2025 Perennials of the Year | 123

Introducing the 2025 Proven Winners Perennials of the Year! Learn why these high-performance perennials deserve a spot in your garden.
Show notes | Episode 123 | 1-11-2025
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For more information on Spice Baby™ Koreanspice viburnum visit, www.provenwinn...
To see more on the Gardening Simplified Show visit, gardeningsimpl...
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[@saralee848]

I put tulips in the ground by flashlight just last night. I'm in a new house, probably already making the neighbors wonder about me.

[@GoodShepherdBandFan]

I've definitely done this before

[@pwcolorchoice]

😂😂

[@mollypitcher9380]

I know. It’s embarrassing but what are you supposed to do?🌸

[@TrishPainter]

😂😂😂

[@lynnthorson1349]

I could listen to Stacey's voice all day. I'm not sure what it is, but I just love it. Your show is wonderful as well! 😊

[@the_garden_on_700N]

@@lynnthorson1349 Love Stacey's giggle. ❤️

[@pwcolorchoice]

That is so sweet of you! ☺❤

[@pwcolorchoice]

☺😄

[@angelaanderson5360]

Adriana does an excellent job of displaying the shrub or plant that is being discussed. Much appreciated.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you find them helpful 🤗❤

[@Jessicat_N]

My neighbor’s cats definitely go crazy for my catmint. I fear it will never flourish but it makes them happy 😻

[@pwcolorchoice]

You're sharing the joy of gardening - I'm sure they appreciate it 😄☺

[@carolrose4784]

Great show! I’m anxious too for spring.

[@pwcolorchoice]

The feeling is mutual here! 😄

[@emkn1479]

I love hosta flowers. I don’t get the hate. Hummingbirds and bumblebees like them and I agree with their taste. I’ll take any flower honestly…they’re all lovely…can’t HATE a flower.

[@leighseymour235]

I'm a hosta flower lover also!

[@nallen1833]

I love hosta flowers too - some of them smell really amazing.

[@deepost2604]

I clip the hosta flowers, because otherwise they self seed all over the place. it’s amazing how prolific my hostas have been. 🦋

[@pwcolorchoice]

Sounds like they are happy with their care ☺

[@the_garden_on_700N]

Two years ago I planted 3 Queen of Hearts Brunnera. When it bloomed in the spring, the electric blue flowers took my breath away! A spectacular plant. I will certainly be planting more this next year. Thank you Proven Winners. ❤❤❤

[@pwcolorchoice]

That is a beautiful plant! The silver foliage with those beautiful blue flowers is such a fantastic combo 😍

[@the_garden_on_700N]

@pwcolorchoice I was actually taken back with the intensity of the blue flowers. 💙

[@heatherderganc5984]

Your videos are never lawn enough! Finally got cold here in North Texas and the annuals couldn’t take it. Now I’m ready to plant more. Perennials are my favorite! Thank you for annnother great show!!! ❄️❄️❄️

[@elainelight9286]

Good one! Improved, IMO, would be lawng enough! 😅

[@pwcolorchoice]

Wahoo! Do you have any perennials you're specifically excited about this year? 😄

[@heatherderganc5984]

@@pwcolorchoice I transplanted my El Niño Chitalpa into the ground from a pot. It did great last year but I think it will be happier to spread out and bloom more in this sunnier spot. The leaves did brown in the cold we finally got, and I was THANKFUL for the timely information on your show!

[@heatherderganc5984]

@@elainelight9286 😆

[@EmilysGarden902]

I'm getting my pen and paper ready! I've been making a list all winter for this coming season lol. Perennials are my favorite. Though I must say, this podcast has really opened up the world of shrubs to me and how needed they are in a landscape. I bought about 20 in vary sizes, foliage colors, bloom types, etc last fall for my new home. Now excited to add in the perennials! Hoping to have some pictures/videos on KZbin or Instagram.

