Plants of Merit are plants selected for their outstanding quality and dependable performance for the lower Midwest. They grow consistently well in Missouri, central and southern Illinois, and the Kansas City Metro area.
 

Plants of Merit Selection Criteria

• Easy to grow and maintain
• Not known to be invasive in our area
• Resistant or tolerant to diseases and insects
• Has outstanding ornamental value
• Reasonably available to purchase
   

Plants of Merit selections by year (PDF): Plants of Merit: 2000 - 2022

Plants of Merit selections by botanical name: Go to Plant Finder and select "Plant of Merit" under the Quick Search section
 

New for 2022

Annuals

begonia Begonia 'Canary Wing'	ornamental pepper   Capsicum annuum ‘Onyx Red’
taro Colocasia esculenta ‘Blue Hawaii’	pink  Dianthus DIAMOND SCARLET IMPROVED
pigeon berry Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’

 

 

Bulbs

Devil's tongue Amorphophallus konjac

large-cupped daffodil Narcissus ‘Carlton’

 

Edibles

rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus ‘Blue Rain’

Houseplants

Perennials

hellebore Helleborus 'Confetti Cake'	meadow sage Salvia nemorosa 'Wesuwe'
rough goldenrod Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'

Shrubs

Trees

eastern redbud Cercis canadensis 'Appalachian Red'

sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum

 

Vine

butterfly pea
Clitoria ternatea

For a listing of all the Plants of Merit go to the Plant Finder search page and select "Plant of Merit" in the Quick Search section.