The judging is in for the 2026 Destination Asia show at the Morton Arboretum. Sixty-four trees were on display, forty-eight of them entered for judging, and show attendees cast 1,949 votes for the People’s Choice award over the two days. Congratulations to every exhibitor who put a tree on the bench — and to the winners below.
Judge’s Awards
Trees were scored by the show judges on a 100-point scale. Here are the ribbon and trophy winners.
Best in Show — Jennifer P.
Bougainvillea · Informal Upright · 95 points
The top score of the show, and the only tree to take both the judges’ trophy and the People’s Choice award. A weathered, hollowed trunk carries a canopy in full magenta bloom — the kind of contrast between old deadwood and bright flower that stops people in the aisle. It drew 271 People’s Choice votes — 82 clear of the runner-up.
Second Place — Phil M.
White Cedar · Windswept · 94 points
One point off the top score. Every branch sweeps in the same direction off a pale, twisting live vein, planted low on a moss-covered slab so the whole composition reads as a tree that has spent its life leaning away from the wind.
Third Place — Larry M.
Kishu Shimpaku Juniper · Cascade · 89 points
A true cascade, displayed on a tall stand so the foliage falls well below the lip of a rough, weathered pot. Note the driftwood curling back over the rim — the deadwood does as much work here as the living foliage.
Honorable Mentions
Jim K. — Yew · Informal Upright · 87 points
The highest-scoring of the honorable mentions. A bright stripe of deadwood runs the full height of the trunk against dark green foliage pads.
Elle N. — Kishu Juniper · Rock Planting · 85 points
A craggy upright stone with juniper and fern tucked into its pockets — a whole hillside compressed onto one tray.
Phil M. — Hawaiian Schefflera · Informal Upright · 83 points
A thicket of aerial roots has fused into a banyan-like base beneath a broad, dense canopy. Phil’s second award of the show, and it also placed 3rd in the People’s Choice.
Victor Z. — Satsuki Azalea · Formal Upright · 78 points
Out of flower, but the ramification speaks for itself — a tight, layered canopy over a heavy flared base, shown on a red lacquered table.
Madhusudan R. — Horse Chestnut · Informal Upright · 75 points
An unusual species for bonsai — those big palmate leaves are hard to bring into scale. A rugged, deeply fissured trunk carries it. Acquired from the Chicago Botanic Garden.
People’s Choice Top 10
Show attendees cast 1,949 votes across the weekend. The full gallery of the top ten is in our People’s Choice Top 10 post; here are the standings.
| Place | Exhibitor | Tree | Style | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jennifer P. | Bougainvillea | Informal Upright | 271 |
| 2nd | Larry M. | Kishu Shimpaku Juniper | Informal Upright | 189 |
| 3rd | Phil M. | Hawaiian Schefflera | Informal Upright | 128 |
| 4th | Madhusudan R. | Chinese Elm | Informal Upright | 121 |
| 5th | Bill I. | Juniper, Shimpaku Juniper & Japanese Painted Fern | Rock Formation | 111 |
| 6th | Phil M. | Red Maple | Broom | 102 |
| 7th | Dennis T. | Parrot’s Beak (Gmelina philippensis) — “The Hobbit” | Penjing | 98 |
| 8th | Bill I. | Benjamina Ficus | Forest on Slab | 81 |
| 9th | Dennis T. | Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) | Root over Rock | 72 |
| 10th | Mark G. | Star Lavender (Grewia occidentalis) | Cascade | 64 |
Thanks to Craig Cronquist for running the judging and tallying the votes, to everyone who helped set up and tear down, and to the Morton Arboretum for hosting us again. See you at the next show.
