The most wonderful thing about perennials, is not only that each year they reappear in your garden, they get bigger and even more beautiful. I started my perennial garden 2 summers ago, and it's still getting established. The first year I planted just around the fence, Morning Glories, Bittersweet, and Old Fashioned Pink Roses to climb, and a few tall plants. Last summer I tilled up more yard and made a rock path down the center. Foxglove, lupines, bee balm, lavender, columbine and many more were added. They didn't bloom last summer, and were just small plants. This year it was almost magical to see all of them growing! The lupines were gigantic, bee balm is quickly taking over the back, daisy's are everywhere - those I planted from seed. I love the tall hollyhocks and the miniature old fashioned hollyhocks against our fence. I have put in quite a few more this spring and summer, mostly low growing ones along the path and around the outside of the fence. I'm not an expert, I just plant them and hope for the best (and have had lots of luck) my mother is the horticulturalist, so if you have any questions, I'd be happy to pass them along to her!
These are some of my favorite perennials. I am in zone 6, most of these do well in zones 4-8. Take advantage of greenhouse sales towards the end of the summer, last year I planted perennials through August that have really taken off in the garden.
1. Lupines
2. Hollyhocks
3. Foxglove
4. Delphinium
5. Lavender
6. Coneflower or Echinacea
7. Columbine
8. Dianthus
9. Iris
10. Coreopsis
11. Bleeding Hearts
12. Shasta Daisy
13. Sweet Woodruff
14. Lady's Mantle
15. Peony's
16. Astilbe
17. Alium
18. Phlox
19. Bee Balm
20. Sweet William
21. Sum and Substance Hosta
22. Jacobs Ladder
23. Yarrow
Here are some beautiful cottage style perennial gardens to inspire you! What I love about them is they basically a beautiful mess. Not perfectly trimmed and in order. Just looking like they have been growing there, happily, forever.
Beautiful garden!
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