Proven Winners® 2026 Gardener’s Idea Book

THE GARDENER’S IDEA BOOK

LIVE LIFE IN FULL BLOOM

Gardening isn’t just something you do – it’s a lifestyle that feels grounded, restorative and joyful. It’s stepping outside in your slippers at sunrise to see which buds opened overnight and smelling the sweet perfume of lilacs on the breeze. When your garden is your second living room, family and friends naturally gather and linger a little longer there to enjoy the atmosphere. What beauty will you surround yourself with this season?

Opposite, above and pages 2-3: Annuals – EMERALD ISLE™ Alocasia (elephant ears) ANGELFACE® White Angelonia, DOUBLE UP™ Pink Begonia, SUPERBELLS MAGIC® Double Grapefruit Calibrachoa, SEÑORITA ROSALITA® Cleome, COLORBLAZE® MINI ME™ Chartreuse Coleus, COLORBLAZE® WICKED WITCH™ Coleus, SILVER FALLS® Dichondra, DIAMOND FROST® Euphorbia, DIAMOND MOUNTAIN® Euphorbia, ‘Sweet Caroline Light Green’ Ipomoea, Sweet Caroline Sweetheart SHADOWSTORM™ Ipomoea, Sweet Caroline UPSIDE™ Black Coffee Ipomoea (sweet potato vine), SAFARI® DUSK™ Jamesbrittenia, GRACEFUL GRASSES® BLUE MOHAWK® Juncus, Goldilocks Lysimachia, STRATOSPHERE™ White Oenothera, GRACEFUL GRASSES® ‘Sky Rocket’ Pennisetum, SUPERTUNIA® HOOPLA® VIVID ORCHID™ Petunia, SUPERTUNIA MINI VISTA® Midnight Petunia, SUPERTUNIA® PICASSO IN PURPLE® Petunia, SUPERTUNIA® ROYAL VELVET® Petunia, SUPERTUNIA VISTA® BUBBLEGUM® II Petunia, SUPERTUNIA VISTA® COOL JAZZ™ Petunia, LEMON CORAL® Sedum, SNOWSTORM® GIANT SNOWFLAKE® Sutera (bacopa), SUMMER WAVE® Trailing Large Violet Torenia, SUPERBENA® COBALT™ Verbena and SUPERBENA® WHITEOUT™ Verbena

Perennials – ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ Astilbe, SWEET ROMANCE® Lavandula (lavender) and AMAZING DAISIES® ‘Banana Cream II’ Leucanthemum (shasta daisy)

Shrubs – PUGSTER BLUE® Buddleia (butterfly bush), LET’S DANCE LOVABLE® Hydrangea macropylla, LIMELIGHT PRIME® Hydrangea paniculata, TINY QUICK FIRE® Hydrangea paniculata, KINTZLEY’S GHOST® Lonicera (honeysuckle), JAZZ HANDS VARIEGATED® Loropetalum, REMINISCENT® Crema Rosa, RISE UP LILAC DAYS® Rosa and DOUBLE PLAY DOLLY® Spiraea

NATIONAL PLANTS OF THE YEAR

Grown solo or woven into a mix, our sun-loving National Plants of the Year create vibrant outdoor spaces.

SAFARI® DUSK™

Jamesbrittenia

Height: 6-12"

Spread: 12-24"

Up-and-Comer

Try something new! It’s destined to become your go-to filler/spiller for containers.

SUPERTUNIA® HOOPLA® VIVID ORCHID™ Petunia

Height: 4-12"

Spread: 18-24"

Worth the Hype

The fanfare surrounding this pretty picotee is true –it’s the very best novelty petunia we’ve trialed.

LET’S DANCE LOVABLE® Hydrangeamacrophylla JAZZ HANDS VARIEGATED® Loropetalum

Height: 3-4'

Spread: 3-4' Zones: 5-9

Twice as Nice

Enjoy the saturated pink or blue mophead flowers of this dependable rebloomer twice per season.

Height: 4-6'

Spread: 4' Zones: 7b-9

Standout Soloist

Fresh pink and white speckles decorate the tips of this architecturally engaging shrub.

SEÑORITA ROSALITA® Cleome ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ Astilbe

Height: 2-4'

Spread: 18-24"

Garden Clásico

Blooming non-stop from spring to frost, this reliable cleome won’t reseed or poke you with thorns.

