An ever-expanding palette of perennials lets home Gardeners create showy collections of herbaceous perennials.
Under normal growing conditions, perennials live many years, dying back to the ground each winter. They quickly establish themselves in a few growing seasons and create a backbone for the flower Garden.
Plants vary in flower color, bloom time, height, foliage texture and environmental requirements. Environmental requirements include sun exposure, soil conditions and water needs. The key to a successful perennial Garden is to choose plants whose requirements match your site's conditions.
| Table 1: Herbaceous perennials best adapted
to lower elevations. |
| SUNNY EXPOSURE |
Botanical and
Common Name |
Flower
Color |
Bloom
Period |
Height |
Cultivarsa |
Comments/Cultural Hints |
Achillea hybrids
Yarrow |
White-Red-
Pastels-Yellow |
June-Sept. |
1.5-2.5' |
Moonshine, Paprika, Summer Pastels |
Spreads quickly; good for drying. X, C |
Achillea filipendula
Fernleaf yarrow |
Yellow |
June-Oct. |
2.5-4.5' |
Coronation Gold, Gold Plate, Parker's Variety |
Fern-like leaf texture; spreads to 3'. X, C |
Alcea rosea
Hollyhock |
Red-Pink-White |
June-Aug. |
3-6' |
Chater's Series, Majorette, Powder Puff |
Biennial or perennial; use as background plant; prone to rust disease. |
Anaphalis margaritacea
Pearly everlasting |
White |
Aug.-Oct. |
1-2' |
|
Silver grey foliage; good bloom for drying. X, C |
Anchusa azurea
Italian bugloss |
Blue |
May-June |
1-4' |
Dropmore, Little John, Loddon Royalist |
Specimen plant or for back of Garden. |
Anthemis tinctoria
Golden marguerite |
Yellow |
July-Aug. |
1.5-2' |
Kelwayi |
Good for dry soil with low fertility; profuse bloomer. X, C |
Armeria maritima
Sea pink |
Red-Pink-
White |
April-June |
6-8 in. |
Alba, Dusseldorf Pride, Splendens, Vindictive |
Dense rounded mat foliage, adapts to dry soil; salt tolerant. |
Artemisia schmidtiana
Silver mound sage |
NIb |
NIb |
8-12 in. |
Silver Mound |
Soft, feathery, silver gray foliage; used for specimen or contrast.
X |
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed |
Orange |
June-Aug. |
2' |
|
Best in well drained soil. X, C |
Aster novae-angliae
New England aster |
White-Pink-
Purple |
Sept.-Oct. |
3-4' |
Alma Potschke, Hella Lacy, September Ruby |
Prefers well drained soil; may require staking. C |
Aster novi-belgii
Michaelmass daisy |
White-Pink-
Purple |
Aug.-Sept |
2-3' |
Alert, Prof. Kippenburg, Snow Flurry |
Prefers well drained soil; may require staking. C |
Aurinia saxatilis
Basket-of-gold |
Yellow |
April-May |
9-12 in. |
Compacta, Sulfureum |
Gray-green mounding foliage; sheer after bloom. |
Baptisia australis
False indigo |
Blue |
May-June |
2-4.5' |
|
Background plant; interesting seed pods. X, C |
Boltonia asteroides
Boltonia |
Pink-White |
Aug.-Oct. |
4-5' |
Pink Beauty, Snowbank |
Aster-like blooms; use as a background plant. C |
Callirhoe involucrata
Purple poppy mallow |
Reddish Purple |
June-Aug. |
6 in. |
|
Trailing stems spread to 3'; blooms are cup-shaped. X |
Centranthus ruber
Jupiter's beard, red valerian |
Pink-White |
May-Sept. |
2.5' |
Albus |
Prefers well drained soil; gray-green foliage.X, C |
Coreopsis grandiflora
Coreopsis |
Yellow |
June-Sept. |
1-2.5' |
Baby Sun, Early Sunrise, Sunray |
Extend bloom by removing spent flowers. X, C |
Coreopsis verticillata
Threadleaf coreopsis |
Yellow |
July-Sept. |
1.5-2.5' |
Moonbeam, Zagreb |
Fine-textured foliage. X, C |
Delphinium hybrids
Delphinium |
White-Blue-
Pink-Purple |
June-Aug. |
2-4' |
Conn. Yankee, Dwarf & Giant Pacific hybrids |
Seeds and plant poisonous; may need staking. C |
Dendranthema x morifolium
Hardy chrysanthemum |
Yellow-Pink-Red-
Purple-White |
July-Oct. |
1-3' |
Numerous |
Pinch stems in June for more fall blooms; can cause skin irritation.
