Perennial Full Sun

Photo courtesy of  Ball Seed

 A great choice for rock gardens and natural-looking landscapes. The grass grows to nearly 3 feet tall and is low maintenance. The variegated foliage will turn from creamy white in summer to pink as the weather cools in fall and return to its creamy-white color again in spring as new blades grow.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 36"

• Width: 12 - 18"

Zone: 4

Photos and Data Courtesy of Ball Seed Company

A virtually hassle-free perennial, offering three months of vanilla scented, rose pink flowers in large, compact clusters from midsummer to early fall.

Deadheading the flowers will stimulate another bloom cycle about a month after the first one.

The flowers are heavily laden with nectar and pollen and will attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.

For best growth plant in well-drained sandy soil. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 36 - 60"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

This selection, of 'Autumn Joy', boasts vibrant rosy flowers from late summer into fall. Developed in Quebec, it's a striking option. Tall sedums form substantial foliage clumps, serving as shrub alternatives. Their sturdy stems bear massive flower heads that bloom in fall, offering winter interest and bird food if left standing.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 30"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Widely grown as a commercial cut flower, this plant form a low clump of grassy leaves, bearing tall spikes of purple flowers beginning in midsummer.

 Can be planted in sunny border or meadow garden, or in containers.

May need to be staked as growth continues.

Height: 18 - 24"

Spread: 18 -24"

Image courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Salvia Caradonna is an outstanding perennial with excellent cold hardiness, vigor, and tolerance of heavy clay soils. Blooming in late spring with a profusion of flower spikes, it re-blooms later in the summer when deadheaded. These plants attract butterflies and are deer/rabbit resistant.

Photo courtesy of  Ball Seed

Ruby-red flowers with dark green, fragrant foliage. Excellent for mass plantings and attracts hummingbirds and butterflied. Mildew resistant.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 12 - 18"

Width: 12 - 18"

Zone: 3

Photo and data courtesy of Aubin Nursery and Bellwyck Horticolor.

This early blooming hybrid series will produce an array of vivid flowers for many weeks in summer. The plants have an upright and compact growth habit with exceptional branching. Dense clusters of smaller fragrant flowers will cover the plant and make an eye-catching display.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 14"

Width: 12"

Zone: 3

Photo and data courtesy of Vanstone Nurseries

'Blue Fescue' ornamental grass has slender, wiry blades of blue. It is a tidy evergreen that is very tolerant of a wide range of sites and conditions. This grass is perfect for a brightly coloured, mounding accent plant for borders, rockeries or even containers. 

Low maintenance, plant in a sunny location with well drained soil. 

Light Requirement: Full to Part Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 24"
  
• Spread: 24"
  

Zone: 4

The Firecracker series of Chrysanthemums were bred at Jeffries Nurseries and selected for early blooming and large flowers. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height:  20 - 22"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Coreopsis also known as Tickseed, form a mound of leathery green leaves, bearing many upright stems of daisy type flowers for weeks starting in early summer. Removing faded flowers regularly will encourage blooming to continue into the fall.

Tolerant of hot, humid summer climates and attractive to butterflies.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 24"
  
• Spread: 16"
  

Zone: 3b

photo courtesy of Ball Seed

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 18 - 24" 

Spread: 18 - 24"

 Photos and data courtesy of Ball Seed, Aubin Nursery & Bellwyck Horticolor.

Chrysanthemums are a great choice for the garden, or in tubs and mixed containers. Garden Mums are extremely popular plants for a splash of colour in late summer right through the fall.

Morden strain produces naturally cushion-shaped, compact plants with double and semi-double flowers in a whole range of rich jewel tones. Best in a sunny area, with regular watering through the season. 

Pinching plants in June will result in a much greater number of flowers. 

Light Requirement: Full to Part Sun

Flowering Season: Early Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 16"
  
• Spread: 18"
  

Zone: 3

It is an outstanding perennial with excellent cold hardiness, vigor, and tolerance of heavy clay soils. Blooming in late spring with a profusion of flower spikes, it re-blooms later in the summer when deadheaded. These plants attract butterflies and are deer/rabbit resistant.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 36"

• Width: 12 - 36"

Zone: 3

Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) adds interest to a garden bed from early spring through to fall. This perennial is native to North American prairies. It gets its name from the long, wispy, feather-like achenes (seed heads) that develop during the summer. With their pinkish shades, they create an impression of puffs of smoke remaining on the plant for several weeks. The small, pink, bud-like flowers may not be as impressive as the achenes, but they still add a splash of color to the garden in the spring. And during the fall, the foliage takes on purplish, reddish, and orange hues and then turns to a burgundy shade during winter. 

No sunny border would seem complete without the familiar presence of Shasta Daisies. This is a very tall selection that exhibits excellent tolerance to summer heat and humidity.