DOUBLE PLAY DOLLY® Spiraea

Height: 18-30"

Spread: 18-30" Zones: 3-8

Flashy &

Fun

This vibrant chartreuse shrub tucks neatly under windows or into the front of garden beds.

Height: 20-22"

Spread: 24-28" Zones: 4-9

Dark Star

Bearing bold foliage and bright blooms, this astilbe is the sleeper hit your landscape needs this season.

MAXIMALIST DESIGN FOR PATIOS

What’s on trend for container gardening? Exuberant colors, lush plantings overflowing from supersized containers and bold tropicals as centerpieces for one-of-a-kind designs. When Meagan starts a new project, she first considers color and culture, then chooses easygoing varieties her customers will love. For a “wilder” look, mix a wide variety of plants and hues. For a more refined statement, limit the color palette but make up for it with sumptuous textures.

Above, 1: MEZOO™ Trailing Red Aptenia, COLORBLAZE® Chocolate Drop Coleus, ISLAND GIANTS™ ‘Coffee Cups’ Colocasia, DIAMOND SNOW® Euphorbia, LUSCIOUS® GOLDENGATE™ Lantana and SUNSTAR® Red Pentas 2: EMERALD ISLE™ Alocasia (elephant ears), SUREFIRE® Rose Begonia, HEART TO HEART® ‘Bold ‘N Beautiful’ Caladium, COLORBLAZE® VELVETEEN® Coleus, Goldilocks Lysimachia, and WHIRLWIND® Pink Scaevola 3: HEART TO HEART® ‘Bold ‘N Beautiful’ Caladium, Pink Zip Cordyline (cabbage palm), WAIKIKI SUNSET™ Lysimachia, BOMBSHELL® Coral Pink Mandevilla and UNPLUGGED® Pink Salvia 4: MEZOO™ Trailing Red Aptenia, TOUCAN® Yellow Canna, TRUFFULA® Pink Gomphrena (globe amaranth), LUSCIOUS® Royale Cosmo Lantana, Big Leaf Muehlenbeckia (creeping wire vine), MOJAVE® Mango Portulaca and WHIRLWIND® Pink Scaevola

Outlined below, L to R: SUNSTAR® Red Pentas, MEZOO™ Trailing Red Aptenia, HEART TO HEART® ‘Bold ‘N Beautiful’ Caladium, ISLAND GIANTS™ ‘Coffee Cups’ Colocasia, COLORBLAZE® Chocolate Drop Coleus and BOMBSHELL® Coral Pink Mandevilla

GO BIG AT HOME

It’s a myth that large containers are more work. Because they hold more soil and moisture, the plants thrive without the constant stress of drying out. Plus, when you prioritize bold foliage over plentiful blooms, they are more versatile in sun and shade. If you’re looking to limit maintenance, consider simplifying your landscaping but use large porch pots with stunning curb appeal. Start with larger centerpiece plants to achieve balance and get the look you’re going for faster.

Sweet Buttermilk

1 SUREFIRE® White Begonia

2 GRACEFUL GRASSES® QUEEN TUT™ Cyperus

3 DIAMOND SNOW® Euphorbia

4 COLORBLAZE® NEWLY NOIR™ Coleus

Watermelon Daiquiri

1 SUREFIRE® CHERRY CORDIAL™ Begonia

2 Big Leaf Creeping Wire Vine Muehlenbeckia

3 COLORBLAZE® GOLDEN DREAMS™ Coleus 4 LEMON CORAL® Sedum

1 SUPERBELLS® CORAL SUN™ Calibrachoa

2 GRACEFUL GRASSES® PRINCE TUT™ Cyperus

3 Sweet Caroline MEDUSA™ Green Ipomoea

4 COLORBLAZE® MINI ME™ Watermelon Coleus

5 WHIRLWIND® Blue Scaevola

1 HEART TO HEART® ‘Raspberry Moon’ Caladium

2 COLORBLAZE® Strawberry Drop Coleus

3 ISLAND GIANTS™ ‘Coffee Cups’ Colocasia 4 ‘Red Sensation’ Cordyline

HIPPO® Rose Hypoestes

NATIONAL RECIPES OF THE YEAR

For a picture-perfect entrance, grow our National Recipes of the Year™ in hanging baskets overhead and upright pots flanking your door. With options for sun and shade, as well as self-watering AquaPots®, premium potting soil and plant foods to help them flourish, you’ll have the nicest porch on the block.

