1

GrowingPerennials

History of Perennials in the LandscapePerennials have long been popu-lar with gardeners throughoutthe world because they are rela-tively easy to grow and offerdiversity of color, form andbloom sequence. A border bed ofonly perennials was first suggest-ed in 1890 by George Nicholson,curator of the Royal BotanicGardens at Kew, England. Amovement began away from regi-mented rows of bedding plantsin the flower beds of the mid-Victorian period (1870s) thatcontinued into the 1900s. Tenderbedding plants returned to favorin the early 1900s, and use ofperennials decreased, whileannuals in massed beds for sum-mer show attracted the public.The return to the use of perenni-als started about 1914 and con-tinues today.

History of Perennials in the Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

What are Perennials? . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Why use Perennials? . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Designing with Perennials . . . . . . . 4

Color Guide (Table) . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Putting It All Together . . . . . . . . . . 9

Culture of Perennials . . . . . . . . . . 10

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Controlling Pests and Diseases . . . 15

Anne M. Hanchek, Assistant professor, Dept. ofHorticultural Science, University of Minnesota J. Lee Taylor, Professor emeritus Pamela Allenstein, Former student, and Arthur C. Cameron, Associate professor, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University

Where to find it

Books for Further Reading . . . . . . 16

Perennials with Special Features (Table) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Selecting Perennials . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Perennial Selection/Care Guide (Table) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Bloom Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Cross-reference Index . . . . . . . . . 29

Spring Freeze Map . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Hardiness Zone Map . . . . . . . . . . 32

Page Page

North CentralRegional Extension Publication No. 556

2

The 19th centuryBritish plant expertsWilliam Robinsonand Gertrude Jekyllplayed prominentroles in popularizingthe perennial borderand developingguidelines for itsdesign. They groupedborder perennialstogether and tieredthem with the tallestplants (such as del-phiniums) in theback and lower grow-ing plants in thefront to separate theborder from the lawn.The border was setagainst the backdropof a hedge, usuallyyew or boxwood, or aweathered brick wall.Careful selection andplacement combinedharmonious colorschemes and con-trasting forms to pro-vide interest and asequence of continu-ous bloom.

Perennial borders inthis form, however,presented certain dis-advantages. Theyrequired a great dealof space and atten-tion and could beviewed from only oneside. The backgroundhedge competed forlight and slowed aircirculation, encourag-ing the back row tolean forward unlessstaked. These faultsinspired the islandbed concept atBressingham Gardensin Norfolk, England,in the 1950s.

When planted in rela-tively narrow islands,the flowers could beviewed from all direc-tions and shading byhedges or walls waseliminated. Tallerspecimens wereplaced in the middleof the bed, theirheight usually nomore than half thewidth of the bed.

Today, limited spaceoften makes it impos-sible or undesirable todevote an area entire-ly to growing onlyone type of plant,such as perennials.The trend is towardmixed borders orbeds that includetrees, shrubs, peren-nials, bulbs, annualsand biennials. Thisallows you to selectplants that go welltogether to createyear-round color andinterest.

There is also a move-ment toward less for-mal, low–mainte-nance gardens.Perennials may beplanted directly inlawns or in groundcovers, such as peri-winkle or Englishivy—a practiceknown as “naturaliz-ing.” Perennials hav-ing a low, spreadinghabit may also beused instead of moretraditional groundcovers. Dried flowersand leaves are left onthe plants for winterinterest and for use indried arrangements.More ornamentalgrasses are used, aswell as massings ofone or a limited num-ber of other perenni-als. By combiningmany species, youcan create a spectacu-lar display.

The term “perenni-als” commonlymeans “hardy herba-ceous ornamentalplants.” Hardy peren-nials are, with someexceptions, non-woody plants havingroots that livethrough the winterwhile the tops dieback to the ground,particularly in north-ern climates.

This distinction sepa-rates hardy perennialsfrom tender perenni-als and annuals,which flower, set seedand die in theautumn frosts; andalso from biennials,which take two yearsto complete the lifecycle. In the first yearbiennials form lowrosettes of leaves; thenext year, they sendup flowering stemsand die. Many bien-nials seem to beperennial simplybecause they reseedthemselves easily.

Some perennials willlast almost indefinite-ly. Others tend to beshort-lived and manylast only a few years.Peony, daylily and irisare extremely long-lived, whilecolumbine, shastadaisy and lupine tendto be short-lived,flowering for two orthree years. Whenselecting plants,remember that“perennial” doesn’tnecessarily mean“perpetual.”

The maintenancerequired for perenni-als also varies withthe species. For exam-ple, chrysanthemumand delphinium needattention each year,whereas hosta, peonyand balloon flowergenerally require littlecare after they areestablished. A rela-tively low–mainte-nance garden is possi-ble, but it requirescareful selection ofplants well suited tothe climate andplanted in an appro-priate location.

The following peren-nials will be excludedfrom this bulletin.Trees and shrubs,although they areperennials, havewoody plant partsthat normally do notdie back to theground each winter.Bulbs, tubers andcorms have special-ized methods of foodstorage and are usual-ly treated separately,as are ferns and theless common wild-flowers.

Perennials are usuallysold under theirbotanical names(genus, species, culti-var) by the more rep-utable nurseries. Thisis because commonnames can be confus-ing: one plant mayhave three differentcommon names, orone common namemay refer to three dif-ferent plants.However, every planthas only one uniquebotanical name.Occasionally, thesenames are changedby plant scientists tobetter describe theplant. When thathappens, the oldname becomes a syn-onym for the new.

Example

Common name:Garden mum

Botanical name:Dendranthema grandiflora

Synonym:Chrysanthemum Xmorifolium

Cultivars:‘MinnGopher’‘Snowsota’‘Mellow Moon’

Most modern refer-ence books on peren-nials refer to theplants by botanicalname, so learning touse these specificnames can help youfind informationmore quickly andaccurately.

What arePerennials?

3

Caring for perennialscan be a type of cre-ative expression.Perennials offer awide variety of forms,colors, textures andsizes. They are long-lived, compared withannuals, and canrequire relatively lowmaintenance. Theycan also provide vig-orous new stock fortransplanting andtrading with neigh-bors and friends.

Perennials are versa-tile. From the thou-sands of species andvarieties available,you can select peren-nials that will thrivein any type of site,from wet to dry, fer-tile to infertile, sun todeep shade. Theyoften provide thesolution for problemareas, such as steepslopes, hillsides androcky outcroppings.Notable examples ofperennials that willthrive in these special

conditions are listedon the right.

A carefully plannedperennial garden pro-vides continuousflowering from earlyspring through latefall. Ornamentalgrasses and otherplants with persistentflowers have winterinterest, too.Combine perennialswith annuals, groundcovers, shrubs andtrees to create a spec-tacular landscape thatis continually chang-ing in texture, formand color.

Wet Areas Fertile Soil Rocky AreasIris sibirica Astilbe AquilegiaMonarda didyma Delphinium Armeria maritimaViola odorata Dendranthema Aurinia saxatilis

grandiflora

Dry Areas Infertile Soil For NaturalizingAchillea Asclepias tuberosa Ajuga Asclepias tuberosa Baptisia australis Helianthus Hemerocallis Gypsophila helianthoides

paniculata Tradescantia Xandersoniana

Low Plants Shade Tall PlantsArtemisia Astilbe Eupatorium`Silver Mound’ Heuchera sanguinea maculatum

Dianthus Hosta Phlox subulataCalamagrostis acutiflora

Hibiscus moscheutos

Problem Area Beautification GuideWhy usePerennials?

4

Why design at all?Designing a perennialflower garden andseeing it developbefore your eyes canbe rewarding. It takestime, knowledge andexperience to preparea good plan. Theplanning stage is toooften overlooked bythe impatient garden-er, and this results ina haphazard collec-tion of plant materi-als. The eye needs asense of order. Toomany variations insizes, shapes, colorsand textures createconfusion. Rememberthat the most spec-tacular gardens allbegin with a carefullythought-out designthat has strong linesand structure.

Step #1—Determine thepoint(s) of view-ing.Step #2—Consider existingconditions.Step #3—Decide on style—either informal orformal.Step #4—Choose type ofdisplay.Step #5—Select plants.

DESIGNING WITH PERENNIALSStep #1:Determine thepoint(s) ofviewing.Place beds or borderswhere they can bereadily seen andadmired. Try to locatethem in areas of highvisibility, such as thefront yard, near win-dows, the porch orpatio, while keepingin mind other factorssuch as soil type,drainage, pH andlight. Also considerthat certain trees,such as black walnutand butternut, pro-duce a chemical intheir roots that istoxic to many plants,including peonies.Locate susceptibleplants a minimumdistance of 60 feetfrom such trees.Perennials with shal-low root systems areless likely to be affect-ed. Some trees, such

as red maples, have ashallow root systemand will competewith perennials formoisture.

Step #2:Consider exist-ing conditions.Use the grid sheet onpage 8 to sketch thelayout of your yard,or create your owngrid using 1/4-inchgraph paper and ascale of 1/4 inch = 1foot. If the scale isinsufficient, use 1/4inch = 2 feet. With atape measure, deter-mine the size of thearea you wish toplant. Carefullyrecord the location ofexisting plants thatyou want to keep andother permanent ortemporary fixtures,such as a compostpile, posts, a waterspigot, trash barrels,septic tanks and drainfield. Indicate any

INFORMAL DESIGN

USING A GRID:Sketch the layout of your yard, recordingall existing features and plants.

Five Steps inDesigning aPerennialGarden

EXISTING YARD FORMAL DESIGN

5

low or high pointsand shaded areas ofthe property.Determine the soiltype(s) such as clay,sand or loam; acid orneutral; well drainedor poorly drained.

Step #3:Decide onstyle—eitherinformal or formal.An informal style fol-lows the natural ter-rain by using curved,flowing lines. It cre-ates balance withoutbeing symmetricaland highlights exist-ing and future plantspecimens. A formalstyle uses straight,geometric lines todetermine the shapeof the bed. It oftenrelies on symmetry,i.e., matching oneside of the gardenwith the other. Therectangular shape canbe repeated in otherarchitectural ele-ments, such as thehouse, pool, lawn orpatio.

Most decisions onstyle are a matter ofpersonal preference.Here are a few pointsto consider:

• If your property hasno outstanding natu-ral features and is rel-atively flat, you mayuse either style.

