2024 Brings New Gold Medal Plants!

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has shared its list of Gold Medal Plant winners for 2024!

The Gold Medal Plant Program was created by PHS in 1979 to celebrate and showcase beautiful, easy-to-grow plant species ideal for home gardening. Gold Medal Plants have been selected for their ease of cultivation, multiple seasons of interest, commercial availability, and value to wildlife!

Meet The 2024 Gold Medal Plants:
- New Year Brings Great Plants!

Meet The 2024 Gold Medal Plants:

Without further ado, here are the 2024 Gold Medal Winners!

1. Millennium Asparagus

Asparagus is stem-vegetable producing uniform, tight-tipped, tender spears with excellent flavor! Asparagus is hardy and easy to grow in full sun and loose, organically rich, evenly moist, sandy, well-drained soil. In addition to the edible shoots, Asparagus produces attractive ferny foliage that looks great in the landscape and floral bouquet. It is disease, deer, and drought-resistant and grows in hardiness zones 3-10.

2. Proven Winners® Sugar Shack® Buttonbush

Proven Winners® Sugar Shack® Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCOSS' USPP 26,543) is an excellent native plant for wet, even boggy sites! This cultivar carries the distinctive round, white fragrant flowers indicative of Button Bush, but it differs from conventional Buttonbush in that after the flowers are spent, it has showy red fruit rather than the typical green!

Sugar Shack® Buttonbush also boasts a useful, compact habit - about half the size of the straight species at just 4-5 feet tall and wide and is an exceptional shrub for pollinators. This variety has green glossy foliage that turns red and burgundy in the fall throughout USDA zone 4-10.

3. Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub

The Woodland Ruby Anise (Illicium ‘Woodland Ruby’), more commonly known as Star Florida Anise, is a tree or shrub that has deep reddish strap-like flowers with an extended period of bloom! Beginning in early summer and lasting through fall throughout USDA growing zones 6-9.

Woodland Ruby requires protection from winter winds and is happiest in some shade but will tolerate more sun given enough moisture. It grows well in numerous settings and especially well in city gardens, where space and light are issues. These deer-resistant shrubs attract pollinators, and have fragrant leaves and flowers! In its mature height of 6-7 feet, it is a good choice for a screen or backdrop!

4. Japanese Roof Iris

Pretty Japanese Roof Iris (Iris tectorum) Also known as Japanese Roof Iris, or the Wall Iris has beautiful showy flowers in shades of lavender blue, blush violet, and lilac blue. Its foliage is arranged in fans of narrow, lance-shaped, ribbed, glossy, upright leaves. It can spread rapidly in the garden. Called Roof Iris because they were grown in the thatch of Chinese and Japanese houses.

Growing well in organically rich, medium moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Japanese Iris benefits from the shelter of a wall with western or southern exposure and appreciates winter mulch. It is hardy in USDA growing zones 6-9, is deer-resistant, and grows 12 to 18 inches tall in maturity.

5. Genie Magnolia Tree

The Genie Magnolia Tree (Magnolia ‘Genie’) is a perfect flowering ornamental tree for small space gardens! It has an incredible spring flowering display of red to purple scented flowers with repeat blooms through the growing season. Forming a narrow columnar profile that fits anywhere - only 10 to 13 feet tall, 5 feet wide!

Genie grows best in sun to part shade in slightly acidic, moist, fertile well-drained soils. Amend with compost when planting and keep well watered, especially in the warmer of its favored growing zones throughout USDA growing zones 5 through 9.

6. Brandywine Foam Flower

The pretty Brandywine FoamFlower (Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’) is a gorgeous perennial that looks like a cross between Coral Bells (which they are related to) and Astilbe! Tiarella can go by Foam Flower two words, or Foamflower one word. The unique foamy spires of bold white flowers sit above the ground-hugging foliage and stay in bloom for 2 months. It attracts specialist bee species and other pollinators, and it is great for small space gardens, containers, and window boxes. The leaves have red hues and turn bronze in the fall, and often can be semi-to-fully evergreen in warmer, more frost-free climates.

It is an early-season, long-blooming, plant introduced by Sinclair Adams at Dunvegan Nursery in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Foam Flowers thrive in part-to-full shade and work well in both dry and moist soils. It combines well with other shade-loving plants and is deer-resistant throughout USDA growing zones 4 to 8.

New Year Brings Great Plants!

Great new plants and fantastic garden standards help make your landscape and the year 2024 that much better! Nature Hills works with all the best breeders and nurseries around the country to bring you the very latest and the greatest garden additions!

Look for these Gold Medal plants and other new offerings on our website this year!

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which 2024 Gold Medal Plants perform best in full sun conditions?

Of the 2024 Gold Medal Plants, Millennium Asparagus is the top performer in full sun, thriving in zones 3-10 in loose, well-drained, organically rich soil. Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub can also tolerate more sun exposure as long as adequate moisture is provided, though it prefers some shade and is suited for zones 6-9. For best results with Asparagus, plant in a location with at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily and amend the soil with compost to ensure the rich, evenly moist conditions it needs to produce those tender, flavorful spears.

