Perennials

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.

This improved Beard-tongue forms tall mounds of glossy burgundy leaves, bearing medium-tall stalks of tubular white/pale 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. Drought tolerant once established.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 36"

• Width: 24"

Zone: 3

Images courtesy of vanstone Nurseries

'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

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

This is one of several Hybrid Goldenrods that have been developed as commercial cut flowers in Europe. Plants form a bushy upright mound of deep-green leaves, bearing large heads of golden-yellow flowers in late summer. Stems are strong and should not need staking. This is a well-behaved garden plant, worthy of growing in any sunny border. Flowers do not cause allergies. Moist soil will help to prevent powdery mildew. Clumps may be easily divided in early spring. Attractive to butterflies.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 12 - 18"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

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

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

It 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

The purple falls are reason enough to incorporate these brilliant blooms in your landscape. Then you bring in the strong color contrast between the standards and falls and it's simply mesmerizing—the color really pops wherever you want to put this Siberian iris. Enjoy a little patch of it in among your other perennials, or plant it in mass drifts for a radiant display. We suggest growing it near a stream or in a marshy, waterlogged spot. While most iris absolutely need well-drained soil, Siberian iris are actually at the top of their game in really moist soils. Iris sibirica 'On Mulberry Street'

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.

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.

Firn Line offers very creamy foliage with a blue green centre.

Light Requirement: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 22"

• Width: 18"

Zone: 3

Hosta Dancing Darling is a beauty with its unique yellow-golden foliage with green edges. The foliage is curled and looks lovely in combination with the lilac flowers. Plant Dancing Darling in a moist, cool, humus-rich and well-drained soil. It can be planted in a sunny or shaded spot.  This fast growing Hosta is excellent as a solitary on patio or balcony, for mixed containers, for mass planting and in border.

Light Requirement: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 20"

• Width: 24"

Zone: 3

Pink lace aster plants are characterized by their delicate, lace-like foliage and clusters of bright pink, star-shaped flowers. They add a graceful and vibrant touch to any garden, particularly in the fall season.

Light Requirement: Full sun

Flowering Season:  Late Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 18"
  
• Spread: 12 - 18"
  

Zone: 3a

Photos and Data 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 white 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

Phlox 'David' boasts stunning, fragrant white blooms atop mildew-resistant foliage. It's a must-have for perennial borders, providing long-lasting summer color.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 36 - 48"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 4

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Bright crimson plumes emerge in vertical spires during early summer, making it one of the earliest red blooms. Its foliage transitions from mahogany red in spring to a lush green by summer, making it a favored choice among enthusiasts for its vigorous growth and striking color.

Light Requirement: Part Shade to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 20"

• Width: 18 - 20"

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

'Matrona' Sedum, also called stonecrop, is a beautiful plant with pale pink flowers, gray-green leaves, and purple veins and stems. It loves full sun, blooms in late summer, and attracts many pollinators in the fall. It's also very showy and tolerates low rainfall well.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 24"

• Width: 18 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Lily of the Valley is easy and adaptable, this will even grow well in tubs or mixed containers. A favourite for growing as a ground-cover in shady areas, be sure to Protect from afternoon sun. Plants form a spreading clump of large green leaves, bearing short spikes of fragrant white bells in late spring. 

Takes a year or two to establish, then spreads quickly. May go dormant in summer.

Tolerant of poor soils, even dry shade, but prefers a rich, moist soil.

 CAUTION: Toxic if eaten.

CAUTION: Do not discard unwanted plants in any natural areas, as they will establish themselves and become invasive.

Light Requirement: Full to Part Shade

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 6"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 2

Nora Barlow is particularly good for cut flowers as it features a fully double, upward-facing bloom, rising above a ferny foliage of gray-green divided leaves. Plants typically produce 3-5 stems in the first year and 5-10 stems in the second and following years.

Remove faded flowering stems to promote additional blooming.

Light Requirement: Part Sun

Flowering Season: Early Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 24"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 3

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 18 - 24" 

Spread: 18 - 24"

 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: 16"
  
• Spread: 18"
  

Zone: 3

'Bright Eyes' Garden Phlox is a vibrant and eye-catching variety of Phlox paniculata. It features large clusters of bright pink flowers with contrasting dark eyes that bloom from summer into fall, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. This perennial plant is known for its excellent disease resistance and compact growth habit, making it a popular choice for garden borders, beds, and containers.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 24 - 36"

Zone: 4

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

Dianthus may be treated as annuals or short-lived perennials in the garden. The Beauties® series are characterized by their distinctive colour, shape and great growing habits.

Light: Full Sun

Height: 6-8 inches

Spread: 12-14 inches

Image Courtesy of Ball Seed Company

Illuminate your landscape with sun-kissed foliage! While the renowned Heuchera is a timeless option for shade gardens, for those seeking to make a bold statement, Peach Flambé Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Peach Flambe') is a must-have! Featuring a delectable blend of sweet peach tinged with fiery cherry red throughout the summer, it truly sets your yard apart.

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

Light Requirement: Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 6 - 12"

• Width: 12 - 16"

Zone: 4

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

'Snake Eyes' Hosta has large, tri-coloured leaves that makes the foliage a unique addition to any landscape setting.

The flowers are lavender in colour and bloom later in the summer.

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa. 

Bee balm is a classic American native and cottage garden favorite, it's beloved by gardeners. Grand Parade  blooms in pink with a fragrance given off by foliage warmed by the sun or touched by the gardener.

And it’s just as beloved by wildlife as it is by gardeners. Plant bee balm and you can be sure of the attention of hummingbirds and bees in the summer and by seed-loving finches in the winter. It’s an all-around garden winner that provides so much for so little effort.

This herb that can be harvested for making tea. Pick the leaves just before blooming and dry completely for the best flavour.  

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 16"

• Width: 18"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery



Flashing Lights are easy-care perennials, ideal for the beginning gardener. Plants form a low, spreading mound of green and bronze leaves, studded with bright ruby-red 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.