Step up to the plate and get ready for a grand slam of perennial introductions! Welcome to the 15th edition of EHR’s Hot New Perennials Report, where we take you on an exciting journey through the latest and greatest in the world of perennials. This year, our theme hits a home run with a nod to America’s favorite pastime—baseball. Just like legendary players in the Hall of Fame, the plants featured in this report are set to become all-stars in your garden. We’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive look at cutting-edge
The best perennial lineups, like the best teams, are built with a perfect mix of rookies and seasoned pros.
perennial introductions and underappreciated favorites that deserve the spotlight. These stellar selections, nominated by top breeders and suppliers, promise to add unbeatable performance and beauty to your garden lineup.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our invaluable partners, vendors, and breeders. Their support, from sharing essential plant information and stunning photographs to guiding us through trial gardens and hosting informative webinars, has been instrumental in creating this publication. Thank you for making this report a reality!
Join us as we celebrate the best in horticulture with our 2025 Hot New Perennials Report. From dazzling blooms to striking foliage, these plants are sure to transform your garden and hit it out of the park next season. Play ball and enjoy the game!
Salvia Living Large™ Big Sky
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
The photographs in this report are copyright property of the breeder/ grower listed for each variety. No distribution or use of photographs is permitted without authorization from breeder/grower.
ALLIUM Cobalt Millenium
THINKPLANTS
A new sport from the popular ‘Millenium,’ Allium ‘Cobalt Millenium’ stands out with its blue-green foliage that maintains its vibrancy throughout the season. The plant produces dark pink blooms with a high flower count, making it a favorite among bees and other pollinators. Its robust growth and striking color make it an ideal addition to any perennial lineup. Zones 3-9
ALLIUM Bobblehead
PROVEN WINNERS
ANEMONE
This new allium hits it out of the park with its larger, more robust form, building on the beauty of ‘Serendipity.’ It features globe-like pale lilac flowers that appear in midsummer and persist for many weeks. The glaucous blue-green foliage, with a unique twist to each leaf, adds interest even when not in bloom. This variety has excellent heat and drought tolerance and is highly resistant to deer and rabbits. It thrives in a variety of soils and performs best in sunny locations with good drainage. Zones 4-8 ™
Satin Doll Glow
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
We are totally digging this charming new anemone! It debuts with a naturally compact form, making it perfect for both containers and garden beds. Blooming from July to October, Satin Doll™ ‘Glow’ is notable for its long blooming period and tidy growth habit. The short underground stolons prevent it from spreading uncontrollably, unlike older varieties. This anemone adds continuous color and elegance to summer perennial lineups. Zones 4-9
PHOTO COURTESY OF THINKPLANTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
ASTILBE
UNEX - WILLEM VAN VEEN
Bred for acheiving the richest colors, Astilbe ‘Vision Vulcano’ is a fantastically bright intro for astilbe. This variety features glowing purple-pink flowers on dense, fluffy inflorescences, blooming from late June to October. The foliage emerges dark maroon and matures to dark green, with each leaflet heavily serrated and glossy. ‘Vision Vulcano’ is more compact and has a darker pink tone compared to ‘Vision in Purple.’ It is also a later-blooming red astilbe with higher heat tolerance. Zones 5-8
CREEK HILL NURSERY
Baptisia ‘Aurora’ is a remarkable new variety, Creek Hill Nursery’s first industry intro! It features yellow to purple bicolor flowers on very tall spikes. This variety has an upright habit, unlike the typical wider stature of baptisia, making it a unique addition to the market. Also unique are the flowers that transform from bright yellow to saturated purple as they age. Suitable for full to partial sun, ‘Aurora’ reaches a height of 42-48 inches. Its striking color transformation and robust growth make it a standout choice for landscapes. Zones 4-8
