Years in the Making
Every Bloomin’ Easy plant has a story long before it reaches your garden—one shaped by years of breeding, testing, and careful evaluation.
To give you a closer look at what that process really involves, we sat down with two members of our team who help guide these decisions every day: Madi, Consumer Marketing Manager, and Shelby, Program Manager. Both play a key role in our trial and selection process, and they’re sharing how plants are tested, refined, and ultimately chosen to earn the Bloomin’ Easy label.
It Starts Long Before We Ever See the Plant
Most Bloomin’ Easy plants don’t begin their journey here in North America.
“New plants are bred over 3–20+ years, primarily by trusted European breeders, with select North American partners,” says Madi.
Each year, our team visits breeders to evaluate hundreds of unreleased varieties—plants that most gardeners will never see.
“We only select varieties that are clear improvements on what’s already in the market,” Madi explains. “That could mean better habit, more flowers, improved resilience, or easier care.”
A great example is Grin and Tonic® Hydrangea, which earned its spot because of its compact size, heavy flowering, and reduced sun burn compared to other white bigleaf hydrangeas.
If a plant doesn’t noticeably raise the bar, it doesn’t move forward.
Three Phases of Trials—And Plenty of Chances to Fail
Once a plant is approved for further testing, the real work begins.
“Trials at Bloomin’ Easy go through three phases of internal trials—propagation, container trials, and then garden trials,” says Shelby.
Each phase is designed to answer a simple but critical question: Will this plant succeed for real gardeners?
The first test happens close to home.
“They must perform well at our trial site in Abbotsford, BC to pass the first test,” Shelby says.
From there, only the strongest performers move on.
Tested in Real Gardens, Real Climates
Plants that succeed internally are then sent out into the real world.
“They must also get the stamp of approval at external trial sites where they’re tested in different climate zones at trusted grower sites,” Shelby explains.
This step ensures consistency—because a Bloomin’ Easy plant should thrive whether it’s growing in the PNW, in the South, or beyond.
At any given time, that’s a lot of plants under review.
“We could be trialing 500+ plants at once between shrubs and perennials,” says Shelby.
And not all of them make it.
Knowing When to Say No
Sometimes, dropping a plant is just as important as choosing one.
“If it doesn’t pass the test of being easy to propagate, having stellar container and garden performance, or positive external trials, then it’s not the right selection for Bloomin’ Easy,” Shelby says.
That high bar is intentional. Gardeners trust Bloomin’ Easy plants to perform—and we don’t take that lightly.
“Every Bloomin’ Easy introduction earns its place by being a better, more reliable version of a plant gardeners already love or something completely new to the market,” Madi adds.
A Favourite Success Story
After watching so many plants come and go, some standouts are impossible to forget.
“It’s hard to pick a favourite, however Birthday Cake™ Butterfly Bush was one that stands out to me,” Shelby shares. “It stood out among the group because of its incredible (and consistent) upright form.”
So much so, in fact, that it’s often mistaken for another plant entirely.
“Sometimes people look at it from afar and think it is a Salvia nemorosa. That’s a pretty good compliment for a Buddleia.”
And, of course, the pollinators agree.
“The pollinators also love this one, which is another reason for it to be my favourite.”
Even the Name Gets Careful Thought
Once a plant has proven itself in trials, there’s still one big decision left: the name.
“That is definitely a less streamlined process and more of a battle of wills,” Madi laughs. “But we try to find a name that reflects a unique aspect of the plant, while also being memorable and trademarkable.”
For Birthday Cake™ Butterfly Bush, the name was inspired directly by its form.
“We named it to reflect its uniquely upright shape—like candles on a birthday cake.”
Now It’s Your Turn!
All of the trials, testing, and tough decisions lead to one simple moment: a gardener planting with confidence. When you choose a Bloomin’ Easy plant, you’re not just picking something that looks good on the bench—you’re choosing a plant that’s been tested to grow, bloom, and thrive in real gardens, just like yours. The kind of plant that fits into your life, forgives the occasional missed watering, and rewards you with reliable beauty season after season.
Our job is to do the hard work behind the scenes. Your job is the fun part—planting, experimenting, learning, and watching your garden come to life. When one of our new releases thrives in your space, that’s when the process truly feels complete.
Because the best test of all happens in your garden!
