Upcoming Proven Winners® Perennials for 2026-2027

• 1.

  

  New to Retail in 2027

  Each year thousands of perennial seedlings and selections are trialed for addition to the Proven Winners Perennials Program. They are evaluated for their performance in the landscape, production, and containers. Those that passed the trials, showing notable ornamental characteristics along the way, are detailed in this article.

  These plants will be available for wholesale starting July 1, 2026, to be ready for retail in 2027. Now is the perfect time to start your wish list and get a head start on discovering the varieties that will enhance your perennial lineup.

  Explore the full list below, which includes 28 stunning new varieties and six new genera for Proven Winners Perennials. There's something for everyone, and your next top seller could be waiting below!

• 2.

  

  'All the Buzz' Allium

  Ornamental Onion

  Height: 14-16" | Width: 16-20" | Zones: 4-8 | Full to Part Sun

  A floriferous pollinator magnet, this durable little perennial is perfect for anchoring the front of the garden or turning heads when planted in mass.

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• 3.

  

  PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Blue Steel' Andropogon

  Big Bluestem

  Height: 54" | Width: 30" | Zones: 3-9 | Full Sun

  Native Big Bluestem with striking steel-blue foliage and purple highlights. Upright, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance-adds bold color, texture, and winter interest to modern landscapes.

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• 4.

  

  FALL IN LOVE® 'Deeply' Anemone

  Japanese Anemone

  Height: 20-26" | Width: 24-30" | Zones: 4-8 | Full Sun to Part Shade

  Graceful Japanese Anemone with deep rose-pink blooms late summer to fall. Compact, well-behaved habit; thrives in sun or shade - perfect for borders and woodland edges.

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• 5.

  

  DECADENCE® DELUXE 'Lemon Smoothie' Baptisia

  False Indigo

  Height: 42-48" | Width: 42-48" | Zones: 4-9 | Full to Part Sun

  Tall Baptisia with elegant form and abundant sunny yellow blooms. Later flowering extends the season; strong branching ensures long-lasting color and bold landscape impact.

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• 6.

  

  'Noble Native' Carex laxiculmis

  Woodland Sedge

  Height: 6-12" | Width: 12-18" | Zones: 5-9 | Full to Part Shade

  A variegated Woodland Sedge with creamy-striped, arching blue-green leaves. Ideal for shaded borders or paths, it's compact, deer resistant, low-maintenance, and adds elegant texture early in the season.

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• 7.

  

  'Shade Fanfare' Carex plantaginea

  Plantain-leaved Sedge

  Height: 8-12" | Width: 12-24" | Zones: 3-8 | Full to Part Shade

  Variegated sedge with broad green leaves edged creamy white. Semi-evergreen, cold-hardy, and ideal for shade gardens, borders, or groundcover - adds refined texture and year-round interest.

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• 8.

  

  'Cloud Cover' Cerastium tomentosum

  Snow in Summer

  Height: 4-6" | Width: 26-32" | Zones: 3-7 | Full Sun

  Early to emerge in spring with silvery foliage. By late spring the plant is completely covered in large star-shaped white flowers. Perfect for filling garden spaces.

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• 9.

  

  FRUIT PUNCH® 'Whipped Cream' Dianthus

  Height: 8-10" | Width: 12-14" | Zones: 4-9 | Full Sun

  Pure white flowering Dianthus with larger than average blooms. Intermittent rebloom adds color after the plant has finished blooming. Evergreen blue foliage.

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• 10.

  

  SUN JEWELS™ 'Rubies and Diamonds' Dicentra

  Alpine Bleeding Heart

  Height: 12-14" | Width: 16-18" | Zones: 3-9 | Full Sun

  An alpine Bleeding Heart with ruby-red blooms from spring to fall and fine blue foliage. Best in sunny, well-drained spots, it's perfect for front borders and long-lasting color.

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• 11.

  

  'Forged in Fire' Heliopsis helianthoides

  False Sunflower

  Height: 32-36" | Width: 32-36" | Zones: 3-9 | Full to Part Sun

  Semi-double blooms with dark burgundy-to-orange eyes, mildew-resistant foliage, and a dense, upright habit. Its striking color shift and pollinator-friendly form add bold texture to gardens.

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• 12.

  

  SUMMERIFIC® 'Coconut Cream' Hibiscus

  Hardy Hibiscus, Rose Mallow

  Height: 42-48" | Width: 42-48" | Zones: 4-9 | Full to Part Sun

  A night and day combination of matte black foliage and pure white flowers. Like other dark-leaved Hardy Hibiscus, full sun is necessary to bring out the deepest foliage color.

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• 13.

  

  SUMMERIFIC® 'Glitter Bomb' Hibiscus

  Hardy Hibiscus, Rose Mallow

  Height: 54-60" | Width: 66-72" | Zones: 4-9 | Full to Part Sun

  'Glitter Bomb' dazzles with 7” peppermint-patterned blooms and a bold red eye. Its dark olive-green foliage and gumdrop shape make it a striking choice for back-of-border garden drama.

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• 14.

  

  SHADOWLAND® 'Affair to Remember' Hosta

  Height: 28-30" | Width: 66-72" | Zones: 3-9 | Full to Part Shade

  This large hosta features large heart-shaped leaves with pale yellow centers, dark green margins, and a feathered green overlay. Topped with clusters of white flowers in midsummer.

