Which Perennial Took Home the PPA Plant of the Year Award?
August 8, 2022 
Rudbeckia ‘Gold Rush’, the Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year; Photo: Richard Hawke, Chicago Botanic Gardens
The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) named Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’ as its 2023 Perennial Plant of the Year during its National Symposium in Lancaster, PA, in early August. ‘American Gold Rush’ is a stunning addition to any garden. At the height of summer, it turns up the volume for a long season of dazzling color right up to autumnal frosts. The bright golden-yellow flowers feature arching rays and a reddish halo surrounding dark chocolate cones. Three-inch flowers blanket the compact plant, which is only 22 to 27 inches tall with a broader width to 40 inches if given room to grow.
The green leaves and stems are covered in hairs, which gives them a silvery cast — on sunny days, peeking through the blooms to the leaves is a luminous silver-and-gold treat. More than just boosting the ornamental show, the hairy foliage is resistant to septoria leaf spot — a debilitating fungal disease that causes unsightly black spotting and premature seasonal decline on some Black-eyed Susans. ‘American Gold Rush’ is a reliable hardy perennial and a great substitute for popular, brassier ‘Goldsturm’, which is highly susceptible to leaf spotting.
Brent Horvath, owner of wholesale growing operation Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in Illinois, speaks highly of the ‘American Gold Rush’.
“I’ve always liked my plant introductions to speak for themselves, and this one speaks volumes,” Hawke says. “From start to finish, this plant is generally trouble free and easy to propagate, grow, and finish in a container and a breeze to garden with.”
Richard Hawke, Director of Ornamental Plant Research of the Chicago Botanic Gardens says, “‘American Gold Rush’ is the Black-eyed Susan that made me want to grow them again. It ticks all the boxes for a superior garden plant — bountiful golden flowers, long-blooming, disease-free, and a robust habit.”
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PPA Special Recognition Award Recipients Announced
Also during the National Symposium, nine perennial professionals were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the industry with a Special Recognition Award. Initiated in 1985 by PPA, the Special Recognition Awards program recognizes individuals in nine unique perennial industry categories for their distinguished work.
This year’s category descriptions and recipients are:
- The Award of Merit to Hans Hansen of Walters Gardens for significantly contributing to the herbaceous perennial plant industry in growing, marketing, contracting, writing, teaching, extension, research, landscaping, hybridizing, promotion, or innovation.
- The Educator Award to Panayoti Kelaidis of Denver Botanic Gardens for providing exceptional leadership in education to the perennial industry. This award was previously named the Academic Award.
- The Garden Media Promoter Award to John Friel of Emerald Coast Growers for representing media such as radio, television, newspaper, book publishing, magazine, photography, etc., whose educational and promotional efforts result in heightened public awareness of the work done by the perennial plant industry.
- The Retail Sales Award to Izel Native Plants in recognition of being a commercial representative instrumental in making an operation progressive and successful in outstanding sales and service.
- The Young Professional Award to Laura Robles of Walters Gardens for demonstrated involvement in the PPA, contributing to the success of her company, and for portraying a positive image of the industry to the public. The Young Professional Award recognizes, honors, and encourages participation, achievement, and growth of an individual in the industry who is a talented and diligent newcomer.
- The Grower Award to Ron Strasko of Creek Hill Nursery in recognition of being a grower who holds high standards of production, maintains high-quality plants, and seeks innovation while respecting the requirements of the perennial industry.
- The International Contributor Award to Christian Kress of Sarastro-Stauden located in Ort im Innkreis Austria, for outstanding contributions to the herbaceous perennial industry in the international arena.
- The Service Award to Beth Engle of Griffin Greenhouse Supplies for outstanding service to the Perennial Plant Association. The award goes to an individual who has contributed considerable time and effort by serving on committees, diligently attending meetings, motivating the membership to act on concerns within our industry, and demonstrating leadership and organizational skills.
- The Directors’ Award to Janet Draper of the Smithsonian Institute for going above and beyond in her support of the PPA and the broader perennial industry through outstanding contributions and exceptional commitment to the advancement of the PPA and the perennial industry.
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