Which 2024 Gold Medal Plants thrive in partial shade gardens?

Two of the 2024 Gold Medal Plants perform well in partial shade conditions. Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub thrives in shaded settings across zones 6-9, reaching 6-7 feet tall, and actually requires some shade protection, especially in drier conditions. Sugar Shack Buttonbush can also tolerate shadier spots in wet or boggy areas across zones 4-10. For best results, pair these two plants together in a low-light, moisture-retentive area of your garden to create a layered, wildlife-friendly planting.

How do I choose the right 2024 Gold Medal Plant for my USDA hardiness zone?

Each 2024 Gold Medal Plant covers a different range of hardiness zones, so matching your zone to the right plant is straightforward. Millennium Asparagus is the most cold-hardy option, thriving in zones 3 through 10, while Sugar Shack Buttonbush works across zones 4 through 10 and excels in wet or boggy conditions. Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub is best suited for the milder zones 6 through 9 and requires some protection from harsh winter winds. Check your USDA hardiness zone at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website, then visit naturehills.com to find the Gold Medal Plant that best fits your zone, site conditions, and garden goals.

When is the best time of year to plant the 2024 Gold Medal Plant selections?

The best planting time for the 2024 Gold Medal selections generally depends on the individual plant, but spring and fall are ideal windows for most of them. Asparagus crowns perform best when planted in early spring, while shrubs like Sugar Shack Buttonbush and Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub establish well when planted in fall or early spring before extreme temperatures set in. Japanese Roof Iris is best divided and transplanted in late summer or early fall after flowering. Check your USDA hardiness zone (these selections span zones 3-10 depending on the variety) and aim to plant during mild, moderate weather to give roots time to establish before summer heat or winter cold arrives.

What type of soil do the 2024 Gold Medal Plants grow best in?

The 2024 Gold Medal Plants have varied soil preferences depending on the species. Millennium Asparagus thrives in loose, organically rich, sandy, well-drained soil with consistent moisture, while Sugar Shack Buttonbush is uniquely suited to wet or even boggy conditions. Woodland Ruby Anise adapts to a range of soils but performs best with adequate moisture, especially in sunnier spots. Match your soil conditions to the right Gold Medal Plant, and you will set yourself up for success from the start.

How often should I water newly planted 2024 Gold Medal Plants during their first season?

Watering needs vary by plant, but most newly planted 2024 Gold Medal Plants benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season as they establish their root systems. The Sugar Shack Buttonbush actually thrives in wet or boggy conditions and may need little supplemental watering in zones 4-10, while the Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub in zones 6-9 needs adequate moisture especially when grown in sunnier spots. For most new plantings, aim to water deeply two to three times per week for the first four to six weeks, then taper to once weekly as plants become established. Always check soil moisture a few inches below the surface before watering, and apply a layer of mulch around the root zone to help retain moisture between waterings.

Do any of the 2024 Gold Medal Plants require deadheading to stay healthy and looking their best?

None of the 2024 Gold Medal Plants require deadheading as part of their regular care. In fact, leaving spent blooms on plants like the Sugar Shack Buttonbush is actually beneficial, as the flowers give way to showy red fruit that adds ornamental interest and provides food for wildlife. Focus your maintenance efforts instead on proper siting, such as ensuring Buttonbush has access to moist or boggy soil and giving Woodland Ruby Anise some shade and wind protection in zones 6-9.

Are the 2024 Gold Medal Plants resistant to common garden diseases and pests?

Several of the 2024 Gold Medal Plants do offer strong resistance to common garden threats. The Millennium Asparagus is notably disease, deer, and drought-resistant, making it one of the most low-maintenance selections of the group. The Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub is also deer-resistant, though it does require protection from harsh winter winds in zones 6-9. When selecting from this year's winners, match each plant to its preferred conditions, such as moist soils for Sugar Shack Buttonbush, to keep plants vigorous and naturally less susceptible to pest and disease pressure.

How large do the 2024 Gold Medal Plants grow at full maturity?

The 2024 Gold Medal Plants vary considerably in size at full maturity. Millennium Asparagus produces tall ferny foliage after harvest, Sugar Shack Buttonbush reaches a compact 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, and Woodland Ruby Anise Shrub matures to 6 to 7 feet in height. When planning your garden layout, account for these mature sizes and match each plant to a site with adequate space, appropriate soil conditions, and the correct hardiness zone for your region.

Can the 2024 Gold Medal Plants be grown successfully in containers or raised beds?

While the 2024 Gold Medal Plants are primarily described for in-ground cultivation, several can adapt well to containers or raised beds with proper care. Asparagus, which thrives in zones 3-10 in loose, well-drained sandy soil, is a strong candidate for deep raised beds that replicate its preferred growing conditions. The compact Sugar Shack Buttonbush, reaching just 4-5 feet tall and wide, could work in a large container if kept consistently moist, though its preference for boggy conditions makes raised beds a challenge. Focus on matching each plant's soil, moisture, and sun requirements as closely as possible, and choose containers or beds deep and wide enough to accommodate mature root systems.