[@pwcolorchoice]

This is so fantastic to hear! Very excited to hear and see how your new space progresses this coming year! You'll definitely have to keep us posted! 🤗😄

[@lisajelle714]

“Your viburnum is looking relentlessly SUMMERY” 😂👍

[@pwcolorchoice]

😆😆

[@tararisser]

lol I only have two catmint plants because my cats go nuts for it. They lay on the plants and roll in them all the time ….it’s hilarious. 😆

[@pwcolorchoice]

Hahaha! That is adorable and pretty hilarious 😆

[@patwiggers7872]

What a great show to watch as I'm sitting here watching the snow come down outside. Makes me want to head out to the nurseries in my area. I got out my notebook and I am keeping track of what I may want to add to my gardens this year. Love how you show all the information on each plant you are discussing so I can pause and write this info down in my book. Thank you so much to everyone involved in producing this video.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Thank you so much! It's so nice to hear that you enjoy our show and find it useful ❤😊🤗

[@imalibragirl]

I got a couple of Spice Baby Viburnum couple of years ago! I agree with you about the scent, it’s beautifully intoxicating ❤❤❤

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yes! The fragrance is so lovely 🤗😍

[@patriciamcgonigal2688]

I bought a small mountain mint plant last spring. I kept it in a large pot. I already divided it 4 ways at the end of summer and all those large pots could be divided now as well. I don’t water it much in the pots and would not plant in ground 8a Atlanta. The flowers are quite striking. I have used in arrangements and also as a filler in my Xmas tree that is on my screened porch. It’s very pretty

[@pwcolorchoice]

It can certainly be a vigorous plant, but very pretty and pollinators absolutely love it!

[@susanr5827]

I'm with Stacy's mom. I grew up around flower and veggie gardens. I have never liked those hosta flowers on Miss America- which to me looks like the very common, old, hard to kill hostas. I do have a huge leaf, non variegated hosta with fabulous flowers. In NE PA I have never had issues with hostas in a sunny spot. Try it, Stacy! As always, it's a great show.

[@EmilysGarden902]

I'm guessing the deer would get to Stacy's hostas before the sun 😅

[@pwcolorchoice]

😂💯

[@pwcolorchoice]

So glad you enjoyed this episode! Hosta flowers seem to be a love them or hate them 😆

[@hilltopbrenda]

OOH the chameleon plant is a no go! I hear ya. Spent 7 hours pulling it out. No joke.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yikes! That plant can certainly be a pain!

[@petegdula4749]

So glad to be in January, because we're closer to March! Sad that I've missed looking at comments from the last show (had minor spinal procedure done). I need to see how many others added to the LiLACK OR LiLOCK discussion! It's okay, Rick! We love you all over at Gardening Simplified 🎉😂

[@pwcolorchoice]

Wishing you a quick and healthy recovery, friend! It was quite a debate 😆

[@MultiLisa10]

Video came on my recommendations. I just bought my first house and am looking forward to planting my plants and this video came just in time! I will definitely be writing down a list of plants I want to get!

[@MultiLisa10]

P.S. I heard that hostas are actually edible

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yay! So glad to hear this, congratulations on your first house! Can't wait to hear how the garden progresses 🤗

[@pwcolorchoice]

I have heard of people eating the shoots as they come up, reminiscent of asparagus I've heard 🙂

[@thecakepopsistars]

Yes 🤩 alstroemeria, finally!

[@pwcolorchoice]

🤗🤗

[@josweatt898]

Wow! hope to find Delosperma to plant along my driveway pad (narrow garden bed). They would look great with Lemon Coral Sedum. Mostly sun here in MS too. Would love to try Alstroemeria along my fence too. I want the orange. Thanks for the inspiration !

[@pwcolorchoice]

That sounds like a perfect spot for some Delosperma! Thank you for watching! 😄

[@EmilysGarden902]

My opinion on hosta blooms: i prefer the white ones usually, and I prefer the ones with shorter stalks. I find I leave the short/tidy ones and cut back the tall, tend to get floppy ones.

