The Perennial Plant Association Names Its 2026 Special Recognition Award Recipients

During the Perennial Plant Association’s (PPA) 2026 National Symposium in East Lansing, MI, five perennial professional individuals were honored for their exceptional contributions to the industry with Special Recognition Awards. This year’s awards and recipients are:

Emerging Perennial Professional Award

The Emerging Perennial Professional Award goes to Chris Ruger, Regional Sales Manager of North Creek Nurseries. This award recognizes an individual who is a talented and diligent newcomer to the perennial plant industry.

Chris started his journey in the perennial world more than 10 years ago by joining Quality Greenhouses as a grower in the perennial department, eventually transitioning into the role of Business Development Manager. At Quality Greenhouses, Chris was always looking for opportunities to expand their market with new programs, ideas, and product development. In 2025, Chris took his passion and knowledge to the Midwest, where he joined North Creek Nurseries as a Regional Sales Manager. Chris is now sharing his growing expertise across the Midwestern U.S., not just with other growers but with the landscape industry as well. Alongside his professional career, Chris has been a member of the Perennial Plant Foundation Board of Trustees for several years, consistently bringing fresh ideas and thoughtful leadership to the organization.

Perennial Outreach and Education Award

The Perennial Outreach and Education Award goes to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. This award recognizes an individual or organization who has distinguished themselves by advancing perennial plants and the industry through education, advocacy, awareness, outreach, or promotion.

This team of horticulturalists goes beyond just caring for and displaying plants. They cross the divide of engaging in the commercial level of horticulture through their trialing programs all the way to promoting plants and gardening to the public. Not only does the zoo promote plants gardening within the Zoo, but they also have several outreach programs around the community doing installations of gardens at schools and inner-city communities. In a partnership with the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund, the team installs a new community garden each year. New this year, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens will be installing a perennial trial of more than 90 varieties on top of the 600 varieties of annuals.

Perennial Excellence Award

The Perennial Excellence Award goes to Steve Castorani of North Creek Nurseries. This award recognizes an individual or organization who has distinguished themselves through their contributions, skills, and efforts related to herbaceous perennial plants and the perennial plant industry.

Steve Castorani is the President and CEO of North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, PA. Steve and Dale Hendricks founded the nursery in 1988 with a focus on perennial plants grown as plugs — an uncommon practice at the time. While not solely a native plant nursery, North Creek has been championing ecological plants and landscaping since their beginning. Their motto, “where horticulture meets ecology,” speaks to this passion. In that spirit, Steve co-created the American Beauties Native Plants brand in 2004 to spread awareness of the benefits of native plants.

Perennial Service Awards

The 2026 Perennial Service Award goes to Shannon Currey, Horticultural Educator, Content Creator, and Education and Outreach Director of Izel Plants. The Perennial Service Award acknowledges a Perennial Plant Association member for their outstanding service to the association and the horticulture industry.

Having worked in the nursery trade for more than 20 years, Shannon Currey has had a long career of service and education in the industry. She has developed expertise in grasses and sedges and expanded her knowledge into native perennials. Shannon has written for national publications and traveled the country speaking to professional organizations, community groups, and at public gardens. Among Shannon’s many years of leadership and service work, she served on the Board of the Perennial Plant Association and as Trustee and later President of the Perennial Plant Foundation. Shannon currently serves on the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program Scientific Committee and holds advisory roles with several organizations, including the Legislative Committee of the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association.

Alongside the 2026 winners, PPA also recognized a 2025 Perennial Service Award recipient, Holly Scoggins, Associate Professor Emeritus of Horticulture at Virginia Tech.

A longtime Perennial Plant Association member, Dr. Holly Scoggins has distinguished herself through her service and commitment. Holly has devoted her considerable professional skills and personal loyalty to PPA in several key roles, helping to shape and support the Association for many years. In addition to serving as a Regional Director, Holly served as President-elect, President, and Past President. During that time, she led policy changes in governance and membership structure that strengthened and reinvigorated the organization. She facilitated active board involvement and helped develop new initiatives to engage members and grow the organization. Holly is also deeply invested in the future of PPA and the industry, serving on the board of the Perennial Plant Foundation both during her tenure on the PPA Board and beyond.

To learn more about each of the recipients and the awards program, click here.