2025 New Perennial Varieties guide

Michelle Simakis
Group Publisher
msimakis@gie.net / 216-393-0275

Click on the image below to view the full PDF of the guide. Read on below to learn more about each new variety.

Ajuga

British garden celebrity Adrian Bloom found Ajuga Midnight Mystery from Plants Nouveau as a seedling selection in his garden. Bronze-purple levels emerge in spring, giving way to rosy-pink flowers. As summer warms up, the leaves age to deep eggplant purple and remain nearly evergreen in even the coldest winters, providing deep purple leaves until spring. This is a color breakthrough in bugleweed as a dark-leaved selection with pink flowers. Hardy in Zones 3 to 8, it grows 6 to 8 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.

Coreopsis

Coreopsis SunGlobe from Hem Genetics is a seed-grown first-year flowering perennial that will bloom in the garden from late spring through autumn. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, the well-branched plants have bright golden yellow semi-double flowers. Total crop timing averages 13 to 15 weeks from sowing. It can also be used in mixed containers. It reaches a height of 12 to 14 inches and a width of 14 to 16 inches.

Delosperma

Delosperma cooperi Sandgem Ember Imp. and Sandgem Purple from Danziger bring first-year flowering with no need for vernalization or bulking. These improved selections deliver large, vivid blooms on a naturally tight habit — perfect for quart production, combos or vibrant groundcovers. Both new Sandgem colors offer standout garden performance and exceptional heat and drought resilience.

Delphinium

Delphinium ‘Violets are Blue’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens features flowers that are a blend of deep violet, purple and blue centered around a crisp white bee. Strong stems are sturdy and can bear the weight of the flowers with ease. Staking is still recommended in areas with inclement weather such as high winds. Zones 3 to 7.

Dianthus

The Dianthus interspecific F₁ Supra series from Hem Genetics is a cross between Dianthus superbus and D. chinensis. The superbus parent gives the plant hardiness as a perennial in both cold and heat. It also imparts the deeply fringed edges to the petals. Two Supras, Pink and Purple, have won All-America Selections awards for their performance in varied conditions. So far, this plant has only been available in single colors, but this year, the company introduced three picoteed varieties: Cherry Picotee, Pink Picotee and Scarlet Picotee. Crop time is approximately 16 weeks from seed to flower. It reaches a height of 10 to 12 inches and a width of 10 to 12 inches. Zones 5b to 10.

Dianthus Scent First Orange Sparkler (Dianthus hybrida ‘Kleda28787’) from PlantHaven International is a color breakthrough for hardy Pinks. Masses of highly scented double flowers are a warm orange with sparkles of hot pink flecks carried on strong stems. Blue-silver foliage forms a sturdy compact habit. Repeat flowering. Zone 5 hardy.

Dicentra

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Hearts on Fire’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens is early to emerge in spring, with golden foliage that emerges with bronze highlights. The dark color translates to dark stems, which contrast beautifully with the bright foliage. True red flowers appear in late spring, blooming out of the foliage to maximize display. Long scapes flower for an extended period of time compared to traditional varieties. Zones 3 to 9.

Digitalis

The Digitalis purpurea Dottie series from Syngenta Flowers and ThinkPlants is a new perennial foxglove with compact, well-branched plants. This series is easier to finish in a variety of sizes, requiring less PGR. Large, vibrant flowers are presented on strong stems in rich colors. Uniform and early to flower, Dottie is efficient for production, and no vernalization is required. Available colors are Cream, Peach, Purple, Warm Rose, White and Mix. Hardy to Zone 4.

Echinacea

Echinacea Color Coded ‘Knock ‘em Red’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens is part of the Color Coded Echinacea series selected for their excellent basal branching, flower performance, large flower size and horizontally held petals. They offer late summer interest for your garden. Four-inch flowers open a deep crimson color before maturing to a fluorescent red. Zones 4 to 8.

Echinacea Kismet ‘Kiwi’ from Terra Nova Nurseries displays a fast and clumping growth habit and thrives in full sun, blooming June through October. Well-suited for mixed beds and border edges, this echinacea is deer resistant, fragrant and an effective pollinator and hummingbird attractor.

Erysimum

Erysistible Fire (Erysimum linifolium) from Syngenta Flowers is ideal for early spring perennial programs. The first Zone 5 hardy series of Erysimum to be offered in a range of novelty colors, its medium-vigor controlled habit works well across all key container sizes.

Euphorbia

Euphorbia Sahara Tiny Treasure (Euphorbia x martini ‘Waleulitr’) from PlantHaven International features chartreuse foliage that contrasts with tiny, brilliant red flowers, making it a striking impulse plant. With a super compact habit, it’s best featured in containers or near the front of a border. Drought tolerant once established. Zone 6 hardy.

Gaillardia

Gaillardia Gusto Orange Zest from Danziger features an abundance of bright orange blooms. First-year flowering with no vernalization required, this color was a standout in trials. Each variety in the Gusto series is an excellent addition to quart and gallon programs.

Gazania

Gazania Luna from Must Have Perennials is a low-growing, spreading perennial with silver-green foliage and vibrant yellow-white flowers that bloom from late spring through fall. Highly drought-resistant and pollinator-friendly, it is perfect for groundcover, borders and container planting in sunny locations.

Geum

Geum Tempo ‘Fiesta’ from Terra Nova Nurseries forms neat, compact mounds and produces bright yellow flowers accented by orange picotee rims, which contrast against lush, deep-green foliage, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. This new geum adds lasting impact to edges, borders and mixed beds and is excellent for pot culture.