• If your yard is irreg-ularly shaped withslopes, hills, rock out-croppings or maturespecimen trees, theinformal style is pre-ferred.

• Consider the styleof the house andselect the style of gar-den that will comple-ment it best.

Step #4:Choose type ofdisplay.Three types of dis-plays are commonlyused for perennialgardens—the border,the island bed andthe naturalized area.A border is a cultivat-ed area that boundsan expanse such as alawn, walkway, drive-way or wall. If it isflush against a wall orhedge, the bordershould not be anywider than 4 to 6 feetfor ease of mainte-nance. For a widerborder, plan a narrowpath between thewall and the gardenfor access. The pathwill be hidden fromview and willimprove air circula-tion behind thetallest plants, whichshould reduce diseaseproblems. For a pleas-ing relationshipbetween the depth ofthe border and thesize of the yard, donot allow it to exceedone-quarter of thetotal width of youryard.

An island bed is a cul-tivated area surround-ed by an openexpanse, such as alawn. It is accessiblefrom all sides, whichmakes it easier tomaintain. It admitsmore sunlight andencourages better aircirculation. This type

of display can breakup large, open areas.

You do not need tosegregate perennialsin the garden. Manycan be naturalizedalong a stream, inlowlands or in drymeadows so that theylook as if they arepart of the naturallandscape. Some canbe naturalized inlawns or ground cov-ers, and a numbercan be used asground covers them-selves. You can usemany wildflowersand ferns in suchlocations.

Step #5:Select plants.When selectingplants, make a list ofyour favorites.Consider the spacelimitations of the site:would smaller, com-pact plants be appro-priate? Should tallerplants with spreadinghabits be included?Match the soil type,light levels and siteclimate with therequirements of pre-ferred plants.Carefully considerindividual plant char-acteristics, as well asthe overall characterof the garden. Severalbooks and catalogson perennials areavailable and includepictures and otherinformation that canhelp you selectplants.

Plant FormEach perennial has ageneral shape orform. Basic forms arevertical or columnar,such as delphinium;mounded, such asastilbe; and horizon-tal or prostrate, suchas creeping phlox.Most perennials fallin between thesethree forms. Use avariety of forms tocreate the most pleas-ing effect.

HeightPerennials vary inheight from the tinyThymus pseudolanugi-nosus (woollythyme)—about 1/2inch tall—to the loftyHibiscus moscheutos(rose mallow)—up to8 feet tall. The stan-dard method ofarranging heights is“stair-stepping.”Shorter plants areplaced in front, medi-um height plants inthe middle and tallerplants in the back.Break up this progres-sion a bit to keep thegarden interestingand more natural. Becareful not to com-pletely hide smallerplants behind tallerspecimens.

Perennials are available in many heights, shapes and textures.

SpreadA newly planted bedcan look rather bare ifplants are spaced atrecommended dis-tances for maturespecimens. To avoidthis bareness, spaceplants closer togetherand transplant a fewout of the bed as theybecome crowded.This will also helpcontrol weeds. Or useannual plants in bareareas until the peren-nials grow into theirallotted space. Youalso can cover bareareas with a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch.The plants will fill inthe bare spaces as thegarden matures overa few years.

TextureThis characteristicrefers to the overallappearance of a leafyplant, not to the feelof it. Perennials arecommonly groupedas coarse, medium orfine textured. Createspatial illusions byusing different tex-tures. Plants withcoarse textures appearcloser than they real-ly are, while thosewith fine texturesrecede into the dis-tance. Examples are:coarse texture—berge-nia, hollyhock,Oriental poppy;medium texture—astilbe, iris, rudbeck-ia; fine texture—`Silver Mound’artemisia, baby’sbreath, lavender.

6

7

ColorPerennials are notedfor their usuallyshort-lived butremarkable flowercolor. Thus, an under-standing of color andthe relationship ofcolors is important.This will allow you to

select and arrangespecies and cultivarsto create pleasing andharmonious displays.(For more informa-tion on color use, seeExtension bulletinNCR-211, FlowerArranging, for saleonly.)

Warm, vibrant colors,such as red, orangeand yellow, tend tostand out in the land-scape. They can alsomake a distance seemshorter. For these rea-sons, use warm colorsas accents or for long-distance viewing. Usethem carefully, how-

ever, because they arequite intense and canoverpower the rest ofyour garden. Cool,peaceful colors, suchas blue, green andpurple, tend to recedeinto the landscape.They are especiallyeffective for close

viewing and in mass-es.

Many gardeners usevarious colorschemes.

A monochromaticscheme includes dif-ferent flowers thathave various tintsand shades of a singlecolor, such as blue.Another popularcolor is white. Severalfamous gardens arefashioned around anall-white theme, suchas the white garden atSissinghurst Castle inKent, England,designed by VitaSackville-West afterWorld War II.Choosing a particularcolor can be especial-ly effective in com-plementing the colorof your house.

COLOR GUIDE

silver-leaved plantsmay be used to blendareas where colorsmeet.

A semi-chromaticcolor scheme dividesthe color wheel inhalf and uses anythree adjoining col-ors, such as blue, vio-let and red; or red,orange and yellow.This approach is verypopular today.

UsingSeveralColors

An analogous schemeuses two or morehues that are adjacentor neighboring onthe color wheel, suchas red, red-violet andviolet. Another possi-ble scheme is orange,yellow-orange andyellow.

A complementaryscheme uses colorsopposite each otheron the color wheel,such as yellow andviolet, red and green,or orange and blue.White-flowered and

A polychromaticscheme includes anyand every combina-tion of colors. Thistype of design yieldsa great variety of col-ors and can be veryfestive. It is impor-tant to note, howev-er, that even gardensof this type withseemingly haphazardarrangements achievetheir success onlythrough careful plan-ning.

Blue to PurpleAjugaAquilegiaAsterBrunneraCampanulaCentaurea montana

DelphiniumErigeronHostaIrisLavandulaLiatrisLinum perenneMertensiaNepetaPhloxPlatycodonSalviaTradescantiaVeronicaViola

Pink to RedAchillea millefolium

Anemone ArmeriaAsterAstilbeCentranthusDendranthema

Using OneColor

DianthusDicentraEchinaceaEupatoriumGeraniumHemerocallisHeucheraIrisLobelia cardinalisLychnisPaeoniaPhloxPhysostegiaSaponaria

Yellow toOrangeAchillea ‘CoronationGold’

Anthemis tinctoria

Asclepias tuberosa

Aurinia saxatilisCoreopsisDendranthemaEuphorbiaGaillardiaGeumHeleniumHelianthusHeliopsis

HemerocallisIrisLigulariaLysimachia punctata

OenotheraPapaver orientaleRudbeckiaSedumTrollius

WhiteArabis albidaAruncusAsterAstilbeCerastiumDendranthemaDianthusDicentraDictamnusEchinaceaGaliumGoniolimonGypsophilaHostaIberisIrisLeucanthemumPaeoniaPhloxVeronicaYucca

Gray to BlueFoliageAchilleaArtemisiaCerastiumDianthusEchinopsFestuca cinereaGypsophilaLavandulaSedum Thymus

VariegatedFoliageAegopodiumAjugaHeucheraHostaLamiastrumLamiumMiscanthusPolygonatumPulmonariaSedumThymus

8

Grid Sheet for Planning Your Garden

9

Perennials vary con-siderably in whenand how long theyflower. A bloomchart, such as the onein the back of thisbulletin (p. 27), willhelp you coordinateflowering periods toprolong a colorfuldisplay or to concen-trate color during aparticular time. If youown a summer home,for example, youmight want to plantan August-floweringperennial bed. If youlive in your homeyear round, youmight want to plan agarden for spring,summer and fallcolor.

Although perennialscan provide continu-ous bloom through-out the growing sea-son, there are usuallythree or four peakperiods when the dis-play is at its best.

Remember also thatperennials are grownfor other attributesthan flowers. Colorfulor interesting foliageand fruit, uniqueforms and fragrancealso provide interest.In a garden timed forcontinuous bloom-ing, expect to see afair amount of greenfoliage with intermit-tent flowers, ratherthan a solid mass ofcolor. (See the BloomChart on page 27.)

Using the grid sheet,determine theapproximate loca-tion, size and shapeof the perennial bedor border. Draw anoutline of the bedalone on a secondsheet, using a largerscale, such as 1 inch =1 foot or 1/2 inch = 1foot. Lightly pencil inapproximate heightrequirements ofplants in certainregions of the garden:tallest plants in theback of a border or inthe center of anisland bed. Keep inmind your colorscheme and desiredplant heights; consultthe table on selectingperennials (p. 20) tochoose plants thatmeet these require-

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERments. Be sure toinclude your favoritesas well as species thatprovide special attri-butes, such as fra-grance. Take intoaccount design fac-tors such as form,spread and texture, aswell as culturalrequirements, to cre-ate a varied, interest-ing display. Make upa tentative plant listand check availabilityin catalogs. Be sure torepeat some perenni-als to keep the gardenunified in appear-ance. Decide how

many of each peren-nial you need, basedon recommendedplant spacings. Usegroups of three to sixfor best results.

Time andDuration ofBloom

PerennialsforBeginners

AchilleaArabisBrunnera macrophylla

CoreopsisDicentra spectabilis

Echinaceapurpurea

Heliopsis helian- thoides

HemerocallisHostaMiscanthus sinensis

NepetaPhlox subulata

Physostegia virginiana

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

This bed is designed to provide continuous bloomthroughout the growing season.

10

It’s a good idea to testyour soil in the fall todetermine the pHand the nutrientsrequired. Your countyCooperativeExtension Serviceoffice can provideinformation on howto take a soil sampleand may be able tohelp interpret theresults. Soil tests con-ducted by profession-al laboratories aregenerally more accu-rate than those madewith inexpensive soiltesting kits. If youwait until spring totest the soil, it maytake a few weeks toobtain the resultsbecause soil testinglabs are busiest atthat time.

Prepare beds in thefall before springplanting so the soilcan settle.

You can prepare bedsin the spring as longas you allow suffi-cient time for the soilto settle before youplant—at least 2weeks—or after onegood, soaking rain. Ifyou transplant inextremely loose soil,the crowns may endup an inch or sohigher than you

CULTURE OF PERENNIALSintended. If this hap-pens, add additionalsoil or mulch. Thiscan be a problemafter rototilling,which fluffs up thesoil.

