Beautiful Perennials

By Lyn Hayes, Forsyth County Master Gardener

TownLoafer Magazine, May 2007

Gardening with perennials can be very rewarding. They can transform your landscape into a beautiful setting where you can enjoy the color and have a deep satisfaction that you have created something wonderful.

What is a Perennial?

Herbaceous perennials are plants that grow and flower during one season, die back and spend the winter as dormant roots and then burst back to life in the spring with wonderful new growth. They continue this process through the years and can eventually be divided to create additional gardens throughout your landscape. I am a big proponent of “plant it once”.

Perennials are available in a wide variety of colors to choose from as well as size and shape. Try to picture what kind of garden you want to create. An English cottage garden is typically made up of a loose design with a combination of perennials, annuals, vegetables, and herbs. You may choose to have a garden with more structure. Take into account that perennial plantings can live in the space you plant them for many years when developing and planting your garden plan.

Selecting Perennials

Because perennials die back in the winter, the best time to buy them is in the spring. Look for strong, healthy looking plants with rich green leaves or plump growth buds. Avoid plants with pale foliage or reddish brown rust spots. Read the tags for blooming time and size of plant. This will help with placement of the plant when combining it with other plants to have an ever blooming garden.

Plant with Variety

To achieve a successful perennial garden, develop a full palette of color. Start with strong plants such as sedum, daylily, yarrow, and other tireless plants that have staying power. Always consider shape and texture not just blooms. Grouping of grasses and sedums can make your flowering perennials “pop” with the contrast. I love to group darks and lights next to each other as it lends interest and beauty to any garden.

Combine early bloomers for impact. Arrange the early flowering plants in clusters combined with those of similar colors and watering needs. Group the plants in large enough quantities to make a statement. Dotting single plants throughout the bed will not have near the impact.

Use the following brief list to help you get started. Be creative; make a plan and a planting list. Think of your landscape as a three season garden, and as always, before you purchase plants speak to the nursery sales staff if you have any planting questions.

Sun Lovers

Yarrow
Daylily
Hollyhock
Joe-Pye weed
Bellflower
Bee Balm
Butterfly Weed
Coreopsis
Dianthus
Foxglove
Gaura
Gerbera Daisy
Shasta Daisy
Tritoma (Red Hot Poker)
Purple Coneflower

Shade Lovers

Hosta
Coral Bells
Tassel Fern
Japanese Fern
Peacock Moss
Ornamental
Deadnettle
Bleeding Heart
Helleborus
Ajuga
Columbine
Primrose
Lungwort