What Are the Best Perennials to Grow?

by Dalen Gardeneer
February 01, 2024
3 min read

colorful flowers and leaves in the garden

Perennial flowers make the perfect addition to gardens, enriching outdoor spaces with enduring beauty. But with so many types of perennials, how do you know which ones are best? Below, we discuss the different examples of perennial plants, their unique qualities, and blooming periods to help you choose the best ones for your home.

What Are Perennials?

A perennial plant is a flower that lives for over two years, providing lasting beauty to gardens. Perennials are flowers that come back every year, unlike annuals that only last a season.

When Is the Best Time to Plant Perennials?

Spring and fall are the best seasons to plant perennial flowers because they allow the plants to create strong roots before harsh weather sets in. Root development is important for supporting the plants' immediate health and laying the groundwork for robust growth and beautiful blooms.

Steps for Planting Perennials

	Prepare the soil. Make sure your soil is well-drained and rich in organic matter. Add compost to improve fertility and draining. Use slightly acidic or neutral soil.
	Dig the planting hole. Dig a hole twice as wide as the flower's root ball and just as deep. Encourage root growth by loosening the soil.
	Fertilizer. Add a balanced, slow-release fertilizer into the soil.
	Plant the flower. Gently remove the perennial from its container and add it to the hole. Gently loosen any tightly packed roots.
	Backfill and water. Fill the hole with soil, pat it down, and water thoroughly.
	Add mulch. Apply a layer of mulch around the perennial. Avoid placing mulch near the stem to prevent rot.

How to Care for Perennials

Perennials are easy to care for, but they still require some maintenance. Here are the best perennial plant tips during different times of the year.

	Early spring. Apply fertilizer around your perennials. Mulch the soil around perennials for added protection.
	Spring and summer. Use stakes and plant supports to prevent tall flowers from bending or flopping over. Regularly check the area around your perennials and remove any weeds.
	Autumn. Trim back dead foliage to keep your flowers tidy and prevent the spread of disease.
	Late winter/early spring. Prune back woody-stemmed perennials before new growth emerges.
	Year-round. Evergreen perennials need year-round attention. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves to keep them looking fresh and healthy.
	Ongoing. Remove dead and faded flowers and regularly inspect your plants for signs of bugs or disease.
	Every 3-5 years. Divide and replant overgrown perennials to prevent overcrowding issues.

Propagating Perennials

Perennials are a great budget-friendly option for gardens because several can grow from seed and propagate after forming clumps. To propagate, dig up a grown perennial and carefully divide it into smaller sections, ensuring each has a root. Replant the divided sections and provide adequate water and care.

How to Protect Perennials

Three significant problems can cause damage to your perennial plants: bugs, disease, and weather. Here are tips for protecting your flowers.

	Bugs. Regularly inspect plants for signs of bugs. Consider using an organic insecticide for targeted pest control.
	Disease. Practice good garden hygiene by maintaining proper spacing between plants. Ensure adequate air circulation around flowers. Avoid watering from above to reduce the risk of fungal infections.
	Weather. Cover perennials if there's frost in the forecast and use shade cloth during times of excessive heat.

What Are the Best Perennials to Grow?

There are several types of perennials, and the best ones for you will depend on your location and preferences. Here are the best perennial flowers to choose from.

Daylilies

Daylilies are popular plants because they're low-maintenance, resilient, and can thrive in diverse climates. They boast various vibrant colors, including yellow, orange, pink, and purple. Daylilies have strap-like foliage and trumpet-shaped flowers. They also produce new flowers every day.

Lupins

Lupins are known for their striking spires of colorful blooms. They have tall flower spikes in several colors, such as blue, pink, purple, and white. These perennials prefer sunny days and bloom from late spring to early summer.

Geraniums

Geranium perennials offer a spectrum of colors, including pink, red, purple, and white. They're known for their distinctive five-petaled flowers and deeply lobed leaves. They also have a long blooming period, extending from spring to fall.

Yarrow

Yarrow is a versatile perennial celebrated for its feathery foliage and clusters of flat-topped flowers. It displays blooms in several colors, including white, yellow, pink, and red. This perennial typically blooms in late spring to early fall.