Proven Winners Potting Soil –

Our professional grade, all-purpose potting soil provides the ideal balance of porosity and lightweight texture that container plants need to maintain strong growth all season.

Proven Winners Plant Foods –

Formulated specially for Proven Winners annuals, our premium continuous release and water-soluble plant foods provide EDDHA iron along with essential macro and micronutrients your plants need to flourish.

Proven Winners AquaPots® Lite –

Find our line of AquaPots® Lite self-watering planters and inserts, available in three sizes, at local garden centers nationwide and in our online store.

Moonlit Lavender

SUPERBENA® Violet Ice Verbena

SUGGESTED THRILLER: METEOR SHOWER® Verbena

AquaPots® Lite Urban – Metro in Dark Blue Part sun to sun

Saffron Sunrise

SUPERBELLS® Tropical Sunrise Calibrachoa

SAFARI® DUSK™ Jamesbrittenia

SUPERTUNIA® SAFFRON FINCH™ Petunia

SUGGESTED THRILLER:

EMERALD ISLE™ Alocasia

AquaPots® Lite Urban – Parkside in White

Pixie Powder

DOUBLE DELIGHT® Appleblossom Begonia

DIAMOND FROST® Euphorbia

ROCKAPULCO® Coral Reef Impatiens

SUGGESTED THRILLER:

GRACEFUL GRASSES® QUEEN TUT™ Cyperus

AquaPots® Lite Legacy Stone – Boston Urn in Greige Stone

TOP-TIER FLORA

Need a great place to start this year’s wish list? Look for the award winner banner on the label, like you’ll find on these top eight award-winning annuals. It’s not only Laura of @GardenAnswer who loves Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum® II petunia –it’s amassed a whopping 236 accolades in independent trials nationwide.

HOW TO LANDSCAPE A TWO-SIDED HEDGE

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and plant a new hedge. The challenge: even if you start with large shrubs, you’re bound to be left with some open ground for a season or two, as was the case with this east-west oriented Limelight Prime® hydrangea hedge. Annuals are ideal for filling space while you wait for the hedge to mature. Here, we planted sun-loving annuals on the south-facing side and shade lovers on the north. Emerald Isle™ elephant ears act as living umbrellas to temporarily shade the Shadowland® ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ hostas until the hydrangeas are tall enough to do the job.

Flowering hedge plants for sun: EMERALD ISLE™ Alocasia (elephant ears), LIMELIGHT PRIME® Hydrangea paniculata, SUPERTUNIA MINI VISTA® Midnight Petunia and SUPERBENA® Stormburst Verbena

Flowering hedge plants for shade: ‘Crested Surf’ Athyrium (crested Japanese painted fern), PEGASUS® Begonia, SUREFIRE® White Begonia, COLORBLAZE® WICKED WITCH™ Coleus, DOLCE® ‘Glazed and Infused’ Heuchera, DOLCE® ‘Wildberry’ Heuchera (coral bells) and SHADOWLAND® ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ Hosta

SUNNY SOUTH-FACING SIDE

SHADIER NORTH-FACING SIDE

Part shade to shade

Height: 20-22" Spread: 45-48" Zones: 3-9

AN ELEVATED APPROACH

If you’re a renter with a rooftop or only have a small deck to work with, you can still garden with surprising intensity if you choose. On Bethany’s small, east-facing rooftop decks pictured here and on the next page, she layers her planters using racks and stands to pack the most color possible into her compact space.

Elevated gardens can come with unique considerations like wind, extreme sun or shade exposures, watering challenges and weight restrictions. Meticulous notetaking helps Bethany hone in on what works and what doesn’t.

Rooftop gardener Bethany Bey @ChicagoGardener

Opposite and at right: ANGELFACE® Wedgwood Blue Angelonia, ANGELFACE® Wedgwood Pink Angelonia, TRUFFULA™ Pink Gomphrena (globe amaranth), SUPERTUNIA VISTA® COOL JAZZ™ Petunia, SUPERTUNIA® Pink TIARA™ Petunia and TINY QUICK FIRE® Hydrangea paniculata

Below outlined:

SUPERTUNIA® Pink TIARA™ Petunia, SUPERTUNIA VISTA® COOL JAZZ™ Petunia, ANGELFACE® Wedgwood Pink Angelonia and TRUFFULA™ Pink Gomphrena (globe amaranth)

Set heavy containers on rollers to make them easier to move.

