Award of Garden Merit Winners

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Hosta

Hemerocallis

Sedum

Heuchera

Phlox

Whitehall

Echinacea

Iris

Helleborus

Dianthus

Coreopsis

Astilbe

Hibiscus

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Liriope

Monarda

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Scabiosa

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Artemisia

Aruncus

Dryopteris

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Lysimachia

Mazus

Schizachyrium

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Plants that Can for those who think they Can't!

The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a mark of quality awarded, since 1922, to garden plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Awards are made annually after plant trials intended to judge the plants' performance. Trials may last for one or more years, depending on the type of plant being trialled, and may be performed at RHS Garden, Wisley, other RHS gardens or after observation of plants in specialist collections.

The RHS AGM is awarded only to plants that meet the following criteria:

- Outstanding excellence for ordinary garden decoration or use
- Available for general purchase
- Good constitution
- Do not require highly specialist growing conditions or care
- Are not particularly susceptible to any pest or disease
- Are not be subject to an unreasonable degree of reversion in its vegetative or floral characteristics

Though growing conditions and plant types may vary, the purpose of the award is always the same: to highlight the best plants available to the home gardener. Check out these Award of Garden Merit recipients:

Aruncus

Aruncus dioicus (30)ct Flat

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Astilbe

Astilbe 'Fanal' (25) BR Plants

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Astilbe

Astilbe 'Rheinland' (25) BR Plants

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Astilbe

Astilbe chinensis 'Pumila' (25) BR Plants

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Now: $214.00

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Athyrium

Athyrium 'felix-femina' (3.5 inch pot)

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Athyrium

Athyrium 'Ghost' (20)ct Flat

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Now: $220.15

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Athyrium

Athyrium f-f. 'Fronds Forever' PPAF (20)ct Flat

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Athyrium

Athyrium felix-forma 'Lady in Red' (20)ct Flat

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Athyrium

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' (20)ct Flat

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Athyrium

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' (3.5 inch pot)

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Athyrium

Athyrium Nipponicum 'Pictum' (4) 1-gallons

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Brunnera

Brunnera m. 'Jack of Diamonds' PP32752 (20)ct Flat

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Aruncus

Aruncus dioicus (30)ct Flat

Aruncus dioicus (30)ct Flat Common Name: Goat's Beard An outstanding specimen plant for the partially shaded garden, with dark green foliage and plume-like spikes of tiny, cream-colored flowers rise well above the foliage in early to mid-summer...

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Astilbe

Astilbe 'Fanal' (25) BR Plants

Astilbe 'Fanal' (25) Bare Root Plants Common Name: Hybrid Astilbe, False Spirea 'Fanal' quickly forms a compact graceful, fern-like mound of dainty foliage topped by bunches of fragrant, bright red tiny flowers; densely packed into erect to...

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Now: $201.01
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Astilbe

Astilbe 'Rheinland' (25) BR Plants

Astilbe 'Rheinland' (25) Bare Root Plants Common Name: Astilbe-Japanese. Rose-pink flowers are held in large, diamond shaped panicles, plumes bloom in early summer. Large, bold, and mid-green, 'Rheinland' is a vigorous, floriferous favorite. A...

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Now: $201.01
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Astilbe

Astilbe chinensis 'Pumila' (25) BR Plants

Astilbe chinensis 'Pumila' (25) Bare Root Plants Common Name: Astilbe- Dwarf Chinese Lilac-pink flowers on fuzzy, stiff plumes. Colorful blossoms are produced atop medium green foliage clump in late summer to early fall; one of the last Astilbes to...

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Now: $214.00
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Athyrium

Athyrium 'felix-femina' (3.5 inch pot)

Athyrium filix-femina (3.5-inch pot)Common name: Lady Fern Height: 24-36 Inches Spread: 24-36 Inches Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Part Shade to Shade Deciduous Native Slow spreading by rhizomes Fine textured,light green,lacy-like fronds Tolerates sun with...

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Athyrium

Athyrium 'Ghost' (20)ct Flat

Athyrium 'Ghost' (20)ct FlatCommon Name: Ghost Fern A strong tall growing, light silvery gray-green almost glows, creating a ghostly appearance. Upright, arching, triangular delicate, lacey fronds have bluish to maroon midribs. Sterile hybrid sporeling...

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Athyrium

Athyrium f-f. 'Fronds Forever' PPAF (20)ct Flat

Athyrium f-f. 'Fronds Forever' PPAF CPBRAF (20)ct Flat Proven Winners® Common Name: Lady FernMake a statement in the shade with this crested broad-leaved fern! Leaves are flat with cresting along the margins and a tassel at the end of each frond...

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Athyrium

Athyrium felix-forma 'Lady in Red' (20)ct Flat

Athyrium felix-forma 'Lady in Red' (20)ct FlatCommon Name: Lady Fern, Northern Lady Fern Vibrant red-burgundy stipes (stems), creates a sharp contrast with its lacy, green fronds. Stems red color becomes more vivid after second dormancy. Limit...

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Athyrium

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' (20)ct Flat

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' Common name: JAPANESE PAINTED FERNTri-colored, 12-to-18-inch fronds emerge silvery-gray, almost appearing metallic. Silvery hue is accented by contrasting dark maroon midribs. Spectacular mature blades are triangular with...

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Now: $220.15
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Athyrium

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' (3.5 inch pot)

Athyrium niponicum var. 'Pictum' (3.5-inch pot) Common name: JAPANESE PAINTED FERN Tri-colored, 12-to-18-inch fronds emerge silvery-gray, almost appearing metallic. Silvery hue is accented by contrasting dark maroon midribs. Spectacular mature...