Use a garden hose toestablish the outlineof each bed or border.The hose will not getin the way of diggingas will a string andstakes. It can bemoved easily and isespecially usefulwhen laying outcurved or circularbeds.

Work the soil to adepth of 8 to 10 inch-es, or at least deepenough to provideadequate space forthe plants’ root sys-tems—perhaps only afew inches for a rockgarden. Incorporateorganic matter, suchas peat moss, com-post or leaf mold atthis time—up to 4inches, if available.You can use handtools or power tillers.If the bed site haspoorly drained soil,select species that willtolerate moist or wetsites (see Perennialswith Special Featureson page 18), raise thebed to improvedrainage or choose abetter site.

Simple Tools for Perennial Culture

Preparation of beds is important because it will be a long-term planting.

Prepare the Soil

11

You must eliminateall weeds during thisinitial soil prepara-tion period beforeplants are added orseeds are sown.Untold difficultiesarise when perennialweeds, such asbindweed or quack-grass, grow through acarefully planted bed.Because of the diver-sity among perenni-als, it is risky tochemically treatweeds in close prox-imity to valuableplantings. It may bepossible, however, totreat individual weedswith a herbicide rec-ommended for use onperennials.

Work the bed for oneyear before plantingto kill all weedseedlings as seeds ger-minate.

You may need toapply fertilizer whenyou prepare the beds.Follow the recom-mendations of thesoil test report. If youdidn’t test the soil,apply a complete fer-tilizer, such as 5-10-5,at a rate of 2 pounds(4 rounded cups) per100 square feet. Workthe fertilizer into thesoil as you preparethe bed.

The ideal soil pH formost perennials isslightly acidic (6.0 to6.8). If the pH is toolow or too high (asdetermined by a soiltest), adjust it at thesame time you applyfertilizer. To raise thepH (make it morealkaline), add groundlimestone as recom-mended by the soiltest report, or at therates indicated inChart 1.

To lower the pH(make it more acidic),add sulfur, ferroussulfate (iron sulfate)

or aluminum sulfateas recommended bythe soil test report, oraccording to the ratesin Chart 2. Rates foraluminum sulfateand iron sulfate needto be five times thosegiven for sulfur.

Adding generousamounts of organicmatter will also helpto lower soil pH andkeep it at the desiredlevel. Normally, pHneeds to be adjustedonly once, but it isdesirable to test the

soil the followingyear to be sure the pHis at the recommend-ed level. If not, top-dress the soil withlimestone or alum-inum sulfate.

To increase soil mois-ture retention, spreada 2- to 3-inch layer ofmulch over the sur-face of newly pre-pared beds. Use barkchips, leaf mold, pineneedles, well rottedsawdust or compost.This will also helpsuppress weeds and

increase plant hardi-ness. Apply only athin layer of mulchto heavier clay soilsbecause these soils donot drain as rapidlyand may stay wet toolong. You may needto add organic mulcheach year as it decom-poses. Plastic mulchis not recommended.Rock mulch is bestused only in rock gar-dens.

Soil pH Sandy loam Loam Clay loam5.0 8 10 155.5 6 8 106.0 3 4 6

Soil pH Sandy loam Loam Clay loam7.5 1.8 2.5 3.97.0 1.4 2.0 3.16.5 0.8 1.2 1.9

CHART 1.Pounds of ground limestone needed per 100

square feet to raise pH to 6.5.

CHART 2.Pounds of sulfur needed per 100 square feet

to lower pH to 6.0.

GETTING STARTED

Perennials are avail-able in many forms:as seeds, as dormantbare-root plants, inseedling packs likeannuals, in 4- and 6-inch pots, and in 1-gallon containers.Larger plants repre-sent a considerablylarger investmentthan their smallercounterparts.However, they willproduce a full looksooner and you maysee each plant’sfoliage and possiblyflowers before youpurchase it. Althoughmore wildflowers andferns are becomingavailable, you usuallyhave to obtain themore unusual onesfrom specialized nurseries.

Many nurseries nowoffer perennials asfirst-year seedlings inplastic “cell packs.”These plants mighttake an extra year toestablish, but the costper plant is consider-ably less.

Try to choose onlyfresh, green plantsthat are bushy andcompact. If plantshave flowers, removethem at plantingtime.

Mail-order businessesgenerally wait to shipdormant plants untilthe weather is suit-able for planting.However, many ofthese companiesoperate in southernstates and plantssometimes arrivewhen snow is still onthe ground in thenorth. In such cases,store dormant plantsin a cool, dark loca-tion where the tem-perature stays above

freezing, and keep thepacking materialslightly moist. If theholding temperatureis not below 50°F,watch the plantsclosely because theymay yellow and dete-riorate if they arekept longer than oneto two weeks. Wrapthe plants loosely inplastic and keep in arefrigerator if youhave room. If notcarefully protectedfrom desiccation, theplants will deterioratevery quickly.

Another way to han-dle newly purchasedbare-root plants is topot them in contain-ers and grow them ina protected area, acoldframe, a coolgreenhouse or similarstructure until youcan safely plant themin their permanentlocation. Or plant

bare-root plantsdirectly in theground, if it’s work-able, in the corner ofa garden or smallnursery. A light,sandy, well drainedsoil is desirable.Cover plants withslitted row covers orsimilar plant protec-tors until the dangerof hard frost haspassed. Be sure theprotectors are venti-lated, or removethem on sunny orwarm days. Thenmove plants to theirpermanent location.Or, if small, allowthem to grow for ayear before trans-planting.

Many perennials arerelatively trouble-freeand grow best in aloose, moderately fer-tile loam with ade-quate moisture. Thebest time to plant

most perennials is inthe spring becausethe plants will estab-lish a good root sys-tem before winter.This will also reducethe possibility ofheaving, a commonproblem with poorlyestablished perennialsin northern climates.You can also plantnew divisions in latesummer, but be surethe roots have at leasta month to developbefore cold weathersets in. A few peren-nials are at their bestwhen planted inAugust: bearded iris,Oriental poppy,peony and manywoodland wildflow-ers. Potted perennialscan be planted anytime during the grow-ing season.

Eliminate all Weeds

Fertilizationis Important

ChoosingPerennials

12

Many perennials caneasily be grown fromseeds, such ascolumbine, delphini-um and rudbeckia.

Use small pots ortrays containing cellpacks to start seeds. A standard, welldrained growingmedium works wellfor most perennials.Seed packets shouldinclude essentialinformation, such aswhen to sow, howdeeply, germinationtemperature andother information.Sow seeds at the rec-ommended rate andtime (spring, summeror fall) in a sterile

medium, either scat-tered (broadcast) orin rows, and coverthem with the recom-mended amount ofgrowing medium(usually about two tothree times the diam-eter of the seed).

Label the containersand water very care-fully to avoid wash-ing away the seeds.Use a fog-type nozzleor let the containersstand in a shallowtub of water to avoiddisturbing the seeds.

Place the containersin a warm locationwhere the soil tem-perature is at least70°F. Cover with plas-tic to keep the medi-um moist. As soon asmost of the seedshave germinated,remove the plastic

and move the con-tainers to a coolerlocation (60 to 65°F)in bright light toharden seedlings.

You can also startseeds in outdoorseedbeds either in anopen or a protectedarea, such as a cold-frame. The seedbedshould have porous,well drained soil thatyou have preparedthoroughly, leveled,tamped with the backof a rake and leveledagain before seeding.After preparing thebed, sow the seedsand cover, followingdirections on the seedpacket. Moisten theseedbed with a fog-type hose nozzle andbe careful not towash away the seeds.

FertilizingSeedlingsFertilize the plants assoon as the leavesexpand, using a com-plete fertilizer such as20-10-20 at the rec-ommended rate andfrequency listed onthe product label. Ifthe frequency is listedas once a month, youshould probably fer-tilize more frequentlyat reduced rates, e.g.,once a week at one-fourth the monthlyrate. Watch for pests,such as diseases,insects and mice(when overwinteringin coldframes). Youmay want to use afungicide to helpcontrol damping-offin addition to using asterile growing medi-um.

Transplant seedlingsto larger containers (4to 5 inches) as soonas root systems havedeveloped through-out the growingmedium. Overwinterseedlings of mostspecies in a protectedlocation, such as acoldframe, until finaltransplanting the fol-

lowing spring. Be sureto watch for mice andrabbits.

The best time totransplant youngplants, whethergrown from seeds orcuttings, is in earlyspring after the soilhas thawed but theplants are still dor-mant. This is usually4 to 6 weeks beforethe average date ofthe last freezing tem-perature in thespring. (See theSpring Freeze map,page 32, for averagetimes for your loca-tion.)

Use stakes to markwhere the plants willgo before you setthem out. Be sure toallow enough space.Dig holes in preparedbeds using a trowel orspading fork. Makethe holes largeenough so that rootshave plenty of roomand plant at a depthto accommodate each

SOWING SEEDS: COVER & WATER:

TRANSPLANTING YOUNG PLANTS:

STAKING TALL PLANTS:

GrowingPerennialsfrom Seed Transplant-

ing to theGarden

13

root system. Firm thesoil around the rootsso there are no emptyspaces between rootsand soil. Water thor-oughly.

Water the perennialgarden when soilbecomes dry. Thiswill vary with soiltype. Watch new bedsfor signs of wilting.Young, newly plantedperennials will needmore frequent water-ing than mature,established plants.Water thoroughlyand try not to splashwater on the foliage.Use a trowel to checkthe soil for mois-ture—soil should bemoist 4 to 5 inchesdeep. It is better towater thoroughly andless frequently thanto apply many super-ficial waterings.

Apply a 2-inch layerof mulch over thebed or border everyspring, tapering it offgradually near eachplant. You may applya layer of wintermulch 4 inches deepafter the soil is frozento a depth of 2 inch-es. This helps preventwinter injury, espe-cially heaving. If youapply mulch tooearly, rodent prob-lems may develop.Use an open, fluffymaterial, such as pineboughs, pine needlesor excelsior over theentire bed. Removethis layer the follow-

ing spring after thedanger of severe frosthas passed. A wintermulch can help unre-liably hardy plantssurvive the winter.

Staking TallPlantsYou may have tostake tall plants asthey grow. Stake eachstem individuallyinstead of trying totie them all together.Tie the plant to thestake with plasticstrips or wire coveredwith a plastic coating.Make a double loopof the wire with oneloop around theplant and the otheraround the stake.This keeps the stemfrom rubbing againstthe stake. For tall,arching plants, makeor purchase circularrings and attachthem to the stakes tosupport plants and tomaintain their natu-ral form. A three-legged support calleda peony hoop is lessobstructive thanpoles in the garden.Tomato cages can beused in the same way.

