30 Top Plant Picks from the Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden®

These perennials and shrubs are our favorites from over the years , and we cordially commend this all - whiz leaning of garden plants to you .

Carson Downing

TheBetter Homes & Gardens Test Garden ® has been going strong for 26 years . Along the path , certain perennials and bush have performed so well , they ’ve bring in a lasting spot in the landscape . What make a plant an all - star in the eyes of Test Garden manager Sandra Gerdes ? Pretty , long - lasting flowers play a part , but she really favors plants that have neat - looking foliage , pull pollinators , and prosper with petty stir even intough conditions like drought . We necessitate Gerdes to share the smorgasbord that have stood out from the crowd over the years .

Caryopteris Sapphire Surf

Credit:Carson Downing

Sandra Gerdes has been the BHG Test Garden manager since it first opened 26 years ago .

‘Sugar Tip’ Rose of Sharon

Rose of Sharoncan be a ego - cloud seeder that spreads aggressively through the garden . ‘ Sugar Tip ’ is a variety that does not : the rippled pinkish flower bloom through the summer , and attract pollinator , but do n’t produce seeds . Green leaf splashed with creamy white give the works hotshot position even when it ’s not flower . Heat- and drouth - broad , this plant take full sunfor the good efflorescence . It grows to about 6 feet magniloquent and wide , but can be prune easily . This unfearing hibiscus makes a heavy screening plant , according to Gerdes . zone 5 - 9 .

‘Shrimps on the Barbie’ Lungwort

One look at the sizzling pink flowers offset by the silver blot leafage and you ’ll see that ‘ Shrimps on the Barbie ’ is a fitting name . Thislungwort ( Pulmonariaspp . ) blooms prolifically and attracts pollinators . " It meld so well with hostas and depend secure all summertime long , " Gerdes says . bunch grow to about 10 column inch marvelous and 2 metrical unit wide . Lungworts prefer somewhat moist soil . Zones 4 - 9 .

Pasque Flower

Cheerful purple flower appear amidst 12 - inch bunch of ferny foliation in spring . “ The little feathery hill look so delicate , and then you have tons of flowers , ” Gerdes says . She also lovesPasque flush ( Pulsatilla vulgaris ) for its wispy seed heads , which are allowed to self - sow in the Test Garden ’s meadow . If you burn the flower head off as they evanesce , you ’ll still have cracking - looking foliage all summertime , Gerdes says . Grow inwell - drained soilin full Lord’s Day . Zones 4 - 8 .

‘Ice n’ Roses Red' Hellebore

Hellebores are tough perennials that defy wintertime with upbeat blooms that withstand the season ’s last frosts . ‘ Ice n ’ Roses Red ' is prized for its unusually early , deep red blooms . The flowers face out and up , so you may love them without getting down on your knee joint . Helleboresthrive in well - drain soil in shade or part refinement . Plants uprise 1 - 2 foot tall and wide . Hardy inZones 5 - 9 .

‘Cordial Canary’ Bugelweed

“ Who would n’t desire an electric neon green groundcover ? ” Gerdes say of ‘ Cordial Canary ’ bugelweed , which is in the ‘ feather Friends ’ series of evergreen plant perennialbugelweeds ( Ajuga reptans ) . The burnished foliage forms a dense carpet ; blue peak spike out up to 6 inch tall shoot up among the leave-taking in spring and summertime . flora in shade or part shade , such as along the edges of a fly-by-night flower seam , or where grass wo n’t grow . Bugelweed is cony and deer resistant . Zones 4 - 9 .

‘American Gold Rush’ Black-Eyed Susan

From mid summer into former descent , golden - yellowed flowers spring up on stems up to 3 feet tall above sullen green , mounding , mold - resistive leaf . Black - eyed Susans ( Rudbeckiaspp . ) are a hard - work out mainstay of native works garden . Spinus tristis and otherbirds eagerly devour the seedsas flowers disappearance . These drought - tolerant plant fly high in sunlight or part spectre . cervid do n’t prefer the coarse leaves . zone 3 - 9 .

‘Rocketman’ Russian Sage

drouth - tolerant plant life are the future of gardening , Gerdes enunciate . Once established , ‘ Rocketman’Russian salvia ( Perovskia atriplicifolia ) does n’t postulate supplemental water through hot summers — or any humoring — and its fragrant salad days on inviolable , upright stems attract hummingbirds and insect pollinator . ‘ Rocketman ’ is also deer resistant . It grows to about 3 feet tall in burnished sunny spots and bloom of youth from mid summertime through frost . Zones 4 - 9 .

