Monrovia announces its Top 13 Distinctive Plants for 2027
Monrovia has announced its top 13 distinctive plant introductions for 2027, highlighting new ornamental varieties selected for improved garden performance, distinctive foliage, extended bloom and landscape versatility. The collection spans flowering vines, shrubs, perennials and drought-tolerant plants as the company begins its second century of introducing new landscape plants.
Pincushion Flower ‘Skyrocket’
(Top photo) ‘Skyrocket’ pincushion flower (Scabiosa) produces large violet flowers that open with creamy white centers before maturing to soft purple. Selected as a Retailers’ Choice Award winner at Cultivate, the free-flowing perennial is suitable for landscapes, containers and cutting gardens, where its long stems make it a strong addition to bouquets. It is hardy in Zones 7 to 9, is being trialed in Zone 6 and can be grown as an annual in colder climates.
Clematis ‘Red Velvet Truffle’
‘Red Velvet Truffle’ clematis produces cherry-red flowers with bright yellow centers set against dark chocolate-colored foliage. This vigorous climber quickly covers trellises, fences and arbors, reaching up to 26 feet in Zones 4 to 9.
Rose ‘Light My Fire’
‘Light My Fire’ is a compact shrub rose featuring clusters of red flowers with glowing yellow centers and a light fragrance. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, the low-maintenance variety is suited for specimen plantings or mass plantings in Zones 4 to 9.
Pittosporum ‘Pot Belly’
‘Pot Belly’ pittosporum forms a naturally rounded shrub with dense silver-green foliage and white leaf undersides. Fragrant red flowers appear from spring into early summer, and the plant reaches about 4 feet tall and wide in 10 years in Zones 8 to 11.
Hellebore ‘Ice Breaker Lemony’
‘Ice Breaker Lemony’ features upright white flowers with soft lemon-yellow centers that bloom from late winter through spring. The hellebore grows 20 inches tall and 20 to 24 inches wide, making it suitable for landscapes and containers in Zones 5 to 9.
Coneflower ‘SunMagic Chocolate Cherry’
(photo to come)
‘SunMagic Chocolate Cherry’ produces deep cherry-red petals surrounding a chocolate-colored cone on dark, sturdy stems. Blooming from June through fall, the coneflower attracts pollinators while growing 18 to 24 inches tall and wide in Zones 4 to 9.
Tulbaghia ‘Starburst’
‘Starburst’ tulbaghia produces pink, star-shaped flowers above grassy foliage over an extended bloom season. The drought-tolerant Society Garlic selection reaches about 16 inches tall and wide and is hardy in Zones 7 to 11.
Hesperaloe ‘Tahitian Dawn’
‘Tahitian Dawn’ hesperaloe combines gray-green foliage with large coral-colored flowers that bloom over a long season. The drought- and heat-tolerant plant grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, making it suitable for water-wise landscapes in Zones 5 to 11.
Hydrangea ‘Seaside Serenade Hanalei Bay’
‘Seaside Serenade Hanalei Bay’ hydrangea features dark foliage and magenta flowers with bright centers and ruffled edges. Strong stems help support the blooms while thick foliage resists scorching on plants that mature at 3 feet tall and wide in Zones 5 to 9.
Boxwood ‘Winter Jade’
‘Winter Jade’ boxwood produces dense, dark green foliage that maintains its color through winter. The upright shrub has shown improved resistance to boxwood blight and common pests while reaching 3 to 4 feet tall and wide in Zones 5 to 9.
Lavender ‘Scent Mini Blue’
‘Scent Mini Blue’ lavender is a compact selection that grows to about 12 inches tall, making it well suited for containers. Dark purple flowers appear early and continue blooming through the season in Zones 5 to 9.
Skimmia ‘Springtime Burgundy’
‘Springtime Burgundy’ skimmia produces clusters of burgundy flower buds that provide winter interest before opening to white flowers in spring. The male selection does not produce fruit but serves as a pollinizer and is part of the Springtime series, which also includes ‘Blush Cream’ and ‘Coral,’ for Zones 7 to 9.
Yucca ‘Citrus Twist’
‘Citrus Twist’ yucca features lime-green leaves with yellow margins that develop red edges as they mature. Fragrant white bell-shaped flowers rise above the foliage on tall stalks, and the drought-tolerant plant reaches about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide in water-wise landscapes.
Photos courtesy of Monrovia.
Videos