BAPTISIA
Golden Anniversary
WALTERS GARDENS
‘Golden Anniversary’ is the first commercially available Baptisia to combine indigo blue flowers with golden yellow foliage. It forms a ballshaped habit with ovate leaves on sturdy stems. In early summer, long spikes of indigo blue flowers rise just above the foliage, creating a bright focal point in the landscape. This long-lived perennial is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance, making it a reliable and visually striking addition to gardens. It thrives with little care, providing continuous beauty and interest. Zones 4-9
BUDDLEJA Little Rockstar Series
DUMMEN ORANGE
The Buddleja Little Rockstars series introduces compact butterfly bushes perfect for small pot production. These plants feature large, cone-shaped flowers available in a complete color assortment, ensuring all-season flowering. This series is excellent for garden centers looking to offer vibrant, pollinator-attracting perennials. The continuous display of color and compact growth make Little Rockstars a valuable addition to any landscape or garden inventory. Varieties include Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, and White. Zones 5-9
CAMPANULA Bells Series
PROVEN WINNERS
A delightful new series to add to spring and early summer programs! Campanula Bells series provides vibrant late spring and early summer color. It is perfect for lining borders or creating mass plantings with dense mounds of green foliage. ‘Angel Bells’ features well-formed clusters of white flowers, while ‘Bells and Whistles’ boasts dark violet-blue flowers with an upright habit, blooming later than other C. glomerata varieties. The series provides a spectacular floral show, making it a head-turning addition to gardens and landscapes. Zone 3-8
COREOPSIS
Nova Sunstone
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
It’s hard to pass over this introduction, a total standout for color and bloom count! Nova® Sunstone is a vigorous variety with a unique mix of peachypink, yellow, and taupe hues. This “almost shrubby” coreopsis is constantly in flower for months, with clean, mildewfree foliage. Ideal for 1-gallon and larger containers, ‘Sunstone’ was a favorite during the 2023 trial season for Terra Nova Nurseries, praised for its robust growth and striking color combination. It offers a thrillingly large display in the garden and attracts pollinators, noted as a “powerhouse of great performance.”
Zones 5-10 ®
DELOSPERMUM
Sandgem Series Additions
DANZIGER
A newer series, Sandgem™ debuted in 2023 and now gains four new colors: Fuchsia, Dark Orange, White, and Yellow. These additions, like their series companions, are perfect for quart production and drought-tolerant gardens. The semitrailing habit and large bright flowers are noted to accompany a fast-bulking plant for a stellar groundcover. Blooming from late spring to fall, these plants offer continuous color and lowmaintenance beauty. Zones 5-9
PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
DIGITALIS
Arctic Fox Lemon Cream
DARWIN PERENNIALS
Digitalis Arctic Fox™ Lemon Creamis a true perennial digitalis, boasting improved winter hardiness and summerlong blooming. It is a magnet for hummingbirds and pollinators, standing tall at 18-24 inches. Expect sturdy stems that stand tall and bright. Its pale yellowcolored blooms add ethereal charm to gardens and arrangements alike. Resistant to deer, it’s perfect for lowmaintenance landscapes and container gardening. Zones 5-9
DICENTRA
White Diamonds
PROVEN WINNERS
Dicentra is a classic, must-have in perennial programs and we think ‘White Diamonds’ will fit right in. It is a stunning white-flowering companion to the popular ‘Pink Diamonds’. The pure white blooms appear in spring and continue until frost, set against finely textured, glaucous blue-green foliage. Known for its high deer and rabbit resistance, ‘White Diamonds’ thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. This alpine-type bleeding heart is an excellent choice for adding a touch of elegance and resilience to gardens and landscapes.
