The Perennial Plant of the Year Program promotes the use of perennials. Four perennials are selected by the Perennial Plant of the Year Committee from an extensive list of nominations made earlier by PPA members. Each year members cast their vote for one of the four selected plants with the following attributes:

• suitable for a wide range of climate types
• low maintenance
• easily propagated - easily comes true from seed or vegetative propagation
• exhibits multiple seasonal interest

Past winners inlcude:

• 2008 Geranium ‘Rozanne’
• 2007 Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’
• 2006 Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Feuerhexe’
• 2005 Helleborus xhybridus
• 2004 Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
• 2003 Leucanthemum 'Becky'
• 2002 Phlox 'David'
• 2001 Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
• 2000 Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'
• 1999 Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
• 1998 Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
• 1997 Salvia 'Mainacht' (May Night)
• 1996 Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'
• 1995 Perovskia atriplicifolia
• 1994 Astilbe 'Sprite'
• 1993 Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'
• 1992 Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
• 1991 Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple'
• 1990 Phlox stolonifera