2025 Shrubs of the Year | 122

[@jeanettebright3378]

What an amazing show! Such gardening inspiration for 2025. I am anxious to try ALL of today's shrubs! I look forward to your KZbin show each week! Thank-you for teaching this old gardener new tricks!

[@pwcolorchoice]

Thank you so much! It's so nice to hear that you enjoy and learn from our show 🥰

[@8helenjhouston8]

The use of humor in plant names is one of my favorite parts of gardening! Thank you for all the time, energy and effort that you put into naming plants - they make me smile 😊!

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yay! It's certainly a fun and mindful process ☺

[@dianeknaack7139]

Happy New Year. Wonderful, informative show, as always. I am going to quote Tim Wood when people comment on how much I spend on plants each year. Gardening is therapeutic. Maybe seniors could start a movement to have a plant allotment from Medicare instituted.

[@josweatt898]

Hahaha too funny. I guess everyone must think I have needed lots of therapy as I am always planting'!

[@jaynemacdougall9327]

Love this!!

[@pwcolorchoice]

😍🤗 Gardening IS therapeutic!

[@pwcolorchoice]

@@josweatt898 😂 You're in good company here!

[@petegdula4749]

Happy 2025! It still trips me up on some of the ways you pronounce different flowers. For instance here in PA we call them Li-Lacks, isntead of Li-Locks. A few others, too, but I get over it with the pictures and descriptions.

[@marciawright2600]

We say Li-Lacks in Indiana!

[@heatherderganc5984]

😆 Yes! I say Clem aaa’ tis not Clem’ eh tis… It’s what I heard growing up and it’s hard to change!

[@LeanneD4]

Li-lacks down south in Georgia, too. They generally struggle in our heat and humidity.

[@Rustytoolgardener]

I’ve only heard of Li-locks never Li-lacks..lol

[@EmilysGarden902]

Li-lock in eastern Canada 😊

[@pattikulesza6203]

Really wonderful to hear from Tim who is so significant in the joy brought to our gardens- thank you!

[@pwcolorchoice]

He's wonderful and we're thankful for the impact he has had on plants and gardening 🤗

[@lorip2109]

All the best in the new year, Rick, Stacey and Adriana! Thank you for another wonderful year of the Gardening Simplified Show, I learn from every episode. Great to meet Tim Wood and put a face to the very creative names of many of the Proven Winners plants! Cheers to you all!!

[@pwcolorchoice]

Happy New Year to you, friend! That means so much to us and we so appreciate the kind words and support! ❤☺

[@Yvonne_ennovY]

I'm usually a gardener who doesn't pay much attention to the plant of the year categories because the selected plant is hit and miss in terms of my interest. However, every plant category for 2025 is a shrub that is either on my list to buy or is already in my garden!! I am beyond excited about this and have watched this episode 3 times already 🌿💚 Tim Wood's interview was truly the cherry on top! Such a great show! Thank you all, and happy new year! 🎉

[@pwcolorchoice]

How fantastic! It sounds like you have some great taste 😄 The new plants this year, are really exciting! I need to get myself a Kintzley's Ghost, hummingbirds love that plant too! 🤗

[@Yvonne_ennovY]

​@pwcolorchoice I am looking for a trellis or arbor to grow this gorgeous vine!! I was sold when I found out it's a hummingbird magnet 🤩🌼 Can't wait to enjoy the honeysuckle fragrance in the years to come!

[@reneewhite8675]

I agree 100% with Tim’s statement on our plants being like therapy❣️ I’ve always said my garden is my personal sanctuary.🥰

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yes, absolutely! 🤗❤

[@bettyjocohagen7955]

Happy 2025 from Kentucky!!! I can't wait for spring! The 2025 plants look sooo exciting!!! ❤🌷🪻🥀⚘️🪴

[@pwcolorchoice]

Happy 2025, friend! 🥳🤗

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Finally we get Tim on the show. Can we force him to come back more often?

[@josweatt898]

100% agree!

[@debs-more-plants]

Agree that was awesome!!

[@pwcolorchoice]

Oh, we will 😄

[@heatherderganc5984]

I love your sense of hummus! 😆 Great advice from Tim Woods, what an interesting guy! A great way to start the year! ✨Thank you for annnother great show!✨

[@pwcolorchoice]

He is truly a wealth of knowledge! Happy New Year! ❤🤗

[@nancykotar9350]

What a pleasure to have met Tim during this segment! Thank you

[@pwcolorchoice]

Thank you for watching! ☺

[@RandeeHalladay]

Super show, so fun and informative. Looking forward to all you have to offer in 2025.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Thank you so much! We really appreciate the support 🤗☺

[@the_garden_on_700N]

To Tim Wood... love the names of the plants. The"Wicked Witch Coleus" and the "Wee Bit Grumpy" tickles me to name a few! Thank you! ❤ PW!

[@darleneengelke16]

Wee bit grumpy was named by the grower.

[@the_garden_on_700N]

@darleneengelke16 Good to know! Clever name!

