Something unique happened this year when the editors here at Fine Gardening started reviewing the new offerings from various plant breeders: We found ourselves adding more items to our spring shopping lists. That may not sound earth-shattering, but it takes a lot to get us jazzed enough about a plant in its first year at the nursery that we’ll go through the trouble of trying to track it down. You see, new plants can be hard to find in their initial seasons of availability, so our staffers will often wait for a year or two before actively committing to the hunt. But when it came to several of these new varieties, we decided that we just can’t wait that long to get our hands on them. Below, you’ll read about these standout ­options—and when you do, we’ll race you to the garden center.

Best New Perennials

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Grow it for the flowers as much as the leaves

‘Sun Flower’ hosta (Hosta ‘Sun Flower’)

Zones: 3–8

Size: 8 inches tall and 22 inches wide

Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil

Native range: China, Japan, Korea

Most hostas aren’t grown for their flowers. This is not news to any gardener. But that might change when you spy the eye-catching blooms on this new variety. In fact, at quick glance we thought this was a clematis. The foliage is a bright chartreuse, which offsets those amazing flowers beautifully.

Introduced by Plant Delights Nursery

 

If veronicas have disappointed you in the past, give this one a shot

‘Ever After’ veronica (Veronica ‘Ever After’)

Zones: 4–8

Size: 14 to 16 inches tall and 16 to 20 inches wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

Native range: Northern Europe, Asia

If you’ve planted any veronica over the past decade, chances are it blooms for a hot minute—leaving you with a nondescript green mound of foliage for the next seven months or so. ‘Ever After’ may be the exception, with breeders claiming the foot-long flower wands keep going for weeks and weeks. The best part? No deadheading is needed for the show to keep going.

Introduced by Proven Winners^® and Walters Gardens

 

Now this is a statement plant!

Redemption™ elephant’s ear (Colocasia ‘Corede’)

Zones: 7–9

Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

Native range: Tropical areas of the Southern Hemisphere

Wow—just wow. This boldly colored elephant’s ear is an impressive plant if ever there was one. The outer portion of the leaf is a deep purple, and it surrounds an otherworldly bright magenta midrib area. Plants that are given an adequate amount of water and good fertile soil can reach mammoth heights in one growing season. You’re going to want to overwinter this one if Redemption™ isn’t hardy in your zone.

Introduced by Plants Nouveau

 

A native pollinator magnet gets a foliage face-lift

‘Midnight Oil’ bee balm (Monarda bradburiana ‘Midnight Oil’)

Zones: 5–8

Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

Native range: Central and southern United States

What’s not to love about Monarda bradburiana? It’s a pollinator magnet with gorgeous lavender spotted blossoms. The one drawback may be its fairly ordinary green leaves. But that’s where ‘Midnight Oil’ comes in with its unique chocolate foliage that has a slick, oil-like sheen. Even when this native powerhouse isn’t in bloom, it’s still a stunner.

Introduced by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

 

Four-seasons of interest give this grass an edge

‘Water to Wine’ fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Water to Wine’)

Zones: 5–9

Size: 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

Native range: Eastern Asia

The blades of this warm-season grass emerge a bright kelly green in early spring and transition to a light gold in summer before eventually taking on a bronze-beige color in fall and winter. In fall you’ll also be treated to some of the darkest, merlot-purple flower panicles you’ve ever seen on an ornamental grass. A polite clumping habit is a bonus.

Introduced by Must Have Perennials^®

 

This native wetland plant will give your hostas a run for their money

‘Purplicious’ arrow arum (Peltandra virginica ‘Purplicious’)

Zones: 5–9

Size: 2 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist soil

Native range: Eastern and central North America

Plant Delights Nursery calls this “one of the most amazing native plant selections we’ve ever grown.” That’s high praise from an operation that has likely seen hundreds of native plants come across its benches over the years. The dark purple stems of this moisture-loving plant are gorgeous and stand out starkly against the bright green, arrow-shaped leaves. We can only imagine how beautiful clumps of ‘Purplicious’ would look alongside an array of spring ephemerals or groups of native ferns.

