This week, Joanne welcomes Madison House of Bloomin' Easy Plants to the podcast to talk about what makes gardening feel "easy" for newer gardeners and what's new in their plant lineup this year.

About Bloomin' Easy Plants

Bloomin' Easy finds stronger, more compact, longer-blooming genetics (often from European breeders), then trials plants for years in Canadian conditions before they ever reach garden centres. They also build support tools around each plant, such as QR-code care reminders, an app, a 24/7 chatbot ("Ask Miss Diggs"), and even "mental reality" previews, so shoppers can feel confident choosing the right plant for the right spot.

Topics Covered

• What Bloomin' Easy Plants is (and who it's for): a brand built to help casual/new gardeners succeed with approachable plants and simple guidance.
• How plants get to homeowners: breeders → Bloomin' Easy trials → propagators create "baby plants" → finished container growers → local garden centres/big box stores.
• Why "grown locally" matters: plants supplied by growers near your garden centre are more likely to be adapted to your climate (better survival and performance).
• Plant genetics and long trialing: many varieties are trialed 3–10 years to confirm hardiness, disease resistance, compact habit, and flowering performance.
• Support tools for success: QR tags with care reminders, an app, "Ask Miss Diggs" chatbot (with info backed by credible sources/universities), and "see it mature" preview tech.
• Boxwood challenges and replacements: discussion of boxwood blight and boxwood tree moth concerns, plus plants that can be shaped and used as alternatives.
• New/featured plants and why they stand out:
  • Blue Box® (Rhododendron / "small-leaf rhodo") as a boxwood-like replacement with early blooms (magenta or light pink) and evergreen structure; prune right after flowering to avoid removing next year's buds.
  • Hydrangea "Bubble Bath": a compact, mophead-style look; zone 3–8, 2–3 ft tall/wide; lime-tinged blooms fading to creamy white; great in pots due to tidy shape.
  • Perennials expansion: Bloomin' Easy launched perennials about two years ago due to grower demand; perennials follow the same "compact and easy" standard.
  • "Forged by Fire" (Silene): early spring bloomer with dark foliage and bright red flowers; compact (about 12–18 in), and noted as a native option with improved garden behaviour.
  • Garden phlox varieties (e.g., Center of Attention, Confetti Cake): selected for long bloom and powdery mildew resistance in damp coastal trial conditions.
  • Rudbeckia "Solar Sisters": a standout for rich colour and season-long bloom; treated as an annual in cooler zones if it's not hardy where you live.
• Industry-side support for garden centres: in-store display materials, a pro portal for assets, and staff/customer education events at partner garden centres.
• Zones are nuanced: even within the same neighbourhood, microclimates matter; tags include temperature info to make zone guidance easier.

Takeaways and Tips

• "Right plant, right spot" beats "green thumb." Start with sun requirements, mature size, and your hardiness zone—most frustration comes from a mismatch, not failure.
• Buy within your zone (and your microclimate). If your yard is windy, exposed, or freeze/thaw heavy, choose hardier options or protect tender plants.
• Look for locally grown stock when possible. Plants finished by nearby growers are more likely to be tuned to your region's conditions.
• Use the tag tools. Scan QR codes for planting depth, spacing, and care reminders—especially helpful for first-timers.
• Boxwood alternative pruning tip: if you choose a spring-blooming "boxwood look-alike," prune right after it flowers so you don't remove next season's buds.
• Pot-to-ground trick for tender perennials/shrubs: enjoy them in containers, then plant them in the ground before freeze-up to overwinter (or treat as seasonal "annuals" if they're not hardy).
• When shopping, don't assume "perennial section" is hardy for you. Always check the tag for zone; some plants may be sold as seasonal colour in cooler climates.
• Find a retailer near you: Bloomin' Easy offers a retailer map on their site—use it to track down specific new varieties locally.

You can find Bloomin' Easy Plants online at www.bloomingeasyplants.com and on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest.

Have a topic you'd like Joanne to discuss?

Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect with Joanne on her website: down2earth.ca Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

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