[@a.l1249]

Thank you, thank you! for bringing Kintzley's ghost mainstream. I've loved it for years - it grows at two public gardens (at least, these ones I know of) here in SLC, UT. I've been trying to track it down ever since, without luck. I'm so excited, hoping it'll finally show up in local nurseries carrying Proven Winners :-)

[@pwcolorchoice]

It is such a unique and beautiful plant! You should definitely start to see it being more readily available in garden centers this year 🤗😀

[@ordiekelleher2641]

Okay smile when you come on! Hugs! Love!😊❤😊

[@jeansandhoodiegardengal2975]

Happy New Year 2025 🪴🪴🪴🪴 Ready for this show!!!!

[@pwcolorchoice]

Happy New Year, friend! 🥳😄

[@tinacruz9162]

I preordered the Kintzley’s ghost(only because it’s a native), very excited for it to arrive in spring, 😊

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yay! It really is such a wonderful plant, you'll have to update us on how it does for you ☺🤗

[@madlinisho4336]

Happy 2025 to you guys I Enjoy your show very much ❤

[@pwcolorchoice]

Happy 2025 to you, friend! That's so wonderful to hear, thank you so much for the support! ☺

[@nnagle9224]

The plant naming segment was great. In addition, it helps when shopping for variations of hydrangea and other shrubs. The new lilac looks like a solution to the original lilacs I knew as a child. They always needed major pruning to keep the flowers within reach and reduce mildew.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Happy to hear that you enjoyed it! That is exactly right - more disease resistance, less maintenance, and reblooming capabilities 😄

[@mimlauj6869]

Love kintzley's ghost! Took me 2 years to find one, now I've seen it maybe times 😊

[@pwcolorchoice]

It is becoming more readily available on the market now - I can't wait to get one 🤗😄

[@thecakepopsistars]

Been trying to find this plant hopefully this year! Zone 5/6 🇨🇦

[@josweatt898]

Such fun hearing the full background of a plant like Kingsleys Ghost! I ordered one and planted it late summer. (I find it helps to plant something new when the summer doldrums hits) I graduated from CSU in FtCollins so this is interesting to hear the tie. I planted mine on an 8 ft wood post where my 6 ft tall fence drops to 4 ft so I think it will fill in the area and soften the change in fence. I had an annual popcorn plant growing next to where I planted it, but don't care to grow it again so the Vine should get plenty of sun. Would love some regular time slots from Mr. Wood. Happy New Year!

[@pwcolorchoice]

That sounds like a fantastic planting space for it! You'll have to let us know how it progresses come summer 😄

[@josweatt898]

@ I sure hope it looks as good as your photos!

[@Peoniesandpinks]

How quickly does the Kintzleys Ghost grow? What maintenance is required?

[@pwcolorchoice]

It is a fast grower! It can reach full height in three seasons, depending on planting conditions. Light: Requires full to part sun, which is a minimum of four hours of direct sun exposure. Soil: Grows happily in most soil types, just not soggy spots. Water: Lower than average water needs, very drought tolerant once established. Fertilizing: You can apply a fertilizer in the springtime. Pruning: Pruning is not recommended, as flowers are formed on old wood. Plus, the blue bracts are the most noteworthy feature.

[@bethwitschey5046]

Enjoyed your show. I wish there were more plants for zone 9.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Very glad to hear that you enjoy our show! 🤗

[@Yvonne_ennovY]

Quick question about roses: I know the Reminiscent Coral and Pink roses have similar fragrances because I have smelled them. I see that the Reminiscent Yellow Rose is new for 2025 (hooray 💛 🤩), and I can't wait to buy a couple for my garden. Does it smell the same as the others in the series? 🤞🏾🙏🏾 I'm hoping it doesn't have the strong licorice undertones of the Julia Child rose. While JC is a beautiful yellow color, I greatly prefer the classic fragrance of the Reminiscent Coral and Pink roses. ❤ Thanks in advance for any information you have!

[@pwcolorchoice]

Love the collection you have going! 😄 It smells similar to the other Reminiscent roses but has a bit more of a citrus smell - so not like the licorice or anise smell that some say the Julia Child rose gives off ☺

[@Yvonne_ennovY]

​@@pwcolorchoice Omg, I'm in love already! 💛🌹Roses with a citrus fragrance are such a pick-me-up! I might have to buy some for my front AND back yards 🤩 Thank you so much for your quick response!

[@debbieross7745]

Does the honeysuckle get cut back in the fall or spring like some clematis, or does it have a woody stem that continues to grow

[@pwcolorchoice]

Woody structure that does not require pruning! In fact, we recommend you don't prune as it blooms on old wood ☺

[@amyjones2490]

I’m wondering how this rose holds up to Japanese beetles? I’ve found scented roses attract the beetles in my garden here in Michigan.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Since roses are a top choice for Japanese beetles, I would take fragrance out of the equation completely and assume that they will indeed prey upon them. One nice thing, however, is that Reminiscent roses are reblooming, so you can cut them back when the beetles start to show up to remove all flowers...by the time they recover and start flowering again, the beetle population will be much lower or even gone. It's a bit heartbreaking, but not as heartbreaking as seeing your plants covered in the beetles. 🙂

[@karenbale8952]

I’m in zone 6 and looking for replacements for the six endless summer hydrangeas I planted five years ago here in Ohio. I need HELP for my eastern facing flower bed.

