Proven Winners® is a brand gardeners trust and are known for exceptional performance, vibrant color, and long-lasting blooms. At Grimm’s Gardens, we carry a wide selection of Proven Winners® perennials, shrubs, trees, and annuals that are tough enough to handle the Midwest’s cold winters and hot summers. These plants are carefully selected for their beauty as well as their strength, disease resistance, and reliable results, helping gardeners achieve success with less effort.
What to Consider When Choosing Proven Winners® Plants
There are many factors you will want to consider when picking any plants to add to your landscape. This will determine the overall survivability and success of the plant. Here's what to keep in mind:
Proven Winners® plants are available for full sun, partial shade, and shade. Sun-loving varieties like salvia, hydrangea, and petunias deliver strong blooms, while shade-tolerant plants like certain shrubs and foliage varieties bring color and texture to lower-light areas.
Knowing a plant's mature height and spread helps you plan your garden without overcrowding. Consider the role you want each of your plant to take on in your landscape. Use annuals for instant color, perennials for long-term structure, and shrubs for foundation plantings, privacy, and seasonal interest. Mature height and spread can be found on individual plant pages.
Plants will bloom at different times, so mixing early, mid, and late-season bloomers will ensure continuous color throughout all the seasons. This layered approach will keep your garden looking full and vibrant from the first bloom to the last. Plus, planning bloom times also helps attract pollinators all season long!
Proven Winners® plants are bred for strong performance and ease of care, making them a dependable choice for any garden. Many varieties are disease-resistant and require minimal maintenance once established. To get the most out of your plants, match them to your conditions, especially in areas with drought, heavy clay soil, or deer pressure, where selecting the right varieties makes all the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions to help you choose, plant, and care for your garden with confidence.
Use your USDA Hardiness Zone to select plants suited to your climate. Our perennials are selected to perform well in Midwest zones but can thrive across multiple regions with proper planting and care.
If you’re not sure where to start, some of our most popular Proven Winners® perennials include Cat’s Pajamas Catmint, Sage Advice Russian Sage, Back to the Fuchsia Salvia, and Dianthus Paint the Town Red. Customer-favorite Proven Winners® shrubs include Incrediball Hydrangea, Sugartina Crystalina Clethra, and Arctic Fire Red Dogwood, all known for their reliable performance, standout color, and landscape impact.
Many Proven Winners® varieties are excellent for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plants like catmint, bee balm, salvia, butterfly bush and weigela are especially popular for attracting beneficial wildlife.
It depends on the plant type and your USDA Hardiness Zone. Perennials and shrubs will return each year if they are hardy in your area, while annuals provide one season of color.
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