Green Thumb Winners

Ellen C. Wells

National Garden Bureau (NGB) recently released its winners for the 2026 Green Thumb Awards. These awards have two different tracks—the Professional’s Choice and the People’s Choice Awards. The recipients of each represent the best of the best as chosen by the people who are involved in horticultural pursuits both as a career and casually, covering all the bases. In the Professional’s Choice category, industry experts base picks on the plant or product’s innovation, garden performance, appeal, durability and reliability. For the People’s Choice ... well, people like what they like.

Said NGB’s president Alicain Carlson of this year’s selections, “This year’s winners showcase a shift toward ‘purposeful gardening.’ From a disease-resistant basil to plants for celebrations, these plants aren’t just beautiful—they also solve problems for the modern gardener.”
Without further ado, the 2026 Professional’s Choice Green Thumb Award Winners include:

Annual: Dipladenia Sun Parasol FiredUp Coral from Suntory Flowers
Edible: Basil Treviso from GardenGenetics and Seeds by Design
Garden Product: WaterPlants from Unique Gardener
Houseplant: Streptocarpus Lady Slippers Blue Vein from Green Fuse Botanicals
Perennial: Crocosmia Dark Fire from Monrovia Nursery
Shrub: Hydrangea Centennial Ruby from Monrovia Nursery

The People’s Choice Winners are:
Annual: Sunflower Sunfinity Yellow-Red Bicolor from Syngenta Flowers
Edible: Tomato BadaBing! from A.P. Whaley Seeds
Garden Product: Sunshine Black Bear Potting Mix from Sun Gro Horticulture
Houseplant: Pothos Yellow Sunrise from Costa Nursery
Perennial: Festuca Glow Sticks from Concept Plants
Shrub: Azalea Encore Autumn Kiss from Plant Development Services Inc.

In previous years, we’ve had some crossover between the professionals and the consumer picks. Not this year. Interesting! NGB will be promoting this year’s winners to consumers—so be ready for the demand. GP