New & Featured Perennials for 2025
'Golden Anniversary' False Indigo (Baptisia sp.)
A groundbreaking introduction, this false indigo is the first to pair striking golden yellow foliage with rich indigo-blue flowers. Its tall, lupine-like flower spikes bloom in summer, followed by decorative, rattling seed pods. A hardy, long-lived perennial, it thrives in dry, poor soil with minimal care.
Long spikes of indigo blue lupin-like flowers appear just above the foliage in summer; attracts butterflies.
- Has a tidy ball-shaped habit of pea-like foliage held on sturdy stems.
Deer resistant.
- Average to poor, well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established. Sun.
- Ht. 75-100cm (30-36 in.) Sp. 75-100cm (30-36 in.) Zone 3
'Freckle Face' Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis)
Not a true lily, this unusual Iris relative is not normally offered in Alberta, but we thought we’d give this new variety a try since it’s listed as hardy to zone 4. Masses of red-speckled orange blooms in late summer to fall attract butterflies and bedazzle fans of bright green foliage. The common name was inspired by the black seeds that appear at the end of the season and persist through winter.
Sprays of red-speckled orange blooms in late summer to fall, followed by attractive black seeds; attracts butterflies.
Fans of bright green leaves form a clump.
Excellent cut flower; the seedheads make lovely dried flowers.
Average to fertile, well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established. Full sun.
- Ht. 45-60cm (18-24 in.) Sp. 20-30cm (8-12 in.) Zone 4
EverLast Violet Blue Pinks (Dianthus sp.)
Pinks are among the best perennials for sunny locations, and this new variety has an unusual colour. Bluish purple blooms with reddish centres are scented and bloom continuously from spring to fall – a quality that is not common in hardy perennials. The low clumps of evergreen, blue-green foliage are well-suited for rock gardens and border edging. The delightful blooms will attract pollinators all season. Will likely prove more winter hardy than noted.
- Masses of fragrant, bluish purple flowers with reddish centres bloom continuously from spring to fall; attracts pollinators.
- Low clumps of evergreen, blue-green foliage.
- Average to sandy, well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established. Full sun.
Ht. 20-30cm (8-12 in.) Sp. 25-35cm (10-14 in.) Zone 4
'Touch of Blush' False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
False sunflowers are one of the hardiest and best-performing perennials for sunny locations. This new selection is noted for the pink blush that appears on new growth, which then matures to green with bold white veining. Masses of golden yellow, daisy-like flowers appear over most of the summer and will attract bees and butterflies. Forms a tidy, compact clump.
- Masses of daisy-like, golden yellow flowers bloom for most of the summer; attracts pollinators.
- Forms a compact, bushy clump of white-veined foliage with pink-blushed new growth.
- Easily grown and reliable performer.
- Average, well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established. Sun to light shade.
- 45-50cm (18-20 in.) Sp. 40-50cm (16-20 in.) Zone 3
'Flower Girl' Hellebore (Helleborus sp.)
Blooming in late winter for over six weeks, hellebores are one of the first signs of spring. ‘Flower Girl’ is a gorgeous double-flowering variety with abundant blooms in soft blush to light pink hues. This easy-to-grow perennial grows best in a sheltered location and is an excellent addition to shade gardens, borders, and woodland gardens.
- 2 ½-3 in., double, light pink flowers in early spring; bee friendly.
Forms a low clump of semi-evergreen umbrella shaped leaves.
Deer/rabbit resistant.
- Fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Partial shade to shade.
Ht. 25-40cm (10-16 in.) Sp. 30-40cm (12-16 in.) Zone 4
'Changeling' Coralbells (Heuchera sp.)
With their colourful mounding foliage, coralbells are a perennial favourite for shady areas (and often sunny areas too). This new variety is noted for its ever-changing scalloped leaves. In spring, the foliage starts off blushed with peach and cherry. By early summer it starts changing to champagne and taupe, later maturing into various shades of green over a silvery background. The blush returns with cold weather in fall. This compact, easily grown plant will display its best colour in part shade to full sun and will add multiple seasons of interest to your garden. May prove more winter hardy than noted.
- Low mounds of ever-changing foliage morph from peach and cherry in spring to champagne, taupe, and green with silver in summer, blushing again in fall. Semi-evergreen.
Tall spikes of small white flowers appear in summer.
Average to fertile, well-drained soil. Shade to sun.
Ht. 25cm (10 in.) (foliage only), Sp. 35cm (14 in.) Zone 4
'Eye Liner' Iris (Iris x pseudata)
The newest variety of “pseudata” type Irises, which have proven themselves winter hardy in central Alberta. These plants result from crossing the yellow flag Iris (I. pseudacorus) with the Japanese Iris (I. ensata), giving you robust plants with large, dramatic flowers, without the invasive tendency of the yellow flag parent. ‘Eye Liner’ has pearly white blooms with yellow eyes that are lined violet. The flowers appear in summer, after most Irises have finished. Large clumps of grassy leaves look great all season. These will thrive in almost any location in sun to part shade, including wet areas.
