Spring is in the air across Lancaster, Fairfield County, and the surrounding communities — and here at Natural Creations, we've been busy planning one of our most exciting inventories yet. Whether you're a seasoned gardener looking to fill your beds with bold color or a first-timer hoping to grow your own tomatoes this summer, we've got something special for you.
Here's a peek at what we'll have available this season.
Sun-Loving Annuals: Color from Spring Through Frost
Our annual flower selection is bigger than ever this year. If you want your porch, patio, or garden beds to overflow with color all season long, these are your go-to plants.
Vinca (Catharanthus) is one of our anchor crops this year, and we're carrying an enormous range — from the heat-tolerant Cora XDR series to the cascading Cora Cascade varieties perfect for hanging baskets, to the compact Titan and Pacifica series ideal for borders and pots. Colors run the full spectrum: white, blush, apricot, magenta, strawberry, cranberry, and deep red.
If you've ever struggled with summer annuals wilting in Ohio's July heat, vinca is your answer.
Zinnias are a Lancaster summer staple, and we're stocking several fan-favorite series: the large-flowered Magellan and Dreamland in classic colors like coral, scarlet, cherry, and yellow; the disease-resistant Profusion and Zahara interspecific types that stay tidy all season; and even the dramatic Zowie Yellow Flame bicolor. Zinnias are also excellent for pollinators — a win for your garden and your local bees.
Impatiens and Begonias — two workhorses of the Ohio landscape — will be well-represented. Look for SunPatiens in a range of pinks, reds, and bicolors, plus begonias in both upright and trailing forms.
Snapdragons are excellent for Lancaster's cooler spring and fall temperatures. We'll have both upright garden-standard types (Rocket series, Liberty Classic) and the newer trailing Candy Showers series, which spills beautifully from window boxes and hanging baskets.
Petunias — always a crowd favorite — will be available in wave, spreading, and upright habits across dozens of colors. We'll also have the stunning Trixi Combo pre-planted hanging baskets, featuring perfectly matched combinations like Caribbean Cocktail, Enchanted Evening, Independence Day, and many more. These ready-to-hang baskets take the guesswork out of combining plants.
Salvia rounds out our sun-annual selection with varieties from nemorosa (perennial types like May Night and Caradonna) to the big, bold annual splendens types in reds, purples, and white.
Trailing and Spilling Beauties for Baskets and Containers
If containers are your thing — and in Central Ohio, they really are — we've curated a fantastic mix of plants that spill, trail, and cascade.
Verbena (Lanai series) is available in an extensive palette: deep purple, scarlet, neon rose, candy cane, lavender star, and more. The Lanai Twister varieties offer eye-catching bicolor patterns. Verbena is heat-tolerant, drought-forgiving once established, and flowers non-stop.
Scaevola (Bombay series in dark blue, pink, white, and platinum) brings a unique fan-flower look that's relatively uncommon in local garden centers — a great way to make your containers stand out.
Bacopa, Lobelia, Torenia and similar fine-textured fillers will be available to help you build full, lush container combinations.
Perennials and Hardy Plants for Lancaster Gardens
Want plants that come back year after year? We have perennial options that thrive in Fairfield County's climate.
Coneflower (Echinacea) — a native plant superstar and pollinator magnet — will be available in several varieties.
Salvia nemorosa (perennial salvia) varieties like Caradonna, May Night, Marcus, and the Marvel series bring long-lasting blue, purple, and rose spikes to sunny borders. They're tough, deer-resistant, and beloved by bees.
Veronica (Speedwell) in blue, rose, and white is another perennial that Lancaster gardeners love for its vertical flower spikes in early summer.
Sedum lovers will have a field day — we're stocking everything from the ground-hugging Angelina and Blue Spruce varieties to the upright SunSparkler series in cultivars like Dazzleberry, Firecracker, and Lime Zinger. Sedums are perfect for Lancaster's sometimes dry summers and work beautifully in rock gardens or along slopes.
Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks) and other succulent-type plants will also be available for those low-maintenance garden spots.
Vegetables: Grow Your Own This Summer
There's nothing like walking out to your backyard and harvesting dinner. Our seed-started vegetable selection covers all the Lancaster favorites.
Tomatoes are a centerpiece of our veggie program. We'll have a wide selection of varieties to suit every garden style:
Slicing tomatoes: Beefmaster, Beefsteak, Better Boy Plus, Big Beef Plus, Celebrity Plus, Jet Star, Parks Whopper, and Early Girl Plus
Heirloom types: Brandywine Pink, Marriage Cherokee Carbon, Marriage Big Brandy, and Marriage Genuwine
Cherry and grape tomatoes: Red Grape, Yellow Pear, Midnight Snack, Candyland, Kitchen Mini in cocoa, red velvet, and siam
Paste tomatoes: Roma VF, San Marzano, Fantastico. Compact/patio types: Better Bush, Patio, Tumbler, Topsy Tom, and WonderStar Red for container gardens
Peppers run sweet to seriously hot — from California Wonder bell peppers to jalapeño, cayenne, and habanero. Greens and other vegetables: We'll have Swiss Chard in Bright Lights, Peppermint, and Rhubarb Red. Strawberry plants including Delizz, Elan, Ruby Ann, Toscana, and Large Flowered types are perfect for pots on a Lancaster porch.
Herbs: Fresh Flavor Steps Away
A pot of fresh herbs on your back step makes every meal better. We're growing a full herb lineup including basil (Genovese, lemon, Thai, purple), thyme (English, lemon, creeping), spearmint, stevia, tarragon, cilantro, and more. Whether you're an avid cook or you just love snipping fresh rosemary for roasted vegetables, we've got you covered.
Specialty and Unique Plants Worth Seeking Out
A few things on our 2026 list deserve a special mention:
Senecio candicans 'Angel Wings' — a striking silver-leaved foliage plant that looks sculptural in containers.
Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) — iridescent purple foliage that catches light beautifully in partially shaded spots.
Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' — a compact perennial with lavender-blue pincushion flowers beloved by butterflies, fitting for any Lancaster pollinator garden.
Thunbergia alata (Black-Eyed Susan Vine) in orange, red, white, and yellow — a fun climber or trailer for trellises and mixed containers.
Come Visit Us
Natural Creations is proud to serve Lancaster, Heath, Newark, Pickerington, and the broader Fairfield and Licking County communities. Our team grows much of our own inventory from seed and plugs, so when you buy from us, you're getting plants we've cared for from the very beginning of the season.
We'll share specific availability and hours as the season approaches. In the meantime, if you have questions about what's coming or want to reserve particular plants, reach out — we love talking plants with our neighbors.
Happy growing, Lancaster!