Heliopsis

Heliopsis ‘Rays for Days’, the most floriferous selection to date from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens, is a dense, well-rounded selection perfect for brightening up the middle of a border. Large, fully double flowers are golden yellow. Tall stems and a zinnia-like appearance make them a perfect cut flower selection. Excellent heat and drought tolerance. Zones 3 to 9.

Heliopsis hybrid Sole Giatto from Kientzler and ThinkPlants is a highly floriferous variety with a compact habit, making it ideal for smaller containers. Its long-lasting blooms were bred for improved retail shelf appeal. It’s a reliable garden bloomer for an extended season, from June through October. First-year flowering and deer resistant, it’s hardy to Zone 3.

Heuchera

Heuchera Dolce ‘Sultry Night’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens features ruffled black foliage with a purple overlay. The purple highlights match the undersides of the leaves and stems. Leaves emerge glossy in spring and hold their rich, deep tones through the entire season. Short petioles ensure a dense, compact habit. Zones 4 to 9.

Hosta

Hosta Shadowland ‘Chance Encounter’from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens has heart-shaped powdery blue leaves with a wide gold margin. Leaves emerge with an apple-green margin that turns gold as leaves mature. ‘Chance Encounter’ takes its name from the rare watermark halo that appears where the center and marginal variegation meet. Zones 3 to 9.

Lobelia

Lobelia speciosa F₁ Fan Scarlet Compact from Benary is a FastraX perennial, flowering in its first year without vernalization. Uniform and well-branched with red-green foliage and scarlet blooms, it has 90-plus percent germination and thrives in gardens and containers, delivering vibrant, long-lasting color with ease.

Nepeta

Nepeta ‘Catwalk Queen’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens has lavender blue blooms more than twice the size of typical varieties. Individual panicles are long, extending the period of bloom before being cut back. Zones 3 to 8.

Nepeta ‘Lemon Purrfection’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens is a tidy plant that’s early to bloom, with lavender blue flowers appearing over golden yellow foliage. The brightly colored foliage for which ‘Lemon Purrfection’ gets its name does not fade through the summer. This selection blooms continuously without being cut back. Zones 3 to 8.

Panicum

Panicum virgatum Prairie Winds ‘October Sky’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens is a mid-sized native grass with rosy-purple seedheads for a fantastic fall display. The seedheads have more purple color than ‘Apache Rose’, which is rosy-red while in bloom. ‘October Sky’ is also a larger plant than ‘Apache Rose’, standing about a foot taller. Zones 4 to 9.

Penstemon

Penstemon digitalis ‘Pinot Noir’ is an introduction from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. It was selected for a deeper, darker beet red foliage, both on the upper and undersides of lanceolate leaves, and deepening with summer’s heat. Foxglove-like bicolor flowers with lavender pink shafts and white blooms in June are followed by ornamental seedheads of capsules. The plant features evergreen clumps of shiny red foliage and stiff stems 36 to 42 inches in length. Full sun, most any soil, Zones 5 to 9. Available from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Blooming Nursery and Next Stage Labs.

Polemonium

Polemonium ‘Prince’ from Must Have Perennials is a compact perennial that produces blue flowers in spring, accompanied by ferny foliage that takes on purple hues in spring and fall. The long-lasting purple calyx adds extended visual interest, making it a great choice for mixed borders and shade-tolerant gardens.

Salvia

Salvia Berry Blast from Jaldety Nursery features rich purple-pink or berry-colored tubular flowers on darker calyx and stems, with a more compact, uniform bushy habit than other guaranitica varieties. Free-flowering and with a long flowering period, it’s easy-care and attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. Use in big containers for patios and decks or in mixed borders, cottage and meadow gardens and beds.

Salvia Peach Melba from Jaldety Nursery features masses of large, bicolor, salmon pink flowers with a deep peach contrasting throat and dark calyx. Free-flowering and with a long flowering period, it features a uniform bushy branching habit. It’s easy-care and attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. Use in big containers for patio and decks or mixed borders, cottage and meadow gardens and beds. It can also be mixed with other Salvia Melba varieties for a higher-value product.

Sedum

SunSparkler Sedum ‘Neon Nova’ from Garden Solutions is a pink variegated sedum and the newest member of the groundcover SunSparkler family. Growing to only 4 inches tall and 18 inches wide, it’s been extremely stable during four years of production trials. Zones 4 to 8.

Sporobolus

Sporobolus heterolepis ‘Golden Needles’ is an introduction from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. This consistent plant was one of the showiest crops en masse from spring through summer on the Intrinsic farm. An all-gold leaf prairie dropseed has good vigor and size, similar to the species, and by mid-summer, the softly arching foliage brightens to chartreuse. Flowering at 3 feet, Golden Needles is an adaptable plant but performs best in well-drained, dry soils. The foliage is brightest-growing in full sun in lean soil. Zones 3 to 9. Royalty $0.25. Available from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Briggs Nursery, Microplant and Next Stage Labs.

Stachys

Found by Richard Saul at Saul Nurseries in Georgia, Stachys ‘Key Lime’ from Plants Nouveau is a sport of ‘Big Ears’ and features huge, chartreuse, super fuzzy leaves. Key Lime shines in spring and summer, keeping its foliage color until the nights get too hot and sticky, when it fades a little. A vigorous yet tame groundcover that will brighten up and enhance any sunny garden border. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8, it grows 8 to 10 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide.

Vernonia

A native of North America, Vernonia are closely related to asters. Compared with the native species, Vernonia ‘Prairie Princess’ from Proven Winners and Walters Gardens is more compact and has a fuller habit, with sturdy stems that avoid opening up in heavy rains or under the weight of blooms. Zones 4 to 9.