FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Loxley, AL – December 2025) If Pantone has dubbed 2026 the year of “Cloud Dancer,” or muted white, then Plant Development Services, Inc. (PDSI) is breaking beyond the clouds. The brand is showcasing a colorful new slate of consumer releases that don’t just complement the landscape: they command it. In lieu of neutral hues, this year’s introductions are color innovations in electrifying magenta, coral, and captivating pastels. It’s a bold, joy-filled lineup crafted for growers and gardeners who want color paired with exceptional performance in the landscape.
“Color sparks emotion, and this year we wanted to give gardeners varieties that are joyful, vibrant, and boundary-breaking. These introductions celebrate that spirit. They inspire optimism and empower gardeners to succeed with the traits they prize most, from waterwise landscape anchors and season-spanning blooms to pollinator magnets,” says Vice President of Business Development Kip McConnell.
Among this year’s new releases from Plant Development Services’ celebrated family of brands are the following vibrant varieties:
Autumn Velvet™ Encore® Azalea sets a new standard for reblooming color with vivid, never-before-seen magenta azalea blooms that create a dramatic show from spring through fall. Reaching a compact 4′ tall and wide, it delivers reliable performance in containers, landscapes, and mass plantings. Dense, emerald-green evergreen foliage elevates its premium appeal and year-round structural interest for growers and homeowners in Zones 6-10. Available to the trade in 2026 through Encore® Azalea.
A versatile standout for landscapes, Leucothoe Some Like It Hot™ offers fast growth, exceptional heat tolerance, and reliable evergreen interest in full sun to part shade in Zones 6-9. Its elegant, arching habit adds movement and texture, while new foliage emerges reddish-bronze before softly fading to a rosy-pink in fall. Spring brings a cascade of delicate white flowers, adding seasonal interest in a tidy, compact form that reaches 2–3′ tall and wide at maturity. Available to the trade in 2026 through the Southern Living® and Sunset® Plant Collections.
Li’l Magenta™ adds a vibrant new dimension to the Butterfly Candy® Buddleia collection, offering a standout bloom hue that infuses any landscape with striking, high-impact color. This 2026 trade introduction delivers masses of rich magenta flower spikes that attract pollinators from late spring through frost, ensuring season-long interest in any display. Its tidy 2 – 3′ habit makes it an ideal choice for containers, borders, and other small-space plantings. With dependable performance, vibrant blooms, and cold hardiness to Zone 5, Li’l Magenta™ offers a low-maintenance offering that shines on the bench and in the landscape.
Butterfly Candy® Lil Cerise™ brings an abundance of soft pink charm to the collection, contrasted by densely branched, lush foliage. A profusion of lightly fragrant flower spikes provides endless summer color and nectar for pollinators. Hardy to Zone 5 and maturing to a compact 2–3′ tall and wide, Lil Cerise™ delivers dependable performance in both production and the landscape. Available to the trade in 2026 through theButterfly Candy® Buddleia collection.
Hydrangea Blast from the Pastel™ lends a sophisticated new look to the landscape, showcasing voluminous panicles of white, star-shaped blooms brushed with soft yellow and pastel pink or blue tones. This distinctive coloration offers a balanced mix of classic appeal and contemporary style. Reaching 4′ tall by 5′ wide, it performs reliably in Zones 5 – 9 and thrives in full sun to part shade, making it a versatile choice for a range of landscape applications. Available to the trade in 2026 through the Southern Living® and Sunset® Plant Collections.
Purple Charm™ Loropetalum packs a punch in small spaces with its tidy, rounded form and colorfast, deep purple foliage. Maturing to 3 – 4′ tall and wide, this versatile shrub showcases fine-textured oval leaves contrasted by vivid red fringe-like blooms that infuse high drama. Well-suited for borders, containers, and mass plantings, Purple Charm™ offers a reliable evergreen structure for Zones 7–10 in full sun to part shade. Available to the trade in 2026 through the Southern Living® Plant Collection.
Early Surprise® Camellia delivers a fresh burst of fall color with its true-coral blooms that open in September, well ahead of traditional camellia varieties. This stately evergreen forms a dense, upright structure, maturing at 6 – 8′ tall and 4 – 6′ wide, making it an excellent choice for foundation plantings, formal hedges, and statement containers. Its warm-toned flowers contrast beautifully against glossy, deep green foliage, a high-impact aesthetic for a range of landscape styles. Suited for Zones 7 – 9 and tolerant of full sun to partial shade, Early Surprise® will be available to the trade in 2026 through the Southern Living® Plant Collection.
Catch these colorful new releases at PDSI’s MANTS Booths #33 and 34, and find out what’s new with Better Boxwood in the PDSI & Everde Booth 142. For more information, contact Corrina Murray at [email protected]
About Plant Development Services Inc. Plant Development Services Inc. was founded in 1996 by Greg Smith of the third-generation, family-owned Flowerwood Nursery, Inc. Plant Development Services owns and/or licenses more than 300 patented plant properties and boasts these top-ranking plant brands: Encore® Azalea, the Southern Living® Plant Collection, the Sunset® Plant Collection, Better Boxwood®, and Butterfly Candy®. To learn more about Plant Development Services Inc., visit plantdevelopment.com.