Zones 3-9
DELPHINIUM
Hunky Dory Series
SYNGENTA FLOWERS - THINKPLANTS
The Hunky Dory™ Series of Delphinium grandiflorum is noted for its F1 vigor, ensuring excellent germination and young plant performance. These delphiniums have an ultra-branched habit, quickly filling a wide array of formats. The large blooms provide an abundance of color from early spring to summer, making them ideal for 1-quart to 2.5-gallon pots. The series offers improved germination and uniformity compared to open-pollinated cultivars, with a variety of colors including Dark Leaf Pink, Late Pink, Late White, and Blue. Zones 4-9
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THINKPLANTS
ECHIBECKIA™
Summerina Glow Limonata
PACIFIC PLUG & LINER
The newest addition to the Summerina Glow™ series, Echibeckia Summerina Glow™ Limonata captivates with its vibrant lemon-colored flowers that gradually fade to white at the tips, creating a beautiful ombre effect. The flowers are even more dramatic against the dark black eye. This variety boasts stiff, dark green foliage and thick leaves, providing excellent disease resistance. While not the hardiest of perennials, its attraction in both pots and the garden lands it a spot in our report. Zones 7-9
ECHINACEA
French Tips
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
A polished look for an echinacea!
‘French Tips’ offers large, fragrant candy-pink flowers with distinctive white tips, creating an elegant and unique appearance. The plant has a super mounding habit and excellent bloom count, with dense, bushy foliage right to the ground. It is a neatly groomed plant that attracts pollinators, providing a delightful display in the garden. The large, neat flowers are a pollinator favorite, as well.
Zones 4-9
ECHINACEA
Double Coded Everything’s Rosy
PROVEN WINNERS
This new addition to the Double Coded® collection showcases fully double coneflowers with prolific floral production. The flowers feature broad, horizontal ray petals that maximize flower size, with 4-inch blooms displaying rosy poms and soft pink ray petals. This variety is low, wide, and wellbranched, making it suitable for use along the front of the border. Ideal for adding a burst of color to the landscape during the heat of midsummer, ‘Everything’s Rosy’ promises an eye-catching display.
Zones 4-8
ECHINACEA Revelation Coral
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
The largest flowers of any Terra Nova Echinacea, Revelation® ‘Coral’ features impressive 5-inch-plus coral-pink flowers on stiff, upright stems. The plant has a full habit, with deep green foliage draping perfectly to the soil, hiding the stems. This variety is also highly fragrant and a favorite of bumblebees. Suitable for both garden and container use, Revelation® ‘Coral’ offers a bold and stunning display that is sure to become a garden staple.
Zones 4-9
ECHINACEA Sombrero Series Additions
Dancing in as a duo with vibrant flair, meet the new pairing of the Echinacea Sombrero® series, Mandarin Mambo and Fuchsia Fandango! Mandarin Mambo dazzles with its peach-colored blooms, while Fuchsia Fandango boasts intense pink flowers. These varieties are a reliable first-year bloomer with excellent branching and winter hardiness. They attract pollinators and support various garden needs, from seasonextension to deer resistance.
