October 21, 2025
Updates to the Horticulture Judging Contest ID List
Every year after the State Horticulture Judging Contest in August, the horticulture agents across the state have always talked about making some changes to the Identification part of the contest. The last several years, we’ve had some talented 4-Her’s get a perfect score on ID, so to keep the contest fresh for the youth, we made some changes! Starting earlier this winter, a group of horticulture agents set aside time to take a look at the plant list and make changes. At the State Horticulture Judging Contest this last year, we announced the new list that will be used in future contests!
The plant removals and changes were made because of waning popularity in landscapes and nurseries, changes in recommended planting, and availability at the time of the contest. All of the plants that were added to the list came from the National Junior Horticultural Association lists, so the youth that qualify for the national contest will have fewer plants to learn. A few of the plants had their name revised to more accurately represent how they’re known across the horticulture industry.
The following changes have been made:
Flowers and Foliage
-Removed ageratum, gladiolus, pansy, and tulip
-Added columbine, coneflower, coralbells, and sedum
-Renamed sansevieria to snake plant
Fruits and Nuts
-Removed currant
-Added fig
Ornamentals
-Removed azalea/rhododendron, cotoneaster, honeysuckle, and privet
-Added boxwood, ginkgo, hydrangea, and spruce
-Renamed American planetree to sycamore
Vegetables and Herbs
-Removed kohlrabi and rhubarb
-Added dill and rosemary
-Renamed muskmelon to cantaloupe
Over the coming months, I’ll be working with the State 4-H Office to update the contest website, including the Identification Study Site. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at lwwiens@ksu.edu.