PDSI previews California Spring Trials 2026 new intros
At California Spring Trials, Plant Development Services Inc. (PDSI) will debut a new slate of introductions in which moody blooms meet metallic-tinged foliage, redefining color for the modern garden.
Rich, saturated flowers bring new interest to proven landscape performers, while luminous silvers and radiant golden tones add light, contrast and dimension to foundation plantings.
“Strong color stops shoppers in their tracks,” said Kip McConnell, vice president, business development, PDSI. “These introductions deliver bold, seldom-seen colors that drive impulse purchases, while maintaining the performance, reliability, and consistency growers and retailers depend on.”
This year’s introductions include:
Encore Azalea Autumn Velvet – With flushes of unprecedented dark magenta blooms from spring through fall, Autumn Velvet expands the rainbow of possibilities for reblooming azaleas. Its compact, dense evergreen habit (4 feet by 4 feet) creates a sophisticated and moody presence in containers, mass plantings, or garden beds. Hardy in Zones 6 to 10 for full sun to part shade.
Butterfly Candy Buddleia Li’l Magenta – Adding vibrant energy to pollinator gardens, Li’l Magenta produces voluminous panicles filled with striking magenta blooms from late spring through the first frost. Its compact size (2 to 3 feet tall and wide) and floriferous habit make it a choice for containers, borders and small spaces, to add visual appeal while supporting pollinators throughout the season. Hardy to Zone 5.
Southern Living Plant Collection Early Surprise Camellia – For bright color with a head start on the season, the new game-changing Early Surprise bursts into radiant coral red blooms as early as late summer, well ahead of traditional camellia varieties. Glossy, dark green foliage in a tidy, upright form creates an elegant, evergreen backdrop, reaching 6 to 8 feet tall by 4 to 6 feet wide. Hardy in Zones 7–9 and adaptable from full sun to partial shade.
Southern Living and Sunset Plant Collections Mahonia Silver Caress – Elevate shaded nooks and corners with the silvery, bamboo-like foliage of Silver Caress. A graceful, compact habit of 3.5 feet tall by 3 feet wide and feathery evergreen leaves brings delicate movement to the landscape, contrasted by sweet yellow blooms in winter. Reliable heat tolerance and drought resilience in Zones 7 to 9.
Southern Living and Sunset Plant Collections Ilex Golden Sky – A beacon of golden foliage, Golden Sky delivers bold color in a naturally slender, upright form (8 feet by 3 feet). Ideal for narrow spaces, mixed containers, or as a radiant screening hedge, this holly thrives in full sun to part shade in Zones 5 to 9.
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