Zones 4-9
DARWIN PERENNIALS
Summerina Glow ™Limonata
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARWIN PERENNIALS
French Tips Revelation ®Coral
Sombrero ®MandarinMambo
Sombrero ®Fuchsia Fandango
Double
Coded ® Everything ’ s Rosy
CONCEPT PLANTS
‘Firestarter’ is a standout geum with ultra-red, semi-double and ruffled flowers that bloom from April to October. It forms a mound of bright green foliage with upright flower stems, creating a naturalistic, breezy look. The fiery red flowers attract pollinators and provide a long-lasting display. ‘Firestarter’ is a vigorous, mound-forming plant that thrives in full sun to semi-shade, making it a versatile and attractive addition to gardens. Zones 5-9
EPIMEDIUM Cranberry Dancer
WALTERS GARDENS
HELIOPSIS Orange Marble
CONCEPT PLANTS
Epimedium ‘Cranberry Dancer’ brings a touch of elegance to the shade garden with its delicate textures and vibrant color combination. The cranberry red sepals with dark centers lead to yellow wingtips, while the backs of the sepals are a rosy red with a cream margin. This variety features long lance-shaped leaves that are medium green with a moderate amount of bronzing in cooler temperatures. ‘Cranberry Dancer’ stands out with large flowers and exceptionally long flower stems, producing blooms for many weeks in spring. Zones 5-8
‘Orange Marble’ is the world’s first variegated Heliopsis with unique marbled foliage and orange-red flowers. The flower buds start as dark chocolate brown, opening to warm orange flowers with sunny yellow-orange tips. This variety is tough against summer elements, making it a resilient choice for perennial gardens, landscaping, and containers. ‘Orange Marble’ is bee- and butterflyfriendly, adding vibrant color and texture to any design. Zones 4-10
HELIOPSIS Touch of Blush
PROVEN WINNERS
‘Touch of Blush’ gains its name from the pink tones that appear on new foliage, which nicely accents the bright white variegation of the dark green leaves. Semi-double yellow flowers have multiple layers of overlapping petals. Compared to other variegated introductions, this variety is more compact and features dark cones instead of gold. Like other variegated Heliopsis, ‘Touch of Blush’ is hardy to Zone 4 and performs best in full sun.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CONCEPT PLANTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONCEPT PLANTS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
HEMEROCALLIS
Rainbow Rhythm Fearfully and WonderfullyMade
PROVEN WINNERS
A truly stunning daylily, Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Fearfully and Wonderfully Made’ features 5½ inch coral pink blooms with rich cranberry red eyes and piecrust edges. The wide petals make the flowers appear larger than their measured size. This midseason bloomer has well-branched scapes with lots of buds, leading to excellent rebloom. It is a fragrant variety with dormant foliage, ideal for adding vibrant color and delightful fragrance to the garden. Zones 3-9
HEMEROCALLIS
Jane Trimmer
WALTERS GARDENS
This intro is a highly decorated daylily with 5-inch wide pale lavender flowers and large purple eyes so dark they appear almost black. A matching picotee edge rings the petals, creating a striking contrast. ‘Jane Trimmer’ is an early to midseason bloomer with proportionate flower stalks that hold the flowers just above the foliage. It is a reblooming variety with evergreen foliage, adding continuous beauty and interest throughout the growing season. Zones 3-9
HEMEROCALLIS
See You Tomorrow
UNEX - THINKPLANTS
These blooms are a breakthrough for daylily breeding. Unlike traditional daylilies, each flower of this cultivar lasts an impressive 4-5 days, offering an extended display of vibrant color in the garden. As the buds unfurl, they emerge green, transitioning to a sunny yellow hue before deepening into a rich, dark yellow. The slender foliage provides an elegant backdrop, with the blooms delicately poised just above. Reaching a modest height and width of 18 inches, this daylily is perfect for borders, containers, or mass plantings. With its extended blooming period throughout the summer months, ‘See You Tomorrow’ is set to captivate in the garden. Zones 4-11
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PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THINK PLANTS
FRESH HOT PICKS
HEUCHERA
Summer Haze Series
MUST HAVE PERENNIALS
The Heuchera Summer Haze series is a true MVP! These coral bells feature tall flower stalks with large, striking flowers that stand out against bright green foliage. When in bloom from late spring to early summer, Summer Haze creates a vibrant haze of color. Perfect for mass plantings, shade gardens, cottage gardens, and as cut flowers. With an upright habit, it thrives in part sun to shade, making it a home run for any landscape. Varieties include Blue, Sky Blue, and White. Zones 5-9
