AIH ‘Top Plant’ Nominations 2025

Help us uncover Australia’s top garden plants for 2025 — with winners selected for four of the country’s climate zones.

Nominations Closed

Many countries celebrate a ‘Plant of the Year’ — but here in Australia, we’re taking it a step further. With our vast and varied climate zones, a single winner doesn’t tell the whole story. That’s why the Australian Institute of Horticulture is proud to launch the 2025 Top Plant Awards, recognising outstanding plants across different climate zones. Even better, these awards will be nominated and judged by AIH members — experts who know what truly thrives in our diverse landscapes.

These awards will position AIH as the trusted authority in identifying the best-performing plants for home gardeners, showcasing the expertise of our professional members.

They will also strengthen AIH’s role as a valuable resource across the broader horticulture industry — from nurseries and landscapers to designers, councils, and media — reinforcing our commitment to supporting both the profession and the gardening public.

Nomination Form

More information about this Process

Who can Nominate a Plant for the Awards?
AIH members (full, retired).
Each member may nominate two plants in any category of their choice; there’s no requirement to submit nominations for every category.
Members cannot nominate specific plant varieties/cultivars/hybrids if they have a financial or personal relationship with the business that bred, grows or promotes it.
Who can Judge the Awards?
Only AIH members (full, retired) who live in the respective climate zone.
 Up to three(3) judges per climate zone.
Judges decision is final.
Judges decision is based on submissions.
Award can only be given in a climate zone where sufficient nominations are received.
Why the Koppen Map Zones?

AIH supports science-based research and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Koppen Map Zones – the 6 major classes
Equatorial
Tropical
Subtropical
Desert
Grassland
Temperate

For simplicity in 2025, we will be calling for nominations in the following zones:

Tropical (which covers Tropical and Equatorial)
Subtropical
Dry (which covers Desert and Grassland)
Temperate
Nomination Form
Key Dates
September
Call out for Nominations, send out email with link to online form.
5pm AEST 12 SEPTEMBER – Nominations deadline.
Adjudicator organises Nominations to go to judges of each climate zone.
October
Early October – Data back from judges to Adjudicator and start reviewing results
Mid October (embargo) 
Results to AIH National Committee for endorsement
Begin creating media
Begin website content
Awards announced via media release Friday 31st October 2025. Award winning plants will be featured in the Summer 2025 edition of HortInsights.
Nomination Form