There are many things to consider other than height and light requirements when selecting which perennials to plant in your garden. The following lists have been compiled for your convenience so that you are better equipped when you are planning your perennial bed.
PERENNIALS FOR WET AREAS:
- Aruncus dioicus (Goatsbeard)
- Astilbe spp. (False Spirea)
- Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
- Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)
- Chelone lyonii (Pink Turtlehead)
- Delphinium
- Fillipendula rubra (Queen-of-the-Prairie)
- Hibiscus
- Hosta
- Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris)
- Iris ensata (Japanese Iris)
- Ligularia
- Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
- Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia)
- Lysimachia clethroides (Gooseneck Loosestrife)
- Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells)
- Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)
- Phystostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)
- Saponaria ocymoides (Rock Soapwort)
- Tradescantia x andersoniana (Spiderwort)
- Trollius europaeus (Globeflower)
DROUGHT TOLERANT PERENNIALS:
- Achillea sp.(Yarrow)
- Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)
- Arabis procurrens (Rock Cress)
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
- Amsonia sp. (Blue Star Flower)
- Artemisia ludoviciana (Wormwood)
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
- Aster divaricatus (White Wood Aster)
- Aster ericoides (Heath Aster)
- Aster laevis (Smooth Aster)
- Aster lateriflorus (Calico Aster)
- Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster)
- Aster novi – belgii (New York Aster)
- Aurinia saxatile (Basket of Gold)
- Baptisia australis (False Blue Indigo)
- Boltonia asteroides (Boltonia)
- Calamintha nepeta (Savory Catmint)
- Centaurea montana (Mountain Bluet)
- Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian)
- Chrysanthemum nipponicum (Nippon or Montauk Daisy)
- Coreopsis tripteris (Tall Coreopsis)
- Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf Coreopsis)
- Dianthus sp . (Pinks, Carnations)
- Dictamnus albus (Gas Plant)
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
- Echinops ritro (Globe Thistle)
- Epimedium sp. (Barrenwort)
- Eryngium sp. (Sea Holly)
- Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Rubra’
- Euphorbia dulcis ‘Chameleon’
- Euphorbia polychroma (Cushion Spurge)
- Gaura lindheimeri (White Gaura)
- Gallardia x grandiflora (Blanket Flower)
- Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot Geranium)
- Helleborus foetidus (Bearsfoot Hellebore)
- Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose)
- Helleborus orientalis hybrids (Lenten Rose)
- Hemerocallis (Daylily)
- Hibiscus moscheutos (Common Mallow)
- Hosta sp
- Hypericum androsaemum (St. John’s Wort)
- Lavandula sp. (Lavender)
- Liatris aspera (Rough Blazing Star)
- Liatris spicata (Spike Gayfeather)
- Liriope spicata; L. muscari (Lily-Turf)
- Nepeta sp. (Catnip)
- Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
- Penstemon digitalis (Smooth White Penstemon)
- Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
- Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)
- Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox)
- Polygonatum commutatum (Great Solomon’s Seal)
- Rudbeckia fulgida (Black Eyed Susan)
- Rudbeckia laciniata (Cutleaf Coneflower)
- Salvia x sylvestris (superba, nemorsa) (Meadow Sage)
- Sedum sp.