HIBISCUS
Summerific Cookies and Cream
PROVEN WINNERS
Summerific® ‘Cookies and Cream’ is a stunning combination of matte black foliage and pure white flowers. Emerging in late spring, the dark foliage provides the perfect backdrop for the 6-7 inch bright white flowers that appear in midsummer. Unlike typical hardy hibiscus, the blooms of ‘Cookies and Cream’ do not have a red eye, creating a solid white appearance with a slight pink blush near the tip of each petal. This variety is exceptionally compact and sturdy, with blooms covering the length of the stem, offering both early and long-lasting flowering. Zones 4-9
HOSTA
Emperor’s New Clothes
WALTERS GARDENS
This funky and fun hosta is an unusual and highly talked-about Hosta with flecking that adorns each leaf. The leaves are predominantly white in spring, with flecks growing in size and number as the season progresses. Near-white flowers appear in early summer, adding to the plant’s appeal. This sport of ‘Empress Wu’ is more compact, making it suitable for smaller garden spaces. Zones 3-9
HOSTA ‘EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES’
PHOTO COURTESY OF MUST HAVE PERENNIALS
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS
HOSTA
My Fair Lady
WALTERS GARDENS
“All the world loves a lover” of hostas, and ‘My Fair Lady’ is sure to capture hearts with its elegant, upright form and cascading tri-colored foliage. The deep blue-green leaves feature apple-green jetting around creamy yellow centers, reminiscent of a well-coiffed debutante. Large white flowers appear on upright, proportionate scapes, beginning their show in early summer. This hosta brings a touch of elegance to shaded garden areas. “Wouldn’t it be loverly” to add this beauty to your lineup? Zones 3-9
HOSTA
Shadowland Sound of Music
PROVEN WINNERS
Shadowland® ‘Sound of Music’ brings gardens alive with its heavily corrugated, medio-variegated leaves. Chartreuse centers jet to glaucous blue-green margins, maturing to creamy white in summer. In early summer, large clusters of near-white flowers attract birds and pollinators. With ‘Empress Wu’ in its background, this giant Hosta promises to make a big impact in the garden, adding immediate interest and beauty to shaded areas. Zones 3-9
PANICUM
Half Pint
WALTERS GARDENS
This intro is one of the most compact switch grasses in the Walters Gardens catalog, with a dense, upright habit that reaches 3 feet tall. In fall, dark rosy red seedheads cover the top of the plant, providing excellent weather tolerance and remains standing through heavy winter snows. This grass is versatile for various design applications, from specimens and masses to screening and large containers. The sturdy nature of ‘Half Pint’ offers important cover for birds during the winter, adding ecological value to its aesthetic appeal. Zones 4-9
HOSTA ‘MY FAIR LADY’
HOSTA SHADOWLAND® ‘SOUND OF MUSIC’
CLOTHES’
PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS
PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTERS GARDENS
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
PAPAVER Red Rumble
CONCEPT PLANTS
A new orientale poppy variety with extra-large, intense red flowers on strong, upright stems! Unlike typical varieties that can become leggy and floppy, ‘Red Rumble’ stands firm and shows very little disease. This plant is propagated from tissue culture, ensuring healthy growth from the start. Its striking red flowers make it a star in any landscape. The mature size is 2430” tall, 18-24” wide. Zones 4-7
PENNISETUM A. Water to Wine
MUST HAVE PERENNIALS
Keep landscapes interesting through winter months with Pennisetum a. ‘Water to Wine’. The bright green foliage of this pennisetum contrasts the black flowers that then fade to a warm cinnamon with tan flowers as temeratures cool until frost. This grass is tough, tolerant of poor soil and adverse conditions. It has a dense, compact habit, standing at 24-36” tall and spreading just as wide, adding both texture and height to the garden. Zones 5-9
PENSTEMON B. Bejeweled Series
PROVEN WINNERS
This brand new series brings bright, vibrant colors to the garden with its dense habits and large flowers. Each variety has strong stems holding brightly colored blooms, creating a full-looking plant. Native to rocky hillsides in the southwestern United States, these penstemons thrive in areas with full sun and good drainage. They handle heat and humidity well and are very cold hardy, providing terrific color in the landscape all season long. Varieties include ‘Pink Pearls’ with medium pink tubular flowers and ‘Rose Rhinestones’ with deep rose pink tubular flowers.
