Perennials are one of the most popular types of flowering plants, both for the beginning and experienced gardeners. Gardeners of all types and abilities enjoy the beauty, hardiness and ease of planting of these fine plants.
In addition, perennials come in every color of the rainbow, and in all shapes and sizes, making them a great choice for any garden. What makes perennials special, however, is their ability to come back year after year. While the actual life span of a perennial will vary from species to species and planting to planting, some types of perennials have been known to last for decades.
Fall is a great time to plant perennials, especially in colder climates. Planting them now allows the roots to get established while the rest of the plant is dormant during the winter. Plants put a lot of energy into leaf and flower production in the spring and summer, so while you can plant perennials in the spring fall is an even better time.
Perennials can be used anywhere in the garden, and anywhere around the home as well. Many varieties of perennials are great as landscape plantings, and their ability to regenerate makes them perfect for areas of the garden that are hard to reach. Using perennials to line a driveway, surround a flagpole or accent a front porch is a great idea for any gardener.
In fact, the hardest part of perennials for many gardeners is choosing the right ones. There are so many different perennials at your local garden center that it can be difficult to choose the right ones.
Here are a few tips on what to know before selecting your plants so that you can get the right perennial for your particular spot.
- Know Your Zone – All areas of the US have designated hardiness zones. For perennials to come back every year, they need to be hardy enough to survive the coldest temperatures of a particular zone. You can do a search for hardiness zone for your area or check with your local garden center. Then when you find a plant you like, check to be sure it is hardy up to your zone.
- Check the Sun – Check how many hours of sunlight the spot where you will plant gets. Then check on whether the plant is good for full sun, shade, or part sun/part shade.
- Wet or Dry – It’s also good to know how wet or dry the spot is. Some perennials like well-drained soil while other like damp conditions.
If you are unsure, just check with your local garden center before buying. They should be able to recommend the right plants for you.
Getting Started
Below is starter list of some of the most popular easy-care perennials for the home garden, as well as some brief care tips.
Name: Achillea
Common name: Yarrow
Needs: Full sun, moderate water (less watering once fully established)
Name: Anemone
Common name: Japanese Anemone
Needs: Partial shade, regular watering
Name: Aster
Common name: New England Aster
Needs: Full sun, partial shade in hot climates, regular watering
Name: Astilbe
Needs: Partial to full shade (some sun OK in cool climates, regular watering
Name: Chrysanthemum
Common name: Shasta Daisy
Needs: Full sun, partial shade in hot climates, regular watering
Name: Coreopsis
Common name: Threadleaf Coreopsis
Needs: Full sun, moderate to little watering
Name: Delphinium
Needs: Full sun, regular watering
Name: Echinacea
Common name: Purple Coneflower
Needs: Full sun, moderate watering
Name: Geranium
Common name: Geranium
Needs: Full sun or partial shade. Must have afternoon shade in hot climates. Regular watering
Name: Helleborus
Common name: Lenten Rose
Needs: Full sun in winter; partial to full shade in spring, summer and fall. Regular watering
Name: Nepeta
Common name: Catmint
Needs: Full sun, moderate watering
Name: Paeonia
Common name: Peony
Needs: Full sun, partial shade in hot climates, regular watering
Name: Papaver
Common name: Oriental Poppy
Needs: Full sun, regular to moderate watering
Name: Penstemon
Common name: Beard Tongue
Needs: Full sun; light shade in hot climates. Regular watering.
Name: Phlox
Common name: Summer Phlox
Needs: Full sun. Flowers may fade in hot climates. Needs regular watering.
Name: Rudbeckia
Common name: Black-Eyed Susan
Needs: Full sun. Regular to moderate watering.
Name: Salvia
Needs: Full sun. Regular watering.
Name: Sedum
Common name: Autumn Joy
Needs: Full sun or partial shade. Moderate to little watering.
Name: Veronica
Needs: Full sun. Regular watering.
Happy Planting!
