It's the 2025 Year-in-Review, and we're going over the top 25 Best-Selling Trees, Perennials, Vines, and Shrubs at Nature Hills this year!
Planning ahead for 2026 garden upgrades? You're in the right place. Our 2025 best-selling trees and shrubs paint a crystal-clear picture of what gardeners were craving this year: flowering showstoppers, privacy powerhouses, low-maintenance classics, and plants with big seasonal personality.
Searches for flowering shrubs, shade trees, fast-growing privacy hedges, drought-tolerant favorites, and easy-care, front-yard plants took off like never before!
These customer favorites didn't just move; they flew off the shelves, and many are already stacking up as preorders for 2026 thanks to high demand, limited availability, and red-hot garden trends.
If you're planning your landscape for next spring, take this as both inspiration and a PSA: these best-sellers are the first to sell out on preorder. Secure yours early to beat the rush, and stay ahead of the planting curve!
2025's Top 25 Best-Selling Trees and Shrubs
Big blooms, bold foliage, graceful shapes, and multi-season charm ruled this year. Below you'll find the plants homeowners loved most, along with why they became the talk of the garden world. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here's the best of the best at Nature Hills:
Gardeners couldn't get enough of this dramatic tree form of classic Wisteria. Its long, fragrant purple-to-silvery-lavender-to-blue racemes drape elegantly from a strong central trunk, forming a romantic, umbrella-shaped canopy that feels like something from a fairytale. Those cascading blooms flutter in the breeze like soft chiffon, adding movement, fragrance, and whimsy. No surprise it was a leading preorder item.
2. Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass
Gardeners could not get enough of this compact yet fiery, upright ornamental grass. Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass brings bold, sword-like blades that shift from fresh-spring green to vivid red tips, then deepen into rich crimson as the season warms. Its compact, clumping habit, dramatic color contrast, and low-maintenance nature made it a favorite for borders, modern landscapes, mixed beds, and high-impact accents.
Homeowners wanted more bi-tone color, and this one delivered! BiColor Butterfly Bushes produce two-toned flower spires that glow like watercolor sunsets, and they provide nectar for months. Sunny landscapes, full-sun annuals, and pollinator gardens welcomed this popular performer!
4. Black Knight Butterfly Bush
The deepest-purple blooms on the market! Dramatic, moody, almost velvety flower clusters made this a repeat-flowering favorite for bold backyard style. Its rich color contrasted beautifully with lighter flowers. Butterfly Bushes are perfect for dark-flower gardens, are must-haves for pollinator gardens, and pair with ornamental grasses for a strong design statement. As the name suggests, butterflies and even hummingbirds are drawn to these fragrant plants!
5. White SNOW FOUNTAINS® Weeping Cherry Tree
Nothing says spring magic like this waterfall of white blossoms. The soft, fragrant bloom curtain drapes over weeping branches, creating a living bridal veil of blooms. That elegant, cascading form made it a top pick for cottages, courtyards, and front-entry landscaping. White not your flavor? The pink-flowering Weeping Cherry Tree is a great alternative! This classic pink version also topped the list. Homeowners wanted soft pastel spring color, graceful architecture, and high-impact curb appeal without high maintenance. Its downward-flowing branches, bronze bark, and double-pink blossoms create a dreamy focal point that works especially well near patios or windows.
6. Autumn Blooming Cherry Tree
One word: Unexpected! This cherry delivers spring blooms, and then a bonus round of soft-blush flowers in fall. That extra blossom show, when most other trees are winding down, drew big attention and rapid preorder demand. Did we mention great shape, easy care, and fall color, too? Oh yes, the Autumn Blooming Cherry is one of our customer favorites for good reason!
7. Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Tree
Still one of America's most beloved flowering trees. Huge, fluffy, pink pompoms of double blooms fill neighborhoods with color each spring. Its upright-vase shape, dependable flowering, and easy care keep it a staple for high-impact spring displays!
8. Chaste Tree (Vitex)
This aromatic, blue-flowering tree kept pollinators happy and gardeners thrilled. With its sage-scented foliage and spiky flower clusters, Chaste trees and shrubs are heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and loved for their extended bloom season. It is perfect for low-maintenance gardens and pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Gardenias were back in a big way, and this cold-hardy, fragrant variety led the pack. Creamy white perfumed blooms paired with glossy evergreen foliage made it irresistible for sunny porches, patios, and foundation beds near windows. Its compact, evergreen form and easy-care nature gave gardeners a fragrant classic without the fuss.
The fluffy, cotton-candy plumes of this ornamental grass created a viral moment online. Its fall display of pastel-pink haze glows at sunrise and sunset, turning ordinary landscapes into photo-ready dreamscapes. This showy, seasonal grass added texture, softness, and dreamy movement, especially when planted in groups or along walkways.
Neat, evergreen, and elegant. This small, tidy Boxwood shrub remains one of the most popular choices for low hedges, borders, and formal garden designs. Gardeners loved pairing it with Roses, Hydrangeas, and shade annuals for crisp structure, definition, and easy, year-round greenery.
Strong vertical lines were trending in 2025. This narrow, upright evergreen added architecture to small porches, tight side yards, and modern designs. Its low-maintenance habit and evergreen color kept demand high. It works well for structure, privacy hedges, or a clean, modern accent.
13. Zephirine Drouhin Climbing Rose
A thornless, fragrant, reblooming Climbing Rose. The soft raspberry-pink blooms and sweet scent made it a must-have for arbors, trellises, and cottage-style gardens. Its repeat-blooming habit and classic fragrance won hearts.