‘Sombrero Adobe Orange’ Coneflower

Breeders have introduced dozens ofconeflowers ( Echinaceaspp . ) in recent age , but , Gerdes enjoin , “ the ‘ Sombrero ’ series , for me , has been the good performing artist . ” Adobe Orange is her favorite for its intense color and abundant , three - inch bloom . cut back off the flowers as they fade , and plants will keep decently on blooming through the summertime . Gerdes suggests planting Adobe Orange next to catmint such as ' Cat ’s Pajamas ' ( another of her pet ) , noting that the combination of orangish and violet flowers really pops . Drought - kind plants grow to about 20 column inch magniloquent in well - drained dirt in full sunlight . zone 4 - 9 .

‘Cat’s Pajamas’ Catmint

A heavyset , foresightful - bloomingcatmint ( Nepetaspp.)perfect for the border of a flower seam , where its feathery silver foliage will release bouquet whenever you sweep up against it . ‘ Cat ’s Pajamas ’ is a respectable industrial plant that commence bloom in early summertime and draw many pollinator . Gerdes uses Gunter Wilhelm Grass shears to cut off flowers as they fade , encourage another blush of blooms . Plants grow about 1 pes tall and 20 column inch wide . rise them in full Dominicus . Zones 3 - 8 .

‘Maestro’ Sedum

Plants that kick in to the garden ’s beauty through the twelvemonth are especially prize in the Test Garden . ' Maestro’sedumfits the bill , Gerdes says . Its gorgeous blue - dark-green folio with a purple blush effortlessly hold their own in the garden through the summertime , before plant life send up magnificent blossom heads on purple stems in declination . butterfly stroke cover the drab pinkish efflorescence on sturdy , 30 - inch shank . In wintertime , the spent flower heads seem " like little Baron Snow of Leicester umbrellas out there , " say Gerdes . Plant in full Lord’s Day . Zones 3 - 8 .

‘Gravetye Giant’ Summer Snowflake

‘ Gravetye Giant’summer snowbird ( Leucojum aestivum ) is the rarified lightbulb that flourishes where drainage is less than ideal . The elegant white flowers appear in mid spring on stems up to 24 inches tall . Deer and rabbits ignore them . The leaves die back after efflorescence fade , but summer snowflake comes back every spring , bring about more and more blush as the bulb naturalize . The summertime snowflakes in the Test Garden have come back for 26 years . Plant medulla oblongata in fallin a gay or partly shadowed spot . Zones 4 - 8 .

‘Blue Danube’ Camassia

This North American native bulb support moist soil and flourish in Sunday or part shade . ' Blue Danube ' is a variety ofCamassia leichtliniithat offers numberless true - blue , star - forge flowers in later spring on stems 24 - 30 inches tall . The blooms exposed from the bottom of the stem to the top , which makes the weeks - foresighted show seem to last even longer . implant bulbs in declination . Flowers and leaf die to the soil in summer , and descend back in spring . zone 5 - 9 .

‘Summer Romance’ Betony

The bright pinkish blush on ' Summer Romance ' betony ( Stachysspp . ) last for weeks in the summer garden . After they fade , the seersucker - textured leaves of these robust plantshold their own in busy recurrent flowerbeds . efflorescence clusters are up to 4 column inch long , wax on stem about 3 feet tall . It ’s best in full sun , or in a situation with lightsome good afternoon shade in hot mood . Butterflies and other pollinator are draw in to it , but deer are not . zone 4 - 9 .

‘Sterling Silver’ Brunnera

' Sterling Silver’brunnera"really helps welcome fountain , " says Gerdes , where its silvern leaf shine in the dappled luminance of the Test Garden ’s spectre section . The showy leaves get up to 8 inch across ( heavy than somehostafoliage ) and plants spread to form clunk almost 2 feet wide . In other springtime , a profusion of lilliputian blue flowers , each one only about one - fourth column inch across , stand up well above the leaf and keep flower for a month . Brunnera tolerate wet spots , and is deer and rabbit tolerant . zone 3 - 7 .

‘David’ Phlox

' David’phlox ( Phlox paniculata ) has become a garden classic since it was introduced in the 1980s . It ’s also a deary in the Test Garden for its prolific , snow - white fragrant blooms on stem up to almost 4 foot tall — and for itspowdery mould resistance . ’ David ’ blooms in midsummer , and keeps mighty on blossom if you deadhead spent efflorescence . flora phlox in well - drained dirt in full Sunday for the best flower show . It spreads slowly , over time , and that ’s a good affair , Gerdes says , because “ white goes with everything . ” zone 4 - 9 .