C |
Dianthus plumarius
Cottage pink |
Pink-White |
May-July |
1-1.5' |
Numerous |
Dense rounded habit; fragrant blooms. |
Echinops ritro
Globe thistle |
Blue |
July-Sept. |
3-4' |
Taplow Blue |
Prefers well drained soil; globe flowers can bloom 6-8 weeks. X,
C |
Erigeron hybrids
Fleabane |
Pink-Purple |
June-July |
1-3' |
Azure Fairy, Foerster's Darling, Prosperity |
Needs well drained soil; extend bloom by removing spent flowers.
C |
Euphorbia polychroma
Cushion spurge |
Chartreuse |
April-May |
1.5-2' |
|
Neat green mounds; red fall color; sap may be a skin irritant; less
invasive. |
Gaillardia x grandiflora
Blanket flower |
Yellow-Red-
Orange |
June-Sept. |
.5-2.5' |
Baby Cole, Burgundy, Goblin |
Showy, daisy-like blooms. X, C |
Gypsophila paniculata
Baby's breath |
White-Pink |
June-Sept. |
2-3' |
Bristol Fairy, Perfecta, Pink Fairy |
Airy plant; delicate blooms; good for drying. C |
Helenium autumnale
Sneezeweed |
Yellow-Red |
Aug.-Sept. |
2-4' |
Buterpat, Moerheim |
Brightly colored, daisy-like blooms. M, C |
Heliopsis helianthoides scabra
False sunflower |
Yellow |
July-Sept. |
3-4' |
Summer Sun |
Use as specimen planting or at back of Garden. C |
Iberis sempervirens
Candytuft |
White |
April-June |
1-1.5' |
Alexander's White, Autumn Snow |
Glossy green foliage; shear after bloom; may repeat bloom in fall.
|
Iris hybrids
Bearded iris |
Blue-White-Red-
Purple-Yellow |
May-June |
1-2.5' |
Numerous |
Prefers well drained soil; sword-like foliage. X, C |
Kniphofia uvaria
Torch lily |
Red-Orange-
Yellow |
June-Aug. |
2-3' |
Primrose Beauty, Springtime |
Spikes of flowers arise from clumps of grasslike foliage. X, C |
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender |
Blue |
July-Oct. |
1-1.5' |
Hidcote, Munstead |
Aromatic blooms; semievergreen foliage. X, C |
Liatris spicata
Gayfeather, blazing star |
White-Pink-
Purple |
July-Sept. |
2-3' |
Floristan Violet, Kobold |
Clumps of grassy foliage; dense bottle brush blooms. C |
Limonium latifolium
Sea lavender |
Purple |
June-Sept. |
1.5-3' |
|
Blooms create an airy texture. X, C |
Linum perenne
Perennial flax |
Blue-White |
May-June |
2' |
Diamant, Saphire |
Light, airy plant; good wildflower; reseeds readily. X |
Monarda didyma
Bee balm |
Red-Pink-
Violet-White |
July-Aug. |
2-3' |
Cambridge Scarlet, Croftway Pink |
Spreads quickly; susceptible to powdery mildew. C |
Nepeta species
Catmint |
Blue |
May-Oct. |
1-2' |
Blue Wonder |
Spreading habit; trim back after bloom; aromatic leaves. |
Oenothera speciosa
Mexican evening primose |
Rose |
June-Sept. |
6-12 in. |
|
Spreading; 2 in. blooms. X |
Oenothera macrocarpa
Ozark sundrop |
Yellow |
June-Sept. |
1-1.5' |
|
Sprawling habit; 3-4 in. blooms. X |
Penstemon species
Penstemon, beard tongue |
Blue-Pink-
Red-Violet-
White-Purple-Yellow |
May-July |
1-3' |
Bandera, Elfin Pink, Prairie Dusk |
Prefers well drained soil; stalks of tubular blooms. X |
| Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage |
Lavender |
July-Sept. |
4' |
|
Silver gray, aromatic foliage; cut back in spring above soil line.
X |
Phlox paniculata
Garden phlox, moss pink |
White-Pink-
Red-Blue |
July-Sept. |
1.5-3' |
Blue Boy, Mount Fuji, Starfire |
Tall stalks with bloom clusters; susceptible to powdery mildew.
