Photos: PDSI
Autumn Kiss™ Encore® Azalea
The latest addition to the Encore® Azalea collection showcases semi-double blooms with vibrant pink edges that gently transition to a soft pastel pink and a nearly white center. Evergreen foliage provides the perfect canvas for this reblooming azalea, which flowers in spring, summer, and fall for extended enjoyment of beauty and fragrance. Gardeners and landscape professionals alike will be eager to get their hands on this exceptional variety, available as a new trade release in 2025 and a new consumer release in 2026. Ideal for full sun and USDA Zones 6–10, Autumn Kiss™ is a versatile addition to any landscape, whether used as a specimen plant, a colorful hedge, or as part of a mixed border. Reaching a mature size of 3 – 4 feet tall and wide, it’s a manageable size for even smaller gardens yet substantial enough to create a dramatic impact.
Ilex Nelliet™
Ilex Nelliet™ is a superior privacy and screening plant making its debut through Southern Living® and Sunset® Plant Collections. Available to the trade in 2025 and to consumers in 2026, this introduction offers a compelling combination of beauty, practicality, and ease of care with dense, dark green foliage. Ilex Nelliet’s naturally upright growth habit makes it ideal for creating a formal hedge, a natural, informal screen, or a stunning focal point. Vibrant red berries emerge through the fall and winter, offering a colorful contrast against Nelliet’s lush evergreen backdrop. Reaching 15–25 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide, this holly requires minimal pruning, making it a low-maintenance option for busy homeowners or professional landscapers. Nelliet is adaptable to a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade and hardy in USDA Zones 6a through 9b.
Loropetalum Purple Charm™
Consistent, bold color provides a striking colorfast backdrop for other plants while creating a sense of depth and sophistication in the landscape throughout the year. Densely packed, tiny near-black leaves form a perfectly rounded, compact ball, giving this loropetalum a neat and tidy appearance. Its naturally rounded shape requires minimal pruning, making it an easy-care addition to any garden. In spring, the drama intensifies with a stunning burst of red-fringed flowers, creating a breathtaking contrast against the deep purple foliage. Whether used as a standalone specimen, incorporated into borders, or featured in containers, this unique plant offers endless possibilities for adding texture, color, and year-round interest to the garden. Thriving in full sun to part shade in USDA Zones 7-10, Loropetalum Purple Charm™ reaches a manageable size of 2–3 feet high and 3–4 feet wide, making it a versatile choice for professionals and homeowners.
Explore the March 2025 Issue
Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.
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