Benary’s 2026 Preview

We are excited to kick off the 2026 trial garden season with an early look at what's in store this summer. This year Benary is showcasing genetics through a few different areas such as drought tolerant favorites, first-year flowering perennials (FasttraX), new varieties for 2026, a new cut flower section with InFlora, and other great genetics spread around the garden. To keep this article short, I am going to highlight my favorites for 2026, but I am excited to see how everything preforms at Green Legacy in 2026!

One of my personal favorite introductions of the season is the new Pentas lanceolata StreetArt series. StreetArt features the first blue pentas from seed, paired with red and white flower colors to create a stunning red, white, and blue combination that is perfectly timed for Memorial Day in warmer regions and fourth of July for cooler climates. The StreetArt series is an extra-large, mounding pentas with oversized flower clusters that give off a beautiful hydrangea-like appearance, making it an ideal choice for large containers or landscape focal points. It is worth noting that this series will finish at 18-24", making it a very different series from Benary’s staple Graffiti series, which tops out at 8-12". Knowing that distinction will go a long way in setting the right expectations at the point of sale.

The second introduction we are thrilled to feature is Verbena bonariensis that we are calling Flair, a Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner for 2026. This award recognized a breeding breakthrough in compactness for verbena bonariensis, a crop that landscapers and growers have always loved but has historically been difficult to manage in a fashionable appearance. Flair brings all the charm, with bright, neon purple flowers that surround the plant and act as a magnet for pollinators. Monarchs and bees can't get enough of it, you can count on them to surround the glowing blooms all summer long. Add in strong heat and drought tolerance that make for easy growing, Flair is shaping up to be one of the standout landscape performers of the season.

This year Benary is excited to participate in the new dedicated cut flower section. The display features some of the most trusted names in the cut flower category, starting with the long-time industry staple Benary's Giant Zinnia, known for its exceptional stem length, large blooms, and incredible color range. Alongside it we are showcasing the Limonium Hipster Series, a fresh take on a classic filler flower, and Craspedia Solarpop — an easy to grow, eye catching option that adds a fun burst of yellow to any arrangement. Whether you are growing for farmers markets, florists, or your own enjoyment, this section of the garden is going to be a great resource all season long.

We can't wait to showcase some of our favorite Benary genetics this season at the Green Legacy trial garden. We can't wait to share what this season has in store, follow along for updates, photos, and observations straight from the garden!