The tiniest panicle hydrangea yet
Name: Fire Light Tidbit® panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPK’)
Zones: 3–8
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: China, Korea, Japan, and Russia
Plant breeders seem somewhat obsessed with getting panicle hydrangeas smaller and smaller—and with good reason. First, the smaller the shrub, the easier it is to ship (and the more of it you can pack onto a truck). But breeding more compact versions allows more gardeners to get in the game. Fire Light Tidbit® is touted as the smallest panicle hydrangea to date—but its blooms are full-size. The flowers emerge white and, like those of its bigger brother, eventually age to a bright magenta pink. This little guy is suitable for container growing as well, and it will overwinter in an appropriately sized pot without extra insulation.
Introduced by Proven Winners® Color Choice®
Heat and humidity don’t bother this rose
Name: Nitty Gritty™ peach rose (Rosa ‘RUIRI0091A’)
Zones: 4–8
Size: 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid
When we first were introduced to this new plant, we thought, “Oh great, another peach-colored shrub rose.” But the sarcasm was thrown aside when we learned that this rose has been trialed in Georgia for quite some time and has shown little to no leaf-spot issues in that hot and humid climate. Expect a spreading, ground-cover habit and blooms all summer long without deadheading.
Introduced by Monrovia®
Classic beauty without the seediness
Name: French Cabaret™ rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus* ‘MINDOUV 5’)
Zones: 5–8
Size: 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 7 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: China
For all of its good traits (long bloom time, tolerance for lean soil, resistance to abuse and neglect), rose of Sharon has a well-deserved reputation of being a nuisance shrub/tree. That moniker is due to its propensity to seed itself everywhere. Where you have one rose of Sharon, you easily will have 100 in a year. French Cabaret™ is sterile, though, allowing you to enjoy its frilly double flowers for eight weeks in summer without having to worry about it taking over your entire garden.
Introduced by Bailey Nurseries
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Keep it in mind Size is a moving targetWith new perennials, it’s fairly easy to pinpoint a mature size, since they usually max out after three years. With trees and shrubs, however, it’s not the same. These woodies can take 10 or more years to reach their mature size. So when you’re reading the label on a new tree or shrub, remember that it could get much bigger. |
A native plant with too many good traits to count
Name: Jade Parade® sand cherry (Prunus pumila ‘UCONNPP002’)
Zones: 3–7
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; lean, well-drained to dry soil
Native range: Eastern North America
We love it when a new native plant enters the nursery market, and it’s even sweeter when that plant is as incredible as Jade Parade® sand cherry. This shrub has a low profile, with branches that arch upward and give it a striking silhouette. The leaves are a glossy blue-green and shift to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red in fall. In early spring, the branches are covered with small white flowers that are beloved by early pollinators. Mature plants form a thicket of stems, providing shelter for overwintering birds. It’s a winner on all counts.
Introduced by Bailey Nurseries
These big blooms won’t flop (Editor’s Pick)
Name: ‘Snowcicle’ oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowcicle’)
Zones: 5–9
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Southeastern United States
The bigger the blooms on an oakleaf hydrangea, the greater the chances are that it’s going to flop over and collapse in on itself by midsummer. That’s what makes ‘Snowcicle’ different. It has the same double-flowered panicles as the well-known ‘Snowflake’, but the blooms are bigger (12 to 14 inches long) and the branches are exceptionally strong to hold those giant blossoms aloft. Great fall color and improved vigor add to the list of this plant’s great traits.
Introduced by Plants Nouveau
Meet the best option for replacing boxwoods
Name: Chubby Hubby™ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata* ‘MAD-IC-I’)
Zones: 6–8
Size: 5 to 7 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan and Korea
The push of late was to develop Japanese hollies with a straight and narrow habit, but Chubby Hubby™ goes in the opposite direction. The breeders did a better job than we could ever do in describing this shrub: “The dad-bod features of this holly are perfectly suited for evergreen hedging, replacing boxwoods and other evergreens that are plagued by diseases, insects, or are weak stemmed.”
Introduced by Bailey Nurseries
*See invasive alert below
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Keep it in mind Sometimes it’s time for an upgradeIt can be harder to incorporate new trees and shrubs into your garden if it’s already established. However, as new varieties are released with greater disease resistance or perhaps better habits, it may be time to consider a replacement. |
Short in stature but big in color intensity
Name: Wee Bit Grumpy® bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Stragrum’)
Zones: 5–9
Size: 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan and Korea
Admittedly, it was the name of this hydrangea that first captured our attention. Then we read about how, despite being ultracompact, it produces full-size blossoms on long, strong stems. We knew there was something more here than just a cute name. Wee Bit Grumpy® would make an excellent replacement for the popular dwarf ‘Pia’ bigleaf hydrangea—and it blooms off new and old wood, ensuring more reliable flowering. In acidic soils the blue-purple pigment of this variety is unmatched.
Introduced by Proven Winners® Color Choice®
The teeny, tiny version of the most popular rose ever created
Name: The Petite Knock Out® rose (Rosa ‘Meibenbino’)
Zones: 5–9
Size: 18 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid
Knock Out® roses: You either love them or hate them. Regardless, it’s hard to deny their disease-resistance and never-ending flower show. These shrubs get big, though, often topping out at 5 feet tall and wide. For those who don’t have that kind of space, meet the mini-version. The Petite Knock Out® rose has the same flower power and toughness, in a package a fraction of the size.
Introduced by Star® Roses and Plants
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This shrub looks great in every season
Name: ‘ReJoyce’ drooping laurel (Leucothoe axillaris ‘ReJoyce’)
Zones: 6–9
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Southeastern United States
Why don’t more people grow drooping laurel? Perhaps they have been waiting for a variety that sports gorgeous wine red winter color—like ‘ReJoyce’. This shrub also is disease-free, shade-loving, and evergreen. In addition, it has an excellent weeping form and white bell flowers in spring that are sweet smelling.
Introduced by Plants Nouveau
Danielle Sherry is the executive editor.
*Invasive alert: Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)
This plant is considered invasive in NJ and TN.
Please visit invasiveplantatlas.org for more information.
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