Plant Awards

Kentucky's Theodore Klein Plant Awards

Winston Dunwell
Nursery Crops Development Center
UKCA Department of Horticulture

Image credit to Winston Dunwell or designated photographer is appreciated.

1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 , 2006, 2007 , 2008 Award Winners below
Founding Committee Members
Current Committee Members

Theodore Klein Plant Award Handout
2004 Theodore Klein Plant Award Poster
2005 Theodore Klein Plant Award Poster
2006 Theodore Klein Plant Award Poster
2007 Theodore Klein Plant Award Poster

In 1995 a plant award program to select and promote outstanding ornamental woody and perennial plants for Kentucky Landscapes was initiated. The plant awards are named to honor the late Theodore Klein, Yew Dell Nursery, Crestwood, KY and selected by The Theodore Plant Award Committee, an independent committee, that is sponsored by: the University of Kentucky Nursery/Landscape Program, the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association, and Yew Dell Gardens.

The goals of the Theodore Klein Plant Award program are: to promote enthusiasm for and interest in plants among gardeners; to encourage development of new cultivars and hybrids by Kentucky Nurserymen; to increase the recognition, reputation, and profitability of the Kentucky nursery and landscape industries.

Plants are selected based on the following criteria. The plants nominated for consideration must be able to: be efficiently propagated and produced; be found established in Kentucky and at least two good examples of the plant be established within driving distance of a majority of the Kentucky population; and be pest resistant. Plants hybridized, selected, or introduced by Kentuckians will be given priority.

Plants are selected at least two years in advance of promotion to the gardening public. The Theodore Klein Plant Award winners are announced at the Kentucky Landscape Industries Winter Conference and Trade Show in January. The nursery/landscape industry is notified of the award winners through the KNLA Nursery Views Newsletter.

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1999 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners

Aesculus parviflora - Bottlebrush Buckeye
Amsonia hubrechtii - Arkansas Blue Star
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' - Hummingbird Summersweet
Dianthus grantianopolitanus - 'Bath's Pink' - Bath's Pink
Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea
Ilex opaca 'Judy Evans' - Judy Evans Holly

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2000 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners

Eupatorium maculatum 'Gateway' - Gateway Joe Pye Weed
Fothergilla major 'Mount Airy' - Mount Airy Fothergilla
Heuchera americana 'Pewter Veil' pp 8984- Pewter Veil Coral Bells
Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' - Virginia Sweetspire
Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' - Japanese Tree Lilac
Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' - Winterthur Viburnum

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2001 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners
Amelanchier x 'Cumulus' pp 3092 - Cumulus Serviceberry
Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' - Sulphureum Epimedium (Barrenwort)
Malus 'Donald Wyman' - Donald Wyman Crabapple
Viburnum 'Eskimo' - Eskimo Viburnum

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2002 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners

Acer triflorum- Three-flower Maple
Hamamelis x intermedia - Witchhazel intermediate hybrids of H. japonica x H. mollis
Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' - Red Sprite Winterberry
Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' - Variegated Fragrant Solomon's Seal

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2003 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners

Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'
Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Amazing Grace'- Amazing Grace Weeping Katsura
Cornus mas 'Golden Glory'
Ginko biloba 'Autumn Gold'

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2004 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners pdf poster

Cladrastis kentukea - Yellowwood
Helleborus x hybridus (H. orientalis) - Lenten Rose
Picea orientalis - Oriental Spruce
Taxodium distichum 'Mickelson' Shawnee Brave™ - Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress

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2005 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners pdf poster

Abies nordmanniana, Nordmann Fir
Cercis canadensis 'Appalachian Red', Appalachian Red Redbud
Quercus bicolor, Swamp White Oak
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', Golden Japanese Forest Grass

2006 Theodore Klein Plant Awards Winners

Cornus kousa 'Wolf Eyes' - Wolf Eyes Dogwood
Nyssa sylvatica - Blackgum
Viburnum 'Mohawk' - 'Mohawk' viburnum
Baptista australis - blue false indigo
Rohdea japonica - sacred lily

2007 Theodore Klein Plant Awards Winners
Acanthus spinosa – spiny bears breeches
Bignonia capreolata - Crossvine cultivars: 'Atrosanguinea', 'Tangerine Beauty', 'Jekyll'
Magnolia virginiana var. australis – Sweetbay Magnolia cultivars: 'Henry Hicks', 'Northern Bell', 'Aiken County', 'Green Bay' syn. 'Green Shadow'
Metasequoia glyptostroboides – Dawn Redwood
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' , Summer Wine™

2008 Theodore Klein Plant Awards Winners
Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia'or 'Lanciniata' – Fernleaf or Cut Leaf European Beech
Parrotia persica – Persian Parrotia
Cercis canadensis ‘Silver Cloud’ – Silver Cloud Red Bud
Asimina triloba – Paw Paw
Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’ – Karmina Geranium

Founding members of the Theodore Klein Plant Award Selection Committee

Winston Dunwell, UKCA Dept of Horticulture
Richard Fiest, Hummingbird Nursery
Steve Foltz, Cincinnati Zoo
Mike Hayman, Louisville Courier Journal, Seneca Gardens
Buddy Hubbuch, retired Bernheim Arboretum Chief Horticulturist
Kathy Lowrey, TKPA Chairman, Lowrey Perennial Farm
Melvin Moffitt, Snow Hill Nursery
Tony Nold, Horticulture Design and Development
Dennis Raymond, Raymond Landscape Nursery
Casey Schott, KNLA President when the TKPA was founded, Leichhardt Landscape Company

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Current members of the Theodore Klein Plant Award Selection Committee

Paul Cappiello, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood
Winston Dunwell, UKCA Dept of Horticulture, UKREC, Princeton
Steve Foltz, Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio
Mike Hayman, Louisville Courier Journal, Seneca Gardens
Melvin Moffitt, Snow Hill Nursery, Shelbyville
Tony Nold, Horticulture Design and Development, Louisville (St. Matthews)
Todd Kelly, Kelly Nursery, Nicholasville

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