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Easy to Grow Perennials

by Mystify on Jul 20, 2009 with 8 Comments

I wrote this for those that do not have a green thumb but love gardening,or those that simply do not have the time to put into their gardens.These are virtually no fuss perennial plants.My floral photography is added for each flower description.

Perennials for Sun

Achillea-Yarrow

Sprays of finely dissected grey-green foliage is topped in the summer by flat heads of flowers that come in a variety of colors from white to red. They are long lasting flowers that are trouble free and easy to grow. Height 45 cm

Alchemilla-Lady’s mantle

Large pale green foliage topped by sprays of tiny yellow flowers. This is a much used flower by arrangers. It is very easy to grow, blooming from June to August. Height 45 cm.

Anemone

A beautiful delightful flower that is easy to grow,its only dislike is really hot weather. St.Brigid is a traditional cut flower with strong stemmed semi-double and double flowers with black centers.

Aquilegia-Columbine

One of the cottage gardens most beautiful flowers,come in a wide range of varieties in a multitude of colors and combinations. Highly decorative flowers. Grows in full sun-partial shade. Height 70-75 cm.

Campanula-Bellflower

Campanulas range from low alpines to giant border plants. Lactiflora is one of the most beautiful with its long dark green-leaves with grey-green on the underside. They are borne tall with straight stems, flowering in midsummer with large domes of flowers in various shades of lavender-purple to white. If the main flower head is removed once faded small flower heads will reproduce and continue to bloom throughout the summer. Height 3 feet-5 feet. Easy to grow long lasting border plant. Blue and white clips are another form of Campanula that no rockery should be without. Compact habit and ideal for rockeries and borders.

Cerastium-Snow in the summer

This plant is aptly named as the mat forming foliage is completely covered in May-June with single white flower. Height 15-20 cm.

Geranium-Cranesbill.pratense-

Not to be confused with Pelargonium commonly known as geraniums. Handsome clump-former with very deeply lobed leaves. Lovely violet blue flowers open in summer. C.pratense is one of the nicest of cranesbills because of the lovely varieties such as violaceum which is a double and Striatum which is bi-colored white striped with sectioned petals and one of the easiest to grow. Tolerates partial shade and full sun. Height 2-3 feet.

Peony

When in bloom peonies have large flowers that are stunning in the late spring,they come in various colors from white, yellow, red to pink. Peonies are old-fashioned perennials that live for many years. Peonies look like small shrubs and maintain their glossy foliage throughout the year. Height 3-4 feet.

Primula-Primrose

A late winter-spring flower that comes in a wide range of colors and varieties. One of the best known spring plants. This plant is great in pots and containers or just about any flower bed. Heights range from 15 cm-45cm.

Myosotis-Forget me nots

Very easy to grow. The light greens foliage and sky blue flowers make this plants a wonderful sight in the spring. Height 30cm.

Russian Sage

A very easy to care for plant that requires little water during dry spells. Very striking purple flowers that bloom for roughly a three week period. There soft silvery foliage makes with interest the rest of the time.A very good plant to attract beneficial insects.

Sedum

Sedums are sun loving plants that are evergreen perennials. They are used as ground covers and are quite striking in rock gardens. The S.cauticolum is a first rate deciduous plant with grey foliage and rose-purple flowers;it leaves turning reddish brown in mid-autumn.

Viola-Cornuta-

A flower that has outstanding garden performance blooming from late winter to summer. Produces masses of pansy-like flowers that comes in a variety of colors. Does well in sun or shade. Height 15-20 cm.

Perennials for Shade

Aquilegia-Columbine

One of the cottage gardens most beautiful flowers,come in a wide range of varieties in a multitude of colors and combinations. Highly decorative flowers. Grows in full sun-partial shade. Height 70-75 cm.

Bluebells

One of England’s,best known wildflowers. Lovely blue, bell-shaped flowers occur in April-May. It grows abundantly in wooded or shaded areas. Height is30-40 cm.

Campanula-Bellflower

Campanulas range from low alpines to giant border plants. Lactiflora is one of the most beautiful with its long dark green-leaves with grey-green on the underside. They are borne tall with straight stems, flowering in midsummer with large domes of flowers in various shades of lavender-purple to white. If the main flower head is removed once faded small flower heads will reproduce and continue to bloom throughout the summer. Height 3 feet-5 feet.

Dicentra-Bleeding heart

A fleshy plant with finely divided,ferny leaves that produces flowers that resemble hearts above the mounds of foliage in spring and early summer. It is easy to grow and undemanding but the flower season is much extended if planted in moist soil. Height 15-18 inches.

Ferns

Ferns are usually grown for their handsome foliage in shaded areas. Ferns are easy to grow provided they are given shade. Osmunda cinnamon fern,Matteeuccia the ostrich feather fern and Phyllitis harts tongue fern are all lovely in any shaded area of your garden.

Hosta

The Hosta is grown primarily for its foliage however they do flower and some have exceedingly blue beautiful flowers. Most tolerate a wide range of soils and situations however they flourish in moist soil and partial shade. Very easy to grow.

Helleborus-Lenton rose

Among the most beautiful of all winter flowering plants,the lenton roses range in color from greenish white, blush and deep pink heavily spotted with maroon to deep plum-purples which verge on black. The flower season extends from mid-winter with the flowers unfurling from ground level,into the early summer when the flowers shed their seeds. Hellebores is an evergreen perennial and are long-lived. Height 30 cm.

Lamium-L.maculatum

Course nettle-like leaves with prominent silvery or white splashes. Broad leafy spikes of purple or white flowers through the summer. Silver beacon has pinkish-purple flowers with silver foliage and White Nancy has white flowers with silver foliage .Both are easy to grow and are used as ground covers brightening shaded areas.

Myosotis-Forget me nots- Very easy to grow. The light greens foliage and sky blue flowers make this plants a wonderful sight in the spring. Height 30cm.

Viola-Cornuta- A flower that has outstanding garden performance blooming from late winter to summer. Produces masses of pansy-like flowers that comes in a variety of colors.Does well in sun or shade. Height 15-20 cm.

Comments: 8 | Post a Comment

Elizabeth Abbott | Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

Beautifully illustrated and written professionaly. Very good article. TU!!
Darla Smith | Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

Wonderful article! I’m one of those people who does not have a green thumb.
deep blue | Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

Wholely therapeutic tips. I like this, only if I could have a garden of my own at least not for the moment.

Will
Lostash | Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

Some great examples here! I can imagine the garden now!
lukrisi | Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

But what is one to do if even the heartiest of perennials dies in her garden? I can kill bleeding heart and hosta without even trying!
Ruby Hawk | Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

Good advise, I used to have a green thumb before I moved to an apartment.
Allie Belisle | Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

For someone like me, this article is perfect. Thanks a bunch!
Francy | Jul 21, 2009 | Reply

good article.
Keep sharing.