C |
Phlox subulata
Creeping phlox |
White-Pink-
Red-Blue |
April-May |
4-6 in. |
Crimson Beauty, White Delight |
Carpet-like mat; needle-like foliage. X |
Rudbeckia fulgida
Black-eyed Susan, coneflower |
Yellow |
July-Sept. |
1.5' |
Goldsturm |
3 in. daisy-like blooms with brown-black centers. X, C |
Salvia x superba
Perennial salvia |
Pink-White-
Blue-Purple |
May-Aug. |
1.5-2.5' |
Blue Queen, May Night, Rose Queen |
Spike-like blooms that repeat if spent blooms removed. X, C |
Scabiosa caucasica
Pincushion flower |
White-Blue-
Pink |
June-Oct. |
1.5-2' |
Perfecta Alba, Blue Perfection |
Blooms on wiry stems; prefers cool summers. C |
Solidago hybrids
Goldenrod hybrids |
Yellow |
July-Sept. |
1.5-2' |
Golden Baby, Golden Fleece, Cloth of Gold |
Prefers well drained soil; mistakenly blamed for hay fever. X, C |
| SUN TO PART SHADE |
Botanical and
Common Name |
Flower
Color |
Bloom
Period |
Height |
Cultivarsa |
Comments/Cultural Hints |
Alchemilla mollis
Lady's mantle |
Chartreuse |
May-June |
1-1.5' |
|
Prefers cool summers; fertile soil. M |
Anemone pulsatilla
(Pulsatilla vulgaris)
Pasque flower |
Purple-Red-
White |
April-May |
1' |
Alba, Rubra |
Feathery seed heads persist into June; prefers well drained soil. |
Aquilegia caerulea
Rocky Mountain columbine |
Blue-White |
May-June |
1.5-2.5' |
|
Prefers well drained soil; Colorado state flower. C |
Aquilegia hybrids
Columbine hybrids |
Blue-Red-
Yellow-White |
May-June |
1-3' |
McKana Hybrids, Songbirds |
Prefers well drained soil; extend bloom by removing spent flowers.
C |
Aruncus dioicus
Goatsbeard |
White |
June-July |
3-5' |
Kneiffii |
Large rounded shrub-like perennial; dense spikes of blooms. M |
Astilbe x arendsii
Astilbe, false spirea |
Red-Pink-
White-Lavender |
June-July |
2-3' |
Amethyst, Fanal |
Arching plumes of flowers; prefers cool summers, fertile soil. M,
C |
Bergenia cordifolia
Heart-leafed bergenia |
Pink |
April-May |
1-1.5' |
|
Deep glossy green leaves with burgundy fall color. |
Campanula carpatica
Carpathian harebell |
Blue-White |
June-July |
6-12 in. |
Blue Clips, White Clips |
Compact mounded habit; small, bell-shaped blooms. |
| Dianthus barbatus Sweet William |
White-Pink-
Purple-Red |
May-July |
1' |
Midget Mix, Newport Pink |
Biennial; flat-top cluster of blooms. C |
Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove |
Purple-Pink-
White-Yellow |
June-July |
3-4' |
Excelsior Hybrids, Foxy |
Biennial; reseeds readily; parts of plant are poisonous. M, C |
Echinacea purpurea
Purple coneflower |
Purple-Pink-White |
July-Sept |
2-3' |
Alba, Magnus, White Swan |
Stiff habit; good in naturalized areas. X, C |
Geranium sanguineum
Bloodred cranesbill |
Blue-Purple-
Red-White |
May-July |
1-1.5' |
Album, Shepherd's Warning |
Mounding habit; foliage has red fall color. M |
Geum hybrids
Geum, Avens |
Red-Orange-
Yellow |
June-July |
1.5-2' |
Lady Stratheden, Mrs. Bradshaw |
Prefers rich organic soil; dark green foliage. C |
Hemerocallis species
Daylily |
Yellow-Pink-
Red-Orange |
June-Aug. |
1.5-3' |
Stella d'Oro and many others. |
Grass-like foliage; trumpet-shaped blooms. |
Heuchera micrantha
Alumroot |
White |
June-July |
1-1.5' |
Palace Purple |
Some cultivars have purple foliage with a rounded habit. M, C |
Heuchera sanguinea
Coralbells |
Red-White-
Pink |
June-Aug. |
1-1.5' |
Bressingham Hybrids, June Bride |
Small bell-shaped blooms; extend bloom by removing spent flowers.
