Introduction
When I told my husband that I wanted to start a perennial garden, he groaned. “Why would you want to do that?” he said. “Cleaning up the leaves in the fall is bad enough!” But after a gentle reminder of last summer’s party where his friends were marveling over the different kinds of plants in our yard (one even kept calling it a “park”), he saw the light. The secret to a gorgeous perennial garden is all about choosing the right plants. Here are five of my absolute favorites:
Russian Sage
Russian sage is a low-growing plant with a strong fragrance. It grows best in full sun, but can also tolerate some shade. Russian sage is a great plant to use in a rock garden or container garden because it’s slow growing and low maintenance. The flowers of Russian sage have an appearance similar to lavender: long and thin, but they have a slight purple hue that gives them their name.
Coneflowers
- Common Name: Coneflowers
- Scientific Name: Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan) and R. maximum (giant coneflower) are the most popular varieties. Other favorites include the swamp pink or R. fulgida, which is native to the United States and grows wild in damp soils along riverbanks and seepage areas. All of these plants have small yellow flowers that turn into brown cones as they age; large, showy blooms with brightly colored petals; deeply lobed leaves; and tall stems topped with clusters of bright flowers at their tips. They’re also hardy perennials that can tolerate hot summers without wilting or dropping their leaves like other plants might do when faced with extreme temperatures
Miscanthus grasses
If you’re looking for a grass that will thrive in your climate, miscanthus is the plant for you. These tall, dense plants grow quickly and can reach heights of up to 10 feet. They’re great for screening out unwanted views or blocking out noise from traffic.
They thrive in full sun but can also grow well in partial shade if given enough water throughout the growing season (you’ll want to check back on our blog often). Planting miscanthus is easy—simply dig holes as deep as 12 inches, fill them with good quality compost or soil, place the rhizomes (stems) about 3 inches apart with their roots facing down into the soil, then cover them up with more compost or soil so that only the tips are visible aboveground!
After planting them last summer I didn’t really do much else besides watering them occasionally—the best way for anyone interested growing miscanthus grasses at home would be just follow these instructions closely since they’re super simple and easy!
Sedum
Sedum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops.
Sedum species are found in the Northern Hemisphere and South Africa. The genus has been described as containing up to 750 species. This view of a high number of species was accepted until recently, when it was demonstrated again, that one must separate out many species from other genera to avoid double counting. There are over 230 names for such hybrids between Sedum and other genera or just hybrid forms since these studies were not available at that time yet!
The name “Sedum” comes from an old Latin word meaning “to sit”, because many sedums (especially those with fleshy leaves) will grow flat on rock surfaces without any need for support by humans or other creatures like insects or birds having built nests there before them–allowing these plants to literally “sit” themselves down on their own volition once they have been dropped onto a suitable surface nearby where they can thrive indefinitely without needing anyone else’s help whatsoever…
Summer Phlox
Summer Phlox is a flowering plant that can be used in your garden. Summer phlox is an easy-to-grow perennial, with beautiful flowers that will make your garden stand out. This plant does best in areas with partial to full sun, and does well in a variety of soil conditions from dry to moist.
Summer phlox is often used as an accent plant or filler flower, but it also makes for great cut flowers! You can trim them and use them as decoration inside your home or even give them away as gifts! They are attractive to bees, which means they’ll help pollinate other plants in the area too so that’s another benefit!
These perennial plants will transform your garden space.
These perennial plants will transform your garden space.
Peony (Paeonia) – These beautiful flowers produce an abundance of petals and are a great addition to any outdoor space. They thrive in full-sun conditions, so if you have a sunny spot in your yard, these would be an excellent choice! Keep in mind that there are different types of peonies depending on what season they bloom; some prefer colder climates while others thrive when it’s warmer outside. Be sure to research which kind will work best for your area before planting!
Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) – This plant is good for adding color to any garden or landscape because it has bright green leaves that can be used as decoration around other plants or even as its own separate decorative piece! It also serves another purpose: aloe vera is known for its healing properties — check out our blog post on how to use aloe vera gel to heal burns from the sun here! If there’s room in your yard, consider planting some aloe vera today by placing them near doorways where they will receive plenty of sunlight but won’t get too hot during those long summer months (“long” being relative here).
Conclusion
Russian sages, coneflowers, miscanthus grasses, sedum and summer phlox are all great plants to add to your garden. They are easy to grow and will transform your garden space in no time. The best part is that they need little maintenance from you so get ready for a low-maintenance gardening experience! For more information about these five perennials or other landscaping options contact us today.