Zones 5-8
PHLOX Woodlander Series Additions
DUMMEN ORANGE
Enhance your lineup with the new varieties added to the Phlox Woodlander series. These evergreen phlox are perfect season extenders, thriving in full sun or part shade. With a compact mounding habit and very large flowers, they extend the phlox season beautifully. Ideal for early spring planting, the new additions come in vibrant colors such as Periwinkle and Purple. They offer excellent landscape performance and continuous color throughout the season. Perfect for quart or gallon production programs, these new varieties are sure to be a hit. Zones 3-9
PULMONARIA
Nova Cobalt
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
This dense, compact pulmonaria features excellent pine-green foliage and an abundance of deep blue flowers. The flowers are surprisingly long-lasting. Nova® ‘Cobalt’ is very sturdy and has great longevity in the garden, making it a foolproof choice for almost any location. Its dense habit and vibrant blooms make it an ideal companion for early spring bulbs and perennials.
Zones 4-9
SALVIA Living Large Big Sky
PROVEN WINNERS
PYCNANTHEMUM
Smokey Mountain Mint
INTRINSIC PERENNIAL GARDENS
This intro is noted as one of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens’ most exciting new plants! It offers a unique appeal to both humans and pollinators. This hybrid incanum has a purple cast to the foliage below the silvered tips, with bract-like leaves surrounding the flower clusters at the tips of the 24-inch stems. The rhizomatous plants have hybrid vigor and perform best in full sun and most soil types except wet. ‘Smokey Mountain Mint’ is an excellent choice for adding a touch of color and fragrance to the garden. Hardy to zone 4.
Looking for a salvia that delivers bold and bright color in a big way? ‘Big Sky’ is a super-sized salvia that delivers a magnificent floral display of violet-blue flowers. Supported by a dense rosette of large green leaves, this variety blooms later than other perennial Salvias, extending the flowering season. ‘Big Sky’ is deer resistant, a favorite of pollinators, and long blooming. Its sturdy, upright habit ensures it stands out in the garden, making it a must-have for any landscape. Zones 3-8
PYCANTHEMUM
SCRIPUS PENDULUS Stars and Stripes INTRINSIC PERENNIAL GARDENS
‘Stars and Stripes’ is a standout member of the wet prairie plant category, offering vibrant yellow-green variegation running through the center of each leaf blade. Thriving in both seasons of flooding and drought, this plant is wellsuited to full sun but can also handle light shade. With drooping seedheads held on 18 inch+ yellow stems, it adds ornamental value and textural interest to the garden. It knits into a low solid bed that requires no mowing, making it ideal for residential homes with soggy soil or steep slopes and for commercial applications needing low-maintenance ground cover. Hardy to zone 4.
SEDUM Mocha Magic
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
‘Mocha Magic’ is an impressive sedum with a unique color combination of mocha-chocolate foliage topped with cream-colored, foam flowers dusted with cinnamon. This variety has been trialed for years, showing high resistance to “bald spots” in the center of the plant. Pollinators are particularly attracted to ‘Mocha Magic,’ making it a valuable addition to any garden. The upright habit and clean foliage, even in rainy conditions, ensure that ‘Mocha Magic’ remains a standout perennial.
Zones 4-9
SPIGELIA M.
Apple Slices
PROVEN WINNERS
A “totally tubular” intro that brings a burst of red and orange tubular flowers to the garden for many weeks in late spring and early summer. Popular with hummingbirds and other pollinators, this woodland perennial grows well in both sun and shade, although filtered sun is recommended in southern regions. The dark wine-red flowers are selfcleaning, meaning old flowers fall to the ground rather than drying on the stem.