CONTAINERS ON THE GO

Even the friendliest neighbors can be a little too close for comfort sometimes. By using elevated containers and those on wheels, you can easily reconfigure your space as needed.

Need more privacy? Set out a raised planter with attached lattice to screen a view or define your space. Make room for entertaining by rolling containers back against the wall. It’s easy with containers on the go!

® Drip Irrigation System

Delivers the right amount of moisture to plants in window boxes and patio planters without waste. Each kit includes enough supplies to water ten pots from a single faucet. Up to three kits may be combined if needed.

THESE CALADIUMS ARE CRUSHIN’ IT

Meet our Caladium of the Year™ and Recipe of the Year™! Earmarked as extra-special from the start, there’s a reason they have become favorites – they’re distinctive and versatile with reliable color all summer.

Pick the ones that suit your sun or shade conditions, then group them together or let a single plant shine on its own.

As the summer heat settles in, they’ll kick into high gear, growing fuller and more vibrant.

FOLIAGE FOCUS

If you’re drawn to fancy-leaved, shade-loving plants like Space Age® Rex begonias, Heart to Heart® caladiums will call your name, too – with one key difference. Many thrive in the sun which draws out more intense tones in the foliage.

Large leaves in shades of rosy red, juicy peach, snow white and emerald green add elegant texture and bold contrast to containers and garden beds. See how their broad leaves play off finer plants, naturally drawing your eye in for a closer look.

Look for our newest additions this year – Crème Brulee and Midnight Oil – whose unexpected colors bring a fresh new twist to the line.

Kindness

HEART TO HEART®

‘Lemon Blush’ Caladium

HEART TO HEART®

‘Splash of Wine’ Caladium

Part shade to shade

CULTIVATING A RESILIENT LANDSCAPE

What if you partnered with nature instead of battling against it? That’s the idea behind cultivating a landscape where plants are chosen for their diversity, durability and adaptability. Drought, flooding, pest and maintenance issues don’t have to be insurmountable –but they do require a strategy pivot.

Jenny from Dallas, North Carolina knows this all too well. After devastating floods ran roughshod through her family’s nursery, they had the choice to rebuild what was or to design a more resilient landscape. Using plants that were proven survivors, they started over.

Garden challenges don’t seem as overwhelming when you adopt an eco-regional approach and make smart decisions for your landscape based on your specific conditions. Consult your trained, local Proven Winners Certified Garden Center’s staff, educators and content creators in your area for regionally relevant advice.

Jenny Simpson of Gardening with Creekside

Above: ANGELFACE® Wedgwood Pink Angelonia, COLORBLAZE® MINI ME™ Chartreuse Coleus, SUPERTUNIA® Pink TIARA™ Petunia, ROCKIN’® PLAYIN’ THE BLUES® Salvia and GLITTERS & GLOWS® Viburnum Opposite, 1: SUNCREDIBLE® SATURN™ Helianthus with ANGELFACE® Perfectly Pink Angelonia 2: ‘Serendipity’ Allium (ornamental onion) 3: PRAIRIE WINDS® ‘Totem Pole’ Panicum (switch grass) with various sedums 4: SUMMERSONG® FIREFINCH™ Echinacea (coneflower) 5: GATSBY GAL® Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea) 6: COLORBLAZE® TORCHLIGHT® Coleus, DOLCE® ‘Cherry Truffles’ Heuchera, DOLCE® ‘Spearmint’ Heuchera, DOLCE® ‘Wildberry’ Heuchera (coral bells), FUN AND GAMES® ‘Eye Spy’ Heucherella, HIPPO® Red Hypoestes, HIPPO® Rose Hypoestes (polka dot plant) and ‘Pardon My Pink’ Monarda (bee balm) 7: VIRTUOSO® PINKERIFIC™ Dahlia, SUPERTUNIA MINI VISTA® Plum Veined Petunia and UNPLUGGED® White Salvia 8: ‘Opening Act Ultrapink’ Phlox and DOLCE® ‘Wildberry’ Heuchera (coral bells) 9: BERRY HEAVY® Gold Ilex (winterberry holly)

NEXT-LEVEL ROCKSCAPING

If conserving water or finding long-term solutions for drought are important to you, rockscaping might be the perfect fit. In place of wood mulch, stones ranging from boulders to pea gravel surround the plants to conserve moisture and aid in drainage. Some rockeries, like Janey’s at her Northern California home, are expansive and contain large scale plants like native switch grass and pollinator-friendly lantana. Others fill small niches with collections of unique flora. A local landscape designer can help you find the right fit for your home.

