Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The main types and their stunning uses
3. Market trends shaping 2024
4. Key factors in selecting the perfect plants
5. Spotlight on the best and brightest
6. Conclusion
Introduction
Selecting the best decorative flowers and plants in 2024 is more than just an aesthetic choice; it’s a strategic decision that can greatly enhance product offerings and attract discerning buyers. With a wide array of vibrant annuals, enduring perennials, and versatile shrubs, these products offer unmatched versatility and appeal. From boosting the visual charm of any space to meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly and low-maintenance options, the right selection can elevate any collection. By choosing standout varieties, businesses can ensure they stay ahead of trends, offering their clientele a curated selection that promises both beauty and sustainability.
The main types and their stunning uses
Annual blossoms
Annual blossoms offer vibrant, seasonal color and versatility, making them a popular choice for enhancing outdoor and indoor spaces. A prime example is the Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry® Petunia, renowned for its electric magenta flowers and prolific blooming throughout the season. This variety’s upright-mounded growth habit and self-cleaning flowers make it an ideal choice for both gardens and containers. With its striking color and long-lasting blooms, Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry® can be used to create eye-catching displays and combinations that draw attention and bring joy to any setting.
Perennial beauties
Perennial flowers provide enduring beauty year after year, adding a reliable splash of color and texture to gardens and landscapes. One standout variety is the ‘Pink Profusion’ Salvia nemorosa, noted for its high flower count and bright pink blooms. This perennial has gained popularity among professional landscapers for its polished appearance and multiple blooming periods if properly maintained. Ideal for use in flower beds, borders, and mixed plantings, ‘Pink Profusion’ adds a vibrant touch to any landscape, enhancing both aesthetic appeal and biodiversity.
Another notable perennial is the Frilly Knickers™ anemone. With its double white flowers featuring lavender backs, this variety offers a charming addition to late-season gardens. Its vigorous growth and leathery olive green foliage make it a great backdrop for earlier blooming companions, ensuring a continuous display of beauty.
Flowering shrubs
Flowering shrubs provide structure and long-lasting color to garden designs, making them a valuable addition to any landscape. The Wine & Spirits® Weigela florida is a prime example, featuring dark purple foliage and crisp white-green flowers. This shrub’s dramatic appearance and vigorous growth make it a standout choice for borders and container plantings. Its extended blooming period and attractive foliage ensure year-round interest, making it a versatile option for various landscape applications.
The Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa is another remarkable flowering shrub, celebrated for its disease-resistant foliage and abundant magenta-pink flowers. This landscape rose requires no deadheading, providing continuous blooms from spring to fall. Its robust nature and award-winning attributes make it an excellent choice for adding vibrant color and low-maintenance beauty to gardens.
Colorful foliage plants
Foliage plants with striking colors and textures can dramatically enhance the visual appeal of shaded areas and add variety to garden compositions. The Heart to Heart® ‘Lemon Blush’ Caladium is a standout example, featuring bright leaves with a contrasting rose-red center and wide chartreuse margins. This caladium performs well in shaded to partially shaded areas, making it perfect for adding pops of color to borders, mass plantings, and container arrangements.
Another foliage plant to consider is the ‘Silver Swirl’ snowflake dusty miller. Its bright silver leaves with ruffled edges provide a stunning contrast in garden borders or as a front-of-container plant. The unique foliage of ‘Silver Swirl’ maintains its appeal throughout the growing season, adding texture and visual interest to any planting scheme.
Specialty roses and hydrangeas
Specialty roses and hydrangeas offer exceptional beauty and versatility, making them ideal for ornamental and gifting purposes. The Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa, with its disease-resistant foliage and profusion of magenta-pink flowers, is a top choice for landscapes and gardens seeking continuous, vibrant blooms. This rose’s hardiness and ease of care make it a favorite among gardeners looking for reliable and stunning floral displays.
The Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea is another must-have, known for its reliable blooming and color versatility. Its mophead blooms transition from soft blue to a full sky blue, with the ability to shift easily from pink to blue depending on soil pH. This hydrangea’s compact growth makes it suitable for containers, while its durability ensures consistent flowering even in challenging weather conditions.
Market trends shaping 2024
Growth projections
Experts currently value the decorative flowers and plants market at approximately US $16.0 billion, with expectations to reach US $22.5 billion by 2028. This anticipated growth reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% from 2023 to 2028. This expansion is driven by increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and a growing interest in home gardening and interior decoration. The trend towards enhancing living and working environments with greenery continues to boost market demand.