[@pwcolorchoice]

I'd be happy to help! Are you looking for a different type of hydrangea to grow or a different plant genus? How much sun exposure does the area get?

[@karenbale8952]

It gets at least 6 to 7 hours of sun a day. It’s blocked against my east side of the house and needs to be no taller than 4 feet. I don’t want to block my windows like a larger hydrangea of wood. I have two limelight hydrangeas standard trees which do much better. I have learned my lesson, though make it overly zealous in putting out growth and tend to fall over in high winds. The one on the north east corner of this yard tends not to grow balanced because most of the sun is blocked and late afternoon. I’ve learned to manage it by cutting it back, harshly in the spring. The endless summer variety does not do well where it’s located. I’m ready to pull them all out.

[@karenbale8952]

I’d like to have a flowering shrub there, but I’m not sure how hydrangeas are the way I should go. I have very alkaline soil and amending The soil is not always beneficial.

[@jaymefinley5433]

my area got bumped up to zone 9 last year, can I put the Kintzley's Ghost in afternoon shade to keep it happy? Same with Syringa....

[@pwcolorchoice]

It really depends on where in zone 9 you are - I would not recommend either plant in a humid zone 9 (Florida, Houston, for example) but if you live in a more arid zone 9 (Arizona, Southern California), you might be able to grow Kintzley's Ghost with mulch and supplemental water. As for the syringa, that's going to depend on whether your area gets sufficient chilling hours for lilac. Generally speaking, USDA zone 9 does not, but there may be exceptions for more unusual climates.

[@kathryngalajda3553]

Where is the trial garden open to the public?

[@pwcolorchoice]

Our trial garden is located in West Michigan, however, it isn't open to the public.

[@lynnthorson1349]

Could you use the Kintzley's Ghoat Honeysuckle as a cut flower? It would be amazing to use in flower arrangements!

[@mimlauj6869]

Yes, I do use it as a filler!! 😊

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yes, it works wonderfully as a cutting for arrangements 🤗

[@jolenefetterolf4771]

I just found you and LOvE the show. I was just reading up on vines and Kinsley Ghost was one on the list. Is this suitable for containers, is it deciduous. I’m thinking of growing this on our new rooftop deck, placing it against the brick wall. Sincerely, jojo

[@pwcolorchoice]

That's wonderful to hear, thank you so much! 🤗 Yes, you can grow it in a container and it is deciduous. Your rooftop deck sounds like a great place to utilize this awesome plant 😄

[@pwcolorchoice]

A note I forgot to mention - Kintzley's Ghost is not self-clinging so you will need some trellis for it to climb or a form of support to help it grow along your wall the way you'd like ☺

[@jolenefetterolf4771]

@ thank you !!

[@allemanfamily]

Little Lime grew fine for me last year in 9a.

[@pwcolorchoice]

So glad to hear that! 🤗

[@altheajackson5701]

Hello love the show can you grow the Kintzley's ghost on a live tree? I have October ghost in my front yard and think the Kintzley's ghost would look beautiful on it. Thank you.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Thank you so much! 🤗❤ Yes, it would be unlikely to damage a tree because a) it climbs by twining, not rootlets and b) it won't get big enough to strangle branches or add so much weight that branches break. 😄

[@brynnkohler4084]

Lonicera 'Kintzley Ghost' does NOT grow vigorously and lushly in the High Plains. It's painfully slow and really isn't a vine. It's acts more like a scraggy upright plant that kinda covers a fence.

[@utopianna]

You guys could do skits for a great SNL NPR Show: The Proven Winner Shrubs. Share your dreams. And your desperations.

[@pwcolorchoice]

😂😂❤

[@the_garden_on_700N]

Happy 2025! ❤️ your show! Question: Would the North Pole Arborvitae be good for a formal garden... let's say using one on the 4 corners of square bed with boxwoods connecting the 4 arborvitaes? Also, does the Little Lime Punch take 3-4 years to get established before it produces blooms? I have 3 in ground that are 2 years old and are not blooming yet. They are in a protected area, full sun and have been fertilized. Maybe this year they will produce blooms? ❤❤❤

[@pwcolorchoice]

Happy 2025! 🥳 Yes, North Pole would be great for your formal garden! It naturally grows with a very neat and upright habit 😄 Little Lime Punch is a bit slower to get established than other panicle hydrangeas but I have not heard of it taking two years. Is there any possibility that the flower buds were eaten by deer or rabbits?

[@the_garden_on_700N]

@@pwcolorchoice I don't believe so but I will keep a close eye on them. Thank you for your reply! Maybe this year I will have some blooms. 🙏

[@gracepeterson7483]

Calycanthus floridus var. Purpureus 'RED ZEPPELIN' ... on my lust list. I'm looking forward to my newly acquired Chitalpa 'El Nino' blooming this year.

[@pwcolorchoice]

😍 Both are fabulous plants! Can't wait to hear how your El Nino does for you this year 🤗

[@Flower_hoarder]

🪴✂️