Perennials
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Perennial Flowers


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Aster 

Aster spp.

  • Wide variety of colors and petal shapes.
  • Good for cutting.
  • Can also grow in containers.
  • Blooms in late summer and fall.

Astilbe 

Astilbe spp.

  • Feathery sprays of tiny flowers in a variety of colors -- pink, coral, red, and white.
  • Grow up to two feet tall.
  • Attractive foliage.
  • Prefer partial shade.

Balloon Flower 

Platycodon gradiflorus

  • Large flowers open from balloon-like buds.
  • Blue is the most common, but pink and white forms exist as well.
  • Can grow up to three feet tall.

Basket of Gold 

Aurinia saxatillis

  • Low-growing perennial ground covere with tiny, bright yellow flowers.
  • Will form mats and grow over walls.
  • Blooms in spring.

Bat-Faced Cuphea 

Cuphea llavea

  • Small, unusual flowers give this plant its name.
  • Blooms in the spring.
  • Treted as an annual in cooler climates.

Beard Tongue 

Penstemon spp.

  • Brightly colored snapdragon-like flowers.
  • Early spring to summer.
  • Up to two feet tall.

Bee Balm 

Monarda didyma

  • Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
  • Clusters of pink to red flowers.
  • Also grown for its leaves, which have a bergamot-like flavor.
  • Blooms all summer.

Bellflower 

Campanula spp.

  • Also known as the cup-and-saucer flower.
  • Blooms in summer.
  • Good as a cut flower.

Black-Eyed Susan 

Rudbeckia spp.

  • AKA gloriosa daisy.
  • Mid- to late summer blooms.
  • Three feet tall
  • Likes full sun.

Blanketflower 

Gaillardia grandiflora

  • Give it full sun, and this cheery flower will bloom from spring to frost.
  • Good for cutting.
  • Can grow up to 30" tall.

Blazing Star 

Liatris spicata

  • Also known as gayfeather or snakeroot.
  • Attractive spikes of lavender flowers look great in wildflower gardens and need little care once established.
  • Great for arrangements.

Bleeding Heart 

Dicentra spectablilis

  • Unusually-shaped flower in a mixture of red and white or in pure white.
  • This one is a shade lover -- don't put it in the sun!
  • Late spring to early summer.

Blue Plumbago 

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

  • Groundcover with intensely blue flowers.
  • Blooms summer to fall.
  • Leaves turn bronze-red in the fall, as in the picture above.

Bluebeard 

Caryopteris spp.

  • Tall, bright blue plant with clusters of small flowers.
  • Prefers full sun.
  • Attracts butterflies.

Butterfly Bush 

Buddleia davidii

  • A beautiful shrubby bush up to five feet tall with gray-green foliage.
  • Flowers are fragrant, come in blue, purple, red, white, and yellow.
  • Attracts butterflies, of course!

Butterfly Weed 

Asclepias tuberosa

  • Orange or yellow flowers bloom all summer into fall.
  • Popular with butterflies and hummingbirds.
  • Prefers full sun.

Candytuft 

Iberis sempervirens

  • Covers the ground with woody stems.
  • Clumbs of white flowers bloom from late spring to early summer.

Cardinal Flower 

Lobelia cardinalis

  • Some lobelias are annuals, but this crimson one is a perennial.
  • Up to four feet tall with red-bronze leaves.
  • Prefers moist soils; try it near a pond or stream if you can.

Carnation 

Dianthus spp.

  • These popular cut flowers will add color to your garden from spring to summer.
  • Also attract butterflies.

Catmint 

Nepeta faassenii

  • Also known as catnip -- expect to make a few new feline friends.
  • Deep lavender blooms on spikes.
  • Will grow as a ground cover; like all mints, should be carefully maintained.

Chinese Lantern 

Physalis alkekengi-franchetti

  • Planted mainly for its bright orange fruit, for which it is named.
  • Also has orange flowers, which bloom in summer.

