We’ll be honest — we say this every year. But 2026 really is different. This is the largest and most diverse tree and shrub selection we’ve ever offered, and putting it together has been genuinely exciting for our whole team. Whether you’re planting a single specimen tree or building a serious collection, there has never been a better time to see what we have growing.
One of the biggest stories this year is our expanded native selection. We’re offering more native trees and shrubs than ever before — plants that support pollinators and wildlife while being perfectly at home in our Midwestern climate. We’ve devoted a separate article entirely to natives, so if that’s your passion, make sure you read that one too.
A Wonderful Year for Edible Plants
Our edible tree and shrub lineup is equally strong. The familiar favorites are all here — apples, peaches, pears, cherries — but we’ve pushed further into unusual and rewarding territory this season. Look for pawpaws, native pecans, and hazelnuts in both American and European types, along with a broad selection of fruiting shrubs for home growers.
One plant we’re especially pleased to offer is Prunus ‘Carmine Jewel’, a hardy, self-pollinating bush cherry that produces abundant crops of deep red fruit on a wonderfully compact plant. It’s a perfect choice for gardeners who want real fruit production without dedicating space to full-sized trees. Whether you’re planting a small orchard or simply want something productive in the landscape, the options have never been better.
Our Best Japanese Maple Selection Ever
Over the years we’ve had the pleasure of meeting many passionate maple collectors, and this season we’re proud to say we’ve become a genuine destination for unusual and hard-to-find cultivars. Our Japanese maple selection is the largest we’ve ever offered, ranging from very accessible #1 container plants starting around $57 all the way up to larger specimen trees — something meaningful for beginners and serious collectors alike.
One maple we’re particularly excited about is ‘Acer × ‘Alpenglow.’ This Japanese–Korean hybrid holds the distinction of being the first red-leafed selection hardy to Zone 4. It delivers the rich, deep color that draws people to red Japanese maples, but with far greater winter reliability for Midwest gardens. For anyone who has lost a red maple to a hard winter, ‘Alpenglow’ is a revelation.
Our Finest Conifer Selection Yet
Conifers and Japanese maples are a natural pairing — one brings seasonal drama, the other brings year-round structure and calm. This year’s conifer selection is the best we’ve assembled, and we think it shows.
Among my personal favorites in the lineup are the Japanese white pines, which develop extraordinary character with age and reward patient gardeners in ways few trees can match. This
year we’re offering several cultivars across a range of sizes, including the outstanding ‘Tempelhof’ — a refined, architectural form with classic blue-green needles that simply gets better with every passing year. Its naturally slender habit makes it an ideal fit for tighter garden spaces. Other outstanding new cultivars include ‘Blue Angel’, ‘Blue Lou’, ‘Glauca’ and ‘Gimborn’s Ideal’. There are also plenty of new cultivars of spruce, larch, cypress and cedar to browse.
A Standout Year for Hydrangeas
We’re adding some exceptional new varieties this season, and hydrangea fans are going to have a lot to be excited about.
On the paniculata side, we’re offering three new introductions: Powerball®, French Manicure™, and Spring Sizzle™. Spring Sizzle is the one generating the most buzz, and for good reason. If you’ve ever wished panicle hydrangeas would develop color sooner and hold their color deeper into the season, this is the plant you’ve been waiting for. It blooms earlier than most PGs, opening with bright white flowers that quickly transition through pink before finishing in a rich, deep red — all on strong, upright, bright red stems that never flop.
We’re also thrilled to introduce Gatsby’s Glow Ball®, a new oakleaf hydrangea that brings the classic charm of the oakleaf type in a refined, compact form. And the show doesn’t stop at the blooms — Gatsby’s Glow Ball puts on a spectacular fall display as its big, bold leaves shift into a rich tapestry of maroon, red, orange, yellow, and purple, all highlighted by contrasting green veining.
For those who love smooth hydrangeas, we have two excellent additions that improve on the beloved old ‘Annabelle’ in meaningful ways. Flowerful® keeps everything you love about Annabelle — those stunning white blooms — but delivers them on sturdier stems with noticeably darker green foliage that makes the flowers pop. It also produces two to three times the number of blooms, which is remarkable. Incrediball® Storm Proof takes a similar approach, offering a more compact, sturdy plant loaded with blooms and built to hold its shape through whatever the season throws at it.
Whether you’re a longtime hydrangea collector or just looking for something reliable and beautiful, there is an impressive selection to choose from.
Come Early for the Best Selection
Many of our conifers and Japanese maples exist in very limited quantities — sometimes only one or two plants. These tend to go quickly, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for the season.
If you have something specific in mind, or simply want to see everything before the best specimens are claimed, we’d encourage you to visit early. This is shaping up to be one of our most exciting seasons in memory, and we can’t wait to share these plants with you.