It has been a few years since I wrote about the Perennial Plants of the Year as selected by the Perennial Plant Association. This great list follows with a few comments based on my observations.

1990 Phlox stolonifera that's woodland phlox. It's a groundcover. For sunny spots use mountain pink Phlox subulata.

1991 Heuchera 'Purple Palace' that's Coral Bells

1992 Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'

1993 Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'

1994 Astilbe 'Sprite' I might modify this selection to be astilbe in general. Sprite is good but so are dozens of others if you are looking for a good bloomer for modest shade. This one needs some supplemental water in dry weather.

1995 Peroskia atriplicifolia that's Russian Sage

1996 Penstemon 'Husker Red' I have found this plant to be quite variable in color and flower but I haven't found one that I don't like.

1997 Salvia 'May Night'

1998 Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' that's purple coneflower

1999 Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' that's black eyed susans

2000 Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' Unlike most perennials it blooms all season but will be short lived if kept too wet.

2001 Calamagrostis x acutiflora "Karl Foerster" feather reed grass Most widely planted of the grasses. Very controlled but looses it's winter interest quicker than most grasses.

2002 Phlox paniculata 'David' A good tall garden phlox with mildew resistance. Resistance equals less but not total absence of mildew. Uniform moisture is the best natural cure I have found for mildew.

2003 Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky' This may be the best shasta daisy I have seen yet. It's taller than most white daisies.

2004 Athyrium niponicum 'Japanese Painted Fern' Wonderful mid-sized fern. It will need shade and uniform moisture. An unprotected one on the east side of my house is quite unhappy.

Just two, maybe three of them reseed enough to march through your garden. Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and Echinacea 'Magnus' will soon multiply if left unattended. I leave the seedheads for winter interest and the birds and then relocate the extra seedings to the compost pile. Another option is to cut the seedheads before they mature.

Husker Red Penstemon also occasionally spawn a few seedlings. Few is the key word. This is an unusual penstemon. Most like it on the dry side but this one is happy most everywhere. Its seedheads offer good winter interest.

Except for the 1990 phlox all would be described as clump formers. The list offers bloom and interest across the season. They offer variety in foliage color, texture and form. I've grown them all and all seem happy in a low love environment.

After seeing these all listed together I gained a new level of respect for the Perennial Plant Association's selection committee. My suggestion. Put this list on the refrigerator. Put these plants in your garden. If you are a beginner this is a great place to start.