Clematis 

Clematis spp.

  • Fast-growing vine with spectacular, saucer-sized flowers in a variety of colors and patterns.
  • The top likes sun, but the roots prefer cool shade.

Columbine 

Aquilegia spp.

  • Colorful spurred flowers in a wide array of colors and color combinations.
  • Bloom spring and early summer.
  • Attract hummingbirds.
  • Prefer partial shade.

Coneflower 

Echinacea purpurea

  • Large flowers in purple, red, or white.
  • Grow up to two feet tall.
  • Bloom summer into fall.
  • Sometimes have drooping petals.

Coreopsis 

Coreopsis spp.

  • Bright yellow blooms from summer to fall.
  • Attracts butterflies.
  • Prefers full sun.

Cupid's Dart 

Catananche caerulea

  • Summer brings lavender-blue blooms on 18" stems.
  • Likes full sun.

Crinum Lily 

Crinum spp.

  • Large, fragrant clusters of lily-shaped flowers in pink, white, or stripes.
  • Grow up to three feet tall.

Dahlia 

Dahlia spp.

  • Some dahlias are annuals, but many are perennials.
  • Wide variety of colors and textures.
  • Bloom in spring and summer.
  • Can grow quite tall -- up to four feet!

Dame's Rocket 

Hesperis matronalis

Daylily 

Hemerocallis spp.

  • This favorite will come up year after year with little effort.
  • Vary in height, bloom shape, and color, but a wide variety are available.
  • Blooms are edible, but be careful not to eat true lilies which are highly toxic.

Delphinium 

Delphinium spp.

  • Blooms late spring to summer with tall spikes of blue, pink, purple or white flowers.
  • Will bloom again if the first round is cut down as flowers fade.
  • Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Dianthus 

Dianthus spp.

  • Similar to carnations (they share a genus), these fragrant flowers bloom from spring to summer in many colors.
  • Good for arrangements.
  • Don't like hot afternoon sun.

Fanflower 

Scaevola spp.

  • Blue, purple, or white fan-shaped flowers.
  • Works well as ground cover.
  • Likes full sun and hot, dry climates best.

Firebush 

Hamelia patens

  • Bright red flowers and attractive foliage up to three feet make this a good choice to fill in larger beds.
  • Blooms in summer; popular with hummingbirds.
  • In cooler climates, foliage will turn orange in the fall.

Flax 

Linum perenne

  • Blooms from spring to fall.
  • Light blue flowers with yellow centers.
  • Good in containers.

Foamflower 

Tiarella spp.

  • Low-growing shade lover with tall white clusters of flowers.
  • Blooms late spring.
  • Clumping habit keeps out weeds.

Forget-Me-Not 

Myosotis spp.

  • Low-growing with tiny blue flowers.
  • Reseeds easily.
  • Prefers partial shade.

Foxglove 

Digitalis spp.

  • Up to four feet tall, with large, colorful flowers.
  • Blooms late spring to summer.
  • Does well in any light condition, full sun to full shade.
  • Popular with hummingbirds.
  • Leaves and other parts of the plant are very poisonous!

Garden Mum 

Chrysanthemum morifolium

  • Available in many colors and sizes.
  • Popular as a cut flower and as a container plant.
  • Will bloom through the fall if pinched back.

Hibiscus  

Hibiscus spp.

  • Add some tropical color to your garden with a showy hibiscus!
  • Grow three to four feet tall.
  • Most plantjb available are cold-hardy relatives of the truly tropical hibiscus.

Jacob's Ladder 

Polemonium caeruleum

  • Up to three feet tall, with attractive, ladder-like foliage.
  • Flowers grow along upright stems.
  • Light blue or white blooms in late spring and early summer.

Hyssop 

Hyssop spp.

  • A popular herb both for its attractive, spreading foliage and flower and for its medicinal properties.
  • Blooms in late summer.

Kaffir Lily 

Clivia spp.