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• 15.

  

  SHADOWLAND® GIANT 'Humungosaurus' Hosta

  Height: 36-42" | Width: 72-84" | Zones: 3-9 | Full to Part Shade

  An impressive clump of smooth, heart-shaped leaves in a vibrant golden-yellow hue. Leaves emerge chartreuse before maturing to gold. Deeply impressed veins add texture and dimension to the foliage.

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• 16.

  

  'Nectar Ninja' Hyssopus officinalis

  Hyssop

  Height: 22-24" | Width: 34-38" | Zones: 4-9 | Full to Part Sun

  ‘Nectar Ninja' Hyssop features fragrant lavender-blue blooms, a compact habit, and drought tolerance. A resilient, pollinator-friendly alternative to lavender or catmint.

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• 17.

  

  RISE & SHINE™ 'Citrus Sunrise' Kniphofia

  Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily

  Height: 32-36" | Width: 22-26" | Zones: 5b-9 | Full Sun

  Golden yellow flowers. Early-blooming Kniphofia with vibrant spikes and lush foliage. Rebloom extends color into summer; perfect for sunny borders and pollinator gardens.

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• 18.

  

  RISE & SHINE™ 'Mango Mimosa' Kniphofia

  Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily

  Height: 30-32" | Width: 20-24" | Zones: 5b-9 | Full Sun

  Copper orange flowers open from dark buds. Early-blooming Kniphofia with vibrant spikes and lush foliage. Rebloom extends color into summer; perfect for sunny borders and pollinator gardens.

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• 19.

  

  'Summer Serenade' Lavandula angustifolia

  Lavender

  Height: 16-20" | Width: 18-24" | Zones: 5-9 | Full Sun

  This is one of our earliest Lavenders to show color each year, with spikes of true lavender flowers continuing to pack the plant as summer progresses.

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• 20.

  

  AMAZING DAISIES® 'Dream Big' Leucanthemum superbum

  Shasta Daisy

  Height: 30-34" | Width: 28-32" | Zones: 5-9 | Full Sun

  A larger Shasta Daisy with an upright, dense habit and large white flowers. The long blooming perennial is perfect to fill in the middle of the border.

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• 21.

  

  PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Candy Floss' Muhlenbergia capillaris

  Pink Muhly Grass

  Height: 36-42" | Width: 44-48" | Zones: 6-10 | Full Sun

  Early-blooming Pink Muhly Grass with deep rose-pink plumes. Fine-textured foliage adds airy movement and color; hardy, uniform, and ideal for modern landscapes.

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• 22.

  

  PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Blue Spear' Panicum virgatum

  Switch Grass

  Height: 48-52" | Width: 24-30" | Zones: 4-9 | Full Sun

  ‘Blue Spear' has a columnar habit and blue-green foliage, topped in late summer by unique, fused flower panicles. Great for winter interest or fall cut arrangements.

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• 23.

  

  BEJEWELED® 'Dark Amethyst' Penstemon barbatus

  Bearded Penstemon

  Height: 18-22" | Width: 20-26" | Zones: 4-8 | Full Sun

  Dark reddish purple flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds. Long blooming. Moderate size perennial with native roots in the Southwest.

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• 24.

  

  BEJEWELED® 'Lavender Sapphires' Penstemon barbatus

  Bearded Penstemon

  Height: 16-18" | Width: 20-24" | Zones: 4-8 | Full Sun

  Rosy purple tubular flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds. Long blooming. Moderate size perennial with native roots in the Southwest.

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• 25.

  

  'Glowing Reviews' Persicaria amplexicaulis

  Mountain Fleece

  Height: 16-20" | Width: 82-32" | Zones: 4-7 | Full to Part Sun

  Features cerise-red blooms from dark buds over golden chartreuse foliage. Early blooming and vigorous, it adds vibrant color, texture, and pollinator appeal to the fall garden. Also known as Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Glowing Reviews'.

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• 26.

  

  BOUQUET PERFECT™ 'Rosalina' Primula vulgaris

  Primrose

  Height: 5-8" | Width: 10-12" | Zones: 4-8 | Full to Part Shade

  Bright pink flowers have a white picotee edge. Well-rounded habits like a flower bouquet. Early blooming, long-lasting sterile flowers. Perfect for spring and shade gardens.

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• 27.

  

  BOUQUET PERFECT™ 'Scarletta' Primula vulgaris

  Primrose

  Height: 5-8" | Width: 10-12" | Zones: 4-8 | Full to Part Shade

  Large scarlet red flowers. Well-rounded habits like a flower bouquet. Early blooming, long-lasting sterile flowers. Perfect for spring and shade gardens.

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• 28.

  

  LIVING LARGE® 'Dark Sky' Salvia

  Perennial Salvia

  Height: 24-28" | Width: 28-32" | Zones: 3-8 | Full Sun

  Super-sized perennial Salvia with deep indigo-blue blooms - the darkest in the series. Tall flower spikes, dense foliage, prolific branching, and extended bloom for bold landscape impact.

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• 29.

  

  'Web Designer' Tradescantia

  Spiderwort

  Height: 18-24" | Width: 18-24" | Zones: 3-9 | Grows Sun to Shade

  Compact Spiderwort with lush foliage and huge blue blooms. Heat-tolerant and vibrant into fall - one of the longest-lasting varieties for bold garden color.

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