Shasta Daisy flowers are large single white daisies with a yellow eye, valued in the garden and excellent for cutting. Removing faded flowers regularly will greatly increase the blooming time. May require staking if grown in rich soil. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun 

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 24 - 40"

Zone: 3

Cerastium is a very useful ground cover perennial, often grown in dry, sunny areas with poor soil. Plants form a low, fast-spreading mat of silvery-grey leaves, studded with tiny white star flowers in late spring and early summer. An indestructible choice for difficult sites, but be sure to plant this where its spreading habit will not become a problem. Beautiful spilling over rock walls or on steep sunny slopes, used as a lawn substitute. Also grows well in tubs or mixed containers. Easily divided in spring or fall. Plants should be clipped hard or mowed (to 2 inches) after blooming to maintain a tidy habit.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Early Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 6"
  
• Spread: 18"
  

Zone: 3a

'Matrona' Sedum, also called stonecrop, is a beautiful plant with pale pink flowers, gray-green leaves, and purple veins and stems. It loves full sun, blooms in late summer, and attracts many pollinators in the fall. It's also very showy and tolerates low rainfall well.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 24"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

This is one of several Hybrid Goldenrods that have been developed as commercial cut flowers in Europe. Plants form a bushy upright mound of deep-green leaves, bearing large heads of golden-yellow flowers in late summer. Stems are strong and should not need staking. This is a well-behaved garden plant, worthy of growing in any sunny border. Flowers do not cause allergies. Moist soil will help to prevent powdery mildew. Clumps may be easily divided in early spring. Attractive to butterflies.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 12 - 18"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Developed in 1906, this pink peony is still a favorite. Double flowers of soft seashell pink with petals edged a trifle lighter with a few crimson flecks.

Caring for Peonies:

May/June: Keep your peony watered if there is little rainfall. Use compost or aged manure to your soil. If your peony is newly planted it can take up to two seasons for it to get its first bloom. Be patient, it's worth it.
Late June: Blooming season, like many garden plants you will need to deadhead peony flowers often. 
Summer: Herbaceous Peonies do best with an inch of water per week if they are newly planted. If they are established they can handle a drought season more than newly planted roots. Enjoy green peony bush once blooms are gone.
Fall: Cut stems of Herbaceous Peonies back to soil level and remove from the area.  If you have new plantings mulch.

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Photo courtesy of Bellwyck Horticolor

Moss Phlox forms a low mound or cushion smothered by tiny flowers in late spring.  Clip plants immediately after blooming to encourage a dense habit. Wonderful in the sunny rock garden, for edging, or in mixed containers. Requires good drainage. Drought tolerant, once established.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 4 -6"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 2

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Maiden Pinks are easy-care perennials, ideal for the beginning gardener. Plants form a low, spreading mound of green and bronze leaves, studded with bright white & pink bi-colour flowers in late spring, and bloom on and off throughout the summer. Suitable in poor soils, and hot, sunny sites.

Excellent in tubs and mixed containers.

Trim back lightly after first flowering. Plants are easily divided in early spring or fall.

Jenny aster plants are characterized by their delicate, lace-like foliage and clusters of bright pink, star-shaped flowers. They add a graceful and vibrant touch to any garden, particularly in the fall season.

Light Requirement: Full sun

Flowering Season:  Late Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 18"
  
• Spread: 12 - 18"
  

Zone: 3a

Photos and Data Courtesy of Ball Seed

 Chrysanthemums are a great choice for the garden, or in tubs and mixed containers. Garden Mums are extremely popular plants for a splash of colour in late summer right through the fall.

Morden strain produces naturally cushion-shaped, compact plants with double and semi-double flowers in a whole range of rich jewel tones. Best in a sunny area, with regular watering through the season. 

Pinching plants in June will result in a much greater number of flowers. 

Light Requirement: Full to Part Sun

Flowering Season: Early Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 24"
  
• Spread: 24"
  

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Duchesse de Nemours is a clear white peony. It’s one of the oldest varieties. It was  bred more than 150 years ago and enjoys enduring popularity.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 24 - 36"

Zone: 2

Image courtesy of: van Noort Bulb co.

Lime green foliage with a constrasting red edge. Hot pink flowers. A perfect addition to the front of the perennial border, and works great in containers.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 6"

Width: 18"

Zone: 3

Photo and data courtesy of Aubin Nursery and Bellwyck Horticolor.

Mid-pink, spicy scented flowers bloom almost constantly on neat mounds of grass-green foliage. Excellent for edging, rock gardens and attracts butterflies. Propagation is prohibited. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 10 - 12

Width: 20"

Zone: 3

Photo courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company

This improved Beard-tongue forms low mounds of glossy burgundy leaves, bearing medium-tall stalks of tubular deep pink flowers arranged around the strong stems. Vigorous and easy to grow. Remove faded flowers to encourage continued blooming. Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Stems are nice for cutting. Clumps may be easily divided in early spring. Unlike many of the taller selections, this one is ruggedly hardy in colder regions. Drought tolerant once established.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 24"

• Width: 18-24"

Zone: 3

Images courtesy of vanstone Nurseries & Terra Nova Nursereies