Consumer preferences
Consumer preferences are shifting towards plants that offer both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits. The demand for low-maintenance plants is rising, as many individuals seek options that require minimal care but provide significant visual impact. For example, the Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry® Petunia is favored for its vibrant color and self-cleaning flowers, making it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Similarly, the Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa, with its disease resistance and continuous blooming, meets the desire for easy-care, yet striking plants.
Sustainability is also becoming a key factor in consumer choices. There is a growing preference for eco-friendly plants that support biodiversity and require fewer resources to maintain. Plants like the ‘Storm Cloud’ Amsonia, known for its resilience and native status, are gaining popularity. Consumers are increasingly selecting plants that contribute positively to the environment while enhancing their spaces.
Seasonal and regional demands
Seasonal and regional demands significantly influence the decorative plant market. Certain plants are preferred during specific seasons due to their blooming periods and adaptability to climatic conditions. For instance, the Frilly Knickers™ anemone is popular for late summer to fall gardens, thriving in both full sun and part shade. This versatility makes it a favored choice in various regions.
Regional preferences also dictate plant selection. In areas with hot climates, plants like the Burgundy Stripe gazania are in high demand for their ability to withstand heat and dry conditions. These plants are valued for their vibrant blooms that stay open even on cloudy days, providing consistent beauty regardless of weather variations. Conversely, in cooler climates, plants such as the ‘Pink Profusion’ Salvia nemorosa are preferred for their hardiness and repeated blooming throughout the growing season.
Climate adaptability is another crucial consideration. Plants that can thrive in a range of climatic conditions are highly sought after. The Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea, for example, is noted for its ability to bloom reliably across hardiness zones 4 through 9. This adaptability ensures its popularity in diverse environments, making it a versatile choice for both residential and commercial landscapes.
Key factors in selecting the perfect plants
Climate compatibility
Choosing plants that are well-suited to the local climate is fundamental for their health and longevity. Plants that are adapted to the climatic conditions of their environment require less intervention and are more likely to thrive. For instance, the ‘Storm Cloud’ Amsonia is known for its adaptability across various climates, handling both heat and humidity with ease. This versatility makes it an ideal choice for regions with fluctuating weather patterns, as it can thrive from USDA zones 5 to 9.
Selecting climate-compatible plants not only ensures robust growth but also reduces the need for extensive maintenance. For example, the Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea is highly adaptable, thriving in zones 4 to 9. Its ability to adjust to different soil pH levels allows it to shift colors from blue to pink, making it a versatile and reliable choice for diverse climates. Such adaptability is crucial in regions where weather conditions can vary significantly, ensuring the plant remains vibrant and healthy.
Maintenance ease
Maintenance ease is a critical consideration when selecting plants, especially for those looking to minimize upkeep. Low-maintenance plants are particularly appealing as they offer aesthetic value without demanding significant time and resources. The Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa, for example, is celebrated for its disease resistance and continuous blooming cycle, requiring minimal care. Its self-cleaning nature eliminates the need for deadheading, making it a hassle-free option for adding consistent color to gardens and landscapes.
In contrast, high-maintenance plants, while often more visually striking, require specific care regimens to thrive. These plants might necessitate regular pruning, precise watering schedules, and protection from pests. For instance, specialty roses, despite their stunning appearance, can be prone to diseases like black spot and powdery mildew, necessitating regular monitoring and treatment. Understanding the maintenance requirements of these plants is essential for ensuring they remain healthy and vibrant, particularly in commercial settings where consistent care can be challenging.
Visual appeal
The visual appeal of decorative plants is a primary driver in their selection, with factors such as color, bloom timing, and overall appearance playing significant roles. Bright, eye-catching colors can transform any space, creating focal points and enhancing visual interest. For example, the Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry® Petunia offers striking magenta blooms that provide vibrant color throughout the growing season. This variety’s continuous blooming and self-cleaning characteristics make it a popular choice for adding long-lasting beauty to gardens and containers.
Bloom timing is another crucial factor, as plants that bloom at different times can ensure continuous color and interest. Combining early bloomers like the Frilly Knickers™ anemone, which flowers from late summer into fall, with late bloomers can create dynamic, season-long displays. Additionally, the overall look of the plant, including its foliage, size, and shape, contributes to its aesthetic value. Plants with unique leaf textures or colors, such as the ‘Silver Swirl’ snowflake dusty miller with its bright silver ruffled leaves, add depth and texture to planting schemes, enhancing the visual complexity of garden designs.
