Winter is the perfect time to step back, reflect, and decide what truly earns a place in the garden.

As we plan for the 2026 growing season here in our Zone 6A garden in upstate New York, we are focusing on plants that have proven themselves. These are plants that perform year after year, offer structure or long-lasting beauty, and earn their space. We even put together a free guide to walk you through all of our favorites. You can download the guide here.

In this guide, we are sharing:

• Our must-have shrubs, perennials, annuals, and trees for 2026
• Plants we have grown and loved
• A few popular plants we are intentionally skipping

Everything here is based on hands-on experience in our own garden.

Prefer to watch instead of read? We break all of this down in detail in the video above.

Must-Have Shrubs for the 2026 Garden

Let’s Dance Sky View Hydrangea

Bigleaf hydrangeas can be hit or miss in colder climates, but Let’s Dance Sky View has completely changed that for us.

Why we love it:

• Excellent bud hardiness for Zone 6A
• Fast re-blooming on new growth
• Reliable flowering even after cold winters
• Compact size, roughly 3 feet by 3 feet

This is a full-sun bigleaf hydrangea for us, although gardeners in warmer zones will want to provide afternoon shade. It is also easier to turn blue depending on soil pH, which is a bonus.

This plant has earned its place as our number one must-have shrub.

Winecraft Black Smoke Bush

This shrub changed the way we think about foliage in the garden.

We grow Winecraft Black for its rich, deep purple foliage, not the flowers. Each spring, we coppice it nearly to the ground. While this removes blooms for the season, it creates:

• Bigger, bolder foliage
• Strong structure
• A dramatic presence in the garden

It is technically listed as a 4–6 foot shrub, but ours grows larger with time. Compared to older varieties like ‘Velvet Cloak,’ we find Winecraft Black to be denser, darker, and more impactful.

Reminiscent Pink Shrub Rose

This has been one of the healthiest roses we have ever grown.

Why it stands out:

• Exceptional disease resistance
• Minimal winter dieback
• Strong fragrance
• Consistent, dense growth

The color is a medium, neutral pink that works with nearly any palette. While it is very thorny, the health and performance more than make up for it. We have seven planted en masse, and they perform beautifully.

Shrub We’re Skipping: Rose of Sharon

This may be a controversial take, but for our short growing season, Rose of Sharon does not earn its space.

Our reasons:

• Takes up space all spring and early summer with little interest
• Blooms too late to justify the footprint
• Better late-season options exist for us, such as panicle hydrangeas

We are keeping one narrow, columnar variety (‘White Pillar’) in a specific location, but most are being removed.

Must-Have Perennials for 2026

Luminary Backlight Phlox

This tall garden phlox has been incredibly impressive.

What sets it apart:

• No disease issues, even late in the season
• Long bloom duration
• Strong, bushy base
• Clean white flowers that enhance surrounding colors

White flowers provide visual rest and make other colors pop. This one is a standout.

Note: It is a favorite of rabbits and groundhogs, so we protect young growth with chicken wire in spring.

Serendipity Allium

If you want pollinators, this is the plant.

Why we grow it:

• Completely critter resistant
• Covered in pollinators during bloom
• Unique strappy foliage
• Cheerful purple globe flowers

It blooms earlier than many alliums and stays attractive all season.

Peachberry Ice Coral Bells

Coral bells can be unreliable in colder zones, but Peachberry Ice has been extremely dependable for us.

We grow it for:

• Interesting peachy-pink foliage
• Strong winter survival
• Reliability year after year

It works beautifully at the front of a border and pairs especially well with darker shrubs like smoke bush.

Perennials We’re Skipping: Lilies

Both Asiatic lilies and daylilies have fallen out of favor for us.

Why:

• Red lily beetles are difficult to manage
• Messy appearance after bloom
• Too much maintenance for too little payoff

Must-Have Annuals for the 2026 Garden

Rockin’ Playin’ the Blues Salvia

This is one of our most reliable annuals.

Why we love it:

• Constant color from early season through fall
• Huge plants with strong presence
• Pollinator and hummingbird magnet

Do not overplant. These get large.

Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo

This annual is a staple in our garden.

What makes it special:

• No cutting back required
• Dense, ground-covering growth
• Rich purple flowers that soften to a silvery tone
• Excellent performance in both containers and in-ground

Meteor Shower Verbena

For gardeners who love the look of Verbena bonariensis but want more control, this is the answer.

Why it works:

• Compact growth under 2 feet
• Does not reseed
• Airy structure with strong pollinator appeal

Annuals We’re Skipping

• Pentas – Needs more sustained heat than our climate provides
• Jamesbrittenia – Too cool and wet for our conditions
• Lobularia – Looks great early, collapses in heat

Must-Have Trees for the Garden

Eastern Redbud

A native tree with incredible spring interest.

Why we recommend it:

• Flowers emerge directly from the trunk and branches
• Manageable size for home gardens
• Whimsical structure and heart-shaped foliage

Prairie Fire Crabapple

This tree delivers color and interest across multiple seasons.

Highlights:

• Intense magenta spring blooms
• Persistent fruit for winter interest
• Compact size that works well as an accent tree

Truman Blue Spruce

A unique evergreen with both color and movement.

Why it earns its place:

• Icy blue needles
• Whimsical branching from Serbian spruce genetics
• Slow growing and manageable
• Strong winter resilience

Trees We Recommend Skipping

• Trees you do not love
• Undersized starter trees when a larger specimen is possible
• Evergreens that are borderline hardy for your zone

Trees are long-term investments. Choose wisely and confidently.

Free Garden Favorites Guide

If you want a printable, easy-to-reference list of our garden favorites, we created a free Garden Favorites Guide with even more plants than we covered here.

👉 Download the Garden Favorites Guide here

Final Thoughts

These plant recommendations are the result of eight years of trial, error, success, and honest evaluation in our own garden.

As you plan your 2026 garden, focus on plants that earn their space, suit your climate, and bring you joy.

If you have strong opinions of your own, we would love to hear them. Share your must-haves and your skips, and do not forget to include your growing zone.

Thanks for growing with us.

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