Introduced by Plant Delights Nursery

 

A fall perennial that acts (and looks) like a shrub

‘Bridal Veil’ aster (Symphyotrichum ‘Bridal Veil’)

Zones: 5–8

Size: 2 feet tall and 4½ feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

Native range: Hybrid

If you are familiar with the popular ground cover ‘Snow Flurry’ heath aster (Symphyo­trichum ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’) but want a version that’s a little beefier, look no further. ‘Bridal Veil’ is a show-stopper. Thriving in dry, lean soil, this aster forms a shrubby mound of arched stems that get absolutely covered in white daisy-like flowers in early fall. Pollinators flock to it in droves too.

Introduced by Plants Nouveau

 

Best New Trees and Shrubs

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If we could pick one must-have new plant, this would be it

Golden BellTower™ ironwood (Parrotia persica ‘Chrishaven1’)

Zones: 4–8

Size: 25 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

Native range: Northern Iran, Caucasus

Oh. My. Goodness. We’ve been following the trajectory of this tree for years now, waiting patiently for it to make its way into retail nurseries. And it has finally arrived. Unlike other ironwoods, this selection stays reliably columnar as it ages. Each year you’ll be treated with stunning golden fall foliage. This is an ideal specimen to mix into a border, place in a tight narrow spot, or use in an urban situation where it will thrive despite punishing conditions.

Introduced by Plants Nouveau

 

You know it, you love it—now meet the latest version of smooth hydrangea

Invincibelle Sublime^® smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHRL’)

Zones: 3–9

Size: 3½ to 5 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

Native range: Eastern North America

From the same folks who brought us the popular Invincibelle^® Spirit and Invincibelle Wee White^® comes this margarita-green variety that is sure to become just as beloved. This is a midsize nativar that prefers a shadier location to hold its chartreuse bloom color longer. This new edition supposedly has strong stems too, so flopping should be minimal even in rainstorms.

Introduced by Proven Winners^® Color Choice^®

 

This attractive pseudo-edible is a good boxwood replacement

Orangena™ blueberry (Vaccinium ‘HINOGV’)

Zones: 7–10

Size: 4 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, acidic, well-drained soil

Native range: Hybrid

Yes, this is indeed a blueberry. But it is not grown for its fruit. Instead, this is a new shrub that is joining the ranks of choices for those seeking boxwood alternatives. The soft green foliage is evergreen in warmer zones and is tipped with orange-red new growth in early spring. As temperatures drop, the foliage flushes pink. Happily, rocky soil is no match for this tough shrub.

Introduced by Monrovia^®

 

Mottled foliage gives this spring beauty lasting appeal

Illuminati Sparks™ mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius ‘SMNPVB’)

Zones: 4–7

Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

Native range: Northern Italy, Austria, central Romania

There’s no denying that mock orange has lovely spring blooms with a subtle, sweet fragrance. But after that, not much happens. The shrub turns into a forgettable green blob. Illuminati Sparks™ changes the game, though, with lovely variegated foliage. Even if it never flowered, which it does, we’d still plant it for the leaves alone. Mock orange will never be labeled a one-season wonder again.

Introduced by Proven Winners^® Color Choice^®

 

Add instant contrast to any bed with this woody

Wine & Spirits^® weigela (Weigela florida ‘SMNWFGC’)

Zones: 4–8

Size: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

Native range: Northern China, Korea, Japan

Black and white is a color contrast that will stop anyone in their tracks. So when a plant like Wine & Spirits^® weigela comes along with black foliage and white blooms, you can be sure it will turn some heads. Weigelas are tough plants; they are tolerant of lean soil, drought conditions, and even salt spray. If you have an inhospitable spot in full sun that needs an attractive plant, try this new option.

