Hornbaker Highlights
Rooted in Place: Native Perennials, Trees & Shrubs for Illinois Gardens
We’re passionate about offering plants that support local ecosystems, thrive in our region, and provide long‑lasting beauty. Last year we introduced a new collection of native perennials as well as more natives in our tree & shrub department. For 2026, we’re excited to expand on those collections even further, adding many more native species to the lineup. Below is a brief look at a sampling of standout plants you’ll find in our Native to Illinois collection at hornbakergardens.com.
The Poppies That Always Came Back
Mom loved poppies.
She didn’t love them in an “oh, those are pretty” casual way. She loved them in the way you love something that feels like part of who you are. Wherever there was a garden, there were poppies. Especially in the front yard. They showed up along edges, in beds, tucked between perennials, and sometimes in places no one remembered planting them at all. That was the magic of them. They cheerfully reseeded themselves every year, as if they had been invited. These were the heirloom poppies like Papaver somniferum. The old varieties that carry stories in their genetics. Lavender, white, pale or hot pink, and endless variations in between. Mom helped them along, of course. Some years intentionally, some years without even realizing it. In the fall she gathered the dried pods. I remember watching her shake them, listening to their hollow rattle. She knew what it meant. Some seeds were carefully saved, others passed along, and many simply slipped away as she moved through the garden. They fell where they wanted, and she let them.
2026: Our Most Exciting Tree & Shrub Year Yet
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.
2026 New Hostas & Perennials
Every year, as we pore over plant catalogs and study offerings from our trusted growers, we find ourselves imagining what will feel fresh and exciting in your gardens for the year ahead. We want our selections to provide plants that not only have a strong garden performance, but that also have that collector-worthy detail or extra little spark that makes you say, “I have to find a place for this.”
In the Shade Garden
There’s something especially satisfying about a shade garden that feels layered and textural—where blues sit next to golds, smooth leaves contrast with corrugated ones, and every turn offers a subtle surprise. This year’s new hostas help create exactly that feeling.
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.
10 Stunning Perennials for Shade
Brighten Low-Light Areas with these 10 stunning Perrenials
Not every garden basks in full sun. Some spaces live in soft morning light, beneath tall trees or beside north-facing walls where shadows linger long after the day has brightened. These corners may seem quiet, even challenging, but they hold a magic all their own. Shade gardens invite a different kind of beauty—calm, textured, and endlessly intriguing. This is where some of our favorite perennials shine.
Hosta ‘Halcyon’: 2026 Hosta of the Year
Hosta ‘Halcyon’ has earned its place in the spotlight as the 2026 Hosta of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. This classic blue hosta is prized for its thick, heart-shaped leaves in a rich steel-blue tone that holds its color well throughout the growing season. With a tidy, medium-sized habit and excellent slug resistance, ‘Halcyon’ is both beautiful and reliable in the shade garden.
The Jane Morris Pollinator Paradise at Hornbaker Gardens
In 2023, we embarked on a mission to reimagine our entrance garden—and the results have been nothing short of transformative. Thanks to the thoughtful design work of Garden Designer Jane Morris, this once-simple space has evolved into a stunning pollinator’s paradise, brimming with color, texture, and life from early spring through winter. To honor Jane’s contributions to Hornbaker Gardens over the years, we have decided to name this work of art after her, The Jane Morris Pollinator Paradise.