Five Colorful Plants to Try in 2024

by Alana Settle

After months of winter grays and browns, who isn’t ready for some color? We’ve highlighted below a few of this year's popular plants guaranteed to brighten up your landscapes

photo via pantone.com

Pantone Color Institute chose Peach Fuzz as their Color of the Year, based on emerging trends in various industries such as fashion and entertainment. They describe the shade as "a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul."

photo via monrovia.com

If you're interested in adding warmth or softness to your landscapes with shades of peach, Monrovia is on trend with one of its 2024 introductions: Itsy Bitsy® Peach Miniature Rose. Reaching 18 in. tall and 24 in. wide, this rose will bloom abundantly, whether in a container or flower bed. It is resistant to mildew and rust.

Proven Winners recently announced their Plants of the Year, marketed to consumers as easy to grow, readily available, and guaranteed to perform well in the landscape.

photo via provenwinners.com

If you're looking for drama and bold contrast, among those in Proven Winner's 2024 lineup is a new variety of weigelia that might fit the bill. Wine & Spirits® weigelia, an update to the popular Wine & Roses®, has dark, almost black foliage and contrasting white-green flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It blooms in late spring to early summer, but the dark foliage is visually appealing on its own as well. Wine & Spirits prefers full sun and can grow 3-5 feet tall and wide.

photo via provenwinners.com

Shadier parts of the landscape can be brightened up with the many varieties of caladium available. Their large, heart-shaped leaves come in a wide array of patterns and colors, including white, pink, red, and green. Proven Winners will be marketing their 2024 selection: Heart to Heart®' Lemon Blush', a fancy-leaved variety with lemony-green leaves with a hot pink center and veins.

Caladiums like moist, well-drained soil. In Ohio, they can be grown as perennials, but gardeners must dig up the plant's tuberous root and store it inside over winter to replant the following spring. Caladiums can also be grown as houseplants and do exceptionally well in containers.

photo via thespruce.com

For those needing to tackle sunnier, hotter landscapes, you might like that the National Garden Bureau has declared 2024 the Year of the Angelonia. Also called summer snapdragons, these easy-to-grow flowers thrive in Ohio's hot summer weather. They bloom consistently throughout the season with no deadheading required.

Angelonia can be used in hanging baskets and containers, flower beds, and cutting gardens. Popular varieties, including 'Archangel,' 'AngelMist,' and 'Alonia,' offer white, pink, purple, blue, or bi-color blooms.

photo via sciotogardens.com

The Perennial Plant Association's 2024 Plant of the Year, Phlox paniculata 'Jeana,' is a tall garden phlox with fragrant, lavender-pink flowers. While the flowers on this variety are smaller than those of other phlox, it remains a striking choice for landscape applications and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds from midsummer through early fall.

Thriving in full sun and reaching 3-5 feet under optimal conditions, this phlox stands out for its resistance to powdery mildew. Plant it in well-drained soil with good air circulation to ensure the plant remains attractive even without flowers.

The PPA suggests pairing 'Jeana' with other perennials, such as bluestars, Shasta daisies, coneflowers, alliums, and sages.

Enjoy adding vibrant and bold additions to your landscapes this season. If you’re looking for more inspiration to add seasonal interest, color, and contrast to your landscapes, OGIA’s Landscape Plants for Ohio is an excellent reference guide for both home gardeners and industry professionals.