Perennials

This grass has a remarkable tolerance for extreme climates and is not invasive. It displays soft, feathery green plumes during the summer, maturing into stiff, wheat-coloured spikes that last into winter.

It is generally used in large groupings towards the back of borders, but is also effective as a single plant that can be easily divided in spring. Prune down to the ground in March. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 4 - 5'

• Width: 4'

Zone: 3

Photos of Jeffries Nurseries

'SuperBlue' is a compact and fragrant Lavender plant, reaching a height of 12", ideal for edging walkways and placing in patio containers. This English Lavender is quite resilient, tolerating drought and reliably overwintering in most zones except the coldest ones. Its blooms are rich and saturated, appearing tighter together, which results in more color and fewer airy gaps compared to other varieties.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 10 - 12"

• Width: 10 - 12"

Zone: 4

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

'Hidcote' is a compact English Lavender, reaching a height of 18-24 inches, adorned with highly fragrant deep purple-blue flowers. It's a versatile option for both fresh and dried bouquets, attracting bees and butterflies while deterring deer and rabbits. Thriving in hot, dry conditions, it's drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for container plantings.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 24"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 5

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 18 - 24"

• Width: 24 - 30"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Proven Winners

Arriving early May

One of the most common native ferns, growing all over northern regions. Plants form a large, upright clump of big green fronds. In spring the unfurling fiddleheads are often harvested in the wild as a gourmet treat. Roots are spreading, and plants can form quite a large patch in time. Requires plenty of water through the summer, otherwise the foliage may become dormant. Cinnamon-brown fertile fronds push up from the centre of each clump in summer, and these remain attractive all winter long. Prune off dead foliage and fertile fronds in late winter. Deciduous.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 16"

• Width: 18"

Zone: 2

Russian Sage is extremely valuable for its long season of bloom in the summer garden. Plant forms a bushy upright clump of greyish leaves that are lacy and fragrant. Spikes of rich violet-blue flowers appear in high summer, continuing into late fall. An extremely versatile garden plant, Russian Sage loves hot, sunny sites and will fit right into the perennial border, also good to use among shrubs, and even in containers or tubs. Attractive to butterflies. Prune back to no less than 6 inches in the spring, and never in the fall. Exceptionally drought tolerant. Selected as Perennial Plant of the Year in 1995.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 34 - 60"

• Width: 22 - 36"

Certainly one of the most popular of foliage perennials, silver mound forms a low cushion of ferny, silvery-grey leaves. In areas with humid summers it benefits from a hard clipping just as the tiny silver ball-like flowers appear, usually in mid to late June.

Plants will regrow quickly and remain attractive all season long. Good for hot, dry sites. Nice edging plant, also combines well with other perennials in tubs or mixed containers.

Light Requirement: Full to Part Sun

Flowering Season: Mid Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 10"
  
• Spread: 18"
  

Zone: 3a

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nurseries

A compact ornamental grass that features elegantly arched, variegated leaves that will mature into a dusty-grey pink into the fall season. a cool season grass that is fast growing and reliable. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 24 - 36"

• Width: 24 - 36"

Zone: 4A

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa

This vine is part of the five-leaved ivy family. It has a habit of clinging and is a fast and hardy grower. It can work as a climber or as a ground cover. The foliage is smaller in size and with palm-shaped leaves. During Fall the leaves will become a burgundy red color with ornamental black berries that are toxic to humans.

Less vigorous than the virginia creeper.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 15' -20'
• Width: 6'

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: 60"
  
• Spread: 24"
  

Zone: 3

This improved Beard-tongue, part of the Pristine series, forms low mounds of glossy green leaves, bearing medium-tall stalks of tubular Deep 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. Clumps may be easily divided in early spring. Unlike many of the taller selections, this one is ruggedly hardy in colder regions. Drought tolerant once established.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 15 - 20"

• Width: 10 - 15"

Zone: 3

Images courtesy of vanstone Nurseries

The Everlast Dianthus Series blooms in early spring and is extremely resilient in all weather conditions, making it tough as nails through any season.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 8 - 12"

Width: 10 - 14"

Photo and data courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

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: 3

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 12"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 2

Photos courtesy of Ball Seed Company

A virtually hassle-free perennial, offering three months of vanilla-scented, white flowers in clean clusters from midsummer to early fall. Deadheading the flowers will stimulate another bloom cycle about a month after the first one. The flowers, which are heavily laden with nectar and pollen, are particularly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.

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.

The 'Stella D'Oro" Dwarf is a re-blooming daylily with fragrant, bright yellow flowers, and brightens any space it occupies with its wonderful colour. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 18"

• Width: 12 - 14"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Blue Clips make for beautiful ground covering and edging for any garden, Campanula are also known as 'Bell flowers'  or ' Canterbury Bells' because of their distinct, upturned bell-shaped flowers

This variety is not aggressive like other varieties of Bell flowers

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Flowering Season: Summer

Mature Size:

• Height: 8"
  
• Spread: 12"
  

Zone: 3a

Photo courtesy of Ball Seed Company

Trollius x Cultorum ‘Lemon Queen' is a well known and liked perennial, it blooms in late spring and early summer. This unique selection has semi-double flowers in a wonderful soft butter-yellow shade. Sometimes called Buttercups, these grow well in a sunny or part-shaded border.

 Shear plants back after blooming to encourage a flush of new leaves to last through the summer. Clumps may be easily divided in fall or early spring.

Light Requirement: Partial Shade to Full Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 20 - 24"

• Width: 16 - 18"

Zone: 4

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa.

Goldsturm Gloriosa Daisy is a classic perennial. Adds grand height to the back of any flower bed.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 20 - 24"

• Width: 14 - 18"

Zone: 3

Lamb’s-Ears are one of the most popular silver-leaved perennials, used widely for edging along pathways and borders. Plants form a dense clump of soft, felty silver grey leaves. Upright spikes of minor magenta-pink flowers form in early summer, but these should be clipped off to maintain a tight, compact habit. Clumps are easily divided in spring or early fall. Drought tolerant once established.

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 12 - 18"

• Width: 12 - 24"

Zone: 3

Photos and Data Courtesy of Ball Seed

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.

This vigorous plant features bright, violet-blue flower spikes that tower over glossy foliage. A favorite with butterflies, it is ideal for rock gardens. Remove old blooms to encourage new growth.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 15 - 18"

• Width: 12 - 18"

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Ball Seed

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

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