The Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year program annually recognizes four top performing landscape plants that support pollinators and grow beautifully in a garden. Plants will be recognized and promoted from the following categories: Spring Bloomer, Summer Bloomer, Fall Bloomer and Georgia Native. Seasonal selections may or may not be native.
Nominations are solicited from gardeners throughout Georgia and are then determined by a selection committee based on each plant’s horticultural value, ease of propagation and ecological significance.
We recognize the need for collaboration across all steps of production and marketing, from grower to consumer, in order to improve the availability of appropriate pollinator-supporting plants statewide. This program represents the combined efforts of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, growers, entomologists, landscape professionals and conservationists across the state. The program is funded in part by the Vaughn-Jordan Foundation.
Our Goals
- Create a network of horticultural professionals through which plant materials and propagation techniques can be shared.
- Increase statewide availability and diversity of pollinator-supporting plants for consumers.
- Teach the importance of plant selection for supporting pollinators in human landscapes.
Previous GPPY winners
Get Involved
Growers
Help us grow more of the winning plants. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia will serve as a seed source for difficult to find plant selections. Limited quantities available.
Retailers
Let us know if you carry any of the winning plants in your store. We want to celebrate growers and retailers who are increasing the availability of pollinator plants.
Gardeners
Plant winning plants in your garden.
Spring Bloomer – Eastern Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Light: Part sun to part shade
Water Requirements: Medium
Height: 1-3 ft.
Bloom Time: March-May
Wildlife Value: Early-spring nectar source for hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, and a potential seed source for songbirds. Moderately deer and rabbit-resistant.
Horticultural Recommendations: Eastern Red Columbine is a woodland understory species and does best in part sun to part shade in average to moist soil. It can thrive in full sun as well, although it may prefer moister soil in that case. After spring, dead flower stalks can be cut to the ground, and the lower foliage provides excellent groundcover throughout summer and fall. This species is prone to leaf miners, which cause white squiggly lines on the leaves, but do not harm the plant’s health or overall aesthetic quality. This species can spread via self-seeding, but is not known to be aggressive.

Summer Bloomer – Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia spp.
Light: Sun to part shade
Water Requirements: Medium
Height: Highly species dependent, but anywhere from 2-10 ft.
Bloom Time: Species dependent, but usually May-August
Wildlife Value: Plants in the Rudbeckia genus are considered keystone plants, providing pollen for 29 specialist bee species and serving as a larval host plant for at least 20 species of butterflies and moths. They are also a major source of seeds for songbirds. Plants in this genus are known to have deer- and rabbit-resistant qualities.
Horticultural Recommendations: The most suitable for gardens, in terms of availability and aesthetics, are Rudbeckia hirta (biennial), R. fulgida and R. laciniata. Species in this genus range from annual to perennial, and most are appreciated for their hardiness, tolerance of poor soils and drought resistance. Species can range from useful groundcovers, such as the token Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), to taller showy species, such as Green-headed Coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata). Many will flower multiple times per season.

Fall Bloomer – Sunflower
Helianthus spp.
Light: Sun to part shade
Water Requirements: Species dependent, options from low to high
Height: Species dependent, anywhere from 3-10 ft.
Bloom Time: Species dependent, but around August-November
Wildlife Value: Plants in the Helianthus genus are considered keystone plants, providing pollen for 50 specialist bee species and serving as a larval host plant for at least 66 species of butterflies and moths. This genus is also a major seed source for birds in the fall and into the sparse winter months.
Horticultural Recommendations: There are more than 25 sunflower species native to Georgia, ranging from annuals to perennials, from petite to large statement pieces. The most suitable for gardens, in terms of availability and aesthetics, are Helianthus angustifolius, H. atrorubens and H. mollis. All species have bright yellow, sunny flowers that bring cheer in late summer through fall. Blooms are most plentiful in full sun. Most species are tall and could benefit from supports or a Chelsea chop in early summer.

Georgia Native – Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Light: Sun to part shade
Water Requirements: Medium to low
Height: Species dependent, anywhere from 1-5 ft.
Bloom Time: July-September
Wildlife Value: Pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies and occasionally hummingbirds. Larval host plant for several species of the Flower Moth genus.
Horticultural Recommendations: Blazing stars can add a showy splash of color to the garden over the summer. The straight form and linear flowers make these plants easy to incorporate into any garden setting. Blazing stars are drought-tolerant, but tend to prefer medium to medium-low soil moisture and generally bloom best in full sun. Blazing Stars prefer nutrient-lean soil and suffer in rich soil. Liatris microcephala is also well-suited for gardens when given adequate drainage.


