Perennials

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: 2' - 3'

• Width: 3' - 4'

Zone: 2

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 24 - 30"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Proven Winners

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

A compact ornamental grass that features elegantly arched, variegated leaves that will mature into a dusty-grey pink into the fall season. a cool season grass that is fast growing and reliable. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 24 - 36"

Zone: 4A

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa

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

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.

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"

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

Among the most popular and easy to grow flowering vines, clematis are lovely deciduous vines which get covered with large single flowers. They grow best on a west facing wall, fence or arbour. Cover soil with mulch to keep the roots cool in the heat of the summer.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 6 - 12'

• Width: 36 - 48"

Zone: 3

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"

Lamb’s-Ears are one of the most popular silver-leaved perennials, used widely for edging along pathways and borders. Plants form a dense clump of soft, felty silver grey leaves. Upright spikes of minor magenta-pink flowers form in early summer, but these should be clipped off to maintain a tight, compact habit. Clumps are easily divided in spring or early fall. Drought tolerant once established.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 18"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 3

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

Blue Clips make for beautiful ground covering and edging for any garden, Campanula are also known as 'Bell flowers'  or ' Canterbury Bells' because of their distinct, upturned bell-shaped flowers

This variety is not aggressive like other varieties of Bell flowers

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 8"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 3a

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

Lamium is one of the best choices for a tough and showy perennial ground cover.  This selection forms a spreading patch of small silver leaves with a narrow green edge. Clusters of purplish-red flowers appear in spring, then continue off and on until fall.

Fairly tolerant of dry shade, once established. Trim back in late winter.

Stems will root into the ground where they touch, and any new plants that form can be easily moved in spring or fall.

photo courtesy of  Ball Seed

Trollius x Cultorum ‘Lemon Queen' is a well known and liked perennial, it blooms in late spring and early summer. This unique selection has semi-double flowers in a wonderful soft butter-yellow shade. Sometimes called Buttercups, these grow well in a sunny or part-shaded border.

 Shear plants back after blooming to encourage a flush of new leaves to last through the summer. Clumps may be easily divided in fall or early spring.

Light Requirement: Partial Shade to Full Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 20 - 24"

• Width: 16 - 18"

Zone: 4

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Ratibida Yellow upright Prairie Cone Flower has several long-stalked flower heads at the top of the stem. Flowers have 4 to 12 droopy, wide, bright yellow petals (ray flowers), The cone is up to 1½ inches long and covered with hundreds of tiny brown or purplish disk flowers that bloom from the bottom of the cone up.

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.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 12 - 18"

image courtesy of: van noort bulb

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

This award-winning plant features shiny, pink-spotted black leaves and a vigorous rounded habit. It's a sport of 'Obsidian', with pink spots that enlarge and brighten before lightening to cream as the season progresses. Bold, black, and beautiful for sunny locations.

Plants may be divided as needed in spring or early fall.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 24"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 4

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa & Ball Horticultural

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 12"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 2

 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

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