FertilizingIf desired, apply fertil-izer as growth beginsin the spring. Becausemany soils have ade-quate phosphorusand potassium butare deficient in nitro-gen, use a completefertilizer every 3 or 4years and supplementit with a nitrogen-based fertilizer otheryears. However, mostperennials are notheavy feeders.Organic matter added

MULCHING:

at the time of plant-ing can provide suffi-cient nutrients formany years and elim-inate the need for fer-tilizer. Exceptions areastilbe, chrysanthe-mum, delphinium,lupines and summerphlox, which shouldbe fertilized everyyear. If plants are notvigorous and foliageis light green or yel-lowish, applying anitrogen-based fertil-izer would probablybe beneficial.

Weed ControlCultivate perennialsas frequently as need-ed to control weeds.Most weeds can bekilled by using anaction hoe or a simi-lar tool (see illustra-tion of tools). Workthe top half-inch ofthe soil. If you culti-vate much deeper,you can injure plantroots. Frequent, shal-low cultivation is bet-ter than occasional,deep cultivation. Trynot to walk in thebeds while weeding.Soil can be easilycompacted, whichlimits root growth.

Blooming“Dead-head”—that is,remove old flowerheads—after bloom-ing unless the fruitsare ornamental. Thisprolongs the flower-ing period of manyperennials, especiallydianthus, coreopsisand shasta daisy.

A few species willbloom a second timeif the stems are cutback after flowering.Examples are del-

phinium, false indigoand globe thistle. Theflowers won’t be asnumerous on theregrowth, but cuttingback does result in alonger, although notcontinuous, flower-ing period.

DividingMany vigorous peren-nials crowd them-selves and requiredividing every fewyears. Also, the mostaggressive types canescape and choke outother plants aroundthem. Dividing isoften done in the fallin warmer areas ofthe country, but in

Zones 4 to 6, divideplants in the springwhile they are stilldormant. This avoidssubjecting the newlydivided plants toharsh winter temper-atures and reducesthe chances of heav-ing.

The method of divi-sion varies amongtypes of perennials.In general, vigorousnew shoots from theoutside of a clumpare preferred forreplanting, but youcan use all shoots, ifdesired.

To make digging easi-er, water the bed wella few days before-hand if the soil is dry.Before dividing,prune the plants byhalf if stems are stillpresent. Dig out theentire clump. Dividethe healthy livingportions into smallerclumps by working

DIVIDING PLANTS:

Maintenance

PropagationMethods

14

Propagation by stemcuttings:Dendranthemagrandiflora(Garden mum)

Propagation by rhizome division:Iris(Bearden iris)

Propagation bycrown division:Dicentra spectabillis(Old-fashioned bleeding heart)

OTHER METHODS OF PROPAGATION

Propagation by root cuttings:Phlox paniculata(Garden phlox)

15

them apart with yourfingers or makingsmall cuts with aknife. Divide large,dense clumps usingtwo spading forksback-to-back. In gen-eral, replace one ortwo healthy divisionsin the original holeand plant the otherselsewhere.

Some species havelarge taproots andshould not be dividedor moved unnecessar-ily. Examples arebaby’s-breath, bal-loon flower, butterflyweed and lupine.

OtherPropagationMethodsThere are severalother ways to propa-gate perennials. Youcan propagatechrysanthemums bystem and root cut-tings; iris by rhizomepieces; anemone andperennial phlox byroot cuttings; andpeonies and bleeding-heart by taking rootswith one or more“eyes.” Consult othergardeners, catalogs orbooks for moredetails on specificmethods.

Although most peren-nials have few majordisease or insect prob-lems, several pestscan attack them.These pests vary intype and severityfrom area to area andyear to year. You cancontrol most of themeffectively if you fol-low these general rec-ommendations:

• Buy plants that arefree of diseases andinsects.

• Buy disease-resis-tant species whenavailable.

• Keep your gardenfree of weeds, fallenleaves, and diseasedor insect-infestedplants.

• Remove seriouslydiseased or insect-infested plants assoon as you noticethem.

• Apply fungicidesand insecticides onlyas needed.

If a serious problemdevelops, consultyour local gardencenter or CooperativeExtension office forthe best controlmethods. Select natu-ral or processed pesti-cides by studying theinformation belowand on pesticide con-tainer labels. Followlabel directions fordilution and care inhandling.

Three types of pesti-cides are used onperennials: fungicidesfor diseases, insecti-cides for insects andmiticides for spidermites. These are usu-ally applied as dustsor sprays. Some comeready to use.

Of the many diseasesthat attack perenni-als, aster yellows,botrytis blight, pow-dery mildew and rustare the most serious.

Aster yellows(mycoplasma) causesthe yellowing of leaftips and flowers, alsostunting of the plantand abnormalgrowth. Leafhopperinsects carry this dis-ease from plant toplant. Asters, mums,statice and some oth-ers can get aster yel-lows.

The only cure is toremove the infectedplants and to controlleafhoppers.

Botrytis blight (fun-gus) is a gray moldthat attacks leaves,stems and flowers.Most flower petals aresusceptible, especiallypeony flowers in wetweather and shastadaisy in late summerduring times of heavydew.

Leaf blotch can becaused by other fungias well. Brown spotsare a common prob-lem on peony, irisand mum.

Root rots (fungus,bacteria) can be seri-ous problems forperennials in moistsoil. The best solutionis to improve soildrainage, especiallyover winter, or movethe plant to a moresuitable location.

Powdery mildew(fungus) covers leaveswith a whitish sub-stance. Avoid over-crowding and plant-ing in wet or shadylocations. It oftenoccurs on monarda,phlox and delphini-um.

Rust (fungus) causesreddish brown spot-ting on leaves, youngstems and flowerparts. Rust is com-mon on hollyhocks.

Prevention

Diseases

Insects

CONTROLLING DISEASESAND PESTS

The most commoninsects that attackperennials are aphids,beetles, caterpillars,leafhoppers, spidermites, thrips and,occasionally, tar-nished plant bugs.

Aphids are small,sucking insects thatare concentrated atthe tips of youngshoots, on stems andon the undersides ofleaves.

Beetles feed onleaves, stems andflowers.

Caterpillars usuallyfeed on leaves.

Leafhoppers aresmall, leaping insectsthat feed on manykinds of plants bysucking sap.

Spider mites are verytiny pests that feedon leaves and stems.Look for fine webs toindicate their pres-ence. They are usual-ly located on theundersides of leaves.Mites thrive in hot,dry weather. They arevery difficult to seewithout a magnifyingglass (look for move-ment). Shaking theleaves over a whitepaper is another wayof determining theirpresence.

Thrips are very smallinsects, sometimeswith wings, that sucksap. Leaves may befinely mottled. Thripswill attack growingpoints and flowers.

16

Armitage, Allan M. HerbaceousPerennial Plants. Athens, Ga.: VarsityPress, 1989.

Billington, Cecil. Ferns of Michigan. Cranbrook Instituteof Science BulletinNo. 32. BloomfieldHills, Mich.: TheCranbrook Press,1952.

Bloom, Alan. Perennials for YourGarden. Chicago, Ill.:Floraprint USA, 1981.

Bloom, Alan. Alpines for YourGarden. Chicago, Ill.:Floraprint USA, 1981.

Clausen, Ruth R., andNicolas H. Ekstrom. Perennials forAmerican Gardens. New York: RandomHouse, 1989.

Cox, Jeff, andMarilyn Cox. The PerennialGarden. Emmaus, Pa.: RodalePress, 1985.

Drew, John K. Pictorial Guide toHardy Perennials. Kalamazoo, Mich.:Merchants PublishingCo., 1984.

Giles, F.A. Keith,Rebecca McIntoshand Donald C. Saupe. HerbaceousPerennials. Reston, Va.: RestonPublishing Company,1980.

Harper, Pamela, andFrederick McGourty. Perennials: How toSelect, Grow andEnjoy. Tucson, Ariz.: HPBooks, Inc., 1985.

Hudak, Joseph. Gardening withPerennials. Beaverton, Ore.:Timber Press, 1985.

Loewer, H. Peter. Growing andDecorating withGrasses. New York, N.Y.:Walker andCompany, 1977.

Meyer, MaryHockenberry. OrnamentalGrasses—Decorative Plantsfor Home andGarden.New York, N.Y.:Charles Scribner’sSons, 1975.

Phillips, Harry R. Growing andPropagating WildFlowers. Chapel Hill, N.C.:University of NorthCarolina Press, 1985.

BOOKS FOR FURTHER READINGSinnes, A. Cort, andMichael D. McKinley. All AboutPerennials. San Francisco, Calif.:Ortho Books,Chevron ChemicalCompany, 1981.

Smith, Helen V. MichiganWildflowers. Cranbrook Instituteof Science Bulletin42, Bloomfield Hills,Mich.: TheCranbrook Press,1961.

Snyder, Leon C. Native Plants forNorthern Gardens. Chanhassen, Minn.:AndersenHorticultural LibraryPress, 1991.

Still, Steven. HerbaceousOrnamental Plants. Champaign, Ill.:Stipes PublishingCompany, 1982.

Thomas, GrahamStuart. Perennial GardenPlants. England: J.M. Dent,1981.

Wilson, Jim. Landscaping withWildflowers. Boston: HoughtonMifflin, 1992.

Many publicationsare available onperennials, wild-flowers, ferns andrelated topics, and afew are listed. Severalgardening magazinesinclude articles onperennials, often onspecific kinds orspecies. Nursery cata-logs and libraries areadditional sources ofinformation.

Many gardeners spe-cialize in growing oneor more species ofperennials, and thereare even organiza-tions devoted toperennials or certaingroups of plants, suchas chrysanthemums,daylilies, delphini-ums, hostas, penste-mons, irises, peonies,primroses, ferns,herbs, rock gardensand wildflowers.

Additional Information

For more informa-tion, contact:

AmericanHorticulturalSocietyBox 105Mount Vernon, VA 22121

The A.H.S. has a listof plant societies andnational horticulturalorganizations.

Perennial PlantAssociationRoom 217 Howlett Hall2001 Fyffe CourtColumbus, OH 43210

Membership is limit-ed to nursery peopleand professional hor-ticulturists.

