New Shade Plants for 2026!
This time of year is great for dreaming and making plans for the upcoming season. Everyone has tried-and-true favorites, but leaving space for a few new plants is always a good idea — you might just find one that performs even better than your old standbys in this batch of new shade perennial introductions.
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Mighty™ Max Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinensis)
You can’t miss these dramatic astilbe blooms! Fluffy vibrant pink 9- to 12-inch flowers rise on stems up to 4 feet tall in late spring to early summer. The plants are larger than most varieties too. Give astilbe some shade, and keep the soil moist for healthy-looking plants.
Type: Perennial
Best features: Big flowers on big plants; Deer-resistant
Light: Part to full shade
Size: 36 to 48 in. tall, 40 to 48 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 3 to 8
Introducer: Growing Colors™
Source: Local garden centers
‘Chance Encounter’ hosta (Hosta hybrid)
The powdery blue leaves with a wide margin on this new hosta will keep your shade garden interesting all season. The margin starts out apple green and matures to golden yellow with a watermark halo (a light design) where the center and margin meet. ‘Chance Encounter’ has white flowers in early summer.
Type: Perennial
Best features: Color-changing foliage with a unique watermark halo
Light: Part to full shade
Size: 12 to 16 in. tall, 36 to 42 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 3 to 9
Introducer: Proven Winners®
Source: Great Garden Plants, 877-447-4769
‘Pink Stardust’ heucherella (Heucherella hybrid)
If you’ve had trouble with rust infecting your heucherella, give ‘Pink Stardust’ a try. This disease-resistant variety has silvery mint green foliage and star-shaped pink flowers. It blooms from late spring through fall with deadheading.
Type: Perennial
Best features: Disease-resistant foliage with lots of pink flowers
Light: Full sun to full shade
Size: 6 in. tall, 14 in. in flower, 12 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 4 to 9
Introducer: Terra Nova® Nurseries, Inc.
Source: Local garden centers
Summer Haze coral bells (Heuchera hybrid)
The flowers of this new series of coral bells make a big impact in shady borders. Long 22- to 25-inch stems rise over the mounded foliage with larger-than-usual individual flowers that also make good cut flowers. There are three colors in the series: White, Light Pink and Dark Pink.
Type: Perennial
Best features: Compact plants with impressive blooms; Deer-resistant
Light: Part to full shade
Size: 7 to 9 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide
Cold hardy: USDA zones 5 to 9
Introducer: Must Have Perennials®
Source: Local garden centers
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