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

Sea Thrift is a durable perennial for almost any sunny location. It produces bright pink flower clusters on dark green leaves, and has long flower stems. This genus is strictly an early spring and late fall, cool season flowering perennial. Trim off the spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.

Good for a rock garden or used as an edging plant, and also does excellent in tubs or mixed containers.

Light Requirement: Full to Part Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 12"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 3a

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Part Sun to Shade

Height: 16"

Images courtesy of: van Noort Bulb Co.

Image Courtesy of Clearview Hort.

Small, rose-pink daisies with yellow centres cover fine, thread-like foliage. 

Light requirement: Full Sun

Height: 8 - 16"

Width: 12 - 18"

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

'Dinner Plate' boasts massive, fully-double flowers that reach an impressive diameter of up to 10 inches. The soft-pink petals with hints of salmon create a striking contrast against the lush, dark-green foliage on 40-inch stems. This variety is fragrant, disease-resistant, and robust, earning it the prestigious "Best in Show" award from the American Peony Society. It blooms late in the season.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 36 - 48"

• Width: 24 - 36"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

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

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

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

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.

Assorted Oriental lily mix.  3 plants per 1 Gal. pot