  • Add a touch of tropical color with this shade-loving flower.
  • Blooms in spring.
  • Hummingbirds like it.
  • Attractive foliage.

Lantana 

Lantana spp.

  • Large clusters in yellow, orange, pink and purple (sometimes multiple colors in the same clust) attract butterflies.
  • Does well in hot, sunny areas.
  • Good as a border or in hanging baskets.

Lavender 

Lavendula angustifolia, L. stoechas

  • The English variety (angusifolia, pictured) is a light blue-purple.
  • Spanish lavender (stoechas) is a deeper shade of purple.
  • Both varieties are fragrant and have attractive foliage.
  • Bloom late spring through summer.
  • Prefer full sun.

Lithodora 

Lithodora spp.

  • Low-growing ground coveer with small, bright blue flowers.
  • Blooms in spring and summer.

Louisiana Phlox 

Phlox divaricata

  • Give this plant full shade -- that's what it wants.
  • Dark green leaves and fragrant blue flowers.

Lupine 

Lupinus spp.

  • There are both annual and perennial varieties of lupine -- know what you are buying.
  • Wide variety of colors.
  • Tall spikes of flowers bloom in summer.
  • Great for cutting.

Maltese Cross 

Lychnis chalcedonica

  • Named for its bright red, cross-shaped flowers.
  • Blooms in summer.
  • Grows up to four feet tall.
  • Also known as "burning love" -- the King would be proud.

Money Plant 

Lunaria spp.

  • The seed pods are familiar to many people, since they are popular in dried flower arrangements.
  • The plant itself grows about four feet tall and has small, purple flowers.

Obedient Plant 

Physostegia virginiana

  • Called "obedient" because the stems will stay where you put them.
  • Tall spikes of pink to purple flowers bloom in late summer and autumn.

Oriental Poppy 

Papaver orientale

  • Beautiful flowers with dark centers and brightly color, crepe-like petals.
  • They won't put you to sleep, don't worry.
  • Prefer full sun.
  • Best planted w/ other flowers; foliage goes dormant after blooming in early summer.

Ozark Primrose 

Oenothera missourensis

  • Low-growing, spreading flower.
  • Blooms are reddish on the outside, opening to bright yellow flowers.
  • Blooms in summer.

Pentas 

Pentas lanceolata

  • Perennial shrub in warm climates; grown as an annual in cooler ones.
  • Likes full sun and heat.
  • Pink, red, and white varieties.

Peony 

Paeonia hybridus

  • Grow up to four feet tall, with heavy, fragrant flowers in a variety of pinks, reds and white.
  • Attractive foliage as well.
  • Bloom in late spring.

Perennial Verbena 

Verbena spp.

  • Perennial hybrid verbena varieties bloom in violet, pink, and red.
  • Low-growing and prefers bright sun.

Red Hot Poker 

Kniphofia uvaria

  • Also known as the torch lily, this striking plant will add a dramatic flair.
  • Can grow up to four feet tall.
  • Blooms start off red, and fade to yellow from the bottom of the cluster.

Rock Cress 

Arabis alpina

  • Low growing, spreading ground cover with fragrant lavender or white blossoms.
  • Blooms in spring.
  • Foliage is an attractive grey-green.

Pincushion Flower 

Scabiosa spp.

  • An unusual, old-fashioned flower -- that really does look like a pincushion stuck full of pins.
  • Various shades of blue.
  • Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
  • Up to two feet tall.

Rosemary 

Rosmarinus officinalis

  • This fragrant herb grows in tall spikes with tiny lavender flowers.
  • Can grow to five feet tall and become shrubby.
  • Likes hot sun and dry soil (once established).
  • Delicious on potatoes, meats, olives, and even popcorn.

Russian Sage 

Perovskia atriplicfolia

  • Easy to grow and very popular.
  • Fragrant leaves and flowers.
  • Spikes of lavender flowers bloom in summer and fall.
  • Likes full sun.
  • Will grow up to 4' tall.