Iris

Irises are colorful perennial flowers showcasing various hues, including shades of purple, blue, yellow, white, and even bi-colored varieties. They have striking sword-shaped leaves and complex blooms with three upright and three drooping petals. They bloom in late spring to early summer.

Hostas

Hostas are admired for their lush, vibrant foliage, versatility, and resilience. These shade-loving plants are celebrated for their wide variety of leaf shapes, colors, and textures. They typically bloom during the summer.

Elephant's Ears

Also known as Colocasia, Elephant's Ears are tropical perennial flowers loved for their large, heart-shaped leaves. They prefer warm and humid climates and create a bold and tropical ambiance. These perennials bloom in late spring to early summer. However, the flower is often less prominent than the striking leaves.

Spurge

Spurge perennials have a distinctive flower structure, often consisting of inconspicuous flowers surrounded by showy bracts that can be green, yellow, or other colors. They bloom in late spring to early summer.

Delphinium

Delphiniums have tall and majestic spikes adorned with vibrant, densely packed flowers. They come in many colors, like blue, purple, pink, and white. These perennials usually bloom in late spring to early summer, showcasing their spiky flowers that stand out among lush, deeply lobed leaves.

Sea Holly

Sea Holly, also known as Eryngium, blooms in the summer. This plant is characterized by its spiky, cone-like flower head surrounded by spiky bracts, creating an intriguing visual effect. Sea Holly adds a cool and captivating element to gardens with its silvery-blue or greenish-blue coloring.

Hellebores

Hellebores blossom in the late winter to early spring. They can bloom in shaded areas, bringing a burst of color to gardens when many other plants remain dormant. The cup-shaped flowers offer diverse colors, including white, pink, purple, and green.

Salvia

The Salvia species comes in various hues, including shades of blue, purple, red, and pink. It has a long flowering period, from late spring through summer and sometimes into fall. The tubular-shaped blossoms attract bees and butterflies.

Heuchera

These plants are prized for their striking, often marbled or veined leaves that come in green, purple, bronze, and silver shades. While their primary ornamental feature is the foliage, Heuchera produces slender, airy flower spikes in late spring to early summer, displaying small bell-shaped flowers.

Ice plant

Ice Plant, also known as Hylotelephium Spectabile, is a succulent plant renowned for its gray-green leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers that resemble frozen dew drops. Ice Plants bloom in the late summer through early fall.

Japanese Anemone

The Japanese Anemone is a graceful perennial admired for its elegant flowers and late-season bloom. This plant produces charming, cup-shaped flowers with several petals that can be white, pink, or lavender. They typically bloom from late summer into fall.

Oriental poppy

Also known as Papaver Orientale, the Oriental Poppy is a bold and captivating flower praised for its large, vibrant flowers. This plant has distinctive, cup-shaped blooms in red, orange, pink, or white shades. Oriental Poppy blooms in late spring to early summer.

Primroses, Primula

Primroses are charming perennial plants known for their delicate flowers and diverse colors. These plants bloom in early spring, providing a welcome burst of color to the season. There are several species, each offering different colors, including pink, purple, yellow, and white.

Lungwort, Pulmonaria

Lungwort is an early-blooming perennial appreciated for its foliage and dainty flowers. This is a shade-loving plant that typically blooms in early spring. Lungwort flowers come in various shades, transitioning from pink to blue or purple as they mature.

What Are the Benefits of Having Perennials?

Perennials return each year to provide lasting beauty to your garden. They're low maintenance, requiring less time and effort than annuals. These plants also attract pollinators, adding biodiversity to your garden.

Bring Your Garden to Life With Dalen

Adding perennial plants to your garden is a great way to liven up your outdoor space. They're also low maintenance and provide long-lasting beauty, making them one of the best additions to any landscape. If you want to further improve the look and health of your garden, check out Dalen's gardening collection! We provide a range of tools and products that support plant growth, control weeds, and help your garden thrive. Shop great products for your garden today!

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