Large pearly white flowers with yellow eyes, lined with violet, in summer.
- Forms a large clump of grassy foliage.
Deer/rabbit resistant.
Average, moist to wet soil. Sun to part shade.
Ht. 85-95cm (34-38 in.) Sp. 70-80cm (28-32 in.) Zone 3
'Lavender Glowsticks' Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
Blazing star is a favourite for attracting butterflies and bees, and is one of the best perennials for drier locations. This selection features exceptionally tall spikes of glowing purple flowers in summer, held high above clumps of grassy foliage. An ideal plant for xeriscaping, cutting gardens, sunny borders, and attracting pollinators into your yard.
Tall spikes of glowing purple flowers in summer; attracts pollinators.
- Forms an upright clump of grassy green leaves.
Deer resistant and an excellent cut flower.
Average to poor, well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established. Sun.
- Ht. 120cm (4 ft.) Sp. 45-60cm (18-24 in.) Zone 3
'Kintzley's Ghost' Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata)
Introduced via the Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Garden’s PlantSelect program, which is focused on rugged, drought tolerant plants. This is a selection of a honeysuckle species native to the midwestern US, which was reportedly originally discovered by William Kintzley in the 1880s in Fort Collins, CO. It has rounded, silvery bracts which resemble silver dollar eucalyptus. The tubular yellow flowers appear in summer and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This is a climbing vine for sun to part shade and dry soil. May prove more winter hardy than indicated.
Tubular yellow flowers appear in summer and are surrounded by showy silver bracts which persist all season.
Vigorous climbing vine which needs support or can be treated as a large groundcover.
Prune in spring to remove dead or damaged wood and control size.
- Average to poor, well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established. Sun to part shade.
Ht. 2.4-3.7m (8-12 ft.) Sp. 90-180cm (3-6 ft.) Zone 4
Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens)
A creeping broadleaf evergreen groundcover, this unique species is native to the Rockies and is found wild in southwestern Alberta. The holly-like leaves are glossy and deep green, turning purplish in fall/winter. Yellow flowers in spring are followed by edible but sour deep bluish-purple berries that ripen in late summer. An unusual accent plant at home in sunny or shady areas with damp, acidic soil. A location with good snow cover is preferred to avoid desiccation from dry winter winds.
Clusters of yellow flowers in spring are followed by clusters of edible bluish-purple berries, ripening in late summer.
Forms a low mat of evergreen, holly-like, glossy green leaves; purplish fall/winter colour.
- Ideal in locations with good snow cover to avoid desiccation from dry winter winds.
Average to fertile, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Sun to shade.
Ht. 20-30cm (8-12 in.) Sp. 90-120cm (36-48 in.) Zone 3
'Big Sky' Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
This impressive new salvia is a garden essential, offering a larger size than other varieties! It showcases a stunning display of violet-blue flowers supported by a dense rosette of large, lightly scented leaves, blooming later than other perennial salvias. Thriving in any sunny garden this salvia benefits from occasional deadheading to produce an abundance of vibrant flower spires throughout the summer.
Violet blue flowers bloom throughout summer; attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
- Bushy clump of scented, large green leaves.
Deer/rabbit resistant.
Average, well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established. Sun to part shade.
Ht. 70-80cm (28-32 in.) Sp. 70-80cm (28-32 in.) Zone 3
'Appalachian Trail' Foamflower (Tiarella sp.)
This delightful woodland perennial, closely related to the popular coralbells, is a fast-growing and vigorous groundcover. ‘Appalachian Trail’ features multiple branching stems and striking leaves with a bold splatter pattern in shades of purple and red. In late spring, delicate, feathery white flowers emerge, adding to its charm. Perfect for shady garden areas as an eye-catching accent plant!
Small, feathery, white flowers appear in late spring.
Forms a mat of green scalloped foliage, splattered with a purple-red pattern.
- Deer/rabbit resistant.
Ht. 10-15cm (4-6 in.) Sp. 90cm (36 in.) Zone 3
'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.)
Spiderwort is a perennial that should be seen in more gardens. These plants are adaptable to many different locations but are especially useful in wet areas. They have attractive grassy foliage and bloom for much of the summer. This new selection is noted for its unusual large blooms, pale lilac with airbrushed purple centres.
Masses of large, pale lilac blooms with airbrushed purple centres in summer.
Forms a clump of grassy, blue-green foliage.
Attracts pollinators.
Average to fertile, moist to wet soil. Sun or shade.
Ht. 45cm (18 in.) Sp. 60cm (24 in.) Zone 3