Salvia/Ornamental Sages 

Salvia spp.

  • Indigo Spires: deep blue-purple flowers.
  • S. coccinea: scarlet sage
  • S. farinacea: blue sage
  • S. greggii: autumn sage -- scarlet blooms throughout summer
  • S. leucantha: Mexican bush sage; lavender flowers.
  • S. superba: blue queen

Saxifrage 

Saxifraga spp.

  • This plant is not suitable for tropical climates -- it prefers cooler, alpine climates. (In the wild, it grows as far north as Greenland!)
  • White, pink, red or yellow flowers (sometimes bicolor) grow close to the ground.
  • Prefers partial to full shade.

Sea Pink 

Armeria maritima

  • Stiff stems topped by pink pompoms.
  • Good for borders or in pots.
  • Attractive in cut flower arrangements.
  • Prefers full sun.

Sedum 

Sedum spp.

  • Easy to grow -- can be ground cover or low shrubs.
  • Attract bees and butterflies.
  • Many colors available.

Shasta Daisy 

Chrysanthemum maximum

  • Martha Stewart has a brief history of the shasta daisy here.
  • Different varieties in various sizes and textures; all are white or ivory with a yellow eye.
  • Bloom summer to fall.
  • Excellent in bouquets.

Skullcap 

Scutellaria spp.

  • Pink or white and pink flowers on square stems.
  • Native wildflower in the U.S. -- closely related to sages.
  • Tubular flowers are popular with butterflies and hummingbirds.

Snow-in-Summer 

Cerastium tomentosum

  • A dazzlingly white ground cover with silvery foliage and white flowers.
  • Excellent as a border.
  • Great for foliage-centered gardens.

Soapwort 

Saponaria officinalis

  • Summer-blooming ground cover.
  • Dense growth with bright pink flowers.

Society Garlic 

Tulvahia violacea

  • Grows up to two feet tall and loves full sun.
  • Pinkish-purple flowers nod on tall stems.
  • Blooms from summer to fall.
  • Attractive, sometimes striped foliage.

Speedwell 

Veronica spp.

  • Colorful spikes of flowes in purples and blue-purples.
  • Excellent as ground cover.
  • Likes hot sun.

Spider Lily 

Lycoris radiata

  • Unusual plant with red clusters of flowers.
  • Flowers are bright red with very long stamens, giving them their spidery appearance. Fragrant.
  • Blooms late summer and fall.
  • Can grow up to two feet tall.

Spiderwort 

Tradescanti virginiana

  • Native to North America.
  • Blue, purple, pink or white flowers.
  • Grows in any light condition, from full sun to full shade.

Stokes' Aster 

Stokesia laevis

  • Easily grow.
  • Interesting flower. (Just look at it!)
  • Blooms summer to fall.
  • Striking in bouquets.
  • Also available in pink and white.

Summer Phlox 

Phlox paniculata

  • Very large clusters of flowers in showy colors from white to scarlet.
  • Fragrant and good in bouquets.
  • Grow two to four feet tall.

Sweet Violet 

Viola odorata

  • A fragrant and perennial member of the same genus as the pansies.
  • Likes the shade and grows close to the ground.
  • Most varieties are purple but pink, white, and bicolor forms exist.

Thrift (Moss Pink) 

Phlox paniculata

  • Popular spring-blooming perennial phlox.
  • Contrary to the name, may be in a variety of color, including purple, white, and bicolor varieties.

Whirling Butterflies 

Gaura spp.

  • Pink or white butterfly-shaped flowers on tall spikes.
  • Can grow up to four feet tall.
  • Prefers full sun.

Yarrow 

Achillea spp.

  • Summer bloomer in many colors, from white and pale pink to crimson and tangerine.
  • Flowers grow in flat clusters at the top of a long stem.
  • Good in bouquets.

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Article started by 
rubeus
last updated by 
lauren