Perennials

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Light Requirement: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Delphiniums are the stars of the early summer border. Plants form a low mound of deeply-cut green leaves, bearing mounds of satiny flowers. Removing faded bloom 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

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: 36"
  
• Spread: 24"
  

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Aubin Nursery & Bellwyck 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

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

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

Tough, low-maintenance, and pest-free, Vinca minor (commonly known as periwinkle) features broad leaf foliage and flowers. Blooming in Spring, they may bloom occasionally in summer. 

Useful for providing ground-cover and is known for its creeping habit.  Has a tendency to overtake an area with its ability to naturalize.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 6"

• Width: 24"
• Zone  3

photo courtesy of Ball Seed

Photo 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

Clouds of butterflies and hummingbirds will be flocking to your gardens this year! Get ready to be amazed by this extremely floriferous and ornamental vine! The vigorously growing, Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle (Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet') is an incredibly hardy, Honeysuckle Vine!

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 8'

• Width: 4'

Zone: 2

Lavendula angustifolia. This open plant is an early flowering selection with more blue in the flowers. Dwarf Munstead lavender is the most aromatic of the English lavenders, giving off a sweet and delicate perfume. It is great for drying, hung by itself or with other tiny flowers. Dwarf Munstead works well in containers or raised beds, and will reward the grower with masses of aromatic cut flowers that can be easily dried. Lavender flowers are edible, and highly attractive to pollinators. Plant height: 38cm (15").

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

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.

A vigorous climber for large walls, fences etc. and can be trained into a small weeping standard. Blue moon is the hardiest of all the wisterias. The lilac-blue fragrant flowers bloom up to 3 times during the season. To keep Wisteria in check, it can be pruned in late summer or early fall.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Height: 15 - 20'

Width: 4 - 5'

Zone: 3

Image courtesy of Jeffries Nursery, Aubin Nursery, and Bellwyck Horticolor.

Fragrant Oriental Lily with a late summer flowering, perfect size for pots.

Height: 100cm (18") 

Full Sun - Part Shade

Images courtesy of: van Noort Bulb co.

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

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

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

Summer-blooming Coral Crème Drop^™ Phlox features lovely coral blooms with rosy eyes that carry a lovely fragrance. As an added bonus, Coral Crème Drop^™ is mildew resistant, compact, and extremely floriferous.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 18 - 22"

Width: 18 - 24"

Photos and information courtesy of First Editions Plants.

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.

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.

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

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

The leaves emerge frosty blue with a bright yellow margin that lightens to creamy white during the summer.  It forms a medium sized mound topped with light lavender flowers in mid to late summer.

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