The 2018 plants of the year are out. Chosen for the easy of growth and versatility, these plants are perfect choices for success in the garden.
I love following plant choices picked annually by growers and plant societies. Maybe its because I’m kind of a collector at heart. I’m curious about what these experts chose as the best variety or plant type but also I’ve found them to do well in the garden. So today I’m sharing some of the 2018 plants of the year in case you’re looking for something new or just want to add to your own collection.
photo via Walters Garden Inc.
2018 Plants of the Year
Perennial Plant of the Year – Allium ‘Millenium’
The Perennial Plant Association chooses a plant every year. I love allium because they are hardy and the deer and other rodents don’t touch them. My allium blooms in the spring but this variety is a summer bloomer. One to add to my shopping list this year. The pretty plant also works great in arrangements and the seed heads are pretty too.
Herb of the Year – Hops Humulus ssp
The International Herb Association choice this year is hops. Calling all you beer lovers, hops is often one of the key ingredients for this popular new hobby of crafting your own beer. Hops are also said to help you sleep. You can buy dried hops and make a little sachet to put under your pillow at night.
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- Bulbs – Tulips
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- Annuals – Calibrachoa
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- Edible – Beets
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- Perennial – Coreopsis
NGB – Plants of the Year
The National Garden Bureau chooses four different plants of the year, They choose a bulb, annual, edible and perennial every year. They state that “Plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile.” Above are some of my own plants that fit these categories. I don’t grow tulips because we have too many deer and the beets were from the farmer’s market, but I can attest to the calibrachoa and the coreopsis as great plants which are easy to grow and come in number of varieties. In fact, Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ is listed as one of my favorite long blooming plants list.
Hosta ‘France s Williams’
2018 Hosta of the Year – Hosta ‘World Cup’
American Hosta Growers Association chooses a variety for their Hosta of the Year. World Cup is a large textured golden hosta with purple blooms in the summer. I don’t own one of these yet, but it looks beautiful, and would add a nice bright light to a shady garden. Click here to see good photos of Hosta World Cup.
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- Clematis
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- Lavender
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- Verbena
Pantone Color of the Year – Ultra Violet
Finally, I always like to check out the Pantone Color of the Year,. to see what’s trending in the art world. This year’s Ultra Violet is a popular one for flowers. Here are just a few of my own flowers which fit into this category.
If you’re looking for new ideas for your garden this year, choosing one that is among the 2018 plants of the year is a good bet.
Mary
It seems that the flowers coincides nicely with the color of the year. They certainly will look lovely in anyone’s garden.
Pamela
I need some of those summer blooming alliums, I love mine in Spring but want some for later bloom!
Patti Estep
Hi Pamela,
I planted some drumstick allium in the fall which are supposed to bloom in the summer. These millenniums would look great in your beautiful gardens..
National Garden Bureau
Thanks so much for adding the National Garden Bureau’s 2018 Year of Crops to your selections! This year we have so many different varieties, colors and types of each crop that there has to be something for everyone 🙂
Linda Nelson
Do monitor your Allium millenium; voles/moles did some damage to a few patches in my yard!
Pam
I never thought of growing hops before, but I’m sort of in love with it now. Those flowers/buds/cones/whatever they’re called are lovely and so different!
Patti Estep
Hi Pam,
The hops are the flowers and I believe they are more of a vine that you could grow up a wall. I haven’t personally grown them but there is a nursery that I go to that has them growing. They’re pretty fragrant as you might guess., in a musky kind of way. If you love the smell of beer you should try it.
Lynn B Spencer
Oh Patti…you are making me excited to get out in the garden….I have always loved Allium, but you made me realize that I don’t have any in my garden. Need to fix that ASAP!
Have a great day my friend.
Hugs, Lynn
Patti Estep
Hi Lynn,
I’m glad you liked the article and you should definitely get some allium for the garden. They are so easy to grow, come in many varieties and last a long time.