AndersenHorticulturalLibraryMinnesota LandscapeArboretum3675 ArboretumDriveChanhassen, MN 55317612/443-2440

The Source List ofPlants and Seeds,compiled by thelibrary, lists nurseriescarrying specific culti-vars of many perenni-als.

17

SHORTER PERENNIALS• indicates perennials that are good for rock gardensAegopodium podagraria, 12 inchesAjuga spp., 6 inchesAquilegia spp., 12-36 inchesArabis albida, 12-18 inches; spreading •Armeria maritima, 6 inches •Artemisia schmidtiana, 12-36 inchesAster alpinus, 6-12 inches •Astilbe X arendsii, 12-24 inches; moundAubretia deltoidea, 6 inches •Aurinia saxatilis, 6-12 inches •Bergenia cordifolia, 12-18 inchesBrunnera macrophylla, 12-18 inchesCampanula carpatica, 12 inches •Cerastium tomentosum, 6-12 inches •Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, 6 inchesConvallaria majalis, 6-12 inchesDianthus spp., 6-18 inches •Dicentra eximia, 12-18 inchesDoronicum caucasicum, 12 inches; mound Epimedium spp., 9 inches •Euphorbia epithymoides, 12-13 inches •Festuca cinerea, 12 inches; moundGaillardia X grandiflora, 6-24 inchesGalium odoratum, 6 inchesGeranium spp., 6-18 inches •Helleborus spp., 12-18 inchesHeuchera sanguinea, 12-30 inchesHosta, 12-48 inchesIberis sempervirens, 6-12 inches •Incarvillea delavayi, 12-18 inchesIris hybrids, 4-15 inches •Lamiastrum galeobdolon, 6-18 inchesLamium maculatum, 6 inchesLavandula angustifolia, 12-36 inchesLeontopodium alpinum, 6 inches •Leucanthemum X superbum, 12-48 inchesLiriope spicata, 12 inchesMyosotis spp., 12 inches; trailingNepeta X faassenii, 12-18 inchesOenothera missouriensis, 12 inches; spreading

Opuntia humifusa, 6 inchesPenstemon spp., 6-30 inchesPhlox subulata, 3-6 inches •Polygonatum spp., 12-36 inchesPolygonum affine, 12 inches; spreadingPotentilla spp., 6-12 inches •Primula spp., 6-12 inches •Prunella X webbiana, 12 inches; spreadingPulmonaria saccharata, 12-24 inches; spreading

Salvia spp., 12-36 inchesSaponaria ocymoides, 8 inches •Scabiosa caucasica, 12-18 inchesSedum spp., 3-12 inches •Sempervivum spp., 6 inches •Stokesia laevis, 12-18 inchesThymus spp., 3-12 inchesVeronica spp., 6-30 inches •Viola spp., 12 inches; mound

PERENNIALS WITH SPECIAL FEATURESTALLER PERENNIALSAchillea X ‘Coronation Gold’, 4-5 feetAconitum spp., 3-5 feetAnemone X hybrida, 2-4 feetAnthemis tinctoria, 2 feetAruncus dioicus, 5 feetAsclepias tuberosa, 2-3 feetAster novae-angliae, 2-5 feetBaptisia australis, 3-4 feetBelamcanda chinensis, 3 feetCalamagrostis X acutiflora, 4-6 feetCentaurea montana, 2-3 feetCentranthus ruber, 2-3 feetDelphinium X elatum, 2 1/2-5 feetDendranthema grandiflora, 2-4 feetDicentra spectabilis, 2-3 feetDictamnus albus, 3 feetEchinacea purpurea, 3-5 feetEchinops ritro, 3-4 feetEupatorium coelestinum, 2 feetGeum quellyon, 2-2 1/2 feetHelenium autumnale, 3-5 feetHelianthus X multiflorus, 3-5 feetHeliopsis helianthoides, 3-4 feetHemerocallis, 1 1/2-4 feetHibiscus moscheutos, 5-8 feetIris hybrids, 2-3 feetIris sibirica, 2-4 feetLiatris spp., 2-5 feetLigularia spp., 3-6 feetLimonium latifolium, 2 feetLinum perenne, 2 feetLobelia cardinalis, 2-3 feetLupinus hybrids, 3-4 feetLysimachia punctata, 3 feetMiscanthus sinensis, 4-6 feetMonarda didyma, 2 1/2-3 feetPaeonia hybrids, 2-3 feetPapaver orientale, 3-4 feetPennisetum alopecuroides, 3-6 feetPhlox paniculata hybrids, 2-4 feetPhysostegia virginiana, 2-4 feetRodgersia spp., 3-4 feetRudbeckia fulgida, 2-3 feetSidalcea malvaeflora, 3 feetThalictrum spp., 3-6 feetYucca filamentosa, 4-6 feet

Monarda didymaOenothera missouriensis •Physostegia virginianaPrimula spp.Rudbeckia fulgida •Salvia spp. •Saponaria ocymoides •ThalictrumTradescantia X andersonianaTrollius hybrids

PERENNIALS FOR SHADY SITES• indicates drought tolerantAstilbe X arendsii •Bergenia cordifolia •Brunnera macrophylla •Convallaria majalisDicentra spp.Geranium spp. •HemerocallisHeuchera sanguineaHostaIris sibiricaMertensia virginica •Myosotis spp.Polygonatum spp. •Primula spp.Thalictrum spp.Trollius hybridsViola spp.

PERENNIALS FOR HOT, DRY SITESAchillea spp.Anthemis tinctoriaArabis albidaArmeria maritimaArtemisia spp.Asclepias tuberosaAurinia saxatilisBaptisia australisCentaurea montanaCoreopsis spp.Dianthus deltoidesEchinops ritroEuphorbia epithymoidesGaillardia X grandifloraGypsophila paniculataHemerocallisLavandula angustifoliaLiatris spp.Lychnis chalcedonicaOenothera missouriensisPenstemon spp.Rudbeckia fulgidaSalvia spp.Saponaria ocymoidesSedum spp.Veronica spp.

PERENNIALS FOR MOIST TO WET SITES• indicates tolerant of clay or heavy soilsAster novae-angliae •Astilbe X arendsii •Euphorbia epithymoides •Heliopsis helianthoides •Hibiscus moscheutosHosta •Iris sibiricaLobelia cardinalisMertensia virginica

18

NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN PERENNIALSAchillea millefoliumAquilegia canadensisArtemisia ludovicianaAruncus dioicusAsclepias tuberosaAster novae-angliaeAster novi-belgiiBaptisia australisChelone spp.Coreopsis spp.Dicentra eximiaEchinacea purpureaErigeron speciosusGeranium maculatumHelenium autumnaleHeliopsis helianthoidesHibiscus moscheutosLiatris spp.Lobelia cardinalisMertensia virginicaMonarda didymaOenothera tetragonaOenothera missouriensisOpuntia humifusaPenstemon spp.Phlox spp.Polygonatum commutatumPolygonatum biflorumPotentilla tridentataRudbeckia spp.Viola cucullataViola pubescens

PERENNIALS WITH FRAGRANT FLOWERS OR FOLIAGEArtemisia spp.Convallaria majalisDianthus X allwoodiiEchinacea purpureaHemerocallisHostaLavandula angustifoliaMonarda didymaPaeonia lactifloraPhlox paniculata hybridsSalvia spp.Thalictrum spp.Thymus spp.Viola spp.

PERENNIALS FOR CUTFLOWERS• indicates also good for dried arrangementsAchillea spp. •Anemone X hybridaAnthemis tinctoriaArtemisia ludoviciana •Aster spp.Astilbe X arendsii •Centaurea montana •Convallaria majalis •Coreopsis spp. •Delphinium X elatum •Dendranthema grandifloraDianthus spp.Echinacea purpurea •Echinops ritro •Gypsophila paniculata •Helianthus X multiflorusHeliopsis helianthoidesHemerocallisHeuchera sanguinea •HostaIrisLeucanthemum X superbumLiatris spp.Lupinus hybridsLychnis chalcedonica •Miscanthus sinensis •Monarda didymaPaeonia hybridsPapaver orientale •Pennisetum alopecuroides •Penstemon spp.Phlox paniculata hybridsPhysostegia virginianaPyrethrum roseumRudbeckia fulgida •Salvia spp.Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ •Trollius hybridsVeronica spp.Viola spp. •

PERENNIALS FOR NATURALIZINGAchillea millefoliumAjuga spp.Aquilegia spp.Asclepias tuberosaBaptisia australisCerastium tomentosumConvallaria majalisCoreopsis lanceolataDicentra spp.Echinacea purpureaHeliopsis helianthoidesHemerocallisHostaLiatris spp.Lobelia cardinalisMonarda didymaPhlox subulataPhysostegia virginianaRudbeckia fulgidaTradescantia X andersonianaVeronica spp.Viola spp.

LOW MAINTENANCEPERENNIALSAchillea X ‘Coronation Gold’Asclepias tuberosaBergenia cordifoliaBrunnera macrophyllaCalamagrostis acutifloraCampanula spp.Coreopsis verticillataDicentra spectabilisEchinacea purpureaEchinops ritroHeliopsis helianthoidesHemerocallis spp.Hosta spp.Iris sibiricaLiatris spp.Limonium latifoliumPaeonia hybridsPapaver orientalePlatycodon grandiflorusSedum `Autumn Joy’

ORNAMENTAL GRASSESCalamagrostis acutifloraFestuca cinereaMiscanthus sinensisPennisetum alopecuroides

PERENNIALS WITH SPECIAL FEATURES

19

NamesEach perennial has asingle, specific botan-ical name thatincludes a genus,which is capitalized,followed by a species,which is written inlowercase letters.Perennials may haveone or several differ-ent common namesthat differ from oneregion to another.Frequently, the genusis used as a commonname, such as del-phinium, hosta oriris. When manyspecies within a sin-gle genus are beingdiscussed, the abbre-viation “spp.” followsthe genus.

To help you use thetables in this bulletinand order perennialstock, a cross-refer-ence index is includ-ed at the back of thisbulletin (p. 29) thatlists common namesfollowed by botanicalnames.

ColorsThese include cur-rently available flow-er colors. New culti-vars are releasedevery year that willadd to this list. Manyseed and nursery cat-alogs indicate the lat-est selections avail-able. For plantsgrown primarily forfoliage, the selectionand care guide listsfoliage color.

