2 Proven Winners ColorChoice varieties named 2025 Plant of the Year
Proven Winners ColorChoice announced its ginkgo ‘Skinny Fit’ and cascading hydrangea ‘Fairytrail Bride’ were named 2025 Plant of the Year by Nursery & Garden Industry, Victoria (Australia).
The Plant of the Year designation acknowledges outstanding plant varieties in Australia. Plants are submitted into one of four groups: shrubs, trees, herbaceous plants or specialist plants. Each entry is evaluated on aesthetic appeal, growth and performance characteristics, innovative features, and market potential.
During the first stage of judging, plants scoring 80% or higher receive high commendation. Among these, the top scorer in each category is then awarded the “Of the Year” title in their distinct category and advances to the final evaluation stage.
Awardee in the tree category was Lemonlime Spire ginkgo (U.S. name: ginkgo ‘Skinny Fit’). This fastigiate tree brings the timeless charm of the ginkgo to even the smallest spaces. With its iconic fan-shaped leaves and a slender, upright habit, ‘Skinny Fit’ is ideal for urban gardens, tight landscapes, or as a striking vertical accent.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see Skinny Fit ginkgo (Lemonlime Spire) recognized in the tree category as a Plant of the Year in Australia,” said Maria Zampini, program manager for the Proven Winners ColorChoice line of ornamental trees. “This honor reinforces the caliber of trees that growers and consumers have come to expect from the Proven Winners ColorChoice brand.”
Runaway Bride garland hydrangea (U.S. name: ‘Fairytrail Bride’ Hydrangea ×) was honored as the Plant of the Year in the shrub category. Bred in Japan by Ushio Sakazaki, this exceptional hydrangea first captured international attention when it was named Plant of the Year at the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show in the UK. Spring Meadow Nursery introduced it to the U.S. market in 2022 under the name ‘Fairytrail Bride’ and made it the inaugural member of their popular Cascade hydrangea series. ‘Fairytrail Bride’ hydrangea features abundant, lace-like white flowers that appear at every leaf node on long, trailing branches.
In the last two categories, Myoporum ‘Ground Hug’ took top honors as Specialist Plant of the Year, and dahlia ‘Sincerity Rose Bicolour’ was named Herbaceous Plant of the Year.
Photos courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice.
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