardy in USDA zone 4-10.

Tim Wood, breeder and product development manager at Spring Meadow Nursery, remarked, “Developing this plant was a long process, and this native shrub deserves greater use, so I’m very pleased more people will get to know it.” An exceptional shrub for pollinators, he added, “It attracts skippers, monarchs, and many other butterflies.”

Cephalanthus occidentalis Sugar Shack

3. Illicium ‘Woodland Ruby’ – Shrub: ‘Woodland Ruby', commonly known as Florida anise tree, has deep reddish strap-like flowers creating an extended period of bloom beginning in early summer and lasting through fall.  It requires protection from winter winds and is happiest in some shade but will tolerate more sun given enough moisture. It grows well in numerous settings and especially well in city gardens, where space and light are issues. It is deer resistant, attracts pollinators, and is fragrant. In its mature height of 6-7 feet, it is a good choice for a screen or backdrop. It is hardy in zones 6-9. 

Illicium ‘Woodland Ruby’

4.  Iris tectorum – Perennial: The common name for Iris tectorum is Japanese roof iris. It grows well in organically rich, medium moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It benefits from the shelter of a wall with western or southern exposure and winter mulch. It has beautiful showy flowers in shades of lavender blue, blush violet, and blue lilac. Its foliage is arranged in fans of narrow, lance-shaped, ribbed, glossy, upright leaves. It can spread rapidly in the garden. It is deer resistant and grows 12 to 18 inches tall in maturity.  It is hardy in zones 6-9.

Iris tectorum

5.  Magnolia ‘Genie’– Tree: This is a perfect choice for small space gardens. It has an incredible spring flowering display of red to purple scented flowers that are eye-catching; long-lived and easy to care for with repeat blooms through the growing season.  Its narrow columnar form fits anywhere and can be grown in an extra-large container. Plant Magnolia ‘Genie’ in sun to part shade in slightly acidic, moist, fertile well-drained soils. Amend with compost when planting and keep well watered.  It reaches only 10 to 13 feet tall, 5 feet wide. It is hardy in zones 5-8. 

Magnolia ‘Genie’

6.  Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’ – Perennial: ‘Brandywine’ foamflower is an early season long blooming, native perennial introduced by Sinclair Adams at Dunvegan Nursery in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It thrives in part to full shade and works well in both dry and moist soils. The leaves have red hues and turn bronze in the fall. Its lovely bold white flowers sit above the ground-hugging foliage and stay in bloom for 2 months. It attracts specialist bee species and other pollinators, and it is great for small space gardens, containers, and window boxes. It combines well with other shade-loving plants. It is deer resistant and grows to be 8-18 inches tall when in flower. It is hardy in zones 4-8. 

Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’

Click here to learn more about the 2024 Gold Medal Plants, or to view previous year’s winners in PHS’s online database, click here.