The Perennial Plant Association is a trade association composed of members professionally involved in the herbaceous perennial industry. The P.P.A.’s mission is to connect professionals, provide education and promote perennial plants. Every year the P.P.A. celebrates Perennial Gardening Month in June.
In honor of Perennial Month we’re highlighting the P.P.A.’s Perennial Plant of the Year program. This program has been going strong since 1990. Members select winners each year based on a wide range of criteria such as
- being suitable to a wide range of climatic conditions
- ease of maintenance
- pest resistance
- and disease resistance
- availability
- aesthetic value
This year’s winner is Asclepias tuberosa otherwise known as Butterfly Milkweed. 
Asclepias is an important food source for many beneficial insects and hummingbirds. Milkweed may ring a bell because we also highlighted this perennial in our last post, Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden as an excellent plan for creating a butterfly habitat. Asclepias tuberosa is an indispensable food source for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars.
For more information about Asclepias tuberosa or explore a data base of past winners visit The Perennial Plant Associations website:
https://perennialplant.org/page/PPOY