- Sempervivum sp. (Hens and Chicks)
- Stachys byzantine (Lamb’s Ears)
- Stokesia laevis (Stokes’ Aster)
- Thymus sp. (Thyme)
- Verbascum sp. (Mullein)
- Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s Needle)
- Ornamental Grasses:
- Andropogon geradii (Big Bluestem)
- Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass)
- Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Overdam’
- Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’ ; C.’Variegata’ – Sedge
- Carex ’Evergold’ – Sedge
- Carex pensylvanica – Sedge
- Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats)
- Eragrastis spectabilis (Purple Love Grass)
- Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue)
- Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass)
- Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
- Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass)
- Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed)
- Ferns:
- Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Hay-Scented Fern)
- Dryopteris marginalis (Wood Fern)
PERENNIALS THAT WILL GROW IN POOR SOIL:
- Achillea serrata (Millfoil or Yarrow)
- Ajuga genevensis (Geneva Bugle)
- Alyssum saxatile (Goldentuft)
- Arabis albida (Wallcress)
- Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-in-Summer)
- Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink)
- Dianthus plumarius (Grass Pink)
- Eryngium campestre (Hundred Thistle)
- Euphorbia Myrsinites (Myrsinites-like Spurge)
- Geranium sanguineum (Blood Red Cranesbill)
- Geranium maculatum (Spotted Cranesbill)
- Gypsophila paniculata (Baby’s-breath)
- Helianthemum vulgare (Rock or Sun Rose)
- Iberis sempervirens (Evergreen Candytuft)
- Linaria vulgaris (Toadflax)
- Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)
- Potentilla tridentata (Wineleaf Cinquefoil)
- Salvia azurea (Azure Sage)
- Saxifraga pennsylvanica (Penn. or Swamp Saxifrage)
- Sedum acre (Goldmoss)
- Sedum stoloniferum (Running Sedum)
- Sempervivum (Roof Houseleek)
- Sempervivum arvernense (Auvergne Houseleek)
- Verbascum Thapsus
- Veronica rupestris (Creeping Speedwell)
- Viola cucullata (Blue Marsh Violet)
LONG BLOOMING PERENNIALS:
- Achillea filipendula (Fernleaf Yarrow)
- Alcea hybrids (Double Hollyhock)
- Armeria maritima. (Sea Pink or Sea Thrift)
- Artemesia schmidtiana. (Silver Mound)
- Astilbe spp. (False Spirea)
- Brunnera macrophylla. (Siberian Bugloss)
- Campanula carpatica. (Bellflower)
- Chrysanthemum maximum. (Shasta Daisy)
- Chrysanthemum morifolium. (Hardy Mum)
- Clematis
- Coreopsis verticillata and C. rosea. (Coreopsis)
- Dianthus deltoides. (Maiden Pink)
- Dicentra eximia. (Fringed Bleeding Heart)
- Echinacea purpurea. (Purple Coneflower)
- Geranium sanguineum or hybrids. (Cranesbill)
- Heliopsis (False Sunflower)
- Hemerocallis spp. (Daylilies)
- Heuchera sanguinea. (Coral Bells)
- Hibiscus moscheutus. (Rose Mallow)
- Hosta spp. (Hostas)
- Lysimachia clethroide (Gooseneck or Japanese Loosestrife)
- Monarda hybrids. (Bee Balm)
- Oenothera (Evening Primrose)
- Phlox paniculata. (Garden Phlox)
- Potentilla hybrids. (Cinquefoil)
- Platycodon grandiflora. (Balloon Flower)
- Rudbeckia fulgida. (Black Eyed Susan)
- Salvia superba. (Meadow Sage)
- Sedum spp. (Stonecrop)
- Stokesia laevis. (Stokes’ Aster)
- Veronica longifolia. (Speedwell)
PERENNIALS THAT ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES & HUMMINGBIRDS:
- Agastache (Anise-hyssop)
- Alcea (Hollyhock)
- Allium (Flowering Onion)
- Anaphalis (Pearly Everlasting)
- Aquilegia (Columbine)
