FIRST EDITIONS® FLOWERFULL® SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613)

New Plants for the New Year

Talking about new plants for the 2025 season feels like Christmas in January! As we dream about warmer weather and think about spaces in the landscape that need a little something new next year, I’m excited to share my favorite new varieties for the season.

Now, I understand there may be some trepidation around new plants. I get a lot of questions when I’m out and about: Do they live up to the marketing hype? Are they really different from what’s already in garden centers? Will they survive in Minnesota?

So, my recommendations are based on trials and introductions that are vetted by our team at Bailey Nurseries to survive and thrive in Minnesota gardens! Let’s dig into the fun.

    FIRST EDITIONS® FLOWERFULL® SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613)
    FIRST EDITIONS® FLOWERFULL® SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613)
    Height: 3-4’ ● Width: 4-5’ ● Shape: Rounded
    Hardiness Zone: 3-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
    FIRST EDITIONS® FLOWERFULL® SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613) Height: 3-4’ Width: 4-5’ Shape: Rounded Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
    FIRST EDITIONS® FLOWERFULL® SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613)
    Height: 3-4’ ● Width: 4-5’ ● Shape: Rounded
    Hardiness Zone: 3-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
    FIRST EDITIONS® FLOWERFULL® SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613) Height: 3-4’ Width: 4-5’ Shape: Rounded Hardiness Zone: 3-8 Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
    FIRST EDITIONS® FLOWERFULL® SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613)
    Height: 3-4’ ● Width: 4-5’ ● Shape: Rounded
    Hardiness Zone: 3-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
    DREAM CLOUD™ MANCHURIAN LILAC (Syringa patula 'KLMone') Height: 4-5’ Width: 4-5’ Shape: Upright, rounded Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Exposure: Full Sun
    DREAM CLOUD™ MANCHURIAN LILAC (Syringa patula ‘KLMone’)
    Height: 4-5’ ● Width: 4-5’ ● Shape: Upright, rounded
    Hardiness Zone: 3-7 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    DREAM CLOUD™ MANCHURIAN LILAC (Syringa patula 'KLMone') Height: 4-5’ Width: 4-5’ Shape: Upright, rounded Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Exposure: Full Sun
    DREAM CLOUD™ MANCHURIAN LILAC (Syringa patula ‘KLMone’)
    Height: 4-5’ ● Width: 4-5’ ● Shape: Upright, rounded
    Hardiness Zone: 3-7 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    KUDOS® APPLE (Malus ‘MN 33’ PPAF) Height: Varies Width: Varies Shape: Spreading Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Exposure: Full Sun
    KUDOS® APPLE (Malus ‘MN 33’ PPAF)
    Height: Varies ● Width: Varies ● Shape: Spreading
    Hardiness Zone: 4-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    KUDOS® APPLE (Malus ‘MN 33’ PPAF) Height: Varies Width: Varies Shape: Spreading Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Exposure: Full Sun
    KUDOS® APPLE (Malus ‘MN 33’ PPAF)
    Height: Varies ● Width: Varies ● Shape: Spreading
    Hardiness Zone: 4-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109) Height: 18-20’ Width: 5-6’ Shape: Columnar Hardiness Zone: 2-8 Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109)
    Height: 18-20’ ● Width: 5-6’ ● Shape: Columnar
    Hardiness Zone: 2-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109) Height: 18-20’ Width: 5-6’ Shape: Columnar Hardiness Zone: 2-8 Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109)
    Height: 18-20’ ● Width: 5-6’ ● Shape: Columnar
    Hardiness Zone: 2-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109) Height: 18-20’ Width: 5-6’ Shape: Columnar Hardiness Zone: 2-8 Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109)
    Height: 18-20’ ● Width: 5-6’ ● Shape: Columnar
    Hardiness Zone: 2-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109) Height: 18-20’ Width: 5-6’ Shape: Columnar Hardiness Zone: 2-8 Exposure: Full Sun
    FIRST EDITIONS® GREEN WALL SPIRE™ CRABAPPLE (Malus x adstringens ‘Jefwall’ PP35,109)
    Height: 18-20’ ● Width: 5-6’ ● Shape: Columnar
    Hardiness Zone: 2-8 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    ARTISAN™ YELLOW OMBRE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea x hybrida ‘PAS1303304’ PP7,982,110) Height: 24-34” Width: 10-25” Shape: Upright Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Exposure: Full Sun
    ARTISAN™ YELLOW OMBRE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea x hybrida ‘PAS1303304’ PP7,982,110)
    Height: 24-34” ● Width: 10-25” ● Shape: Upright
    Hardiness Zone: 4-9 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    ARTISAN™ YELLOW OMBRE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea x hybrida ‘PAS1303304’ PP7,982,110) Height: 24-34” Width: 10-25” Shape: Upright Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Exposure: Full Sun
    ARTISAN™ YELLOW OMBRE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea x hybrida ‘PAS1303304’ PP7,982,110)
    Height: 24-34” ● Width: 10-25” ● Shape: Upright
    Hardiness Zone: 4-9 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    ARTISAN™ YELLOW OMBRE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea x hybrida ‘PAS1303304’ PP7,982,110) Height: 24-34” ● Width: 10-25” ● Shape: Upright Hardiness Zone: 4-9 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    ARTISAN™ YELLOW OMBRE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea x hybrida ‘PAS1303304’ PP7,982,110)
    Height: 24-34” ● Width: 10-25” ● Shape: Upright
    Hardiness Zone: 4-9 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    HONEYCOMB BLUE GRAMA GRASS (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Honeycomb’ PP33,101) Height: 24-30” Width: 18-24” Shape: Upright, clumping Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Exposure: Full Sun
    HONEYCOMB BLUE GRAMA GRASS (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Honeycomb’ PP33,101)
    Height: 24-30” ● Width: 18-24” ● Shape: Upright, clumping
    Hardiness Zone: 4-9 ● Exposure: Full Sun
    HONEYCOMB BLUE GRAMA GRASS (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Honeycomb’ PP33,101) Height: 24-30” Width: 18-24” Shape: Upright, clumping Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Exposure: Full Sun
    HONEYCOMB BLUE GRAMA GRASS (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Honeycomb’ PP33,101)
    Height: 24-30” ● Width: 18-24” ● Shape: Upright, clumping
    Hardiness Zone: 4-9 ● Exposure: Full Sun

Wondering where you can find these new plants? Visit the Bailey website to find retail locations in your area: baileynurseries.com/find-a-retailer. Give your favorite local garden center a call to make sure they’ll have the specific plant you want on hand this spring, then start dreaming of where it’ll go in the garden. For the full article and more details about each plant, see the 2025 Digital Spring Planning Issue.

Ryan McEnaney is the Marketing + Communications Manager at Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul, Minn.

All photos courtesy of Ryan McEnaney.

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