Unlike annual flowers, perennials are perennial. They stay in one location for many years and play an important role in the design of rock gardens and flower beds. Native perennials are usually more robust than the highly cultivated annual flowering plants and more resistant to diseases and pests. Even frost doesn't affect most perennials. We present 15 hardy flowering perennials for your garden.
Types of perennials
Perennials are perennial, herbaceous plants. Unlike bushes and shrubs, the above-ground parts of the plant do not become woody. Every year perennials produce a new flower. Perennials include:
- Bedding perennials
- Ground cover perennials
- Ferns
- Grasses
Perennials are suitable for permanent planting in rock gardens, flower beds, pond edges and raised beds.
Perennials in winter
Most varieties are hardy. Even the withered leaves do not need to be removed; they provide additional protection in frosty temperatures. In winter the above-ground parts die off. They say the plants are retreating. They overwinter in tubers, bulbs or in offshoots of the shoot, the rhizomes.
Perennials form overwintering buds from which new growth occurs again and again. Some species remain green foliage all winter.
Tip:
Even hardy perennials need moisture in winter. Water the plants again before frost begins.
Perennial flowering plants
Gardens in which the colors of the bedding plants and their heights are harmoniously coordinated are very decorative. To make your selection easier, we have put together perennial flowers for you according to height, color and location.
Low perennials (up to 30 centimeters)
Blue Rush Lily (Sisyrinchium angustifolium)
- Flower color: blue to violet
- Growth height: 10 to 20 centimeters
- Flowering period: May to September
- Location: sunny
The blue rush lily is an extremely robust summer bloomer. It survives the heat in summer and the frost in winter undamaged. It is wintergreen and decorative even when it is not in bloom. The rush lily is very suitable for rock gardens and low border plants. Its blue to purple star-shaped flowers look simply enchanting.
Red Heath Carnation (Dianthus deltoides)
- Flower color: red
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to August
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
The carmine-red flowering heather carnation is threatened with extinction in nature. It is on the Red List of Endangered Species. This makes it all the more important to keep this beautiful carnation in the garden. The heather carnation is ideal for rock gardens and low border plants.
Anemone ranunculoidesAnemone ranunculoides
- Flower color: yellow
- Height: 15 to 20 centimeters
- Flowering period: April to May
- Location: partially shaded
The yellow anemone makes the hearts of garden lovers beat faster because it heralds the beginning of flowering in the garden. The low anemone looks good as a bedding plant next to red tulips.
Cockade flower (Gaillardia)
- Flower color: red, orange
- Growth height: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to September
- Location: sunny
The cockade flower is also known as parrot or painter's flower. It is very popular with hobby gardeners as a summer bloomer with large red flowers. It doesn't need any winter protection and will simply come back next year. Regular cutting stimulates the formation of new flowers.
Medium-tall perennials (30 to 60 centimeters)
Scented Hosta (Hosta plantaginea)
- Flower color: white
- Growth height: 30 to 50 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to August
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
Scented hostas spread a pleasant scent while flowering. Even outside the flowering period, some varieties with their decoratively patterned leaves are very beautiful to look at. They are suitable for raised beds and border plants. Other hostas are:
- Dwarf hosta (Hosta minor), flower color: violet
- Blue-leaved hostas (Hosta sieboldiana, var. Big Daddy), flower color: white
- Korea Funkie (Hosta clausor), flower color: violet
Summer marguerite (Leucanthemum)
- Flower color: white
- Growth height: 30 to 60 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to August
- Location: sunny
Daisies are the classic perennials. The white, large-flowered summer daisy impresses with magnificent flowers that are extremely attractive to butterflies and insects. Other daisies are:
- Greenland daisy (Arctanthemum arcticum, var. roseum), flower color: pink
- Edelweiss marguerite (Leucanthemum maximum), flower color: white
- Red daisy (Tanacetum coccineum), flower color: red
Mountain knapweed (Centaurea montana)
- Flower color: blue
- Growth height: 30 to 40 centimeters
- Flowering period: May to June
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
The mountain knapweed is very similar to the cornflower. Both are related to each other. The mountain knapweed is absolutely hardy and will reliably come back next year without any further action from the gardener. It is an important bee plant and is ideal for creating natural gardens.