Durability and disease resistance
Durability and disease resistance are essential considerations when selecting plants that will thrive over time. Opting for plants with strong disease resistance can significantly reduce the need for chemical treatments and maintenance efforts. The Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa is a prime example, known for its resilience against common rose diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew. This robust nature ensures that the plant remains healthy and vibrant with minimal intervention, making it a reliable choice for both amateur and professional gardeners.
Evaluating the longevity and resilience of plants is also crucial. Plants that can withstand environmental stresses, such as extreme temperatures, drought, and pests, are more likely to thrive in various conditions. For example, the ‘Wild Romance’ peony tulip, with its lush double blooms and strong stems, is known for its ability to endure different weather conditions while maintaining its stunning appearance. Selecting plants with proven resilience and durability can lead to more sustainable and robust gardens, reducing the need for frequent replacements and extensive care.
Spotlight on the best and brightest
Award-winning stars
The Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry® Petunia stands out with its electric magenta blooms and exceptional performance. This award-winning petunia has garnered 42 accolades, making it a top choice for landscapes and large containers. It boasts a mounding and spreading habit, covering areas with vibrant flowers from spring to fall. The Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry® thrives in part to full sun, requiring minimal maintenance while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Its resilience to heat and drought further enhances its appeal, making it a favorite for creating dynamic floral displays in diverse environments.
Heart to Heart® ‘Lemon Blush’ Caladium is another notable award-winner, celebrated for its striking foliage. This caladium features bright leaves with a rose-red center and chartreuse margins, performing exceptionally well in shaded to partially shaded areas. Ideal for containers and border plantings, the ‘Lemon Blush’ Caladium adds a splash of color and texture to gardens. Its ease of planting and consistent crop yield, due to de-eyed and painted bulbs, make it a preferred choice among professional growers and landscapers.
Best-selling favorites
Among the best-selling decorative plants, the ‘Pink Profusion’ Salvia nemorosa is highly regarded for its prolific flowering and vibrant pink blooms. This perennial salvia is known for its polished appearance and high flower count, making it a popular choice for enhancing garden aesthetics. Hardy in zones 3-8, ‘Pink Profusion’ blooms multiple times per season, particularly if pruned after each flowering period. Its ability to maintain a pristine habit and eye-catching color makes it a standout in both residential and commercial landscapes.
The Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa is another top-seller, admired for its disease-resistant foliage and abundant clusters of magenta-pink flowers. This rose variety requires no deadheading and blooms continuously from spring to fall, offering a low-maintenance option for vibrant garden displays. Hardy in zones 4-9, the Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa’s resilience against common rose diseases, such as black spot and powdery mildew, ensures it remains a favorite among gardeners seeking both beauty and durability.
Innovative newcomers
New plant introductions for 2024 include exciting varieties such as the Frilly Knickers™ Anemone. This perennial is notable for its double white flowers with lavender backs, providing a unique and striking addition to late-season gardens. Vigorous and hardy in zones 5-9, the Frilly Knickers™ Anemone thrives in full sun to part shade, making it a versatile option for various garden settings. Its leathery olive green foliage adds texture, making it a perfect companion for earlier blooming plants.
Another innovative newcomer is the ‘Blazing Glory’ Daylily, featuring large golden-yellow flowers with a burgundy eye and picotee edge. This daylily is known for its re-blooming capability, providing continuous color throughout the summer. Hardy in zones 3-9, the ‘Blazing Glory’ Daylily adds vibrant color to sunny garden spots and is valued for its robust blooming performance and low maintenance needs.
The ‘Silver Swirl’ Snowflake Dusty Miller offers bright silver leaves with ruffled edges, adding texture and contrast to garden designs. This perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a versatile option for borders or as a container plant. Hardy in zones 6-9, the ‘Silver Swirl’ Snowflake Dusty Miller maintains its visual appeal throughout the growing season, offering a unique and durable choice for enhancing garden aesthetics.
Conclusion
Choosing the best decorative flowers and plants in 2024 requires understanding market trends, consumer preferences, and the unique attributes of top-performing varieties. Standout plants like the Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry® Petunia and the Heart to Heart® ‘Lemon Blush’ Caladium offer both aesthetic appeal and low maintenance, making them favorites among gardeners and professionals. Additionally, best-selling plants such as the ‘Pink Profusion’ Salvia nemorosa and Oso Easy Peasy® Rosa demonstrate the importance of durability and disease resistance. Staying informed about new and innovative introductions, like the Frilly Knickers™ Anemone and ‘Blazing Glory’ Daylily, ensures that businesses can meet evolving customer demands with top-notch products.
