Varieties to hit Garden center shelves this season

No matter how big or small the garden, there are few new plants that will make a gardener’s heart sing. We’ve looked at the introductions for 2025 and found a few that we think you’ll love as much as we do. From jaw-dropping blooms to stunning foliage and some delicious edibles, there’s sure to be a plant (or several) that will have your friends asking, “Where did you get that?” The challenge with new introductions is that numbers are often low the first year, so finding them at garden centers or online nurseries can be a bit of a challenge. So shop early and don’t give up; these beautiful new plants will definitely be around next year.

1. The rose is so pretty . . . you’d want to eat it?

That’s right — this is a new line of roses bred specifically with the kitchen in mind. Flavorette features beautiful orange flowers with hints of honey-apricot coral. The flowers are actually edible, and they sport — you guessed it — a slight honey-apricot flavor. It’s a disease-resistant plant that grows into a bushy shrub over time. Flowering begins in early summer and lasts well into fall. Pruning is minimal for this rose; simply cut back winter-damaged stems in early spring. Every few years, prune back old stems to the crown to encourage new growth, which produces more blooms. 2. An Orange Foliage Expansion A sturdy evergreen Lucky Leu hanging laurel (Leucothoe axillaris ‘Bailcothoe’) Here’s a new twist on an evergreen favorite. Lucky Leu produces peachy orange new growth that is accented by small white flowers in spring. The leaves eventually turn a deep emerald green in summer, making this low-maintenance shrub a good boxwood Lucky Liu maintains its weeping, rounded shape with little to no pruning. Introduced by Bailey Nurseries

3. Earlier bloom time and better regrowth distinguish this chaste tree

Queen Bee Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus 'Bildextree') is a chaste tree with beautiful deep lavender flowers that are heat, drought, and deer tolerant, a more manageable size than Queen Bee species or other cultivars. Flowers begin in early summer — earlier than most varieties — and continue into fall. You don't have to worry about the plants not blooming, but doing so will encourage a heavy regrowth.

4. Burgundy New Growth is a Bonus on This Pink-Blooming Camellia

Just Chill Red Tip Camellia brings year-round interest to borders in mild winter areas. The burgundy new growth provides a lovely contrast to the glossy green mature foliage. While other plants are dormant in mid-fall through winter, Just Chill Red Tip comes to life with dozens of fragrant, soft pink flowers. It doesn’t need much pruning, if any; remove any stray stems.

5. A sophisticated look and lemon scent From a tough-as-nails rose

This is a Knockout rose, so it doesn’t look or smell like a Knockout rose. Easy Bee-zy features single yellow flowers reminiscent of flowers from an ancient species. They have a light citrus scent that you can enjoy along a path or near a patio or deck. Like all other members of this series, it has stellar disease resistance and low maintenance requirements. Exceptionally glossy foliage perfectly complements the delightful blooms from early summer to late fall.