PLANTS FOR YOUR SPRING 2025 SHOPPING LIST

By Lynn Kuhn | Special to Lake Panorama Times

It’s that time of year when Mother Nature teases us with temps above 60 then crushes us with freezing rain the very next day. Take comfort in knowing you don’t have weeds to pull and can relax with a cup of coffee while you complete your spring 2025 shopping list. I think you will love these additions to your garden. But first, I have a confession to make. I’ve not grown any of these plants, which is a deviation from most plants featured in this column. They are very new, and I can’t wait to get my dirty gardening hands on them this spring. These plants check many boxes and are worth seeking out in your local garden center this spring.

SGT. PEPPER TATARIAN DOGWOOD

(Cornus alba “Verpaalen2”)
Hardy to zone 3
Full to Part Sun
4-6’ tall x 6-8’ spread
Blooms May – June

When I first saw this plant, I was certain I was looking at a very young Tricolor Beech (Fagus sylvatica “Tricolor”), a tree I am quite familiar with. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was a sexy new dogwood shrub, and I’m obsessed. This shrub pays the rent more than once a year, as they say, looking great in all four seasons. Pink and green foliage emerges in spring, followed by green centers with a crisp white variegation and white blooms. Fall brings bright pink margins with deeper burgundy centers. The show continues with deep red winter twigs. But wait, there’s more. Sgt. Pepper is not picky about soil, even when it is wet. He also claims to be deer- and rabbit-resistant. What more could you ask for in a medium-sized shrub?

Pruning Tip: Cut back the oldest stems by one-third after the spring blooms fade to ensure the brightest red stems.

Designer’s Tip: Pair Sgt. Pepper with Autumn Moor Grass (Seslaria autumnalis) for contrasting texture and color. This short ornamental grass planted fairly tight can function as a groundcover that discourages weeds, too.

FALSE SUNFLOWER

(Heliopsis helianthoides)
Hardy to zone 3
3-4’ tall x 1-2’ spread
Blooms June-Sept

There was a time when I assumed this species was an annual in our area due to the long-lasting vivid blooms you would expect from an annual. Wrong again. Heliopsis is a tough native that tolerates dry soil and makes a stunning cut flower. Deer and rabbits steer clear of it, while birds, bees and butterflies can’t stay away. Two fabulous cultivars to look for in garden centers this spring are:

BURNING HEARTS FALSE SUNFLOWER (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra “Burning Hearts”)

3-4’ tall x 1-2’ spread

BLEEDING HEARTS FALSE SUNFLOWER (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra “Bleeding Hearts”)

3-4’ tall x 3-4’ spread

Pruning Tip: Occasional dead-heading will keep the blooms coming.

Designer’s Tip: Try “Burning Hearts” in spots where you need height but don’t have much space to spare.

CATMINT

(Nepeta)
Hardy to zone 3
Full to Part Sun
Blooms June-Sept

Nepeta is a family of over-achievers. This column has highlighted several cultivars in the past. For years, I have always wished for a golden version I can use for the front of the border or to contrast with dark deep foliage of nearby plants. Now my dream has come true with these new introductions:

LEMON PURRFECTION CATMIINT (Nepeta hybrid “Lemon Purrfection”)

10-12” tall x 16-18” spread

CHARTRUESE ON THE LOOSE CATMINT (Nepeta hybrid “Chartreuse on the Loose”)

8-10” tall x 20-24” spread

Pruning Tip: None needed. These beauties are compact and won’t flop like taller cultivars.

Designer’s Tip: Use catmint as a groundcover around the base of shrubs and leggy perennials to fill in and discourage weeds. The golden foliage will pair nicely with shrubs with dark green or burgundy foliage, such as certain weigelia and ninebark cultivars.

Enjoy these new introductions in your garden this year. Let me know how they perform, and I will do the same. If you have other plants you are wondering about, email me at lynn@conversationgardens.com.

By Lynn Kuhn, author of “Conversation Gardens: Where Conversations Flow and Relationships Grow.” She is a landscape architect, speaker and lead designer at Landscapes By Martin. You can reach Lynn at lynn@conversationgardens.com or lynn@landscapesbymartin.net.