URBANA, Ill. — Another Illinois winter comes closer to a close, depending on which region of the state you live in. Cold and snowy days may have drug on, but the promise of spring and garden catalog eases the time before March planting. Whatever the plan is for 2025 gardens, leave room for those impulse buys when shopping for plants this year. 

Review garden records from previous years to aid in the planning for the new spring. When planning the new design, look for plants that are suited for USDA hardiness zone 5 or colder for most of Illinois. Start by plant mapping or sketching where things are already placed and thinking about how to incorporate new plants. From catalogs to blogs, there are many options to peruse the new year’s trending plants. 

All-America Selections is a non-profit organization that releases several trialed plants each year as AAS Winners. AAS tests new varieties every year at their private and public trial sites located around the U.S. and Canada. Currently, there are four trial locations in Illinois, with three northern and one central. Independent judges, who are professional horticulturists in geographically diverse areas, evaluate trial entries against comparison plants. The results and observations are compiled, and winners are chosen. For the best plants suited to the area, Illinois residents should look for Great Lakes winners or National winners on the AAS Winners lists.

In 2025, there are 15 AAS winners. Out of the total, 14 winners are suited for Illinois, including four vegetables, and 10 flowers. 

Vegetables

• Kohlrabi Konstance F1 (Brassica oleracea var. Konstance F1): The National Vegetable winner is a purple kohlrabi with a longer harvest window, improved skin for crack-resistant, long-lasting, sweet yet peppery crunchy bulbs. The plant can be grown as a spring or a fall crop with 42 days to harvest from seed.
• Pepper Pick-N-Pop Yellow F1 (Capsicum annuum var. Pick-N-Pop Yellow F1): The National Vegetable winner is an extra sweet snack-sized mini pepper, produced continually with 50 to 100 peppers per plant with bacterial leaf spot resistance. Canary yellow peppers that are uniform in shape. The growth rate is 65 days to harvest from transplant and 90 days to harvest from seed.
• Squash Green Lightning F1 (Cucurbita pepo var. Green Lightning F1): The National Vegetable winner is a light green, medium-sized, early maturing Pattypan squash. For consumption or decoration, this glossy squash has a small seed cavity with more flesh. The growth rate is 40 days to harvest from transplant and 48 to 52 days from seed.
• Squash Thriller F1 (Cucurbita pepo var. Thriller F1): The National Vegetable winner is an orange dumpling squash that has cream and green variegation. For consumption or decoration, this trailing squash will add color to fall gardens and is resistant to powdery mildew. The growth rate is 80 to 85 days to harvest from seed.

Flowers

• Dahlia Black Forest Ruby (Dahlia pinnata var. Black Forest Ruby): The National winner is a stunning ruby-red flower against deep black foliage. This semi-double to double-blooming dahlia with durable pinnate leaves. Sturdy and disease-free during the growing season. The growth rate is 85 days to flower from seed.
• Dianthus Interspecific Capitán Magnifica (Dianthus interspecific var. Capitán Magnifica): A National winner that is a mix of pink and light pink, this dianthus keeps blooming and growing through the summer heat. Bred with more heat tolerance than other dianthus, along with rain and cold tolerance. A great cut flower, after cuttings, more blooms are put forth. The growth rate is 25 days to flower from transplant.
• Marigold Mango Tango (Tagetes patula var. Mango Tango): The National winner is a compact bi-colored yellow and red flowers that bloom prolifically. Great for containers or in-ground. Plant in a full sun to part shade location. In European trials Mango Tango is the recipient of the Fleuroselect award.
• Nasturtium Baby Gold (Tropaeolum minus var. Baby Gold): The Regional winner has intense gold flowers set against dark green foliage. From the baby series, it is known for its mounding, petite flowers and is great for containers or in small space gardens. Blooms remain upright, causing less flower flopping due to mounding habit. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible. The growth rate is 21 days to flower from transplant and 50 days to flower from seed.
• Nasturtium Baby Red (Tropaeolum minus var. Baby Red): The Regional winner is uniform and compact, Baby Red has rich red flowers on dark green foliage. From the baby series known for its mounding, petite flowers, and great for containers or in small space gardens. Blooms remain upright, causing less flower flopping due to mounding habit. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible.
• Nasturtium Baby Yellow (Tropaeolum minus var. Baby Yellow): The Regional winner has soft light-yellow flowers contrasting dark green foliage. From the baby series known for its mounding, petite flowers, and great for containers or in small space gardens. Blooms remain upright, causing less flower flopping due to mounding habit. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible. The growth rate is 21 days to flower from transplant and 50 days to flower from seed.
• Petunia Dekko Maxx Pink (Petunia x hybrida var. Dekko Maxx Pink): The Regional winner has non-fading pink flowers on a compact, fast-spreading habit. Prolific bloomer that holds up well against heavy inclement weather. Great ground cover for landscape installs, borders, or garden beds. Trim back as needed to refresh the flowers.
• Petunia Shake Raspberry F1 (Petunia multiflora var. Shake Raspberry F1): The National winner is a naturally compact petunia with coloration of blended reds, pinks, and lemon-lime. Does not fade or melt during the summer months. A mounded growth habit with funnel-shaped flowers. Great for a hanging basket, edging, or ground cover. The growth rate is 35 to 42 days to flower from transplant and 63 to 77 days from seed.
• Snapdragon DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart F1 (Antirrhinum majus var. DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart F1): The National winner is an early bloomer with long-lasting yellow, red, and pink flowers. Resistant to summer heat and smells like candy. Prefers full sun to part shade. Excellent frost, light freeze resistance, and can be a season extender in cold climates. The growth rate is 42 to 49 days to flower from transplant and 70 to 91 days from seed.
• Zinnia Zydeco Fire (Zinnia marylandica var. Zydeco Fire): A National winner that has a fully double and larger orange flower when compared to other zinnias. Sturdy stems that last until the first frost. Disease-resistant foliage helps those long-lasting blooms. The growth rate is 49 days to flower from transplant and 77 days from seed. Great for containers and pollinator-friendly.

Looking for something else to fill in landscapes and gardens? Plan a trip to a local garden shop or visit the All-America Selections website, containing a list of all past vegetables and flower winners since its founding in 1933.

For more information about gardening, check out the University of Illinois Extension Horticulture plants website or University of Illinois Extension Horticulture YouTube Channel. For questions on starting seeds, contact a local University of Illinois Extension office on the statewide map.

Bruce Black is an Illinois Extension horticulture educator for Carroll, Lee, Whiteside, Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle counties. Gardeners Corner is a quarterly newsletter from gardening experts around the state. Each issue highlights best practices that will make your houseplants, landscape, or garden shine in any season. Join the Gardener’s Corner email list at subscribe for direct access to timely tips.

Photo Caption: A group of Petunia multiflora var. Shake Raspberry F1 flowers in bloom. Photo credit: All-America Selections.