‘Apple Slices’ is poised to become a garden favorite due to its versatility and stunning floral display. Zones 5B-9
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PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN
PHOTO COURTESY OF INTRINSIC PERENNIAL GARDENS
PLANT PROS
TEAM hardy
STOKESIA
CONCEPT PLANTS
This super-sized stokesia elevates the current market with its large, amethystcolored flowers and high flower count. Thriving in full sun, this variety has strong stems that don’t easily flop and carries an abundance of intense purple flowers. The upright growth habit and dense foliage make ‘Amethyst’ a great addition to any landscape, offering a striking and vibrant display throughout the growing season. Zones 4-10
STOKESIA
Totally Stoked Series
PROVEN WINNERS
The Totally Stoked™ Series showcases moderately sized plants with dense habits and good basal branching, covered in blooms. This series produces numerous flowers from early to late summer, covering the plant completely. These selections from the North Carolina State University hybridizing program thrive in the heat and humidity of southern summers. Varieties include ‘Riptide,’ with periwinkle blue flowers, and ‘Whitecaps,’ with near-white flowers that have a blush pink tinge. The foliage is a rich dark green. Zones 5-9
TRADESCANTIA
Webmaster
PROVEN WINNERS
This bicolor spiderwort showcases warm purple flowers with a soft lilac edge, creating a beautiful effect that almost appears airbrushed. The large, 2-inch-wide flowers bloom for a long period, supported by a compact habit of glaucous blue-green foliage. ‘Webmaster’ is perfect for adding a touch of elegance and extended color to the garden, with its striking blooms and tidy growth habit making it a standout choice. Zones 3-9
PROVEN WINNERS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
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UNDER THE RADAR | UNDERAPPRECIATED | UNDERUTILIZED
Every year, we release a lineup of hot new perennials for the coming season— introductions and additions that are shaping the future of breeding or simply showcasing some really cool new plants. However, sometimes what the garden really needs is a classic, a perennial that consistently delivers but often flies under the radar.
In our “Underappreciated All-Stars” section, we’ve gathered a selection of these unsung heroes, nominated by breeders and suppliers who recognize their true value. These plants are the perennial equivalents of Hall of Fame legends, deserving of their place in the spotlight for their consistent performance and undeniable charm.
This echinacea offers a deluxe upgrade with superior compactness, enhanced branching, and a profusion of hot pink blooms featuring striking almost-black centers. The blooms are ‘knockout’ bright!
by Darwin Perennials
Geranium s anguineum
Geranium sanguineum ‘Blushing Turtle’ is a trouble-free standout in the garden, featuring thick mounds and abundant 1” pink blooms adorned with striking deep pink veination.
Nominated by Must Have Perennials
Echinacea
Blushing Turtle
Double Scoop™
Watermelon Deluxe
Nominated
Zones 4a - 9b
Zone 5
Ca
Sole Giatto Golden Yellow
Carex x Moon Falls features a striking arching habit, super lush variegated foliage and amazing fast-growth. The vibrant green leaves are highlighted by bright yellow stripes.
This super vibrant heliopsis is known for its compact form and lively yellow blooms covering the plant. It combines enduring flowering performance with robust cold-hardiness.
Nominated by Kientzler
Corydalis ‘Canary Feathers’ features bright yellow, sweet pea-scented flowers and lacy blue-gray foliage. Thriving in heat and humidity, making it a resilient garden choice.
Nominated by Terra Nova Nurseries
Hosta Sorbet emerges as a striking reverse-colored variant of H. ‘Gooseberry Sundae.’ It features creamy white leaf margins that add a touch of subtle elegance to any garden.
Nominated by Unex and ThinkPlants
Zones 5-9
Zones 6-9
Zone 3
Zones 3-9
Lavandula Nepeta subsessils
Javelin™ Compact Purple Prelude™ Purple
One of the best compact Spanish Lavender with very large flowers and great flower power. First compact habit and earliest lavender in the Javelin™ line.
Nepeta ‘Prelude™ Purple’ is a robust, first-year-flowering plant featuring large, non-fading purple blooms against bright foliage. ensuring vibrant garden interest.