[@MourningDove-bn4dk]

Nepeta and columbines attract hawk moths right around dusk time. It just so happens that they bloom around the same time. These critters are the closest thing I can get to hummingbirds.

[@pwcolorchoice]

I love those moths! They're so fascinating and fun to watch 😍

[@Southfacinglad]

I find the Chitalpa come backs a bit later in spring, not as long as butterfly bushes, but not right away.

[@pwcolorchoice]

It can be a little slow to start in some locations in the spring ☺

[@loukrudewig3414]

My so. Lives in sW Michigan and the hostess are beautiful in that area

[@pwcolorchoice]

They are really great plants, especially when it comes to shade! 😄

[@kp-gbuniqueinterest]

I love Viburnums. I love that they can be grown in the shade, and I know that I will not get many blooms. But they make great hedges. I have blue muffins, and they grew very quick in their 2nd season in the ground at my house. I wish some of them would have berries, but I don't have the male plant. My other faves are the Korean spice (10ft), Brandy wine, and red balloon. Love them. I had the Standard Julie Child Rose, it died in its 3rd season when we had that crazy arctic blast. The rose that it was grafted too was growing back from the ground.

[@pwcolorchoice]

You have quite a fantastic collection of viburnums! 😍 I'm sorry to hear about your rose standard, while they are beautiful, they can be a bit sensitive to certain conditions.

[@kp-gbuniqueinterest]

@pwcolorchoice I'm trying to collect all PW plants that can be grown in my area. 605 PW plants and counting. Your team makes the best plants and i love how you breed the best and get rid of the bad. Makes it so much easier to plant as most of the black pot plants maybe invasive or blaring for the area. Thanks for making gardening happy and safe for the environment.

[@bettyjocohagen7955]

Hello from Kentucky! I know I'm a day late, but.... I have 2 new chatapas and 3 sting arborvities. And have an artic blast coming. Should I cover them?? I planted them in late October. And some new hostas and ferns! Omg I just remembered.

[@nallen1833]

Me too! I planted 2 tiny chitalpas and some boxwood this fall. Too late to cover them now. ❄️ sure hope they survive.

[@pwcolorchoice]

It is too late to do anything now, but not to worry - they should be fine. Just be aware that the chitalpa can be a bit late to leaf out naturally, so don't panic if you don't see new growth quickly in spring, and that even if it doesn't come back on last year's branches, it can still grow from the roots but that will take a little more time. ☺

[@8helenjhouston8]

I love Serendipity Allium. Unfortunately mine didn’t bloom last year. I have them in full sun zone 8 eastern NC. Any suggestions on how to encourage blooms this year?

[@rickvuyst]

Did the plants have healthy foliage? Any chance the blooms were eaten? The deer and rabbits don't eat the foliage but I have interestingly enough had blooms nibbled. Thank you very mulch for watching the show!

[@8helenjhouston8]

@ - hmmm, that is a good point. I do have an enthusiastic bunny population… foliage is ok, not great.

[@elainelight9286]

I realize Norway Maples aren’t native, and I believe plants native to a local are essential to the health of this world, I must say that Norway Maples have a beautiful shape - round like a lollipop. Although I wouldn’t plant one now, I thoroughly enjoyed mine for 35 years in NY. No volunteers either! Did miss the gorgeous autumn colors of the sugar and red maples, though!

[@lisajelle714]

I recently planted a Norway Maple, “Golden Globe”. It’s supposed to only get 4-5’ tall and wide in 10 years. Looking forward to seeing it grow and be a golden presence it its bed!

[@pwcolorchoice]

They do have a lovely habit! 😄

[@barjrfarmandranch6002]

I love perennials! One question: I have started several perennials in my raised beds. Now I need to add more soil. How do I do that without covering up the roots of my perennials? This will be a yearly problem for me. zone 8 north Texas. Judy.

