Perennials

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

Hardy perennial in Manitoba.  Sedum (also known as Stonecrop) is a gorgeous,  flowering plant with fleshy, gray-green leaves and purple veins and stems. A true sun lover, they bloom in late summer and attracts plentiful pollinators to the garden throughout the fall season. Very showy and tolerant of low rainfall. This plant will attract butterflies, birds and is bee friendly.

* Deer/Rabbit Resistant

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Late Summer

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

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

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.

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.

The Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass features white grassy leaves on an upright spreading plant. Its foliage transitions to a stunning dark red in the fall, complemented by colorful dark red stems, adding to its overall appeal.

Plant in sheltered area and cover with heavy mulch to over winter.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 24"

• Width: 12 -24"

Zone: 5A

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.

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.

This anemone grows 24 to 32 inches tall with single, light violet-pink flowers. It’s an extremely robust and vigorous plant that is best suited to naturalizing. This is a Creeping, Mounded, Thicket-forming perennial, meaning it can overwhelm other plants and may become a nuisance in a bed.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 32"

• Width: 6 -12"

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: 4

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: 60"
  
• Spread: 24"
  

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

Aster 'Alert" is a compact mounding selection of our native New England aster.  During spring and summer, plants are clothed in gray-green leaves.  In fall foliage disappears beneath a starry mantle of crimson daisies. Plants are tough and adaptable to moist sunny sites in a variety of garden situations. This cultivar is known for its compact habit, disease resistance and eye-popping flower display.

Light Requirement: Full to Part Sun

Flowering Season:  Late Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 12"
  
• Spread: 16"
  

Zone: 3a

Brilliant flowers complement neat, attractive foliage. Wonderful as ground cover, 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: 12"

Zone: 3A

Looking for a compact yet robust Russian Sage? Give 'Blue Jean Baby' a try! Its lavender blue flowers, held in smoky purple calyxes, bloom for an extended period from midsummer into fall. This variety is one of the earliest to bloom among Perovskias, offering enduring appeal in your landscape.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 24 - 36"

Zone: 4

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

'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



'Ruby Stella' Daylily shows a rich ruby coloured petal and a golden centre. Once established, this daylily is especially strong against drought and heat, and prefers drier conditions.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 18-20"

• Width: 12-18"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

photo courtesy of  Ball Seed

Empress Wu features huge dark green leaves with deep veins, measuring over 1½' wide and long. It forms a tall and wide clump with a strongly upright habit. Pale reddish-violet flowers bloom just above the foliage in early to midsummer. An exceptional focal point for your shade garden, it takes about 5 years to reach its mature size.

Light Requirement: Partial Shade to Full Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 36 - 48"

• Width: 60 -72"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

2021 Proven Winners National Hosta of the Year®

Extremely ruffled, cream coloured margins extend from the tip of each green leaf all the way down the petiole to the crown.  This ruffled margin is evident even in the juvenile stage of the plant before vernalization.  The leaves of this medium sized hosta are of excellent substance, making them slug resistant in the landscape. 

Use this large blue hosta to add color to your shade garden! Attractive, heart-shaped, thick and heavily corrugated blue leaves have wavy margins. Pale lavender flowers.