Janey Santos – @DigPlantWaterRepeat

Before

GEMS THAT SHINE IN CRACKS AND CREVICES

Smaller scale rockeries often feature a collection of unique, dwarf plants like succulents and alpines which are best enjoyed up close. In this zone 6 crevice garden, elegantly formed Art & Sol® mangave are sunk in terra cotta pots that are easily popped back out to bring indoors for winter.

Tiny button-shaped Flambe® strawflowers, spiky Maestro® hummingbird mint and hardy stonecrops draw in pollinators while icy Silver River™ didelta foliage chills the color palette. All flourish in sharply drained, gravelly soil with minimal watering.

The 25’ x 2’ bed borders a cedar chip path, nestled in the pea gravel where raised vegetable beds irrigated by drip sit. As a practical matter, the plants prevent the stone from spilling over into the wood mulch. It’s the perfect site for a crevice garden both for its functionality and aesthetics.

Look around your yard for an underused spot, preferably in a sunny, open location, where you could create a crevice garden in a weekend or two this season.

ART & Sol® Mangaves: ART & SOL® ‘Aztec King’ Mangave, ART & SOL® ‘Lavender Lady’ Mangave, ART & SOL® ‘Moonglow’ Mangave, ART & SOL® ‘Purple People Eater’ Mangave and ART & SOL® ‘Silver Fox’ Mangave

Perennials: ‘Pink Diamonds’ Dicentra, ‘Lemon Purrfection’ Nepeta, ROCK ‘N LOW ® ‘Boogie Woogie’ Sedum and ROCK ‘N ROUND® ‘Popstar’ Sedum

MAXIMIZE YOUR SMALL SPACE

Massive Supertunia Vista® petunias are grand but not on-scale for tight spots. Luckily, there’s no need to compromise if you have a small balcony, stoop or porch. Simply choose more petite, densely mounded varieties for your containers. Space Age® Rex begonias, Artist® flossflower and Mojave® purslane are just a few of many compact plants you can use to create high style in small spaces. Limit the palette for a streamlined approach or collect many different kinds to cultivate the look of a whole garden entirely in containers.

CULTIVATING CALM

When you’re living with the stress of constant demands, 24-hour news cycles and digital distractions, having a quiet, calm place to escape and regroup isn’t only nice – it’s necessary. What if you thought of your garden as a mental health asset instead of just being pretty?

Natural environments allow our minds to make a mental reset as we step outside into a place where time flies by and our mood instantly lifts. The trickling sound of a fountain, grass plumes swaying on a light breeze, the pungent scent of freshly picked herbs, a contemplative place to rest or stretch – all help create a rejuvenating sanctuary where you can reconnect with what grounds you.

1: MEZOO™ Trailing Red Aptenia, SUPERBELLS® Tropical Sunrise Calibrachoa, VERMILLIONAIRE® Cuphea, COLORBLAZE® Strawberry Drop Coleus, Sweet Caroline MEDUSA™ Green Ipomoea (sweet potato vine), LUSCIOUS® Royale RED ZONE™ Lantana, GRACEFUL GRASSES® Purple Fountain Grass Pennisetum and GRACEFUL GRASSES® ‘Sky Rocket’ Pennisetum Cascading living walls – Maculata Vinca and ‘Wojo’s Jem’ Vinca

2: AMAZING DAISIES® “Banana Cream II’ Leucanthemum (shasta daisy)

3: Sweet Caroline UPSIDE™ Black Coffee Ipomoea, Sweet Caroline UPSIDE™ Key Lime Ipomoea (sweet potato vine), LEMON CORAL® Sedum and Coconut A-PEEL® Thunbergia

