Plants of Merit Even Better for 2020!

Selecting new plants for your garden can be overwhelming. This year adds an additional challenge with social distancing requiring us to order our plants by phone or email in advance from our local nursery. The Missouri Botanical Garden's "Plants of Merit" (POM) program can make the selection easier. 
With over 20 years of recommending plants particularly suited to our climate, this helpful list is a St Louis gardeners best friend! Plants are selected by five criteria:

• Easy to grow & maintain
• Not known to be invasive in our area
• Resistant or tolerant to disease & insects
• Has outstanding ornamental value
• Reasonably available for purchase nearby

Salvia 'Balsalmisp' Mystic Spires Blue is new on the Plants of Merit list. Its bright blue flowers bloom almost continuously from from early summer through fall. The flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insect pollinators.

The POM list includes annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs, edibles, trees and houseplants. Finding a winner for your specific garden conditions or interests is easy. The Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder Database is an excellent search engine that allows you to enter "Plants of Merit" in the quick search box, and then sort by plant type. Or download a handy printable list with all 20 years of Plants of Merit. Enjoy the hunt!