This airy, fern-like foliage and pink-powderpuff-blooming tree continues its comeback. Its tropical vibe and hummingbird-magnet blooms made it especially popular in warm climates or microclimates. It is ideal for gardeners seeking a cottage-meets-tropics look.
Still one of the most iconic shade trees. Homeowners craving cooling, tranquil backyard spaces gravitated to the soft, cascading branches, graceful movement, and fast growth. Weeping Willows are perfect near water features, hammock areas, or backyard retreats.
This early-spring favorite lit up landscapes with its explosion of bright, golden-yellow blooms long before most plants woke up. Lynwood Gold Forsythia became a bestseller thanks to its vibrant color, fast growth, and reliable cold-hardiness, giving homeowners an easy, low-maintenance way to bring cheerful spring energy to borders, foundations, and hedges.
This compact, arching ornamental grass charmed gardeners with its soft, billowing shape and fluffy tan seed heads that sway with every breeze. Dwarf Fountain Grass offered long-lasting texture, warm-season movement, and a tidy footprint that fit beautifully into small landscapes, front-yard beds, and modern designs looking for soft structure.
18. Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple
This cascading Japanese Maple captivated gardeners with its deeply cut, burgundy-red foliage that turns even richer through the season. Inaba Shidare's graceful, weeping form, compact size, and year-round elegance made it a top pick for focal points, entry gardens, and serene backyard spaces craving architectural beauty.
19. Yoshino Flowering Cherry Tree
Loved for its clouds of soft, pale-pink to nearly white blossoms, the Yoshino Flowering Cherry delivered a romantic spring show that homeowners adored. Its broad canopy, gentle fragrance, and dependable bloom power made it a staple choice for front yards, driveway plantings, and neighborhood-wide spring color displays.
This sweet Cherry variety stayed in the spotlight with its outstanding flavor, large golden fruit flushed with red, and heavy production. Rainier Cherry Trees appealed to gardeners looking for a homegrown harvest with orchard-level quality, offering reliable crops, spring blooms, and a beautiful presence in edible landscapes.
21. Phenomenal French Lavender
Phenomenal French Lavender earned its name with its exceptional heat tolerance, humidity resistance, and long-lasting purple blooms. Gardeners loved its soothing fragrance, silvery foliage, and tidy, mounded form, making it a go-to choice for sunny borders, cottage gardens, pollinator plantings, and low-maintenance designs.
This compact, spreading Gardenia stole hearts with its petite, glossy leaves and profusion of fragrant white blooms through the warm season. Dwarf Gardenia Radicans offered all the charm of classic Gardenias in a smaller, easier-to-place package, thriving in foundation beds, borders, and patio containers, looking for perfume and evergreen structure.
Star Jasmine won gardeners over with its twining growth habit, glossy evergreen foliage, and intensely fragrant white, star-shaped blooms. Whether used as a climbing vine or groundcover, it added romance, sweetness, and versatility to warm-climate gardens, making it a beloved pick for fences, trellises, and fragrant entryways.
This fast-growing evergreen continued to dominate the privacy market with its tall, lush, pyramidal form and year-round color. Also known as Thuja, Green Giant Arborvitae delivered dependable screening, strong disease resistance, and low-maintenance performance, making it a top choice for homeowners wanting instant structure and long-term privacy.
A popular native flowering vine, the Sweet Autumn Clematis soared in popularity thanks to its vigorous growth, clouds of tiny white, starry blooms, and sweet, late-season fragrance. Its ability to quickly cover arbors, fences, and trellises with a frothy blanket of blossoms made it a beloved option for gardeners looking to extend floral interest into fall.
Honorable Mention: Perfecta Trifecta Butterfly Bush
This triple display of bloom colors tempted everyone. This variety stacks three favorite, vivid colors on one fragrant, pollinator-loving shrub. With arching stems and cone-shaped flower clusters, it buzzed with hummingbirds and butterflies all summer. Its heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant habit made it a go-to for easy, fuss-free color. We look forward to its return in 2026!
Landscaping With These Top Sellers
These best-sellers earned their place by fitting into many modern landscape needs.
- Front-yard focal points: Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree, Weeping Cherry Tree in both white and pink forms, Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Tree
- Pollinator gardens: Butterfly Bush varieties, Chaste Tree, Zephirine Drouhin Climbing Rose
Learn how to create a pollinator garden - Privacy and structure: Dwarf English Boxwood, Sky Pencil Holly
Privacy design tips - Seasonal drama: Pink Muhly Grass, Weeping Willow Tree, Mimosa Tree
- Small-space blooming impact: Frost Proof Gardenia, Autumn Blooming Cherry Tree
Small space gardening ideas - Cottage and romantic gardens: White SNOW FOUNTAINS® Weeping Cherry Tree, Zephirine Drouhin Climbing Rose, Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree
How to design a cottage garden
Looking Ahead to 2026
Many of these 2025 favorites have already entered high-demand preorder status for 2026. Since growers only produce limited quantities each year, the early birds will get the best selection. If one of these best-sellers is on your Wishlist, lock in your preorder now, and start planning your dream landscape.
These top-selling trees and shrubs did not just top charts; they captured hearts. From fragrant Gardenias to dramatic flowering cherries, architectural evergreens to dreamy grasses, these plants proved that beauty, low-maintenance appeal, and seasonal drama will always be in style. Let this list guide your 2026 garden planning and inspire your next big planting idea.
Happy Planting!