Public Favorites from Iowa Arboretum’s 2026 Field Day
September 22, 2026 The public evaluation at this year’s Field Day at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens generated a total of 407 votes, which were used to select and recognize the following varieties:
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Trial Program Winners
Pycnanthemum Blunt Mountain Mint
Voted the favorite perennial this year, Pycnanthemum muticum boasts dark-green foliage topped by silver bracts that give the plant a “snow-dusted” appearance. Nestled within this shimmering silver, dense clusters of tubular pinkish flowers bloom all summer long, keeping the garden buzzing. Additionally, a brush against the leaves releases a crisp spearmint aroma. Deer-resistant and incredibly resilient, it’s a great choice for pollinator gardens, rain beds, mixed borders, a soft filler in a native border, or cottage gardens.
Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC® ‘Edge of Night’
Almost jet-black and weather-resistant foliage pairs with large bubblegum-pink flowers with a dark fuchsia center that are long-lasting and put on a show from mid to late summer. As a compact, hardy hibiscus, Edge of Night is incredibly easy to care for. It has proven its exceptional climate resilience by thriving through three winters and into its fourth growing season with consistent performance.
Stachys ‘Keylime’
Key Lime trades the classic muted look of silver lamb’s ear for bold, glowing chartreuse foliage that illuminates sunny borders and pathways and forms a dense, velvety mat of supersized, plush leaves. While it is grown primarily for its glowing leaf color, it puts on a secondary show in mid-to-late summer with soft purple flower spikes. Additionally, it boasts a weed-suppressing groundcover that’s drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and completely deer and rabbit-resistant.
Rudbeckia ‘Suntacular’
This perennial delivers massive color by showing off vibrant, bicolor gold and bronze-orange petals wrapped around a dark central cone. Unlike traditional varieties that sprawl outward, its sturdy, upright columnar habit takes up less ground space and eliminates the need for staking. It’s easy to care for and provides natural deer resistance and an open invitation to local pollinators.
New for 2026
Heliposis ‘Forged in Fire’
This mid-size False Sunflower combines a dense clump of glossy, deep green leaves with a show of semi-double blooms. The flowers put on a striking ombré effect on a single stem — opening as a deep burgundy before softening into burnt orange and bright golden-yellow. As a native North American selection, growers are anticipating how its built-in mildew resistance handles mid-to-late summer humidity.
Lavandula Butterfly GardenTM Plum Perfect
Showcasing deep plum-purple blooms topped with fluttering, wing-like bracts, Butterfly Garden Plum Perfect serves as a pollinator magnet while maintaining deer and rabbit resistance. While its official hardiness is rated for Zone 6b, many growers are hopeful that this new lavender has the chance to successfully overwinter in Zone 5.
Shade Perennials
Heuchera ‘Ruby Tuesday’
This low-maintenance perennial has ruffled and fluted leaves that emerge a ruby red before maturing into a velvety merlot with a frosted silver veil. In late spring, petite, star-like white flowers erupt on slender dark stems, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Ruby Tuesday is naturally resistant to deer and rabbits and a great choice for adding instant texture and high-contrast color to woodland borders, paths, or mixed patio containers.
Brunnera ‘Frost King’
Unlike older varieties, ‘Frost King’ boasts massive, oversized, heart-shaped leaves that showcase a silvery-white frosted shimmer outlined and veined in bold dark green. Later on, spring arrives with dainty, bright-blue, forget-me-not-style flowers dancing on stems right above the leaves. Additionally, Frost King offers improved summer heat and leaf-scorching resistance while naturally warding off hungry deer and rabbits.
Shrubs
Hydrangea First Editions® ‘Berry WhiteTM’
The Berry White Hydrangea features cone-shaped blooms that start creamy white before transitioning to a deep red as the season progresses. This color shift pairs well with sturdy stems that stand tall even in high winds. The visual interest continues into fall as the flowers dry, all while attracting pollinators and hummingbirds to the garden. Highly versatile and proven hardy through multiple winters and growing seasons, it works as a standalone specimen, hedge, mixed border, or mass planting.
Physocarpus First Editions® ‘Fireside®’
This adaptable shrub features near-black foliage that creates a bold, high-contrast backdrop, while its flickering deep red new growth injects a pop of color and constant visual interest. The real sizzle happens in spring, when the upright, dark canopy erupts with clusters of blush-pink flowers. Fireside has proven its hardiness through multiple harsh winters and growing seasons with consistent performance and minimal to no dieback.
Hydrangea First Editions® ‘Little Hottie’
This compact hydrangea forms a neat, 3-to-5-foot rounded mound that fits beautifully into tighter landscapes where standard varieties outgrow their welcome. In midsummer, it erupts with dense, cone-shaped clusters of snow-white petals. As the crisp autumn air rolls in, those blossoms gracefully blush into a strawberry-pink hue. It is a magnet for local pollinators and a guaranteed conversation starter for garden guests.
Amorpha fruticosa False Indigo Bush
The leaves of False Indigo are compound and a green color that looks unique compared to most shrubs. It’s native to the Midwest along stream banks or open wet areas, but can also be used in gardens. False Indigo is a great choice for creating windbreaks, hedges, or as a part of rain gardens due to its tolerance to occasional flooding. 
For additional information on the winning varieties, as well as honorable mentions and other 2026 Field Day highlights from the Iowa Arboretum, read more here.
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