2026 Plant of the Year Voting Finalists
Each year at the Annual Meeting, members of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey vote for their Plants of the Year in two categories: Rare and Special and Backyard Perennial. This year, we are going to try voting in advance to save time and extend the vote to the general membership.
Our Rare and Special category highlights native species that face conservation challenges in New Jersey—plants you might be thrilled to encounter on a hike, some of which can also be grown with care in home gardens. Our Backyard Perennial category celebrates versatile natives that thrive in residential landscapes while supporting pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
New Jersey tracks 862 rare plant species, 355 of which are at risk of extinction. By shining a spotlight on these plants—both the imperiled and the garden-worthy—we hope to inspire appreciation, protection, and stewardship of our state’s native flora.
All NPSNJ members are eligible to vote for one nominee in each category.
Rare and Special Plant of the Year
Wood’s Sedge (Carex woodii)
Family: Cyperaceae
Why It’s Special: Ranked top in the Mt. Cuba Center Sedge study for both ornamental value and lawn replacement potential. Rare in New Jersey with extant populations only in Sussex County.
Description: Forms clonal patches in shade where it performs best. Prefers wet to medium soils, although adaptable. Flowers April–May. Seeds consumed by game birds, songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and mammals.
Growing Conditions: Shade preferred; wet to medium moisture; adaptable to various soils.
Conservation Status: G4 (Apparently Secure globally); S1 (Critically Imperiled in New Jersey); State Endangered
More Information:
Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Family: Melanthiaceae
Why It’s Special: A spring ephemeral that thrives in old growth forests. Only two populations have been documented in New Jersey since 2000.
Description: Plant parts are in 3s: a whorl of 3 leaves, 3 sepals, 3 petals, 6 stamens, and 3 stigmas. Though rare in nature, it can be grown in home gardens with proper care.
Growing Conditions: Organic-rich, moist soil in full to partial shade. Needs regular watering and leaf mulch application in fall.
Conservation Status: G5 (Secure globally); S1 (Critically Imperiled in New Jersey); State Endangered
Threats: Habitat loss from development; habitat fragmentation leading to increased herbivory by deer, voles, and mice; proliferation of non-native earthworms.
More Information:
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Family: Cornaceae
Why It’s Special: A herbaceous dogwood standing only 4–8″ tall. One of very few plants that supports explosive pollination—a mechanism that flings pollen onto visiting insects for efficient cross-pollination.
Description: Found in a variety of habitats, most often in cool moist forests with thick organic soil surface layer. Fruit eaten by many mammals and birds, with migratory birds as main frugivores. Plants are self-incompatible.
Growing Conditions: Cool, moist forests with organic soil.
Conservation Status: G5 (Secure globally); S1 (Critically Imperiled in New Jersey)
More Information:
Backyard Perennial of the Year
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Family: Iteaceae
Why It’s Special: A suckering shrub with arching branches displaying long white flower clusters in late spring. Deer resistant.
Description: Provides nectar for native bees and butterflies and offers cover for nesting birds. Purple-red foliage provides fall beauty. Central New Jersey represents the northern extent of its natural range.
Growing Conditions: Prefers moist woods and acidic soil but tolerates many conditions including clay. Full sun to part shade. Can struggle in sandy soil under drought conditions without irrigation.
Deer Resistant: Yes
Conservation Status: G4 (Apparently Secure globally); not rare in New Jersey (native range extends to Central NJ)
More Information:
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
Family: Asteraceae
Why It’s Special: An ecological powerhouse as a late-season nectar and pollen source. Deer resistant.
Description: Flowers are arranged in a head inflorescence composed only of vibrant purple disc flowers. Blooms late summer into fall. Seed heads and empty involucre bracts provide winter interest. Reaches 4–6 ft in height, suitable for the back of a sunny garden bed.
Growing Conditions: In the wild, most commonly found in moist habitats (FACW+), but the deep root system allows for success in medium moisture conditions in garden settings. Full sun.
Deer Resistant: Yes
Conservation Status: G5 (Secure globally); common in New Jersey
More Information:
Common Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Family: Lauraceae
Why It’s Special: A great native tree that is underused in the landscape. Has three kinds of aromatic leaves: 3-lobed, mitten-shaped, and egg-shaped. The fiery fall color is second to none.
Description: Medium-sized tree easily grown in average conditions. Early spring clusters of tiny chartreuse flowers emerge before the leaves. A dioecious species—female plants produce dark blue berries on vibrant red pedicels in late summer/fall. Pairs wonderfully with Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) in fall.
Growing Conditions: Average, medium moisture soil. Full sun to part shade.
Conservation Status: G5 (Secure globally); common throughout New Jersey
More Information:
Conservation Status Definitions
Conservation status ranks are assigned by NatureServe and state Natural Heritage Programs to assess the relative risk of extinction for species.
Global Rank (G-Rank)
Assessed across the species’ entire range worldwide:
- G1 — Critically Imperiled: At very high risk of extinction (typically 5 or fewer populations)
- G2 — Imperiled: At high risk of extinction (typically 6–20 populations)
- G3 — Vulnerable: At moderate risk of extinction (typically 21–100 populations)
- G4 — Apparently Secure: Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern
- G5 — Secure: Common, widespread, and abundant
State Rank (S-Rank)
Assessed within New Jersey:
- S1 — Critically Imperiled: At very high risk of extirpation from the state (typically 5 or fewer occurrences)
- S2 — Imperiled: At high risk of extirpation from the state (typically 6–20 occurrences)
- S3 — Vulnerable: At moderate risk of extirpation (typically 21–100 occurrences)
- S4 — Apparently Secure: Uncommon but not rare in the state
- S5 — Secure: Common and abundant in the state
A species may be globally secure (G5) but critically imperiled within New Jersey (S1) if it occurs at the edge of its range or has experienced local population declines.