Perennials or Annuals?

• Annuals: Complete their life cycle in one season; bloom nonstop but must be replanted each year.
• Perennials: Live multiple years, sometimes decades; bloom for shorter periods, but planting varieties with staggered bloom times ensures season-long color.
• 3-Year Rule: Sleep in the first year, creep the second, leap the third. Helps set realistic expectations.

When to Plant

• Spring: Warm soil, gentle rains, longer days for healthy growth.
• Fall: Cooler temperatures, reduced weed competition; roots develop over winter for strong spring blooms.

Ways to Plant Perennials

• Container-Grown: Potted plants are easiest since they’re already established. Dig a hole slightly deeper than the container and twice as wide, remove the plant, place it in the hole, backfill with soil, and water thoroughly. Best for beginners or instant impact.
• Bare-Root: Dug up while dormant, kept cool until sold. Plant in early spring, dig wide hole, mound soil, spread roots, cover, water. Buy only if you can plant immediately. Best for budget-conscious gardeners or larger areas.
• Seeds: Most affordable but time-consuming. Sow outdoors after last frost or start indoors in winter and transplant later. Best for patient gardeners or those seeking variety at low cost.

Choosing the Best Perennials

Early Blooming Perennials

• Helleborus (Lenten Rose): Blooms in March; nodding rose-like flowers in white, pink, or purple. Shade-tolerant, deer-resistant.
• Iberis (Candytuft): Blooms in April; low-growing clusters of white flowers. Evergreen foliage, great for groundcover or borders.
• Dianthus (Pinks or Carnations): Blooms in April; frilled blooms in pink, red, or white. Fragrant, sun-loving, low-maintenance.
• Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox): Blooms in April; dense mats of pink, purple, or white flowers. Excellent groundcover, spreads over slopes and rocks.
• Myosotis (Forget-Me-Not): Blooms in April; small blue flowers with yellow centers. Moisture-loving, ideal for shaded borders.

Long-Blooming Perennials

• Coreopsis (Tickseed): Blooms May–July; bright yellow daisy-like flowers. Heat- and drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators.
• Achillea (Yarrow): Blooms May–August; flat-topped clusters in yellow, pink, or red. Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, attracts butterflies.
• Agastache (Hyssop): Blooms July–September; spikes of lavender, pink, or orange flowers. Fragrant foliage, attracts hummingbirds and bees, drought-tolerant.
• Echinacea (Coneflower): Blooms June–September; daisy-like flowers in purple, pink, or white with prominent cones. Pollinator-friendly, medicinal properties, drought-tolerant.
• Gaillardia (Blanket Flower): Blooms June–August; red and yellow daisy-like flowers. Heat- and drought-tolerant, long-lasting blooms.
• Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy): Blooms June–September; classic white petals with yellow centers. Sun-loving, long-lasting, low-maintenance.
• Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox): Blooms July–September; tall clusters of fragrant pink, purple, or white flowers. Attracts pollinators, prefers full sun to partial shade.
• Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan): Blooms July–September; golden-yellow petals with dark centers. Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, sun-loving.

Drought-Tolerant Perennials

• Achillea (Yarrow): See above.
• Agastache (Hyssop): See above.
• Gaillardia (Blanket Flower): See above.
• Lavender: Blooms June–August; spikes of fragrant purple flowers. Drought-tolerant, aromatic, attracts pollinators.
• Salvia (Meadow Sage): Blooms in summer; spikes of purple, blue, or red flowers. Heat- and drought-tolerant, attracts bees and butterflies.
• Sedum (Stonecrop): Blooms late summer–fall; succulent foliage with clusters of pink, red, or white flowers. Excellent for rocky or dry soil, low-maintenance.

Perennials for Sun

• Coreopsis, Rudbeckia, Gaillardia, Echinacea, Dianthus, Hemerocallis (Day Lily), Leucanthemum.
• Requirement: 6+ hours of sunlight daily.

Perennials for Shade

• Hosta (Plantain Lily): Blooms summer; large textured leaves with small lily-like flowers. Shade-loving, low-maintenance, tolerant of poor soil.
• Astilbes (False Goat’s Beard): Blooms summer; feathery plumes in pink, red, or white. Prefers moist, shaded areas; adds texture to borders.
• Dicentra (Bleeding Heart): Blooms spring; heart-shaped pink or white flowers on arching stems. Shade-tolerant, elegant, early bloomer.
• Hellebores (Lenten Rose): See above.
• Ferns: Foliage-focused; lush green fronds. Shade-loving, adds texture.
• Corydalis: Blooms spring–early summer; tubular flowers in purple or yellow. Prefers shade, spreads well in woodland gardens.
• Lamium (Dead Nettle): Blooms spring–summer; silver-tinged leaves with small purple, pink, or white flowers. Excellent groundcover, shade-tolerant.

Perennials for Poor Soil

• Hellebores, Delosperma (Ice Plant), Dicentra, Gaillardia, Sedum, Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed), Hosta, Hemerocallis.
• Traits: Hardy, drought-resistant, low-maintenance.

Fragrant Perennials

• Achillea, Lavender, Monarda (Bee Balm), Perovskia (Russian Sage), Salvia, Agastache, Dianthus, Echinacea.
• Traits: Add fragrance, attract pollinators, provide sensory appeal.

Caring for Your Perennials

1. Water deeply but less often – promotes strong, drought-resistant roots.
2. Apply mulch – 2–3 inches to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature; keep away from crown.
3. Divide mature perennials – every 3–5 years to rejuvenate growth and prevent overcrowding.