Best in Grass 2025: Our Favorite Plants of the Year

As another school year wraps up, it's time to celebrate the standout students (ahem, plants) who have excelled all year long. This year's graduating class includes some of the finest veggies and flowers who have a bright future ahead. Like every school year, there have been challenges—garden pests, nutrient deficiencies, unusual temperatures, and more have tested these plants, but they've consistently risen to the occasion, putting their best roots forward, just as they've been taught. From our standout valedictorian to the year's dynamic duos, join us in awarding superlatives to our favorite plants of the year. And most importantly, enjoy your summer!

Valedictorian: Dahlia

It's no surprise that this year's Valedictorian is Dahlia—she's not only known for her excellent growth but also for her popularity. Dahlia can be successfully grown from tubers or small plants, thriving all summer with beautiful blooms, even in high temperatures. Dahlia is versatile, flourishing in both pots and garden beds, and comes in a stunning variety of colors, patterns, and textures, winning everyone's admiration.

Runner-Up: Chrysanthemum

It was a close race, with Chrysanthemum just missing the top spot. She brightens up any front porch and is more resilient than you might think, with a variety of colors to her name. However, unlike Dahlia, she only flowers in late summer and fall.
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Cutest Couple: Tomato and Pepper

The best couples always support each other, which is why Tomato and Pepper are our Cutest Couple. They spent the year together, benefiting from the same needs in water, sunlight, soil, and fertilizing. Their popularity blooms at school, attracting pollinators and helping prevent the spread of disease when planted together.

Runner-Up: Marigold and Literally Any Other Plant

When it comes to companion plants, you can't ignore Marigold. She's the perfect partner for almost anything, attracting pollinators, and deterring pests. Whether you're growing herbs, veggies, or fruits, marigolds are the go-to for companion planting.

Best Dressed: Bougainvillea

When it comes to show-stopping plants, Bougainvillea takes the title of Best Dressed. She's always turning heads with her exquisite outfits, with petals and leaves perfectly in place. She also loves to experiment with shades of fuchsia, bright pink, purple, red, orange, and white—dazzling year-round in Southern climates and throughout summer in cooler areas.

Runner-Up: Snapdragon

Snapdragon is equally showy and loves to come to class dressed as dragon's heads occasionally. However, in extreme heat, Snapdragon becomes shy and sheds its costume, so it's best to keep it in part-shade and well-watered during the hot summer months.

Most Dramatic: Miniature Rose

You can't beat Miniature Rose for high maintenance and drama. Although gorgeous and a stunning garden addition, she requires regular pruning, fertilizing, and more frequent watering than her larger counterparts. Like other roses, she's prone to pests and diseases, but with the right care, she's a beloved garden member.

Runner-Up: Tulips

Tulip's drama comes from their colorful display, often marking the beginning of spring. They tend to be the center of attention as they bloom when little else does. However, tulips can become top-heavy and, if their bulbs get too much water before sprouting, are prone to rot.

Most Likely to Succeed: Hosta

Reliable and hardy, Hosta is undoubtedly the most likely to succeed. This leafy perennial comes back bigger and stronger every year and shows no signs of slowing down. Although known as a shade-loving plant, hosta also does quite well in sunnier locations, making it successful almost anywhere.

Runner-Up: Black-Eyed Susan

Black-Eyed Susan, or Rudbeckia, is as dependable as they come, a staple in perennial flower gardens due to her ease of maintenance. Her success also stems from being a native wildflower in parts of the U.S., thriving in her natural surroundings regardless of conditions. Plus, she self-seeds, providing more plants with no extra effort.

Most Photogenic: Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart is the prettiest in the class, with her heart-shaped flowers making her the star of the show. Her foliage is equally captivating, available in colors from green to chartreuse and golden yellow.

Runner-Up: Peony

With large, fluffy blooms in a multitude of colors, Peony often takes center stage in the garden. You'll always find her ready for the nearest camera, working her angles.

Most Popular: Hydrangea

The most talked-about plant of the year is Hydrangea, beloved by experienced and beginner gardeners alike. Hydrangea adds depth, height, and color to any garden, with up to 70 species in various sizes, shapes, and colors, always making her a welcomed addition to any gathering.

Runner-Up: Zinnia

Zinnia has it all: quick growth, stunning bright blooms, low maintenance, and easy seed-saving for future plants. Gardeners love Zinnia, and her flowers make beautiful bouquet additions in summertime.

Most Athletic: Creeping Phlox

Creeping Phlox dominates the sports awards, taking the title of Most Athletic. Quick to cover the ground, scramble through rock gardens, and even climb stone walls, Creeping Phlox adds a swathe of colorful blue, pink, or purple flowers to your garden and continues acting as ground cover even after blooming.

Runner-Up: Sunflower

Sunflowers are known for their rapid growth and strong stalks that support large, heavy flowers. If there were a basketball player in the plant world, it would be the sunflower.

Biggest Flirt: Bee Balm

Bee Balm uses her charm and good looks to win over everyone, earning her the title of Biggest Flirt. Beloved by pollinators such as butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, Bee Balm is a low-maintenance native perennial that's easy to grow. However, watch out for her spreading growth habit—she's part of the mint family. Available in red, pink, and purple, Bee Balm turns any garden into a pollinator paradise.

Runner-Up: Agastache

Agastache is a magnet for bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Plus, it's resistant to deer and rabbits, so you won't have to worry about those pests chomping on your garden.