Must-Try Annuals & Tender Perennials New for 2026
After checking out the coolest new plants coming in 2026, our editors rounded up their top picks — many we got to grow ourselves with great results. This year’s lineup is loaded with show-stopping annuals and tender perennials that shine in planters, borders, and anywhere you need a pop of color. Tender perennials often get treated like annuals, but if you live where they’re hardy, you get to enjoy them more than one season.
Keep scrolling to meet this standout group of introductions, starting with part-shade favorites including a unique group of pretty new petunias and moving into stunning full-sun options.
Besties™ Dynamic Bicolor cape daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis)
These cool-season flowers have a beautiful blend of orange, purple and yellow on each bloom. Though the flowering slows a little in summer’s heat, these plants keep going strong and take off again in fall.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Lots of heat-resistant flowers
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 8 to 10 in. tall, 12 to 14 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 9 to 11
Introducer: Danziger
Source: Local garden centers
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‘Pink Ribbons’ coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
Part of the Terrascape series, ‘Pink Ribbons’ thrives even in full sun, though the color is a bit brighter in part shade. Flowers don’t show up until late in the season, so you probably won’t need to deadhead.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Colorful sun-tolerant foliage with late blooms
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 18 to 26 in. tall, 18 to 20 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 10 to 11
Introducer: Kientzler North America
Source: Local garden centers
Venti™ PinkBurst dahlia (Dahlia pinnata)
You won’t run short of these anemone-shaped flowers in the garden or in your vase. Venti PinkBurst has loads of blooms from late spring to frost. Deadheading keeps plants tidy and encourages more flowers.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Lots of anemone-style blooms
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 16 to 18 in. tall, 14 to 16 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 8 to 10
Introducer: Selecta One®
Source: Local garden centers
Learn more about Venti PinkBurst!
Join Senior Editor Sherri for an exclusive tour of Ball Horticulture’s test gardens as she checks out one of their exciting new 2026 introductions — the Venti Pinkburst dahlia from Selecta One! This standout variety delivered nonstop blooms from late spring to first frost in our test garden, featuring fun, frilly flowers with a unique anemone-style center.
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Big EEZE Pink Panther geranium (Pelargonium hybrid)
For big flowers and easy-to-grow plants, this new color in the Big EEZE annual geranium series is a sure bet. Those bright pink blooms keep going even when summer is hot and humid. Deadheading helps tidy up plants and make room for new flowers.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Heat- and humidity-tolerant plants with eye-catching pink flowers
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 12 to 18 in. tall and wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 10 to 11
Introducer: Dümmen Orange®
Source: Local garden centers
Amazing New Petunia Introductions for 2026
Petunias are a mainstay of container gardens. Here are a few new varieties that you won’t want to miss!
Amazonas™ Plum Cockatoo (Petunia hybrid)
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Ruffled green petals with a deep purple center
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 12 to 14 in. tall, 14 to 18 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 10 to 11
Introducer: Danziger
Source: Local garden centers
Supertunia Mini Vista® Pink Cloud (Petunia hybrid)
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Masses of small, 1¼-in. vibrant pink blooms with ruffled petals and super heat tolerance
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 6 to 12 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 10 to 11
Introducer: Proven Winners®
Source: Local garden centers
Main Stage™ Burgundy Sky (Petunia hybrid)
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Large burgundy blooms with a scattering of yellow speckles (hot temperatures result in more solid-colored flowers)
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 12 to 16 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 10 to 11
Introducer: Selecta One
Source: Local garden centers
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Full Sun Annuals & Tender Perennials
Linen zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
The warm flaxen tones of this new zinnia have just a hint of pale pink to peach on 4- to 5-inch blooms. This color is easy to work into the garden or in a summer bouquet. As the blooms age, the pink and peach hues intensify. Seeds are easy to start indoors or direct-sow outdoors in spring when all danger of frost has past.
Type: Annual
Best features: A fascinating new flower color for zinnias; deer-resistant
Light: Full sun
Size: 30 to 40 in. tall, 9 to 12 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones
Introducer & Source: Johnny’s Selected Seeds, 877-564-6697
‘Knight’s Armour’ dahlia (Dahlia hybrid)
Ready for some drama in your late-summer borders? Give 11-inch ‘Knight’s Armour’ a look. These double white “dinnerplate” blooms streaked with red-purple are real head turners. Every bloom has a different pattern — some may even be solid white.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Dramatic flowers with lots of variety
Light: Full sun
Size: 48 to 60 in. tall, 15 to 18 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 8 to 12
Introducer & Source: Swan Island Dahlias, 800-410-6540
PeekABoo Burgundy verbena (Verbena hybrid)
We loved this new color in the PeekABoo series! Large, 3-inch-deep burgundy blooms with a white center keep containers colorful. There are five other colors in the series to try: Red, Pink, Lilac, Lavender and Indigo.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Large 3-in. burgundy blooms; deer-resistant
Light: Full sun
Size: 12 to 15 in. tall and wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 7 to 10
Introducer: Westoff
Source: Local garden centers
‘Tora Red’ painted tongue (Salpiglossis sinuata)
Upright strong-growing plants produce a bouquet of trumpet-shaped blooms etched with burgundy swoops and blushed red with yellow throats. Painted tongue plants perform best when night temperatures are around 60 degrees F and in moist, well-drained soil.
Type: Annual
Best features: Upright, vigorous plants with red-tinted
patterned blooms
Light: Full sun
Size: 18 to 24 in. tall, 12 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones
Introducer & Source: Select Seeds, 800-684-0395
Firedup™ Coral dipladenia (Dipladenia hybrid)
Part of the Sun Parasol® series, Firedup Coral has a pinwheel flower shape instead of overlapping petals like other dipladenias. Its upright habit fits easily in containers, and the coral-colored flowers with yellow centers provide reliable interest from late spring until frost.
Type: Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Best features: Pinwheel-shaped coral flowers all season
Light: Full sun
Size: 20 to 24 in. tall, 12 to 16 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 10 to 11
Introducer: Suntory Flowers
Source: Garden Crossings, 616-875-6355
