Right now, our Zone 6A upstate New York garden may not look like much, but in just a few months, it will be completely transformed.

Over the winter, we’ve been planning, dreaming, and designing with color, structure, and form in mind. In this post, we’re sharing 20 plants we’re most excited to add to the garden this season, from standout trees and shrubs to perennials, annuals, and even a few first-time experiments.

Some of these plants already have a home picked out. Others? We’ll figure that out as we go, because that’s just part of the fun of gardening.

Starting with Structure: Trees That Shape the Garden

When we think about long-term garden design, we always start with trees. They provide structure, scale, and year-round interest.

Alpenglow Japanese Maple

This is a tree we’ve been thinking about for years. Alpenglow is part of the Jack Frost collection, which means it’s a hybrid Japanese and Korean maple bred for extra cold hardiness.

What drew us in was the color. Instead of green or rusty tones, this tree has a glowing red-pink hue inspired by alpine sunsets. It has an upright, oval form that will reach about 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, making it perfect for our half-acre garden. In Zone 6A, we can grow it in full sun.

Cinnamon Curls Birch

This dwarf Korean birch is all about texture. With its cinnamon-colored peeling bark and compact size of about 9 feet by 9 feet, it brings winter interest and fall color without overwhelming the space.

We love repeating visual elements in the garden, and this tree’s bark reminds us of a paperbark maple we already have. Even if you do not know exactly where a tree will go yet, sometimes you just know it belongs in the garden.

Sunny Swirl Hinoki Cypress

We love the soft, ferny texture of hinoki cypress, especially when they get a little whimsical as they grow. Sunny Swirl adds a golden accent with yellow new growth, something we’re always happy to weave into our evergreen collection.

This dwarf evergreen will reach about 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide and does well in full sun to part sun.

Jubilee Weeping Alaskan Cedar

These are the biggest structural trees we’re adding this year, and we are planting three of them.

They will go along the back berm to help create a natural evergreen screen. Rather than installing a solid fence, we’re building a layered, living barrier using evergreens. These trees grow quickly, add beautiful movement, and bring a rich green color to the landscape.

The Shrub Layer: Our Favorite Category

If we had to pick a favorite garden category, shrubs would probably win.

Penelope Lively Rose

This is a newer David Austin rose making its way to the U.S., and it has been on our radar since its debut at the Chelsea Flower Show.

It offers a mid-pink bloom, excellent fragrance, and improved disease resistance. Newer roses like this are worth a second look if you’ve struggled with roses in the past. They’re healthier, more floriferous, and far more forgiving.

Summer Wine Rosé Ninebark

This is a newer Proven Winners shrub we’re excited to trial. Ninebark is native, cold hardy, and tough, but this variety adds refined foliage color and soft pink blooms.

It will replace a rose of Sharon we’re removing and bring depth and seasonal interest to the front of the berm.

Jazz Hands Variegated Loropetalum (Container Shrub)

Loropetalum isn’t hardy in our zone, but we’re using it as a seasonal container shrub. The variegated foliage and bright pink flowers make it a standout accent, especially paired with roses and darker foliage plants.

If we fall in love, we may overwinter it in the garage, just like other tender plants we’ve successfully saved in the past.

New and Improved Hydrangeas

Let’s Dance Hotstepper Hydrangea

This lacecap hydrangea is a newer introduction that blooms continuously on both old and new wood. That means reliable flowers even after harsh winters.

It will reach about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide and change color based on soil pH. We’re already dreaming of shifting it from pink toward a purple-blue tone.

Vertical Interest with Clematis

Moonlight Mocha Clematis

This dark-leaf, pink-flowering clematis was an instant yes. It will be planted along our west fence, where the foliage will pop beautifully against the light-colored background.

Clematis thrive with shaded roots and sunny tops, and this location checks all the boxes.

Seeds, Annuals, and Pollinator Favorites

We’re also growing a mix of seeds and annuals to add texture, fragrance, and pollinator support.

Highlights include:

• Verbena for height and pollinators
• Zinnia cosmos and gomphrena for bold summer color
• Watermelon as a fun experiment trained up arches
• Fragrant annuals like nemesia and heliotrope
• Reliable shade performers for hanging baskets

Our container color palette this year leans toward purple and pink, with chartreuse accents for contrast.

Perennials We’re Excited to Grow

We’re adding several new perennials, including:

• A new allium that blooms earlier than most varieties
• Deep purple penstemon for rich contrast
• Heuchera with bold, dark foliage that holds its own in the garden

These plants help build continuity throughout the season and support pollinators from spring through fall.

A New Way to Grow With Us

Before wrapping up, we also want to share something new.

We’ve launched YouTube memberships, including our Grow For Me Gardeners tier. This gives members early access to videos, exclusive live streams, priority comment replies, and more opportunities to connect directly with us.

👉 Learn more about memberships here

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