GARDEN CENTER • ARBORETUM • BOTANIC GARDENS
Don’t miss the Artisan Market on Sept. 19th!
We are now closed on Sundays for the rest of the season.
Welcome!
Hornbaker Gardens, Inc. is a family owned and operated nursery located five miles southeast of Princeton, Illinois. Our large collections of hostas, daylilies, trees and shrubs, grasses, aquatics, annuals, and other perennials draw plant enthusiasts from not only the Midwest, but from all across the country.
WE DELIVER AND PLANT
Children's Garden
The children’s garden area was created in memory of our beloved Kathy Hornbaker. It consists of a large, sloped, grassy play area where kids can be kids.
Garden Tours
Every year we host many garden clubs and tour groups. We are happy to greet your group upon arrival and provide a history and overview of Hornbaker Gardens.
Hornbaker Highlights
A Season of Hostas: Our 10 Bestsellers for 2025
Each year, a few hostas rise to the top as clear favorites among gardeners, and 2025 was no exception. Our best selling hostas of 2025 reflect what growers value most: dependable performance, standout foliage, and varieties that thrive in real gardens. From bold blues and vibrant golds to classic greens with striking texture, these hostas earned their popularity through season-long beauty.
Whether you’re designing a new shade garden or adding to an established planting, these top-selling selections have proven themselves time and again. Chosen by both seasoned hosta enthusiasts and first-time gardeners, they offer a balance of visual impact and easy care—making them trusted staples for shade landscapes everywhere.
Elevating the Garden – 2026 Perennial of the year Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’
The Perennial Plant Association has named Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ — commonly known as Blackhawks big bluestem — the 2026 Perennial Plant of the Year! This award highlights plants that excel in beauty, resilience, and ecological value, and Blackhawks delivers on all three.
Native to North America’s tallgrass prairies, this striking grass offers dramatic seasonal color. Its foliage emerges green in spring, develops reddish-purple tips in summer, and matures to a deep, almost-black hue by fall. Signature “turkey-foot” seed heads rise above the foliage in late summer, adding vertical texture and interest. Despite its bold appearance, Blackhawks remains relatively compact, reaching about 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide, making it ideal for both structured borders and prairie-style plantings.
Hornbaker Gardens’ Favorite Compact Hydrangeas
If you’re gardening in the Midwest—especially here in Zone 5—you know the weather can feel like a dramatic television series: surprise plot twists, emotional highs and lows, and the occasional stormy season finale. That’s why choosing hydrangeas that stay compact, bloom reliably, and hold up to Central Illinois nonsense is essential.
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Annual Artisan Market
Join us in our beautiful country setting for a day filled with 40 fine artists, craft beer, delicious home baked items, live music, wine tasting, fresh-picked local produce, local lunch fare, hands-on community art experiences, and more. Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 10am to 4pm. Free Admission.
Gift Certificates Available
The perfect gift for any gardener