SELECTING PERENNIALSHeightThe height of peren-nials varies consider-ably from species tospecies, and from oneparticular environ-ment to the next.Also, many dwarf cul-tivars are available.Plants will often betaller in shade or inrich soil. The guidegives the commonrange for plants inflower. Foliage heightmay be much less.

SpreadIt is necessary toallow sufficient roomfor perennials todevelop properly.Spread tells you themature spacing rec-ommended betweenthe center of oneplant and the centerof the next. For acomplete look sooner,plant closer togetherand remove extraplants before crowd-ing occurs.

Bloom PeriodThe time and dura-tion of flowering for agiven perennial isimportant to considerwhen designing a gar-den. Actual dates ofbloom can vary up to3 weeks from year toyear, depending onthe weather. Regionalclimatic conditions,location of the gar-den and proximity tolarge lakes can alsoinfluence this timing.The dates given arefor the central part ofthe north centralregion (Detroit,Chicago, Dubuque).These dates will varyby at least 1 monthearlier farther southor 1 month later inthe northernmost

areas of the region.For plants grown forfoliage, such as someornamental grasses,this is the period ofsignificant ornamen-tal value.

LightMost perennials pre-fer full sun to lightshade. Some toleratedifferent light levels,and a few requireeither full sun or deepshade. The guideindicates the opti-mum light level orrange of light levelsfor each plant. Threelight levels are used:sun, part shade andshade.

HardinessThe number listed inthe table indicatesthe minimum hardi-ness zone (see hardi-ness zone map onpage 32) recommend-ed for growing a par-ticular plant. It isbased on the USDAmap of climate zones.Average annual mini-mum air tempera-tures for Zone 3 are: -40°F to -30°F; Zone 4: -30°F to -20°F; Zone 5: -20°Fto -10°F; Zone 6: -10°F to 0°F.

This system is onlyan approximate indi-cation because it isbased on minimumair temperatures andnot on soil tempera-tures belowgroundwhere most perenni-als overwinter.

Level Location Amount of sun or shade

Sun Open beds, south- or west- No more than 3 hours of shadefacing beds

Part shade East-facing beds At least 6 hours of full sun

Shade North-facing beds, Essentially no full sunwoodlands

Hardiness can oftenbe improved byplanting in welldrained soil andusing a winter mulch.

Division/PropagationThe recommen-dations given arebased on needs forrejuvenating plantsand controlling size,not simply propaga-tion. The best time ofyear to divide a par-ticular plant is given,as well as an averageof how frequently itshould be divided. Ablank in this columnindicates that the spe-cific plant does notneed to be dividedexcept for propaga-tion. “No” indicatesthat the plant shouldnot normally bedivided.

Special NotesThis categoryincludes miscella-neous care instruc-tions, suggestions foruse and special fea-tures, as well as unde-sirable characteristics.Plants that self-seedmay be propagatedby transplantingseedlings. However,the new plants maynot be true to type.

Light Level Guide

20

PERENNIAL SELECTION AND CARE GUIDEMature Division

Other Flowering spread and (time of year; Special notesBotanical name common height form Bloom Hardiness frequency in (cultural uses,(Common name) name(s) Color (feet) (inches) period Light (zone) years) major pests, etc.)

Achillea X ‘Coronation Gold’ Fern-leaf yarrow Yellow 2-4 36; mound Mid-June- Sun 3-9 Spring; 3-4 Dead-head to (‘Coronation Gold’ yarrow) October prolong flowering.

Aromatic foliage. Excellent dried flower.

Achillea millefolium and hybrids Pink, white, 1 1/2-3 24; spreading Late June- Sun 3-9 Spring; 2-3 Can be invasive. (Common yarrow) red, yellow, mound September Dead-head to

salmon prolong flowering. North American native.

Aconitum spp. Aconite Blue, yellow 3-5 12-24; August- Sun to 3-7 No All parts of the (Monkshood) Wolfsbane mound October part shade plant are poisonous.

Grows well in moist soil. Needs cool nights.

Aegopodium podagraria Bishop’s weed Green or 1 12; May-June Any 3-10 Any Green form often (Goutweed) variegated mound invasive. Variegated

foliage form is not as invasive. Commonly used as a ground cover in areas where it can be kept from spreading.

Ajuga spp. Carpet bugle Blue, purple, 1/2-1 9-24; April-June Any 3-9 Any Cultivars are (Bugleweed) white spreading available that have

variegated or purple foliage. Commonly used as a ground cover. Can be invasive.

Anemone X hybrida, A. vitifolia, Japanese anemone Pink, white 2-4 18-24; August- Sun to 4-8 Will not grow well A. hupehensis mound October part shade in areas with dry(Windflower) summers or

wet winters. Protect from wind; mulch in winter. Has attrac-tive seedheads. Syn. A. japonica.

Anthemis tinctoria Yellow chamomile Yellow, white 2 18-24; June- Sun 3-7 Spring; 2 Prune back in late(Golden Marguerite) mound September summer; self-seeds.

Foliage is fragrant. Dead-head to prolong flowers.

Aquilegia spp. All colors 1-3 12; May-July Sun to 3-9 No Is short-lived but(Columbine) mound part shade self-seeds. Dead-

head to prolong flowering. Subject to leaf miner. Grows best in moist soils. Some are North American natives.

Arabis albida Wall cress Pink, white 1/2 12-18; April-June Sun to 4-7 Ground cover. (Rock cress) spreading part shade Prune back to 3

inches after flowering. Needs good drainage.

Armeria maritima Sea thrift Pink, red, 1/2-1 6-12; May-June Sun 4-8 Grows best in sandy (Thrift) Sea pink white spreading soil. Clumps tend to

rot in moist or heavy soils. Tolerates salt.

Artemisia ludoviciana Silver foliage 2-4 24; Silver foliage Sun 4-9 Excellent dried (Silver king, silver queen) mound May-October flower. North

American native.

Artemisia schmidtiana Wormwood Silver foliage 1-2 18; Silver foliage Sun 3-7 Spring; 3 Grown only for its(‘Silver Mound’ artemisia) mound May-October foliage, which is also

fragrant. Soil must be well drained. Do not fertilize. Cut back each season.

Aruncus dioicus White 5 36-60; June-July Part shade 2-7 Prefers moist soil. (Goat’s-beard) mound to shade North American

native.

Asclepias tuberosa Orange 2-3 12; June-August Sun 3-9 No Tolerates poor, (Butterfly weed) mound sandy, dry soil.

Stems emerge slowlyin spring. Attractsbutterflies. Has attractive seed pods.North American native.

Aster alpinus Purple, blue, 1/2-1 24; May-June Sun 4-7 Short-lived. Needs (Alpine aster) pink mound well drained soil.

21

PERENNIAL SELECTION AND CARE GUIDEMature Division

Other Flowering spread and (time of year; Special notesBotanical name common height form Bloom Hardiness frequency in (cultural uses,(Common name) name(s) Color (feet) (inches) period Light (zone) years) major pests, etc.)

Aster novae-angliae, Michaelmas daisy Blue, pink, 2-5 24-48; September- Sun 4-8 Spring; 2 Grows best in rich, Aster novi-belgii New England aster purple, red, mound October well drained soil.(Hardy aster) white Pinch back in late

spring. Aster yellowsand powdery mildew are common problems. North American native.

Astilbe X arendsii False spirea Pink, red, 2-4 12-24; June- Shade 4-9 Spring; 3 Grows best in deep, (Astilbe) white mound August fertile soil high in

organic matter. Protect from wind.

Aubrieta deltoidea Purple 1/2 18-24; April-June Sun to 4-8 Ground cover. Trim (Purple rock cress) spreading part shade back halfway after

flowering. Prefers well drained soil.

Aurinia saxatilis Goldentuft alyssum Yellow 1/2-1 12; May Sun to 3-7 No Long-lived. Trailing (Basket-of-gold) trailing part shade habit. Syn. Alyssum

saxatile.

Baptisia australis Wild indigo Blue 3-4 24-48; May-June Sun to 3-9 Self-seeds. Pods are (False indigo) mound part shade attractive. North

American native.

Belamcanda chinensis Orange 3-4 12-24; July- Sun 5-10 Spring; 2 Self-seeds. Iris borer(Blackberry lily) upright September can be a problem.

Clusters of black seeds are attractive.

Bergenia cordifolia Pink, white, 1-1 1/2 12; May Part shade 3-8 Spring; 4 Slugs can be a(Bergenia) red basal to shade problem. Foliage

leaves often damaged by winter or spring frostor drought.

Brunnera macrophylla Blue 1-1 1/2 12-18; April-June Part shade 3-7 Self-seeds and can(Siberian forget-me-not) spreading to shade be invasive.

Tolerates dry soil and tree roots.

Calamagrostis acutiflora Golden 4-6 36; June-frost Sun to 4-9 Non-spreading(Feather reed grass) seedheads vertical part shade ornamental grass.

Very easy but very showy. Needs no staking.

Campanula carpatica Bluebells Blue, white 1 12; June- Sun 3-8 Needs good(Carpathian harebell) basal leaves August drainage.

Campanula glomerata Bluebells Blue, white, 1-2 12-18; June- Sun to 3-8 May need staking.(Clustered bellflower) violet mound September part shade Brilliant massed

flowers.

Centaurea macrocephala Yellow 3-4 24; July Sun 3-7 Basal leaves. (Golden century) upright Excellent cut flower.

Centaurea montana Blue, white, 2 12; June- Sun 3-8 Spring; 2 Cut back after(Mountain bluet) pink mound September flowering.

Centranthus ruber Jupiter’s-beard Pink, white 2-3 24; May-August Sun to 4-8 Spring; 3 Tolerates poor soil.(Red valerian) mound part shade Self-seeds easily.

Cerastium tomentosum White 1/2 18-24; May-June Sun 2-7 Spring; 2 Trim back after(Snow-in-summer) spreading flowering. Silver

foliage. Can be invasive. Dies back in hot weather.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Blue 1/2-1 12-18; July- Sun to 5-9 Spring; 3 Mulch in winter.(Leadwort) spreading September part shade Shoots emerge late.

Chelone spp. Pink, white 2-3 12-24; August- Sun to 3-8 Tolerates moist soil.(Turtlehead) mound October part shade North American

native.