4: GRACEFUL GRASSES® ‘Sky Rocket’ Pennisetum

5: NORTH POLE® Thuja (arborvitae), PEGASUS® Begonia, COLORBLAZE® GOLDEN DREAMS™ Coleus, HIPPO® Rose Hypoestes, HIPPO® White Hypoestes (polka dot plant), Sweet Caroline RAVEN™ Ipomoea (sweet potato vine), Goldilocks Lysimachia and CATALINA® GILDED GRAPE™ Torenia

6: TOUCAN® Yellow Canna, COLORBLAZE® LIME TIME® Coleus, VERMILLIONAIRE® Cuphea, LUSCIOUS® CITRUS BLEND™ Lantana and Calendula

7: AMAZEL BASIL® Ocimum (basil)

8: SILVER BULLET® Artemisia, HEART TO HEART® ‘Radiance’ Caladium, ISLAND GIANTS™ HEART OF THE JUNGLE® Colocasia (elephant ears), GRACEFUL GRASSES® BABY TUT® Cyperus, SILVER FALLS™ Dichondra and CATALINA® White Linen Torenia

9: GRACEFUL GRASSES® Ogon Acorus (golden variegated sweet flag) GRACEFUL GRASSES® QUEEN TUT™ Cyperus and GRACEFUL GRASSES® Fiber Optic Grass Isolepis

Native bed – first year planting

NATURE: EXTENDED

What if you worked with what nature gave you, then extended it out a little further? That was the idea behind this new garden bed designed around plants with North American native roots. The result was a verdant, naturalistic landscape that will mature beautifully over time. Turf was stripped to create space along a south-facing wood line in early spring, then filled in over a single season as plants were collected. Woody specimens like Golden Shadows® pagoda dogwood form the bones of the design, complemented by grasses and wildflowers.

Turn the page to see how the bed evolved from the earliest days of spring through fall’s finale.

Step 1: Mark the bed line.

Perennials: ‘Firefly Sunshine’ Achillea (yarrow), MEANT TO BEE® ‘Queen Nectarine’ Agastache (anise hyssop), Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa, DECADENCE® ‘Lemon Meringue’ Baptisia (false indigo), COLOR CODED® ‘Knock ‘em Red’ Echinacea (coneflower), PRAIRIE WINDS® ‘Cheyenne Sky’ Panicum (red switch grass), PRAIRIE WINDS® ‘Niagara Falls’ Panicum (switch grass), PRAIRIE WINDS® ‘Totem Pole’ Panicum (switch grass), BEJEWELED® ‘Rose Rhinestones’ Penstemon, ‘Midnight Masquerade’ Penstemon, ‘Treasure Trove’ Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan), PRAIRIE WINDS® ‘Brush Strokes’ Schizachyrium (little bluestem), ‘Apple Slices’ Spigelia, TOTALLY STOKED™ ‘Riptide’ Stokesia (Stokes’ aster), ‘Webmaster’ Tradescantia (spiderwort), ‘Prairie Princess’ Vernonia (ironweed) and ‘Dragon Slayer’ Yucca

Shrubs: LOW SCAPE SNOWFIRE® Aronia, KODIAK® Red 2.0 Diervilla, LEGEND OF THE SMALL® Fothergilla (bottlebrush), GINGER WINE® Physocarpus (ninebark) and BRANDYWINE™ Viburnum Trees: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS® Cercis (redbud), GOLDEN SHADOWS® Cornus (pagoda dogwood) and CRUSADER® Crataegus (native hawthorn)

Step 2: Remove existing vegetation.

Step 3: Amend the soil, if needed.

Step 4: Set plants in place per the design.

Step 5: Time to plant!

GROW PLANTS WITH A PURPOSE

Native plants have a unique way of giving back to nature. Blossoms, seeds and fruit nourish wildlife and pollinators. Decadence® ‘Lemon Meringue’ false indigo harnesses nitrogen from the soil to feed itself, then drops its leaves in fall to form nutrient-rich humus. Fluffy milkweed seeds float away on the wind to make more plants for hosting monarchs.

Look closely and you’ll notice this native garden was designed for interest in every season. Pink pealike Midnight Express® redbud flowers burst forth in early spring, followed by a riotous parade of perennial blooms through summer. ‘Brush Strokes’ little bluestem and ‘Prairie Princess’ ironweed close out the season with rich purple hues in eye-catching contrast to the fluorescent orange native sassafras trees. Every plant has a season and a purpose here.