[@pwcolorchoice]

It would be risky to continue to add more soil without digging up and replanting your plants. Adding more soil to the top will disturb the air particle ratio and the soil's drainage, which can lead to various problems and diseases for plants. You could add some compost and mix that in as much as possible to the existing soil without damaging your plants roots.

[@kathryngalajda3553]

The bunnies chewed my new Nepeta to the ground in the spring and that was the end of them. They also took my double file Viburnum to half it’s height as there was a convenient snow drift for them to sit on and munch away. The Viburnum has survived and thrived but I needed to prune for shape for a few years.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Those darn bunnies can be a nuisance! I'm glad to hear that your viburnum survived!

[@قناةطبخالمغربيالاصيل]

مسيىة موفقة💚💚💚🍺🍺🍺🍣🍣👍🏼👍🏼

[@lilyw.1788]

Jack of diamonds died in my garden in part shad after it flowered and had them in the ground for 3 years . Every year before the heat hits , I cut out the flower spikes but this season I decided to leave it but it fizzled to the ground. Does cutting bloom stalks early have anything to do with the longevity of the plant ?

[@pwcolorchoice]

No, that shouldn't impact it - they do contribute a bit of energy as long as they are green, but not to the point where it would negatively impact plant health. It is generally recommended to leave the spent foliage in place over winter to protect the crown of the plant, so that could be an issue; they are also sensitive to poor drainage so if the soil was very wet even for a short period, that could have killed it as well.

[@petabread91]

Hello Proven Winners. How tolerant are your perrenials to the Florida climate? I am in zone 10a, and would love to bring your perennials to my garden.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Hello there! If you go to this link, www.provenwinners.com/plants/search Enter in your zip code which will filter plants hardy to your zone and for "Plant Type" select perennials. This will give you a list of the perennials hardy in your zone ☺

[@nanmin2013]

If I were to plant a Kinsley ghost on chain link fence that is on a severe slope, would it be to heavy or not. I would not want to pull the fence over.

[@pwcolorchoice]

No, this is not likely to be an issue, its branches don't become super heavy like you see with a wisteria or trumpet vine. 🙂

[@ElizabethMcManus-j2n]

When I bought my viburnum Spice Girl, I was told I needed to plant another genus viburnum in order to have flowers.

[@EmeraldPawYT]

You should get flowers without another one, but to get berries you would need another one.

[@pwcolorchoice]

As mentioned here, Spice Girl will produce flowers without another Viburnum carlesii, but another one is needed for the plant to produce berries. 🙂

[@suselew]

I'm with Rick. I pronounce "lilac" like he does and find the other pronounciation odd. I think it depends where you were raised and where your parents were raised. I face the same discrepancy with "arborvitae." My mom pronounced it with the "ah" ending and not "ee". I'm sticking to my guns!

[@pwcolorchoice]

I agree that it depends on where you were raised! Dialect varies a lot, even just within one state sometimes! 😄

[@lindabenford7134]

I never removed my hosta flowers ❤

[@pwcolorchoice]

☺🤗

[@Flower_hoarder]

💚

[@pwcolorchoice]

❤❤

[@kaystinebrink1220]

Spice Baby Viburnum is sun and hosta is shade. How do these pair?

[@pwcolorchoice]

Spice Baby will also grow in part shade, however the idea is to underplant the hosta around Spice Baby so the viburnum would be casting shade where the hostas are planted.

[@karenschwartz5209]

Where can I find Champagne Bubbles Iceland Poppies plugs. Who ships to Washington?

[@PamBau63]

I get sad when people recommend Hostas because I want to grow them but they are just a very expensive salad for all the deer in my woods.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Ugh yes, deer do love to munch on hostas!

[@rogerboeve4658]

Pull astromeria out from the ground. Don’t cut.

[@mariasmith6438]

please pick your pronunciation and stick with it, constantly saying both versions is so irritating to some of your viewers.

[@bunnyhammill4141]

Crabby are we? Who cares?

[@Phone2Levenbach]

1.5 speed