Perennial Special

'Hidcote' is a compact English Lavender, reaching a height of 18-24 inches, adorned with highly fragrant deep purple-blue flowers. It's a versatile option for both fresh and dried bouquets, attracting bees and butterflies while deterring deer and rabbits. Thriving in hot, dry conditions, it's drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for container plantings.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 24"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 5

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Arriving early May

One of the most common native ferns, growing all over northern regions. Plants form a large, upright clump of big green fronds. In spring the unfurling fiddleheads are often harvested in the wild as a gourmet treat. Roots are spreading, and plants can form quite a large patch in time. Requires plenty of water through the summer, otherwise the foliage may become dormant. Cinnamon-brown fertile fronds push up from the centre of each clump in summer, and these remain attractive all winter long. Prune off dead foliage and fertile fronds in late winter. Deciduous.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 16"

• Width: 18"

Zone: 2

Russian Sage is extremely valuable for its long season of bloom in the summer garden. Plant forms a bushy upright clump of greyish leaves that are lacy and fragrant. Spikes of rich violet-blue flowers appear in high summer, continuing into late fall. An extremely versatile garden plant, Russian Sage loves hot, sunny sites and will fit right into the perennial border, also good to use among shrubs, and even in containers or tubs. Attractive to butterflies. Prune back to no less than 6 inches in the spring, and never in the fall. Exceptionally drought tolerant. Selected as Perennial Plant of the Year in 1995.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 34 - 60"

• Width: 22 - 36"

Certainly one of the most popular of foliage perennials, silver mound forms a low cushion of ferny, silvery-grey leaves. In areas with humid summers it benefits from a hard clipping just as the tiny silver ball-like flowers appear, usually in mid to late June.

Plants will regrow quickly and remain attractive all season long. Good for hot, dry sites. Nice edging plant, also combines well with other perennials in tubs or mixed containers.

Light Requirement: Full to Part Sun

Flowering Season: Mid Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 10"
  
• Spread: 18"
  

Zone: 3a

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nurseries

This vine is part of the five-leaved ivy family. It has a habit of clinging and is a fast and hardy grower. It can work as a climber or as a ground cover. The foliage is smaller in size and with palm-shaped leaves. During Fall the leaves will become a burgundy red color with ornamental black berries that are toxic to humans.

Less vigorous than the virginia creeper.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 15' -20'
• Width: 6'

Zone: 3

Photo and data courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

A virtually hassle-free perennial, offering three months of vanilla-scented, white flowers in clean clusters from midsummer to early fall. Deadheading the flowers will stimulate another bloom cycle about a month after the first one. The flowers, which are heavily laden with nectar and pollen, are particularly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Goldsturm Gloriosa Daisy is a classic perennial. Adds grand height to the back of any flower bed.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 20 - 24"

• Width: 14 - 18"

Zone: 3

Moonbeam Coreopsis form a mound of ferny green leaves, bearing many upright stems of single 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. Attractive to butterflies.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 16"
  
• Spread: 18"
  

Zone: 4

The 'Stella D'Oro" Dwarf is a re-blooming daylily with fragrant, bright yellow flowers, and brightens any space it occupies with its wonderful colour. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 18"

• Width: 12 - 14"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

This improved Beard-tongue, part of the Pristine series, forms low mounds of glossy green 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: 15 - 20"

• Width: 10 - 15"

Zone: 3

Images courtesy of vanstone Nurseries

The Everlast Dianthus Series blooms in early spring and is extremely resilient in all weather conditions, making it tough as nails through any season.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 8 - 12"

Width: 10 - 14"

Achillea Yarrow blooms for weeks starting from early to late summer and is known for attracting butterflies.

A deer, drought and rabbit resistant perennial that features clusters of petit flowers with a long stem. 

Deadheading will encourage new blooms and will prevent from spreading it's seeds, yarrow seeds can fall from previous blooms and will spread if not monitored. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Mid Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 32"
  
• Spread: 20"
  

Zone: 2b

Photos of Ball Seed Company

Compact habit and shorter flower stems for a tidier, more attractive perennial garden.