Altai Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia)
- Flower color: red, pink
- Growth height: 30 to 50 centimeters
- Flowering period: April to May
- Location: sunny to shady
The bergenia, also known as saxifrage, fits into every garden. The Altai bergenie is considered one of the first known species. Due to its large, red-veined, leathery leaves, it is very decorative even when it is not in bloom. Other Bergenias are:
- Bergenia Snow Queen, flower color: white
- Small Bergenia Baby Doll, flower color: light pink
Soft Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
- Flower color: yellow
- Height: 40 to 50 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to July
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
Lady's mantle is a popular garden plant. Rose lovers in particular are reluctant to give up this uncomplicated perennial plant because lady's mantle is the perfect partner for bed roses. The soft lady's mantle with its hairy, velvety leaves decorates the bed even when it is not in bloom.
Tip:
A significant pruning after flowering can lead to a second flowering of lady's mantle.
Tall perennials (60 to 100 centimeters)
Magnificent Spiere (Astilbe arendsii)
- Flower color: white
- Growth height: 60 to 70 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to July
- Location: shady to partially shaded
The white-flowering Astilbe arendsii, the so-called “bridal veil”, is a wonderful flowering perennial for shady areas. With their feathery flower spikes, which consist of countless star-shaped mini flowers, they cut a fine figure both on the bed and in the vase. Other astilbene are:
- Lance spar (Astilbe chinensis, var. taquetii), flower color: pink
- Dwarf forest spar (Astilbe chinensis, var. pumila) Flower color: pink
Note:
All astilbes require nutrient-rich soil, a lot of moisture and do not tolerate sun!
Garden yarrow (Achillea filipendulina)
- Flower color: light yellow
- Height: 60 to 80 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to September
- Location: sunny
The garden yarrow has large, decorative flowers. It looks great on the raised bed in combination with blue-blooming flowers such as lilies or lavender. It is suitable as a cut flower and can be dried well. Bees love this plant.
Garden lupins (Lupinus)
- Flower color: red, pink
- Growth height: 60 to 80 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to August
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
Lupins are very robust bedding plants. They thrive in the sun or in the shade, they are not demanding on the soil, they are hardy and perennial. There are hardly any flowers that are easier to care for. Lupins are suitable as cut flowers and last a long time in the vase. Did you know that lupins get their name from the Latin word “lupus” for “wolf”? This origin gave the lupine its nickname “wolf bean”.
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
- Flower colors: red, pink, white
- Growth height: 60 to 90 centimeters
- Flowering period: May to June
- Location: sunny
No cottage garden without peonies! The wonderful bushy bedding plants with their ball-shaped flowers delight with their splendor as early as May. The plants should be cut in autumn. They are perennial and can be divided after a few years. Other peonies are:
- Asian noble peony (Paeonia lactiflora, var. Bowl of Beauty), flower color pink-cream
- Noble peony (Päonia lactoflora, var. Bella Rosa), flower color: delicate pink
Blue Bellflower (Campanula persicifolia)
- Flower color: blue
- Growth height: 80 to 90 centimeters
- Flowering period: May to July
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
Bluebells are among the favorite flowers in German gardens. The summer bloomers look great in group plantings and in combination with roses. Their bright blue bells on the tall stems can be seen from afar. Other bluebells are:
- Carpathian bellflower (Campanula carpatica), flower color: blue
- Dwarf bellflower (Campanula cochleariifolia), flower color: white
Flameflower (Phlox paniculata)
- Flower color: red, pink
- Growth height: 80 to 100 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to September
- Location: sunny
Flame flowers are a must in a flower garden. They bloom all summer long, their flowers spread a pleasant scent and are ideal for the vase. Anyone who cuts back their phlox after it has bloomed in autumn will be rewarded with new flowers next year. More Flame Flowers:
- Forest phlox (Phlox divaricata, var. laphamii), flower color: pale blue
- Large-leaf phlox (Phlox amplifolia, var. menehaha), flower color: pink-violet
Tip:
Perennials are ideal for cultivation in raised beds. Make sure there is good drainage and a nutrient-rich substrate.