‘Carnival Watermelon’ Coral Bells

An explosion of coloured leaves make ‘ Carnival Watermelon ’ one of the showiestcoral bell ( Heucheraspp . ) varieties . Hummingbirds visit the white flowers in early summertime . After the flower fade , clip off the stalks , and the vibrant leaves stockpile this industrial plant through the summer and into declension . Gerdes commend other coral bells in the ‘ Carnival ’ serial , too . They do n’t droop in summer ’s heat , and are deer resistant . Plant in shade or part sun . zone 4 - 9 .

‘Aureola’ Hakone Grass

get thishakone grass ( Hakonechloa macra ) near the edge of a bed , so you could apprise its gilded grain up close . “ It ’s a various , graceful , cascading plant , ” Gerdes suppose , “ plus it ’s variegated . It ’s a can’t - miss color that blends with gullible and drab genus Funka . ” Plants grow to about 15 inches improbable and spread 2 foot blanket . With a small excess aid to watering , hakone eatage also originate in sun . Zones 5 - 9 .

‘Ultraviolet’ Phlox

‘ UV ’ resists mildew just as well as ' David ' , but this phlox variety has jazzy flowers that tolerate up to 3 feet tall in flower beds . " I have sex jewel tones , and you could see these heyday from halfway across the garden , " Gerdes says . She grows ‘ Ultraviolet ’ next to sedum ‘ Maestro , ’ for a color replication that bulge . bee , hummingbird , and butterflies also notice when the first , fragrant bloom look in mid summer . Deadheading blooms as they fade promote fresh flushes of flower . maturate in well - drained grease in full Sunday . zone 3 - 8 .

‘Diamonds are Forever’ Hosta

Among thethousands of hosta variety , ’ Diamonds are Forever ’ truly is a precious stone , with wide , temporary white-hot diversification on green leaves . Its size of it , about 10 inches tall and 2 feet wide-cut , makes it agreat choice for the edge of a shade garden , Gerdes tell . Zones 3 - 9 .

‘Limelight’ Hydrangea

Summer ’s oestrus does n’t phase thistough , drought - tolerant hydrangeavariety , which displays enormous panicle of flowers in mid summer . Go in front andprune this panicle hydrangeahard in spring : flowers are give rise on new growth , so spring pruning will not limit summertime ’s show . The blooms open immature , turn white , and slicing to blushful garden pink . Even in pin , the bloom heads front terrific , Gerdes pronounce . ’ Limelight ’ grows 6 - 8 feet tall and all-encompassing in full Sunday or part shade . Grow it as a specimen plant life , as a sieve , or as a hedging in well - debilitate land . Zones 3 - 9 .

‘Fire Light’ Hydrangea

‘ Fire Light ’ is another paniclehydrangea(Hydrangea paniculata ) that boasts swelled white panicle flowers in mid summertime . Its blooms turn recondite rosy bolshy as they mature , and keep their blazing coloring through rime . bush grow to about 8 foot marvelous and extensive , “ but you could prune it to be whatever you wish , ” Gerdes state . ‘ Fire Light ’ thrives in full sun or partly cheery gardens , and it’shardy even in very stale climates . Zones 3 - 8 .

‘Grand Cascade’ Butterfly Bush

Luxurious , honey - perfume panicles of lavender prime up to 14 inches long cover ‘ Grand Cascade’butterfly bush ( Buddleiasp . ) in late summer and fall . “ It ’s so fragrant , I can smell it from 15 feet aside , ” Gerdes says . butterfly stroke find it , too . ‘ Grand Cascade ’ is a give-up the ghost - back shrub in the Test Garden ; in spring , Gerdes cuts stems to about 1 substructure tall , and the shrub develop up to about 5 pes marvellous in the path of the summertime . Plant it “ where you need a ‘ Wow ! ’ plant , ” she suggests , as long as that ’s in full sun . Zones 5 - 9 .

‘Curtain Call Deep Rose’ Anemone

tumble is pinnacle efflorescence time of year forJapanese anemones(Anemone hupehensis ) . ‘ Curtain Call Deep Rose ' has 3 - inch prime with bright sensationalistic centers on strong stems up to 18 inch tall . The flower set out to bloom in late August and continue for up to 9 weeks , Gerdes says . As they fade , the heyday prepare decorative , wispy seed head . plant are cervid and rabbit repellent . mature in full sun or part shade . Zones 4 - 8 .