Nominated by Unex
Nominated by Darwin Perennials
Salvia nemorosa
Salvia ‘Pink Nebula™’ dazzles with its large, bright rosy-pink blooms against striking burgundy stems. Its prolific reblooming promises stunning flowers all summer-long.
Nominated by Danziger
Pink Nebula™
Zones 7a–9b
Zones 4a - 9a
Zones 4-9
Phlox divaricata
salvia
Blue Ribbons Noble Knight
Providing long lasting visual appeal, Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Ribbons’ features striking variegated foliage and fragrant violet-blue flowers, truly making it the best of both worlds.
Nominated by Concept Plants
Your knight in shining armor Salvia Noble Knight shines with its striking purple-toblue flowers and self-cleaning properties. It has proven to be striking garden addition in trials since its recent debut.
Nominated by Dummen Orange
Veronica ‘SeaSide™’ is a standout in gardens with its dense, upright growth and abundant flowering. Its resistance to powdery mildew makes it a reliable choice without the typical disease concerns.
Nominated by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens and GardenChoice
Veronica
SeaSide™
Zone 4
Zones 3-8
Zone 6
2025 Perennial Plant of the Year®
The Perennial Plant of the Year® (PPOY) program began in 1990 to showcase a perennial that is a standout among its competitors. Perennials chosen are suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require low maintenance, have multiple-season interest, and are relatively pest/disease-free.
NOTES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT NORTH CREEK NURSERIES:
“Its leaves are broader and more lustrous, the bracts are silvery and very showy, the flowers are pinkish and its habit is more compact (than Pycanthemum virginianum). Nicely aromatic.
This native is happiest at the wood’s edge, so it is excellent for a naturalized border or woodland garden. Mountain Mint is one of the best nectar sources for native butterflies, so butterfly gardeners can’t do without this one. Our bees go crazy for it, too!”
LANTSOF THE
Year
2025 Proven Winners National Hosta of the Year®
HOSTA Shadowland® Miss America
The Proven Winners National Plant of the Year program selects plants for their exceptional performance. These plants have been chosen for their proven excellence and ability to be used successfully nationwide by growers and gardeners alike. The Hosta of the Year is a division of this program highlighting on of the most popular genus from the Proven Winners Perennial brand. Look for these varieties to be featured in magazines, social media, as well as home and trade shows throughout the year.
NOTES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT WALTERS GARDENS:
“A majestic, variegated large hosta that will capture the hearts of any gardener who showcases it in their garden. The contrast between the margin and the center is dramatic and refined. Near white, tubular flowers have a lavender pattern in the center of the petals are borne on thick, upright, tall stems. The flowers were notably the most attractive we’ve seen on a hosta.”
2025 Proven Winners National Perennial of the Year®
BRUNNERA MACROPHYLLA Jack of Diamonds
The Proven Winners National Plant of the Year program selects plants for their exceptional performance. These plants have been chosen for their proven excellence and ability to be used successfully nationwide by growers and gardeners alike. The Perennial of the Year is a division of this program highlighting the top perennials from the Proven Winners brand. Look for these perennials to be featured in magazines, social media, as well as home and trade shows throughout the year.
NOTES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT WALTERS GARDENS:
“This shade perennial can best be described as a giant version of the classic ‘Jack Frost’-with a twist. The huge 9-10” leaves overlap dramatically at the base giving it a shape similar to the snail delicacy escargot. Overall, the foliage is circular from a distance. The leaves have a heavy silver overlay with vivid wide, dark green veining pattern. From mid to late spring, baby blue, forget-me-not type blossoms are held in clusters above the foliage.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS / WALTERS GARDENS
Thank you to our suppliers and breeders for the photographs, information and time shared for this edition of our Hot New Perennials report. Without the help of these industry leaders, we could not spotlight the must-have varieties for the coming season!