Chrysogonum virginianum Goldenstar Yellow 1/2-1 24; April- Any 5-9 Spring; 4 Ground cover.(Green-and-gold) spreading September Prefers moist soil.

Convallaria majalis White, pink 1/2-1 6; dense May-June Part shade 2-7 Flowers are fragrant.(Lily-of-the-valley) clump to shade Berries are

poisonous. May be invasive.

Coreopsis grandiflora, C. lanceolata Butter daisy Yellow 1 1/2-3 12; June- Sun 3-9 Spring; 2-3 Dead-head to(Lance-leaf coreopsis) Tickseed mound October prolong bloom

period. Powdery mildew can be a serious problem. North American native.

Coreopsis verticillata Yellow 1 1/2-3 24; July- Sun 3-9 Doesn’t need dead-(Thread-leaf coreopsis) mound October heading. North

American native.

22

Mature DivisionOther Flowering spread and (time of year; Special notes

Botanical name common height form Bloom Hardiness frequency in (cultural uses,(Common name) name(s) Color (feet) (inches) period Light (zone) years) major pests, etc.)

Dendranthema grandiflora Hardy All colors 1-4 12-36; August- Sun 4-9 Spring; 2-3 Aphids, aster (Mum) chrysanthemum except blue mound or October yellows, powdery

spreading mildew and rust are common problems.Heavy feeder; grows best in well drained soil with highorganic matter. Plants can be moved in full bloom. Syn. Chrysan-themum X morifolium.

Dianthus X allwoodii Grass pink Pink, red, 1/2-1 1/2 12-15; June- Sun 4-8 Spring; 3-4 Grows best in a(Cottage pinks) Pink salmon, basal August fertile, well drained,

Hardy carnation white slightly alkaline soil. Flowers are fragrant. Some will reseed. Prune lightly after flowers fade. Some are short-lived.

Dianthus deltoides Pinks Pink, red, 1/2-1 24; June Sun 3-9 Needs good(Maiden pink) white mat drainage.

Dicentra eximia Wild bleeding-heart Pink, red, 1-1 1/2 12; May-July Part shade 3-9 Grows best in a rich,(Fringed bleeding-heart) white mound well drained soil

kept moist in the summer. Mulching isdesirable. North American native.

Dicentra spectabilis Pink, white 2 24; May-June Part shade 2-9 Spring or Grows best in a rich,(Bleeding-heart) arching to shade late summer well drained soil

stems kept moist in the summer with mulching. Goes dor-mant in summer.

Dictamnus albus Pink, white 3-4 24; May-June Sun 3-8 No Touching any part of(Gas plant) vertical the plant may result

in dermatitis. Fragrant foliage. Slow growing. Syn. D. fraxinella.

Doronicum caucasicum Yellow 1-1 1/2 12; April-May Sun to 4-7 May go dormant in(Leopard’s-bane) mound part shade summer.

Syn. D. cordatum.

Echinacea purpurea Pink, white 3-5 18-24; July- Sun to 3-8 Spring; 3-4 Grows best in well(Purple coneflower) mound September part shade drained soil.

Fragrant flowers. Excellent cut flower. North American native.

Echinops ritro Blue 3-4 24; July- Sun 3-8 Spring; 3-4 Tolerates dry soil.(Globe thistle) mound October Attracts bees.

Epimedium spp. Pink, white, 1/2-1 12; May Part shade 3-8 Ground cover.(Barrenwort) yellow, red spreading to shade Tolerates

competition from tree roots.

Erigeron speciosus Purple, pink 1 1/2- 12; June- Sun 2-8 Spring; 2-3 Dead-head to (Daisy fleabane) 2 1/2 mound November prolong flowering.

North American native.

Eupatorium maculatum, Purple, 4-7 36; September Sun to 2-8 Needs moist soil. E. purpureum white, pink upright part shade Fragrant leaves.(Joe-pye weed) North American

native.

Eupatorium coelestinum Hardy ageratum Blue, white 2 12-24; September- Any 5-9 Spring; 3 Stems emerge slowly(Mist flower) mound October in late spring;

spreading.

Euphorbia epithymoides Chartreuse 1-1 1/2 12-18; April-May Sun 4-8 Long-lived. Milky sap(Cushion spurge) yellow mound may irritate skin.

Syn. E. polychroma.

Festuca cinerea Silver-blue 1 (foliage) 12; April-October Sun 4-10 Ornamental grass.(Blue fescue) foliage mound (foliage)

Gaillardia X grandiflora Solid or 1/2-3 24; June- Sun 2-10 Spring; 1 Short-lived. Aster(Blanket flower) bicolor red mound September yellows and powdery

and yellow mildew are prob-lems. Requires well drained soil.

Galium odoratum White 1/2 12; May-June Part shade 4-8 Ground cover. (Sweet woodruff) spreading to shade Prefers moist soils.

Has fragrant foliage. Syn. Asperula odorata.

PERENNIAL SELECTION AND CARE GUIDE

23

PERENNIAL SELECTION AND CARE GUIDEMature Division

Other Flowering spread and (time of year; Special notesBotanical name common height form Bloom Hardiness frequency in (cultural uses,(Common name) name(s) Color (feet) (inches) period Light (zone) years) major pests, etc.)

Geranium spp. Cranesbill Blue, pink, 1/2-1 1/2 12-24; April- Sun to 3-8 Spring; 2-4 Tolerates alkaline(Hardy geranium) purple, red, mound August part shade soil. Prefers moist

white soil. Some are North American natives.

Geum quellyon Orange, red, 2-2 1/2 12-18; May- Sun 5-7 Soil should be rich in(Avens) yellow basal September organic matter

leaves and well drained. Short-lived. Mulch tooverwinter.

Goniolimon tartaricum White 1 1/2 24; July Sun 4-9 No Excellent dried (German statice) mound flower.

Gypsophila paniculata Pink, white 2-3 24-36; June-frost Sun 3-9 No Grows best in a well(Baby’s-breath) mound drained, alkaline

soil (pH 6.8-7.5). Excellent cut or driedflower.

Helenium autumnale Orange, 3-5 18; August- Sun 3-8 Spring; 3 Tolerates wet soils.(Sneezeweed) yellow mound October Do not fertilize.

North American native.

Helianthus X multiflorus Yellow 3-5 24; August- Sun 4-8 Spring; 2 May require staking.(Perennial sunflower) upright October Does not set seed.

Heliopsis helianthoides Perennial sunflower Orange, 3-4 24-48; July- Sun 3-9 Spring; 2 Long-lived. North(Heliopsis) Oxeye yellow upright October American native.

mound Excellent cut or driedflower.

Helleborus niger, H. orientalis Christmas rose Green, pink, 1-1 1/2 12; March-May Part shade 4-9 Grows best in rich(Hellebore) Lenten rose white mound to shade soils that are

consistently moist.

Hemerocallis spp. and cultivars Orange, 1 1/2-4 18-36; June- Sun to 3-9 Very easy to grow(Daylily) pink, red, upright September part shade and trouble-free.

yellow, clump Newer cultivars lavender, spread less and cream flower more.

Heuchera sanguinea Pink, red, 1-2 12; arching May-August Part shade 3-8 Spring; 3 Grows best in well(Coralbells) white stems to shade drained, moist soil.

Mulch to reduce heaving during winter.

Hibiscus moscheutos Pink, red, 5-8 24-30; July-August Sun 4-9 A large, shrubby,(Rose mallow) white mound coarse-textured

plant. Has very large flowers. North American native.

Hosta spp. and cultivars Plantain lily Purple, 1-4 30-36; June- Part shade 3-9 Unneeded Full sun may scorch(Hosta) Funkia white mound September to shade leaves. Grows

best in moist soil. Grown for variegatedfoliage—white, yellow, blue, green. Has fragrant flowers.

Iberis sempervirens Evergreen candytuft White 1/2-1 12-18; April-June Sun to 3-9 No Leaves are(Candytuft) mound part shade evergreen. Self-

seeds but may not be true to variety. Propagate by cuttings.

Incarvillea delavayi Pink 1-1 1/2 12-18; April-June Sun to 5-7 Avoid Mulch in winter.(Hardy gloxinia) mound part shade Slow to emerge.

Iris kaempferi Blue, pink, 2-3 18-24; Late June- Sun to 4-9 Late summer; 3 Iris borer is a com-(Japanese iris) purple, white vertical July part shade mon pest. Needs

moist, slightly acid soil. Cut back to6 inches in fall.

Iris hybrids German iris All colors 1/2-3 1/2 12-15; May-June Sun 3-10 After blooming; Susceptible to iris (Bearded iris) upright 2-4 borer and soft rot.

Cut back to 6 inches in fall. Some culti-vars rebloom in fall.

Iris sibirica Blue, pink, 1 1/2-4 18-24; May-June Sun to 3-9 Spring when Cut back to 6 inches(Siberian iris) white, upright part shade necessary in fall. Tolerates

yellow, moist soil.purple

Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow archangel Yellow 1/2-1 1/2 12-18; May- Any 3-9 Spring; 2 Ground cover.(Golden dead nettle) spreading early June Variegated foliage.

Can become invasive.

Lamium maculatum Pink, white 1/2-1 12-18; May- Part shade 3-8 Spring; 2 Ground cover.(Spotted dead nettle) spreading early June Variegated forms are

available. Can become invasive.

24

PERENNIAL SELECTION AND CARE GUIDEMature Division

Other Flowering spread and (time of year; Special notesBotanical name common height form Bloom Hardiness frequency in (cultural uses,(Common name) name(s) Color (feet) (inches) period Light (zone) years) major pests, etc.)

Lavandula angustifolia English lavender Purple, white 1-3 18; June- Sun to 5-9 No Trim back in spring.(Lavender) True lavender mound September part shade Tips are often

killed over winter. Fragrant.

Leontopodium alpinum White, 1/2-1 6-12; July-August Sun 4-9 Silver foliage. Mulch(Edelweiss) yellow basal to overwinter. Not

foliage especially showy. Short-lived. Easy from seed. Requires excellent drainage.

Leucanthemum X superbum White 1-4 12-24; June- Sun to 4-9 Spring; 2 Short-lived. Do not(Shasta daisy) mound September part shade crowd. Self-seeds,

but not true to variety. Dead-head toprolong flowering. Syn. ChrysanthemumX superbum; C. maximum.

Liatris spicata Prairie gay feather Purple, white 2-5 12-24; July-early Sun to 3-9 North American(Blazing-star) vertical September part shade native. Excellent cut

flower.