M, C |
Hibiscus moscheutos
Rose mallow |
Red-Pink-
White |
July-Sept. |
2-4.5' |
Disco Belle, Southern Belle |
Prefers moist soil; 6-10 in. blooms. M |
Hylotephium spectabile
(Sedum spectabile)
Showy stonecrop |
Pink-Red-
White |
Aug.-Sept. |
1.5-2' |
Brilliant, Carmen |
Succulent foliage; Autumn Joy, Indian Chief commonly sold hybrids.
X, C |
Iris sibirica
Siberian iris |
Purple-Blue-
White |
June |
2-3' |
Caesar's Brother, Snow Queen, White Swirl |
Clumps of slender leaves. M, C |
Leucanthemum x superbum
Shasta daisy |
White |
July-Aug |
1-3' |
Alaska, Silver Princess |
Extend bloom by removing spent flowers. M, C |
Lupinus hybrids
Lupine |
Yellow-Red-Blue-
Purple-White |
May-June |
2.5' |
Russell Hybrids |
Prefers cool summers; large pea-like blooms. M, C |
Lychnis chalcedonica
Maltese cross |
Scarlet-Pink-
White |
June-July |
2-3' |
Alba, Rosea |
Small groupings add bold color to the Garden M, C |
Paeonia hybrids
Peony |
White-Pink-
Red |
May-June |
2-3' |
Many |
Showy spring blooms; attractive foliage. M, C |
Papaver orientale
Oriental poppy |
Orange-Red-
Pink-White |
May-June |
2-3' |
Allegro, Carousel |
Large papery blooms; foliage goes dormant after bloom; spreading.
X, C |
Physostegia virginiana,
Obedient plant |
Pink-White-
Lavender |
Sept.-Nov. |
2-4' |
Summer Snow, Vivid |
Dark green foilage; spikes of tubular blooms; spreading. M, C |
Platycodon grandiflorus
Balloon flower |
White-Pink-
Blue |
July-Sept |
1.5-3' |
Fuji, Shell Pink |
Prefers well-drained soil; balloon-shaped buds. X, C |
Pulmonaria saccharata
Jerusalem sage |
Blue-Pink-
White |
April-May |
1-1.5' |
Mrs. Moon, Roy Davidson |
Leaves with white spots; clump-forming. M |
Thalictrum aquilegifolium
Columbine
meadow rue |
Lavender |
May-June |
2-3' |
|
Delicate blooms; columbine-like foliage. M, C |
Thermopsis rhombifolia
Golden banner |
Yellow |
May-June |
2-3' |
|
Spreading; dark green foliage. C |
Tradescantia x andersoniana
Spiderwort |
White-Blue-
Purple |
May-July |
1.5-2' |
Innocence, Red Cloud, Zwanenburg Blue |
Strap-like leaves; cut back in mid summer. M |
Veronica spicata
Spike speedwell |
Blue-Pink-
White |
June-Sept. |
1-2' |
Blue Charm, Icicle, Red Fox |
Upright habit; Sunny Border Blue is a commonly sold hybrid. M, C |
| PART SHADE TO SHADE |
Botanical and
Common Name |
Flower
Color |
Bloom
Period |
Height |
Cultivarsa |
Comments/Cultural Hints |
Aconitum napellus
Monkshood |
Blue-Violet |
June-Sept. |
1.5-3' |
|
Lacy foliage; helmet-shaped flowers; poisonous. M, C |
Anemone x hybrida
Japanese anemone |
Pink-White |
Aug.-Oct. |
2-3' |
Prince Heinrich, Whirlwind |
Mounding foliage; flowers produced on tall stems. M |
Brunnera macrophylla
Siberian bugloss |
Blue |
May-June |
1-1.5' |
|
Blooms like forget-me-nots; heart-shaped leaves form rounded mound.
M |
Dicentra eximia
Fringed bleeding heart |
Pink-White |
April-May |
1-1.5' |
Luxuriant Purity |
With adequate water will bloom later into the summer. C |
Dicentra spectabilis
Bleeding heart |
Red-White |
April-June |
2-3' |
Alba |
Fern-like leaves; heart-shaped blooms. C |
Ligularia dentata
Ragwort |
Dark Orange |
July-Sept. |
3-4' |
Desdemona, Othello |
Mounded habit; daisy-like blooms. M |
Ligularia stenocephala
Ragwort |
Yellow |
June-Aug. |
3-5' |
The Rocket |
Rocket-like blooms reach 4-6'; foliage forms large clump below blooms.
M |