Perennials

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

This cousin to the Hollyhock has similar satiny flowers in a soft lavender-purple shade, exotically striped with deep maroon veins. It forms an upright, bushy mound that may need to be staked if grown in rich soil.

Excellent in containers, or the sunny border. Attracts butterflies and is rabbit resistant.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 48"

• Width: 18"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

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

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

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

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

These are the old-fashioned style of Coral Bells, grown for their bright display of flowers in early summer. Plants form a low mound of rounded deep-green leaves, bearing upright spikes with loads of small vermilion-red bells. Excellent for cutting. Flowers also are attractive to hummingbirds. Terrific for edging, in the rock garden, or in tubs. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage more buds to form.

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 & Jeffries Nursery

A popular ground-cover for shady areas. Plants form a spreading clump of small green leaves, whorled like spokes of a bicycle around the stem. Clusters of tiny white flowers make a pretty display in spring. In a moist site this spreads steadily to form a thick carpet.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 6"

• Width: 12"

Zone: 4

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Photo courtesy of  Ball Seed

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.

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

Cotton Candy^™ Phlox will bring months of tantalizing color and delicious fragrance to the garden. Soft lavender-pink flowers with cotton candy centers bloom in the summer. Cotton Candy^™ is mildew resistant, compact, and wildly floriferous.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 18 - 22"

Width: 18 - 24"

Photos and information courtesy of First Editions Plants.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

 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

These are the old-fashioned style of Heuchera /Coral Bells, grown for their bright display of flowers in early summer. Plants form a low mound of rounded deep-green leaves, bearing upright spikes with loads of small vermilion-red bells. Excellent for cutting. Flowers also are attractive to hummingbirds. Terrific for edging, in the rock garden, or in tubs. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage more buds to form. Plants may be divided as needed in spring or early fall.

 Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 16"
  
• Spread: 16"
  

Zone: 4A

Photos courtesy of Aubin & Bell Wyck Horticolor

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:  24 -30"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

The Echinacea Sunseeker Series offers vibrant, sun-loving flowers in pink and purple, attracting pollinators and boosting wellness. Perfect for sunny gardens, these low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants add beauty to any space.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 18 - 24"

Width: 18 - 24"

'Guacamole' Hosta is medium sized with rich coloured foliage, growing in a mound with broad leaves that are striated in texture. The 'Guacamole' Hosta is a relative of the 'Fragrant Bouquet' Hosta, and blooms in midsummer.

Light Requirement: Full hade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 24"

• Width: 40 - 50"
  

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa. 

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 along, so plan to add annuals or late blooming perennials to the area. 

Light Requirement: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Grape Lollipop^™ Phlox is covered in grape-colored flowers with striking red eyes that bloom in the summer. The fragrant blooms, compact habit, and mildew-resistance make this a great addition to the garden for phenomenal summer interest. Introduced by Plants Nouveau.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 18 - 22"

Width: 18 - 24"

Photos and information courtesy of First Editions Plants.

Ratibida  upright Prairie Cone Flower AKA Mexican Hat has several long-stalked flower heads at the top of the stem. Red and Yellow bi colour 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.

Photos courtesy of Bellwyck Horticolor

'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

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

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

'Caramel' is a popular and robust selection with fuzzy leaves ranging from apricot to amber, complemented by purple-red undersides and cream flowers. It boasts brighter coloration than 'Amber Waves' and has a compact habit.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 6 - 10"

• Width: 12 - 15"

Zone: 4

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