Category: Perennials

(Allium) ‘Millenium’ Ornamental Onion is a drought tolerant plant that produces globe shaped, 2″ flowers in Summer.  Loved by bees and butterflies.  Also deer resistant, it makes a nice front of the border plant.  Size is: 18″ H x 15″ W.

(Ajuga) Is a low growing hardy groundcover with small scalloped leaves & blue-lavender blooms in late Spring.  In cooler weather leaves deepen to offer a nice contrast.  Pretty en masse or as an understory planting.  Does best in morning sun or deep shade.

Varieties:

Bronze Beauty (pictured)

(Cerastium) Little white flowers literally cover this silver-leafed perennial like a blanket of snow.  This low-growing groundcover blooms all summer long.  Very easy to maintain and spreads easily without being invasive.

(Tanecetum) Intensely silvery-gray foliage looks like a feather. Foliage is beautiful on its own. Creates a striking contrast when the bright yellow blooms appear in summer. Useful as a groundcover – 6″H x 24″W. Zone 4. Should be planted in lean, well-drained soil. A Plant Select Perennial. More info here.

Exposure: Sun, Part Sun

Bloom Time: Early Summer

(Photo Courtesy PCO David Winger for Plant Select)

 

(Pterocephalus) A sweet, petite perennial. Dense, low groundcover only gets 3″ H x 12″W. Mauve blossoms with a deeper bud give a two-toned effect. Zone 4. A Plant Select perennial. More info here.

Exposure: Sun, Part Sun

Bloom Time: Late Spring-Summer

(Photo Courtesy Pat Hayward for Plant Select)

 

Daylilies (Hemerocallis) form grass-like clumps with large, trumpet-shaped blooms in summer. Height is generally 1-2 feet and spread can be up to around 2 feet depending on variety. This is a very popular perennial with many different flower colors and hybrids.

Exposure: Sun, Part Sun

Bloom Time: Summer

Varieties:

• Stella de Oro: A very popular clear yellow daylily with an extended summer bloom time. Outstanding performer in our area.
• …and other assorted varieties

(Helleborus) What can you have that blooms in winter? This plant! It offers subtle, reliable color…even through all of our early snow falls. Also known as Hellebore.

Exposure: Shade

Bloom Time: Late Winter – VERY Early Spring

Varieties:

Apricot Blush
Ivory Prince

Looking to extend your perennial garden into late Summer and Fall? Grasses offer texture in your garden and many offer fall color. They are beautiful tucked in among your flowers OR as mass plantings. Most are drought tolerant and perform well in full sun. Consider size and spread to make your choice as some can get quite large.

Exposure: Sun

Bloom Time: Most will offer some type of plume in late Summer to Fall.

Varieties:

• Blue Avena/Blue Oat
• Carex Evergold Sedge
• Feather Reed Grass ‘Karl Foerster’
• Hardy Pampas (Erianthus ravennae)
• and other assorted varieties

(Galium) This delicate groundcover looks like fairies should live in it. It is actually a perennial herb with dainty green leaves and covered with bright white fragrant blooms. Plant it where it can spread because it does tend to take over an area. Zone 4.

Exposure: Shade, Part Sun

Bloom Time: Late Spring-Early Summer