Opposite, 1, 6 and 8: Natives bed in fall color; see p. 30 2: ‘MIDNIGHT EXPRESS® Cercis (redbud) 3: ‘Apple Slices’ Spigelia 4: Bee on Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa 5: Bee on ‘Prairie Princess’ Vernonia (ironweed) 7: Bee on ‘Webmaster’ Tradescantia (spiderwort)

9: Bee on GINGER WINE® Physocarpus 10: COLOR CODED® ‘Knock ‘em Red’ Echinacea (coneflower) 11: ‘Midnight Masquerade’ Penstemon 12: Butterfly on TOTALLY STOKED™ ‘Riptide’ Stokesia

13 and 15: Newly-planted natives bed in late summer; see p. 30

14: BRANDYWINE™ Viburnum

Below, left to right: KODIAK® Red 2.0 Diervilla, MEANT TO BEE® ‘Queen Nectarine’ Agastache (anise hyssop), ‘Treasure Trove’ Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan), DECADENCE® ‘Lemon Meringue’ Baptisia and PRAIRIE WINDS®

‘Niagara Falls’ Panicum (switch grass)

DECADENCE® ‘Lemon Meringue’ Baptisia

Height: 3' Spread: 3'

Zones: 4-9

TAKE YOUR GARDEN VERTICAL

RISE UP LILAC DAYS® Rosa (climbing rose)

Height: 5-8' Spread: 2-4' Zones: 4-9

If you find yourself scrambling for more room to plant each year, it might be time to go vertical to make the most of your space. Vines and climbers offer many of the qualities people love about other garden plants like fragrance, color, cut flowers and durability. Consider the sweet perfume of Rise Up Lilac Days® climbing roses, drought tolerance of Kintzley’s Ghost® honeysuckle or native roots of Dressed to Thrill® crossvine.

When choosing a new vine, start with what you’d like it to do. Cover an arbor or fence? Make a focal point? Act as a “thriller” in a patio pot? Whatever your goal, there is a vine that’ll work.

Opposite and above, left to right:

RISE UP EMBERAYS® Rosa (climbing rose)

Height: 3-5' Spread: 2-3' Zones: 4-8

‘Scentsation’ Lonicera (honeysuckle)

Height: 8-10' Spread: 2-4' Zones: 4-9

KINTZLEY’S GHOST® Lonicera (honeysuckle) DRESSED TO THRILL® Bignonia (crossvine)

6-12' Spread: 5' Zones: 4-8

ENHANCE YOUR GARDEN WITH SEASONAL BULBS

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was something blooming every time you walked out into your garden?

Bulbs can help you fulfill that aspiration. They weave easily amongst existing plantings, filling the gaps between perennials and shrubs or skirting the base of trees, and are easy to tuck in using a Twist ‘n Plant® auger.

Fall planted bulbs like tulips and daffodils rise early each spring, often before most perennials wake up for the new season, to bring instant cheer after a chilly winter. Spring planted, summer blooming bulbs like lilies and dahlias create continuity of bloom and add height to garden beds.

Don’t miss Proven Winners bulbs arriving this spring and fall at local independent garden centers, ready to plant!

DRESS YOUR TABLE THREE WAYS WITH LEAFJOY ®

You cook with fresh ingredients – so let your table styling be just as vibrant. Why not use leafjoy® houseplants as décor that grows rather than gathers dust?

A simple centerpiece made with small pots of leafjoy littles® and low growers adds a welcoming touch without blocking sightlines between guests. Set them on a runner or style the table corner alongside candles, linens and serveware to create a polished look. Switch up the elements to suit the vibe – earthy, Mediterranean or modern.

Bright windows cast the perfect ambient light to draw out the bright blush pink, steadfast variegation in Endless Cascades® Shining Sea Star™ Hoya.

