Oh, dear listeners—it’s the most glorious time of the year! No, not because it’s time to hang the stockings or trim the tree, but because it’s time to make the 2024 gardening wish lists. This year Carol and Danielle have selected the eight plants they are pining over most. You will hear about a brand-new perennial that few, if any, have seen before. And there’s also a new hydrangea with—brace yourselves—BLACK foliage! The list also includes plants that our contributors have written extensively about, and we’ve just now sat up and paid attention. Listen now to hear about the plants we’ll be dreaming about as the flakes fly this winter.

Expert guest: Jennifer Benner is content editor for Fine Gardening. She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University.

Danielle’s Plants

‘Blue Bunchkin’ baptisia (Baptisia ‘Blue Bunchkin’, Zones 4–9)

‘Nichirin’ false nettle (Boehmeria nipononivea ‘Nichirin’, Zones 6–9)

Eclipse^® bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmacseven’, Zones 5–9)

‘Fusion of Fire’ oredenia (Oredenia ‘Fusion of Fire’, Zones 5–8)

Carol’s Plants

‘Humilis’ red buckeye (Aesculus pavia ‘Humilis’, Zones 4–8)

Blackberry lily (Iris domestica, Zones 5–10)

‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ garden mum (Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’, Zones 4–9)

Tropicanna canna Lily (Canna ‘Phasion’, Zones 7b–10)

Expert’s Plants

‘The Blues’ little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’, Zones 3–9)

Acapulco^® ‘Salmon and Pink’ agastache  (Agastache ‘Salmon and Pink’, Zones 5-9)

‘Jelena’ witch hazel (Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Jelena, Zones 5–8)