Introduced by Proven Winners^® Color Choice^®

 

A stalwart shrub gets a color enhancement

Red Sky™ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘RutHol8’)

Zones: 6–9

Size: 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average, well-drained soil

Native range: Japan, Korea, China, eastern Russia

‘Sky Pencil’ Japanese holly has been a staple of landscapes for years, but it has a significant drawback—namely, a proclivity to splay unpredictably with age. Red Sky™ keeps a tighter silhouette and, notably, gets lovely reddish new growth in spring as well. You can still expect black fruit in winter to add an extra level of interest.

Introduced by Southern Living Plant Collections

 

It’s not just beautiful—it smells heavenly too

Banana Split^® daphne (Daphne odora ‘Monzulzay’)

Zones: 7–9

Size: 4 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil

Native range: China, Japan

This shrub may truly have it all. Gorgeous two-tone green-and-gold evergreen foliage—check. Refined, fragrant, light pink blooms in winter—check. Cute name that reminds us of a favorite sweet treat—double check. Be careful with your site ­selection, though, because just like every daphne, this one resents being moved or transplanted.

Introduced by Monrovia^®

 

Hummingbirds are going to lose their little heads over this beauty

Estrellita Little Star^® firecracker bush (Bouvardia ‘WINBUESLST’)

Zones: 8–10

Size: 2 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

Native range: Southwest North America

Many gardeners won’t be able to grow this beauty as a perennial, but just imagine how amazing it would be as the thriller in a full-sun container. This is a well-behaved, petite shrub with incredible tubular coral flowers. Based on the blooms’ shape and color, it won’t be any surprise that this is a hummingbird plant like no other.

Introduced by Proven Winners^® Color Choice^®

 

Best New Edibles

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Finally, a squash that won’t eat up too much real estate

‘Rise and Shine’ summer squash

Days to maturity: 55

This is a bush variety that likes to grow more vertical than horizontal. For those looking to save some space in the vegetable garden, ‘Rise and Shine’ summer squash could be a game-changer. Despite its dwarf habit, the fruit is full-size. As with almost every squash, direct-sowing is best, and protection from squash borers—which can ruin the harvest—is vital.

Introduced by W. Atlee Burpee Company

 

Its perfect size makes this the ideal snacking tomato

‘Mochi’ tomato

Days to maturity: 60

A tomato that has a gumdrop texture? It’s certainly a novel idea, and we’re intrigued. Typical cherry tomatoes tend to burst in your mouth and to be more watery than meaty. ‘Mochi’ has a uniquely dense makeup that allegedly makes it both amazing as a fresh snack and a good candidate for sauces. The skins are thin too, so don’t worry—you won’t need to peel handfuls of tiny fruit if you plan to cook with them.

Introduced by Johnny’s Selected Seeds

 

Fresh, dried, or fermented in a custom hot sauce, this pepper has endless appeal

‘Bottle Rocket’ cayenne pepper

Days to maturity: 65 (green); 90 (red ripe)

Since 2016, plant breeders have been working to make this pepper the best it can be. And we can’t thank them enough. ‘Bottle Rocket’ grows into a compact, upright plant and produces scores of uniform Thai peppers early in the season. This is especially key in cooler areas of the country where many hot peppers take 120 days or more to produce a decent harvest. We’ll be drying these by the handful this year and using the rest to make a custom Fine Gardening hot sauce for the staff.

Introduced by Johnny’s Selected Seeds

 

You can trust this lettuce to go the distance

Salanova^® Red Tango lettuce

Days to maturity: 55

This is a lettuce that might be best described as a cross between leaf and headed varieties. Salanova^® Red Tango has tender, sweet leaves that taste like the former type, but the foliage forms a tight rosette that is almost headlike in habit. That makes it easier to clean and also allows it to last longer in the garden. Johnny’s Selected Seeds is a master of new lettuce varieties, so we can’t wait to try this latest offering.

Introduced by Johnny’s Selected Seeds