Two Proven Winners ColorChoice varieties take top honors in Australia’s 2025 Plant of the Year

Proven Winners ColorChoice Fairytrail Bride Cascade Hydrangea (Hydrangea × ‘USHYD0405’, Australian trade name Runaway Bride garland hydrangea) and Skinny Fit ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Menhir’, Australian trade name Lemonlime Spire ginkgo) have earned 2025 Plant of the Year designations from Nursery & Garden Industry, Victoria (Australia.)

The Plant of the Year designation acknowledges outstanding plant varieties in Australia. These plants spark innovation and interest in the industry and exemplify exciting developments in horticulture.

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.

The awardee in the tree category was Lemonlime Spire ginkgo (US name: Skinny Fit ginkgo). 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 ginkgo 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 (US name: Fairytrail Bride Hydrangea ×) was honored as the Plant of the Year in the shrub category. Bred in Japan by Ushio Sakazaki, this 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 its 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, Ground Hug Myoporum took top honors as Specialist Plant of the Year, and 'Sincerity Rose Bicolour’ Dahlia was named Herbaceous Plant of the Year. 

Once the four category winners are chosen, a single variety is singled out as the overall Plant of the Year. In this inaugural year, the premier distinction was awarded to Runaway Bride (Fairytrail Bride) hydrangea.

"We are incredibly proud that Fairytrail Bride hydrangea has earned the top spot as Plant of the Year from Nursery & Garden Industry, Victoria," said Tim Wood, product development manager for Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. "This recognition is a testament to the remarkable vision and talent of Ushio Sakazaki, whose innovative work continues to inspire breeders and horticulturalists worldwide. Fairytrail Bride hydrangea is a standout, and we’re honored to see it once again celebrated on the global stage."

Skinny Fit gingko and Fairytrail Bride Cascade Hydrangea are both part of the Proven Winners ColorChoice line of ornamental shrubs. Growers can contact a Spring Meadow Nursery territory representative to purchase liners and learn more about these, along with more than 300 Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub varieties.