'Flowers are fleeting - foliage is forever (or almost)'
When designing gardens I create a strong foliage framework using gorgeous trees, shrubs and perennials that offer outstanding foliage interest in many colors and textures before layering in flowering perennials, roses, peonies and other blooms. Sometimes though a homeowner insists they are all about the flowers, so how do I balance good design with that request?
I use a two-fold approach; use flowering shrubs that have great leaves and incorporate flowering perennials with an exceptionally long bloom time to reduce the potential 'downtime' in the garden.
These are my top flowering perennials that are reliable performers, easy care and will add months of color.
Whirling butterflies (Gaura)
Imagine a haze of white or pink butterflies dancing in your garden; that's what this woody perennial looks like from June to September. There are several varieties to choose from but flowers are typically white or pink and the foliage is green, burgundy or variegated green/burgundy.
No deadheading necessary and these are drought tolerant, deer resistant and rabbit resistant. Plant in full sun and well drained soil.
Caradonna sage
Most perennial sage have coarse leaves and a rather short flowering period in my experience but Caradonna sage raises the bar with smaller foliage, black stems and many weeks of indigo blue flowers. An occasional snip with the pruners to remove old flowers will result in almost continuous bloom production from late spring-fall. Definitely worth looking for.
These are also drought tolerant and both deer and rabbit resistant.
Tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
This perennial self - seeds when happy so you may have some plants to share but I have never found this trait to be a problem.
Tall stiff stems hold clusters of lavender flowers that bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love. The plants grow to 5' or so tall but are so transparent in their habit that even if these are towards the front of the border you can see through them. This is one plant that seems to know where it is going to look best without any help form me! I love these weaving through black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) and orange daylilies.
Ridiculously drought tolerant, this will thrive in gravel! Also deer and rabbit resistant (hallelujah).
Paprika yarrow (Achillea)
If red is your color then you need this drought tolerant perennial in your garden. Opening vivid scarlet and fading through terracotta to cream this perennial will give you many weeks of colorful flowers. If you take time to remove the dead flowers every few weeks that flowering time easily extends to a couple of months.
And yes - it is deer and rabbit resistant, although slugs have been a problem with mine this year.
Rozanne geranium
Been around a while now but still a favorite for its endless periwinkle-blue flowers. Full sun for best flower production but part sun OK too. Deer and rabbits have ignored mine (but there again they are probably full from eating my ornamental grasses).
So while I still advocate for building your garden around FOLIAGE there are some five star flowering perennials that are definitely worth including too.
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Do you have a favorite?