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Now: $5.88
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Athyrium

Athyrium Nipponicum 'Pictum' (4) 1-gallons

Athyrium niponicum var. 'Pictum' (4) 1-gallons Common name: JAPANESE PAINTED FERN Zone 3b to 8, Part shade to full shade. Height is 8 to 20 inches and slowly spreading clump grows to 18 - 30 inches. 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year. Tri-colored, 12...

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Now: $127.87
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Brunnera

Brunnera m. 'Jack of Diamonds' PP32752 (20)ct Flat

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds' PP32752 CPBRAF (20)ct FlatCommon Name: Heartleaf Brunnera, Siberian Bugloss This shade perennial can best be described as a giant version of the classic 'Jack Frost'-with a twist. The huge 9-10" leaves overlap...

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Now: $237.48
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What are awards that perennial plants can win?

International:

Award of Garden Merit (AGM): a prestigious recognition bestowed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the UK to plants that demonstrate outstanding performance and reliability in UK growing conditions. It serves as a valuable marker of quality for gardeners, helping them choose reliable and successful plants for their gardens.
Perennial Plant of the Year (PPA): Chosen by the Perennial Plant Association in North America, this award recognizes a perennial for its overall excellence in terms of low maintenance, adaptability, long bloom season, and multiple garden uses.
All-America Selections (AAS): This program evaluates new cultivars across various plant categories, including perennials, based on specific performance criteria within various regions.

Regional:

Great Plant Picks (GPP): Several regions in the United States and Canada have GPP programs that assess plants for regional suitability and pest/disease resistance.
Proven Winners® Perennial of the Year: This award program highlights high-performing perennials that thrive in diverse growing conditions across North America.

Specific Plant Category Awards:

Daylily of the Year (American Hemerocallis Society): Recognizes outstanding daylilies based on various characteristics like flower form, color, and habit.
Hosta of the Year (American Hosta Society): Celebrates exceptional hostas for their foliage features, growth habit, and overall garden impact.
Grass of the Year (North American Native Plant Society): Recognizes native grasses for their ecological value and ornamental appeal.

Additional Awards:

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Plant of Merit (POM): A similar recognition to the AGM, awarded to plants demonstrating excellent performance in UK gardens.
International Bulb Trials: Evaluate and recognize outstanding bulb varieties, including perennials like flowering onions and alliums.

What is the Award of Garden Merit?

The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a prestigious recognition bestowed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the UK to plants that demonstrate outstanding performance and reliability in UK growing conditions. It serves as a valuable marker of quality for gardeners, helping them choose reliable and successful plants for their gardens.

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of the AGM:

What it signifies:

Excellent performance: The plant thrives and performs well under typical UK gardening conditions, without requiring excessive care or attention.

Availability: The plant is readily available from reputable nurseries and garden centers.

Good constitution: The plant possesses inherent strength and resilience, showing resistance to diseases and pests.

Stable form and color: The plant retains its expected characteristics, ensuring consistency and predictability in your garden.

Reasonably resistant to pests and diseases: While no plant is entirely immune, AGM-winning plants exhibit a lower susceptibility to common garden problems.

Awarding process:

Plants undergo rigorous trials at RHS gardens or through expert observation in specialist collections.

Trials typically last for one or more years, depending on the plant type.

A panel of horticultural experts evaluates the plants based on the aforementioned criteria.

Awards are only given to plants that meet all the required standards.

Benefits for gardeners:

Provides assurance of a plant's suitability and performance in UK gardens.

Helps save time and money by avoiding plants that might struggle or perform poorly.

Introduces you to a curated selection of reliable and high-quality plants.

Offers a valuable reference point when planning and selecting plants for your garden.

Additional resources:

RHS Award of Garden Merit website: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/award-of-garden-merit

Lists of AGM-winning plants: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/award-of-garden-merit

Wikipedia article on the Award of Garden Merit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Award_of_Garden_Merit

What groundcover perennial plants have won the Award of Garden Merit?

There are many groundcover perennial plants that have won the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Here are a few examples:

Hostas: There are over 90 hostas that have been awarded the AGM. They are popular shade-loving plants with a wide variety of leaf colors and shapes. Some popular AGM-winning hostas include 'Francee', 'Gold Standard', and 'Earth Angel'.

Bergenia: These evergreen plants have large, leathery leaves and produce clusters of pink or white flowers in spring. Some popular AGM-winning bergenias include 'Bressingham Ruby' and 'Admiral'.

Ajuga reptans: This low-growing plant has creeping stems and blue flowers that bloom in spring. It is a good choice for groundcover in dry shade. Some popular AGM-winning Ajuga reptans cultivars include 'Catlin's Giant' and 'Purple Spark'.

Geranium cantabrigiense: This hardy geranium has blue flowers that bloom from late spring to summer. It is a good choice for groundcover in sunny or partially shaded areas. Some popular AGM-winning Geranium cantabrigiense cultivars include 'Biokovo', 'Karmina', and 'Rozanne'.

Nepeta x faassenii: This catmint has lavender flowers that bloom from summer to autumn. It is a good choice for groundcover in sunny areas. Some popular AGM-winning Nepeta x faassenii cultivars include 'Six Hills Giant' and 'Walker's Low'.

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Award Winning Plants

What are awards that perennial plants can win?

What is the Award of Garden Merit?

What groundcover perennial plants have won the Award of Garden Merit?