‘Sapphire Surf’ Bluebeard

Gardeners seem forcolorful fall plantstend to list toward a fond palette of orange and russet tonus , but ‘ cerulean Surf’bluebeard ( Caryopterisxclandonensis ) present a cool eminence of blue , with fragrant flowers that shroud the stems for about a month in other fall . It ’s deer resistant , drouth large-minded , great for pollinator , and requires little care . “ It ’s a one - day - a - twelvemonth maintenance plant , ” Gerdes says . “ We trim back in the spring , and then let it do its matter . ” zone 5 - 9 .

‘Standing Ovation’ Little Bluestem

Thislittle bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ) wins its place in the Test Garden for its smoky blue leaf with hints of greenish and pink all summertime long . In fall , the color intensify , and the works seem to beam , particularly when they are back - get down by the setting sun . Upright plants , “ literally like an exclamation point , ” Gerdes say , grow 4 human foot tall and spread 12 - 18 inches wide in a cheery spot . Cut back in early spring , to just 3 - 4 inches , when new increment begins . Zones 3 - 8 .

‘Double Play Doozie’ Spirea

Grant Webster

Unlike some olderspireacultivars , ‘ Double bring Doozie ’ spirea is non - invasive and seedless — pose all its energy into anthesis . Its purple - red blooms appear in previous bound and keep going strong through summertime . it ’s cervid resistant and drought resistant . Zones 3a-8b .

Black Beauty Lily

The recurve deep blood-red petal of thisOrienpet lilydemand an up - close look when they appear in recent summer . Even better , this showy lily resists disease , is highly tough , and can do by conditions from full Lord’s Day to part shade . Zones 4 - 8 .

‘Euphoria Ruby’ Joe Pye Weed

grant webster

ThisJoe Pye weededges out other cultivars for its other - than - common blossom time . It starts flowering in early summertime and travel all the path through fall . We be intimate to see all the pollinators and butterfly it attracts in the Test Garden . Zones 4a-9a .

‘Humpback Whale’ Hosta

We count on this supersized hosta to make a big impact on our umbrageous Test Garden margin . It forge a attic of tenderness - shaped blue - green foliage ( about 2 - 3 feet grandiloquent by 6 - 7 feet wide ) , topped by bloodless flowers in former summertime . Zones 3 - 9 .

‘Autumn Brilliance’ Serviceberry

Dean Schoeppner

The name aver it all — thisserviceberryhybrid isa fall leaf dream . Its fiery orange - red leaves are n’t its only selling point , though . In outflow , its leafage goes from bronze to green , with flowers follow by red berries in early summer . A deciduous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or tall shrub , it typically reaches 15 - 20 feet tall . zona 4 to 9 .

It was a challenge to narrow down our lean of favorite plant to just 30 . For even more ideas for your own garden , here are our honourable mentions to consider for bulbs , perennials , weed , shrubs , and trees .

hibiscus sugar tip

Credit:Carson Downing

BULBS

PERENNIALS

• Abelia chinensis• Allium ‘ Serendipity’• Aquilegia canadensis• Aruncus ‘ Horatio’• Aster ‘ Little Carlow’• Athyrium niponicum ‘ Pictum’• Clematis ‘ Happy Jack Purple'• Coreopsis ' Big Bang Full Moon’• Dicentra ‘ White Gold’• Eupatorium purpureum ‘ Euphoria Ruby’• false hellebore ‘ Merlin’• Hellebore ‘ Romantic Getaway’• Heuchera ‘ Lemon Love’• Heuchera ' Primo Peachberry Ice’• Hibiscus ‘ Mars Madness’• Hosta ‘ Sum & Substance’• Hosta ‘ Wiggles and Squiggles’• Hosta ‘ Olive Bailey Langdon’• Iris ‘ Cantina’• Iris ‘ Clarence’• Lavender ‘ SuperBlue’• Leucanthemum ‘ Whoops - a - Daisy’• Perovskia ‘ dismal Steel’• Rudbeckia ‘ Henry Eilers’• Sedum ‘ Lemonjade’• Sedum ' Sunset Boulevard'• Stachys ‘ Helene Von Stein’• Thuja ' Anna ’s Magic Ball• Tricyrtis ' Samurai'• Vernonia ‘ Southern Cross ’