ENDLESS CASCADES® SHINING SEA STAR™ Hoya

At left:

IGNEOUS™ BOLD FOREST™ Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), TROPICAL TAPESTRY™ KURA KURA™ Labisia (turtle back), PRISMACOLOR™ GOLDEN APPLE™ Philodendron (golden saw), LIVING LACE® RIBBON DANCE™ Platycerium (silver staghorn fern) In corner behind table: LIVING LACE® Victoria Asplenium (bird’s nest fern), BEAUTIFALL® Jade Epipremnum (jade pothos), CHROMA® Tineke Ficus (rubber plant), STYLELUSH™ SEA TURTLE™ Homalomena and MYSTERIA® SPOTSYLVANIA™ Monstera (Thai Constellation)

At left:

MYTHIC® DRAGONITE™ Alocasia (jewel alocasia), IGNEOUS™ BOLD FOREST™ Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), BOLD BELLES® CRISS CROSS™ Begonia (iron cross begonia), LIVING LACE® TWIRLY WHIRLY™ Nephrolepis (emina), SAVORY DELIGHTS® SPICE IS NICE™ Peperomia (baby rubber plant) and LIVING LACE® RIBBON DANCE™ Platycerium (silver staghorn fern)

At left:

MYTHIC® DRAGONITE™ Alocasia (jewel alocasia), JUNGLE DIVA™ ROXIE™ Geogenanthus (seersucker plant), TROPICAL TAPESTRY™ KURA KURA™ Labisia (turtle back), LIVING LACE® TWIRLY WHIRLY™ Nephrolepis (emina), SAVORY DELIGHTS® SPICE IS NICE™ Peperomia (baby rubber plant), SAVORY DELIGHTS® SWEET AND SOUR™ Peperomia (pepper elder), LIVING LACE® RIBBON DANCE™ Platycerium (silver staghorn fern) and NEW VOGUE™ FEELING FLIRTY™ Tradescantia (inch plants)

BEAUTY YOU CAN BELIEVE IN

There’s something that just hits different about buying from a business you feel good about supporting. Sure, we sell beautiful plants that thrive from coast to coast – but Proven Winners is so much more. We are passionate plant lovers who can’t wait to introduce you to your favorite new flowers. We are land stewards who strive to make the greatest impact with the lightest eco-footprint. We are knowledgeable plant specialists who enjoy helping our customers succeed. So, why do others believe in Proven Winners?

“You get the results you expect.” – Joshua from Newark

Proven Winners are trialed extensively before they are introduced so they will flourish in your garden. Every plant originates from elite stock, ensuring you get what you expect every time you plant your favorites. It’s why we are The Brand Gardeners Trust ® .

“I’m new to gardening and their plants are easy to grow.” – Camila

No matter if you are a budding gardener or have been cultivating plants for years, you’ll find our plants aren’t fussy and are designed to be resilient, delivering unwavering beauty through the seasons.

from Austin

“There’s always something new and interesting to try.” –

Patricia from Toronto

We’re passionate about plants, just like you. Over the last 30 years, our talented team has assembled one of the most diverse plant lines comprised of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, bulbs and tropicals you’ll find under one extraordinary brand – and we’re just getting started.

“They’re worth it!” – Naomi from Sacramento

“I

It’s true – there will always be less expensive plants to choose from. Exceptional quality, reliability and long-lasting value aren’t easy to come by, but these core values are firmly rooted in our brand. Where else would you find a petunia that blooms from spring through frost for less than the cost of a latte?

appreciate their eco-friendly options.” – Elliott from Minneapolis

Sustainability is top of mind with everything we do – from developing plastic-free pots for growers and water-saving AquaPots® for gardeners, to eco-friendly growing practices and an expanding selection of natives. We are on a mission to make gardening greener.

“It feels good to be part of their supportive community.” – Kristina from Nashville

If you’ve ever called our Illinois-based helpline, posted photos of your garden in our Gorgeous Gardens Facebook group, binge-watched Garden Answer videos or fanned over cool new plants at garden centers, you’ve experienced the strong sense of community that encompasses our brand.

ROOTED IN INSPIRATION

Packed with inspiration on every page, we are honored to walk the garden path with you through our Gardener’s Idea Book –blending creativity with practical guidance every step of the way. You’ll find that Proven Winners offers more than beautiful plants and helpful tools to grow them. It’s about immersing yourself in the restorative energy and nourishing calm that comes with growing what brings you joy. It’s about nurturing the environment and building relationships with those who share in what you’ve grown. It’s time to begin again. Let’s take that first step together.

Question? Feedback? We’re listening: provenwinners.com/feedback 1600 East Lincoln Highway, Suite F, DeKalb, Illinois 60115

Find Proven Winners locally or buy online at www.provenwinners.com Proven Winners Gardening Hotline: 815-895-8130