Trends: Proven Winners 2025 perennial survey shows strong demand

Spending on perennial plants is looking robust for 2025, with color and quality topping the list of considerations, according to a recent survey by Proven Winners.

The 2025 Perennial Survey, which gathered responses from more than 14,000 gardeners across the United States and Canada, provides valuable insights into the purchasing behaviors, preferences and trends in the perennial plant market.

Key findings include:

Repeat purchases and robust spending

A significant 64% of respondents reported purchasing perennials multiple times per year, indicating a strong trend of repeat visits to garden retailers.

Spending on perennials remains robust, with 73% of respondents stating they spent more or the same amount in 2024 compared to previous years.

Quality and color drive decision making

Quality is paramount for gardeners, with 43% of respondents citing quality as the most important factor in their purchasing decisions.

Color plays a crucial role, with 86% of respondents considering flower or foliage color when selecting perennials. Purple emerged as the most popular color, with 42% of respondents expressing a preference for purple perennials.

Strong fall sales

While spring remains the peak season for perennial purchases, with 89% of respondents buying in April, May and June, fall is also significant. Nearly half of respondents reported purchasing perennials in September or October.

Independent garden centers lead the market

Independent garden centers continue to dominate the market, with 81% of respondents reporting they purchased perennials from an IGC in 2024. Additionally, 73% of respondents rely on their local nursery or garden center for information on new perennials.

Social media’s influence on younger gardeners

Social media is a vital source of information for younger gardeners, with 61% of respondents ages 18-30 and 64% of respondents ages 31-45 using social media to discover new perennials, compared with a rate of 32% with respondents ages 66+. This highlights the importance of a strong online presence for engaging the next generations of gardeners.

Top perennial preferences

Echinacea, salvia and hosta are the top three favorite perennials among respondents.

The 2025 Proven Winners Perennial Survey underscores the importance of quality, color and local garden centers in the perennial plant market.

A growing emphasis on social media among younger gardeners and a notable bump toward fall planting are trends to watch.

Some of the survey data is highlighted below:

Where in 2024 did you purchase new perennials?

What sources do you typically use for information and inspiration on new perennials?

Which perennial flower or foliage colors are you hoping to add to your garden in 2025?