What's up North^™, Charlie Nardozzi - Exciting New Varieties for 2026

North Region Tips: January 2026

Designing a New Garden - January is the perfect time to design a new garden. First, map out the hardscape elements like stone walls, walkways and structures in your existing space. Then, start a list of the types of plants you'd like to grow in your new garden. This guide will help you choose the right varieties for your setting.

Houseplant Shower - Light levels are still low in January, so houseplants may not need much attention during this time of slow growth. However, one task I do every month is to give foliage houseplants a shower. Doing so cleans the leaves, increases the humidity around the plant, and makes for a happier houseplant.  

Check On Stored Bulbs - If you stored away canna lily and dahlia tubers last fall, now is a good time to check on them. The tubers should feel firm, not wrinkled or soft. If they are too dry, mist them lightly with water. If any are soft and rotting, discard them so they won’t affect the others.

Seed Testing - Now is a good time to do a germination test for the older seed packets you have stored away. To do so, place 10 seeds in a clear plastic bag with a slightly moistened paper towel. Set them in a warm room out of direct sunlight. Check the seeds after one week. If the germination rate is lower than 80%, consider buying fresh seed.

Exciting New Varieties for 2026

I love January in the North. The holidays are over and I have time to sit back by the fire with my laptop and a cup of tea and peruse the new varieties debuting this year. In the flower and shrub markets, there are always exciting new selections coming to the forefront. I particularly look for ones with unusual and truly unique characteristics. Let me tell you about six new varieties I've found so far that I think will be worth growing in our cold climate.

New Flowers

There are always plenty of new annual flowers to choose from each year, but the new Supertunia Vista^® Cool Jazz^™ petunia stands out to me because of its stunning, cool orchid pink flowers. I can see it matched with many other colorful annuals. It’s an extra-vigorous variety that spreads wide in the landscape and makes huge hanging baskets. I like that the flowers are self-cleaning and that the plants have good heat and humidity tolerance. Plant this new petunia in full sun to part sun where it’ll grow 1 to 3 feet tall and spread up to 3 feet.

Delphiniums are always outstanding in the landscape but can be problematic in windy sites because of their propensity to lodge or snap. Dwarf varieties are sturdier but lack the same appeal as large delphiniums. The new 'Violets are Blue' delphinium (Delphinium elatum) resolves those issues. Its sturdy, three foot tall flower stalks don’t typically require support and are less likely to blow over. It has the feel of large-flowered delphiniums but on mid-sized plants. Plant this new delphinium in full sun to part sun where it will grow 2 ½ to 3 feet tall in zones 3-7.

Native plants are all the rage, and many breeders are making selections that keep the native characteristics but improve the plants' appearance. A good example is Vernonia, commonly known as ironweed. This northern native perennial is a great bee and butterfly attractor that blooms in late summer to early fall after many other perennials are starting to fade. Deer and rabbits typically leave it alone. 'Prairie Princess' ironweed is a new selection that features rosy purple flowers and dark green, powdery mildew resistant foliage. It forms a compact 26 to 30” tall clump. Grow it in full sun and well-drained soil in zones 4-9.

New Shrubs

We’re transitioning our gardens over to contain more shrubs these days in hopes of reducing maintenance, so I’m always on the lookout for standout new varieties. Here are three hardy new shrubs I’d like to add to our yard.

Berry Scape^® aronia (Aronia arbutifolia) is a new version of this classic native with attractive fall foliage, a nice shape, heat, drought and salt tolerance, and delicious berries for the birds. What’s new about this one is that instead of the berries maturing to black, they are cherry red. They add a nice ornamental flair to the fall landscape. This new aronia is hardy in zones 4-9 where it grows in full sun to part shade and matures to 4 to 5 feet tall and wide.   

Bloomerang Showmound^® (Syringa x pubescens) is the newest addition to a series of reblooming lilacs, this time with fragrant, white flowers. I like that it stays compact, growing 1 ½ to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, so it’s able to fit in more spots in the landscape than full-size lilacs. It blooms in spring like all lilacs but also puts on a repeat show in late summer. Plant it in full sun in zones 3-7.

Hydrangeas have become some of the most popular shrubs for landscapes, with many great varieties to choose from. The new Fairytrail Fresco^® Cascade Hydrangea^® is unique because of its cascading stems and colorful flowers. It looks great in large containers, raised beds or the edge of a border. The blue or pink (depending on soil pH) mophead flowers are good for cutting and drying. Because the buds form on old wood, the plants may need some winter protection in colder climates so they will flower in late spring. Expect this new hydrangea to mature to 3 ½ to 4 feet tall and 4 ½ feet wide in part sun in zones 5-9.