- Asclepias (Milkweed)
- Aster (fall types)
- Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
- Caryopteris (Bluebeard)
- Chelone (Turtlehead)
- Coreopsis (Tickseed)
- Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)
- Echinops (Globe Thistle)
- Eupatorium (Joe-Pye Weed)
- Hesperis (Dame’s Rocket)
- Heuchera (red-flowered) Coral-bells
- Kniphofia (Red-Hot Poker)
- Liatris (Blazing Star)
- Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
- Malva (Mallow)
- Monarda (Beebalm)
- Physostegia (Obedient Plant)
- Rudbeckia (Coneflower)
- Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)
- Sedum (taller types) Autumn Stonecrop
- Solidago (Goldenrod)
DEER RESISTANT PERENNIALS:
- Achillea (Yarrow)
- Ajuga (Bugleweed)
- Astilbe (False Spirea)
- Campanula (Bellflower)
- Coreopsis (Tickseed)
- Echinacea (Coneflower)
- Lavendula (Lavender)
- Nepeta (Catmint)
- Perovski (Russian Sage)
- Platycodon (Balloon Flower)
- Solidago (Goldenrod)
- Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
PERENNIALS FOR ROCK GARDENS:
- Acorus species (Sweet Flag)
- Ajuga (Bugleweed)
- Alchemilla alpina, saxatilis
- Allium
- Alyssum
- Amorpha nana (Fragrant False Indigo)
- Anacyclus (Mt. Atlas Daisy)
- Anemone (Pulsatilla)
- Aquilegia species (Columbine)
- Arabis species (Rock Cress)
- Arenaria (Sandwort)
- Armeria (Thrift, Sea Pink)
- Artemisia species (Wormwood)
- Aruncus (Goatsbeard)
- Aster species
- Aubrieta species
- Aurinia saxatilis (Basket of Gold, Gold Dust)
- Campanula species (Bellflower)
- Centaurea species
- Cerastium species
- Ceratostigma (Plumbago, Leadwort)
- Chiastophyllum
- Dalea species (Prairie Clover)
- Delosperma (Hardy Ice Plant)
- Delphinium species
- Dianthus species
- Digitalis species (Foxglove)
- Erigeron species (Fleabane)
- Eriogonum (Virginia Umbrella Plant)
- Erodium (Heron’s Bill, Stork’s Bill)
- Euonymus species
- Euphorbia species (Spurge)
- Galium species (Sweet Woodruff)
- Gaura (Apple Blossom Grass)
- Gazania
- Gentiana (Gentian)
- Geum (Avens)
- Gypsophila species (Baby’s Breath)
- Helianthemum (Sun or Rock Rose)
- Heuchera species (Coral Bells, Alumroot)
- Hypericum species (St. John’s Wort)
- Iberis species (Candytuft)
- Inula ensifolia (Sunray Flower)
- Iris species (Flag, Fleur-De-Lis)
- Leucanthemum species
- Lewisia (Bitter Root)
- Lilium species (Lily)
- Limonium species (Statice, Sea Lavender)
- Linum (Flax)
- Lychnis species ((Campion, Catchfly)
- Lysimachia species
- Marrubium rotundifolium (Horehound)
- Mazus
- Oenothera species (Evening Primrose, Sundrops)
- Penstemon species (Beardtongue, Firecracker)
- Persicaria species (Polygonum)
- Phlox stolonifera, subulata (Creeping Phlox)
- Platycodon (Ballon Flower)
- Potentilla species (Cinquefoil, Five Finger)
- Primula (Primrose)
- Prunella (Self Heal)
- Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
- Pulsatilla (Pasque Flower)
- Sagina (Pearlwort)
- Saponaria species (Soapwort)
- Saxifraga
- Scabiosa species (Pincushion Flower)
- Scutellaria (Skull Cap, Helmet Flower)
- Sedum species (Stonecrop)
- Sempervivum (Hen and Chicks)
- Silene (Campion, Catchfly)
- Solidago virg. Ssp minuta (Goldenrod)
- Stachys (Betony, Woundwort)
- Tanacetum niveum (Costmary, Bible Leaf)
- Teucrium species (Germander)
- Thymus (Thyme)
- Trollius species (Globeflower)
- Verbascum (Mullein)
- Veronica species (Speedwell)
- Viola (Violet)
- Grasses:
- Festuca (Fescue Grass)
- Poa (Blue Grass)
PERENNIALS THAT REQUIRE NO WATER, MAINTENANCE, OR CARE AND CAN BE PLANTED IN CONCRETE:
- Silk Flowers
