Top Plants From the 2026 UGA Trials
September 9, 2026 Editor’s note: Allan Armitage collaborated with Sandy Begani on this year’s selections from the University of Georgia Trial Gardens.
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I have often thought that the journey from a new plant to a popular plant is a bit like a mating ritual. The plant starts out in an experimental greenhouse somewhere and, if it shows enough promise, it may make its industry debut at California Spring Trials before moving on to trial sites across the country. There, breeders hope industry professionals and gardeners notice its color, shape, and performance. The same plant may then be refined again and perhaps shown off at Cultivate. Only then do people really start talking about it.
Trial gardens across the country also provide objective data throughout the season, with results sent back to breeders to help guide their decisions. But trial gardens do their share of preening these potentially popular plants, too. Industry visits, evening soirees, and open houses for the public are all part of the process of turning potential to reality. If a plant catches enough eyeballs enough times, it gathers even more momentum. The courtship continues, and perhaps matches are made.
Summer heat and humidity are two major hurdles that new plants must overcome on their way to stardom. One trial site with both in abundance is the University of Georgia Trial Gardens, where industry visitors and the public flag the plants that stand out on designated days. Here are the season’s industry, public, and overall favorites.
A quick aside: Breeders are invited to participate in both public and private trials, but some have decided not to trial plants at public sites such as universities. That is shortsighted at best. If plants aren’t trialed, they aren’t seen.
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