2018’s best new sun perennials

By: Sherri Ribbey

A new year means new plants. See which plants made our list for the best new sun perennials of 2018.

Now’s the perfect time to start dreaming about next summer’s garden, and there’s no better way to spice up your borders than with a few new plants.

If you’re gardening in a small space, there’s never been a better time to shop for plants. You’ll find lots of smaller specimens to add color and texture to borders. For example, ornamental grasses are usually pretty large, but ‘Bandwidth’ maiden grass even fits easily in containers.

There’s a lot to take in this year, and you won’t want to miss out on anything, so let’s get started.

For more new plants, read about 2018's best new shade perennials and annuals.

‘Curtain Call Deep Pink’ Japanese anemone (Anemone hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Pink in late summer to fall Light Full sun to part shade Soil Well-drained Size 14 to 18 in. tall, 16 to 18 in. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 8 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1 Introducer Walters Gardens, Inc.

Bandwidth maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Type Perennial Blooms Tan in late fall Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 30 to 36 in. tall and wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1 Introducer Darwin Perennials^®

'Bleeding Hearts' false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides scabra)

Type Perennial Blooms Red blooms change to orange, then bronze in midsummer Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 36 to 48 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1 Introducer Jelitto®

Pink Carpet dianthus (Dianthus hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Pink blooms in spring, reblooming in fall Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 6 to 8 in. tall, 12 to 14 in. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1 Introducer Darwin Perennials^®

‘Pink Lemonade’ false indigo (Baptisia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Yellow spring blooms age to raspberry-purple Light Full sun to part shade Soil Well-drained Size 42 to 48 in. tall and wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1 Introducer Proven Winners^®

Sweet Dreams sea thrift (Armeria hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Pink flowers in spring, repeats all season Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 10 to 12 in. tall and wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 6 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1 Introducer Darwin Perennials^®

'Summer Crush' betony (Stachys hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms White to pale pink blooms in summer Light Full sun to part shade Soil Moist, well-drained Size 24 to 30 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1 Introducer Intrinsic Perennial Gardens