A classic perennial that no garden should be without! An early season bloomer with delicate heart shaped blooms, these delicate flowers add an elegant element to any garden.

Plant in shade to part sun in a sheltered bed, and out of any strong wind. Bleeding hearts go dormant once the summer heat comes on, so plan to plant annuals or late summer blooming perennials to the area to maintain colour. 

Light Requirement: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Walkers Low is a British variety was selected as the 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year. Plants are mounded and bushy in habit, with small grey-green fragrant leaves. Masses of bright-blue flowers appear on short spikes in early summer, continuing on and off through the fall if the old flowers are regularly removed. Despite the name, this is best in the middle of a border because of its mid-sized stature. Drought tolerant, once established. Flowers are attractive to butterflies.

photo courtesy of  Ball Seed

Oriental Poppies provide a cheerful display of huge, satiny flowers in late spring and early summer. Plants form a low clump of coarse, hairy leaves, and usually go dormant, disappearing completely by late summer. Because they disappear in summer, plant something beside Oriental Poppies that will get bushy later in the season, such as Rudbeckia, Russian Sage, or fall-flowering grasses. Divide in August to September. Flowers are good for cutting, picked just as the buds begin to open.

Light Requirement: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

This vigorous plant features bright, violet-blue flower spikes that tower over glossy foliage. A favorite with butterflies, it is ideal for rock gardens. Remove old blooms to encourage new growth.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 15 - 18"

• Width: 12 - 18"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Ball Seed

Oriental Poppies provide a cheerful display of huge, satiny flowers in late spring and early summer. Plants form a low clump of coarse, hairy leaves, and usually go dormant, disappearing completely by late summer. Because they disappear in summer, plant something beside Oriental Poppies that will get bushy later in the season, such as Rudbeckia, Russian Sage, or fall-flowering grasses. Divide in August to September. Flowers are good for cutting, picked just as the buds begin to open.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 30 -36"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

May Night Salvia  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

Photos and Data Courtesy of Ball Seed

The Skyler series does not need a cold winter period, unlike other Veronica longifolia cultivars. It will flower the first year from planting. Cut to the ground, and it will generally send out an additional flush of flowers. Depending on location you may harvest 2-4 flushes of flowers per year. It is fully hardy. In its second and third years, you will see many more stems emerge as the plant spreads. 

Images courtesy of : Danzinger

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:  14 -18"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Brilliant flowers complement neat, attractive foliage. Wonderful as ground cover, in the rock garden, along walkways or cascading over stone walls. Easy to maintain. Thrives in hot, dry locations. .

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Late Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 6"
  
• Spread: 12"

Zone: 3A

Photos courtesy of Bellwyck Horticolor

Low ground cover with tight flower like foliage that is neat, attractive foliage with a web like cover. Wonderful  in the rock garden, along walkways or cascading over stone walls. Easy to maintain. Thrives in hot, dry locations. .

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Late Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 6"
  
• Spread: 10"
  

Zone: 3A

Photos courtesy Bellwyck Horticolor

Delphiniums are the stars of the early summer border. Plants form a low mound of deeply-cut green leaves, bearing tall spikes of satiny flowers. Removing faded spikes at the base will encourage repeat blooming in fall. 

Cut back hard to encourage fresh foliage. Use a high phosphorous fertilizer each year, in early spring. 

Hot, humid summers can bring on potential mildew. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 12"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 3

This is a hybrid strain of Columbine that flowers freely. Plants have a compact habit, with the large blooms usually bi coloured in shades of blue, white, pink, red, rose or yellow. Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds.

Removing spent flowers will increase the blooming time. Columbines are relatively short lived, so allow some of the plants to go to seed and self sow. Leaf miners or sawfly may disfigure the leaves around flowering time, but simply trim off the unwanted foliage and the plants will grow fresh leaves.

Light Requirement: Part Sun

Flowering Season: Early Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 16"
  
• Spread: 14"
  

Zone: 3