Ligularia spp. Groundsel Yellow 3-5 36-48; July-August Part shade 3-7 Spring; 3 Prefers moist, rich(Ligularia) Senecio upright soil and cool

temperatures.

Linum perenne Common blue flax Blue 1-1 1/2 12; May-August Sun 4-9 No Mulch to overwinter.(Perennial flax) mound Self-seeds.

Requires good drainage.

Limonium latifolium Perennial statice Purple 2 18-24; July-August Sun 3-9 No Salt tolerant. Short-(Sea lavender) basal lived. Requires

foliage excellent drainage. Excellent dried flower.

Liriope spicata Purple, white 1-1 1/2 12; July-August Sun to 5-8 Evergreen ground(Creeping lilyturf) clump part shade cover with black

berries. Slugs can be a problem. Mulch in winter.

Lobelia cardinalis Indian pink Red 2-4 12-18; July- Part shade 2-9 Grows best in moist,(Cardinal flower) vertical September acid soil and is

short-lived. A summermulch is desirable. Will tolerate full sun in moist soil. North American native.

Lupinus hybrids All colors 3-4 18-24; May-June Sun to 3-6 No Grows best in acid(Lupine) upright part shade soils that are well

drained and moist. Sensitive to hot summers. Short-lived but reseeds. Powdery mildew and rust are serious problems. Derived from North American species.

Lychnis chalcedonica Red 1 1/2-3 12; June-early Sun 3-9 Tolerates wet soil.(Maltese-cross) mound September

Lysimachia punctata Yellow loosestrife Yellow 2-3 18; June- Any 4-8 Spring; 3 Prefers a moist,(Garden loosestrife) mound September organic soil. Good for

naturalizing. Can become invasive.

Mertensia virginica Blue 1/2-2 12; April-May Part shade 3-9 No Foliage dies down in(Virginia bluebells) mound to shade July. North

American native.

Miscanthus sinensis Maiden grass Brown, white 3-7 24-48; Late Sun 4-10 Spring; 3 An ornamental grass.(Eulalia grass) vertical September- to part shade Some variegated

November forms. Plumes remainthroughout winter.

Monarda didyma Wild bergamot Pink, red, 2 1/2-3 12-24; June- Sun 4-9 Spring; 2 Grows best in moist(Bee balm) Oswego tea white, mound August soils. It has

lavender fragrant foliage and may become invasive. Powdery mildew and rust are common problems. North American native.

Myosotis spp. Blue 1/2 12; May-August Part shade 3-8 Unneeded Prefers moist soil.(Forget-me-not) trailing Short-lived. Allow to

self-sow for continued presence in garden.

25

PERENNIAL SELECTION AND CARE GUIDEMature Division

Other Flowering spread and (time of year; Special notesBotanical name common height form Bloom Hardiness frequency in (cultural uses,(Common name) name(s) Color (feet) (inches) period Light (zone) years) major pests, etc.)

Nepeta X faassenii, N. mussinii Blue 1-1 1/2 24; May- Sun 3-8 Spring; 2 Fragrant foliage.(Catmint) mound September Attracts bees.

Oenothera tetragona Yellow 1-3 12; June- Sun 3-8 Short-lived but(Sundrop) mound August showy. North

American native.

Oenothera missouriensis Ozark sundrops Yellow 3/4-1 1/2 12; June- Sun 3-8 Spring; 4 Stems emerge slowly(Evening primrose) spreading September in late spring. Good

drainage in winter is important. North American native.

Opuntia humifusa Yellow 1/2-1 24; June-July Sun 4-10 A hardy cactus;(Prickly pear) spreading tolerates poor soil.

North American native, very prickly. Pods and fruits are edible.

Paeonia hybrids Chinese peony Pink, red, 2-3 24-36; May-June Sun 2-10 May require staking.(Peony) Herbaceous peony white mound Grows best in deep,

fertile soil.

Papaver orientale Orange, 1 1/2-3 18-24; June Sun 2-7 No; after foliage Foliage dies down(Oriental poppy) pink, red, mound dies down only after flowering.

white if necessary. Resents disturbance.

Pennisetum alopecuroides Reddish 3-6 36; August- Sun 5-10 Mulch in colder(Fountain grass) brown mound early areas. Slow to

October emerge. Good cut flower.

Penstemon spp. Orange, 1/2-3 12-18; June- Sun to 3-7 Spring; 2 Short-lived. Mulch to(Beard-tongue) pink, purple, mound August part shade overwinter. Requires

red, white well drained soil. North American native.

Phlox maculata Spotted phlox Pink, white 2-3 24; June- Sun 3-9 North American(Phlox) mound August native. Mildew

resistant.

Phlox paniculata hybrids Summer phlox Blue, pink, 2-4 18; July- Sun to 3-8 May need staking.(Garden phlox) purple, red, vertical September part shade Grows best in

white moist, well drained soil high in organic matter. A heavy feeder with fragrant flowers. Powdery mildew and rust are common problems. Derived from North American native.

Phlox subulata Moss phlox Blue, pink, 1/2 18-24; April-June Sun to 2-9 Trim back after(Creeping phlox) red, white mat part shade flowering. Evergreen

ground cover in warmer zones.

Physalis alkekengi Japanese-lantern Orange seed 1 1/2 24; July-August Sun 3-9 Spring; 1 Self-seeds. May(Chinese-lantern plant) pods spreading become invasive.

Physostegia virginiana Obedience Pink, white 2-4 24; July- Sun to 2-9 Spring; 2 May become(Obedient plant) False dragonhead mound October part shade invasive. North

American native.

Platycodon grandiflorus Blue, pink, 1 1/2-4 12-24; July- Sun to 3-8 No Long-lived. May(Balloon flower) white upright September part shade require staking.

Emerges late in spring. Prefers acid soil.

Polemonium caeruleum Greek valerian Blue 1 1/2-2 9-18; May-August Any 2-7 Prefers moist soil.(Jacob’s-ladder) mound Remove dead

flowers to promote flowering.

Polygonatum spp. King Solomon’s- White 1-4 12-36; May-June Shade 3-9 Long-lived.(Solomon’s-seal) seal arching Variegated types are

stems available. Some species are native to North America.

Polygonum affine Fleece flower Pink, red 1/2-1 12; May- Sun to 3-7 Spring; 2 Ground cover. Can(Smartweed) spreading October part shade be invasive.

Potentilla spp. Five-fingers Pink, red, 1/2-2 12-24; May-August Sun- 3-8 Many are evergreen(Cinquefoil) yellow, white trailing part shade ground covers in

zones 5 or warmer. Some are North American natives.

Primula spp. All colors 1/2-1 6-12; April-June Varies 2-8 Spring; 2 Delicate flowers.(Primrose) basal Usually prefers a

foliage moist soil high in organic matter. Good rock garden plants.

26

PERENNIAL SELECTION AND CARE GUIDEMature Division

Other Flowering spread and (time of year; Special notesBotanical name common height form Bloom Hardiness frequency in (cultural uses,(Common name) name(s) Color (feet) (inches) period Light (zone) years) major pests, etc.)

Prunella X webbiana Pink, red, 1/2-1 12; June-July Sun to 3-8 Ground cover. (Self-heal) white spreading part shade Related to Prunella

vulgaris, a lawn weed.

Pulmonaria saccharata Bethlehem sage Blue, pink 1-1 1/2 12-24; April-June Part shade 3-8 Variegated leaves.(Lungwort) spreading to shade May go dormant in

summer.

Pyrethrum roseum Painted daisy Pink, red, 1-3 12; June-July Sun to 3-7 Spring or fall; 2 Short-lived. Needs(Pyrethrum) white mound part shade support. Cut back to

a few inches after flowering. A winter mulch should be used to reduce heaving. Syn. Chrysanthemum coccineum.

Rodgersia spp. Pink, red, 3-6 48-64; June- Part shade 4-7 Coarse, attractive(Rodgersia) white mound August to shade foliage. Prefers

moist soil. Very largeaccent plant.

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ Orange coneflower Yellow with 2-3 24; July- Sun 3-9 Spring; 3 Self-seeds, but(Black-eyed Susan) black centers mound September seedlings aren’t true

to type. One of the best perennials available. North American native.

Salvia spp. Sage Blue, purple, 1-3 12-24; June- Sun 3-9 Easy to grow.(Perennial salvia) white mound September Tolerates dry soil.

Saponaria ocymoides Pink, white 1/2-1 1; June- Sun 2-7 Cut back after(Soapwort) spreading September flowering. Requires

good drainage.

Scabiosa caucasica Scabious Blue, purple, 1-1 1/2 12; June- Sun 3-7 3-4 Resents wet soil.(Pincushion flower) white mound September Slow growing.

Sedum X ‘Autumn Joy’ Pink to red 1-2 12-18; August- Sun to 3-10 A succulent. Flowers(`Autumn Joy’ sedum) mound October part shade attract bees. Long-

lived.

Sedum spp. Pink, red, 1/4-1 1/2 6-18; June- Sun 3-8 Succulent ground(Stonecrop) white, yellow spreading September cover. Red foliage

types are available.

Sempervivum spp. Houseleek Purple, white 1/2 9; mat July-August Sun 3-8 A succulent. Leaves(Hen-and-chickens) Liveforever are in a basal

rosette. Grown primarily for its foliage.

Sidalcea malvaeflora Checker-mallow Pink, white 3 12-24; June- Sun 4-7 Spring; 3-4 Short-lived. Dislikes(Checkerbloom) mound August heat.

Stokesia laevis Cornflower aster Blue, white 1-1 1/2 12-18; July- Sun to 5-9 Mulch to overwinter.(Stokes’ aster) mound September part shade Resents wet soil.

Thalictrum spp. Lavender, 3-5 24-36; June- Sun to 3-7 Long-lived. Used(Meadow rue) yellow, white mound August part shade best as background

plants. Prefers moist soil.

Thymus spp. Pink, white, 1/4-1 12; June- Sun 4-10 Ground cover.(Thyme) blue spreading August Fragrant, sometimes

variegated foliage. Edible herb.

Tradescantia X andersoniana Blue, pink, 1 1/2-3 15-30; June- Any 4-9 Spring; 2 May become(Spiderwort) purple, white mound August invasive. Cut back to

ground in fall. North American native.

Trollius hybrids Yellow, 2 24-36; June Sun to 4-6 Avoid Grows best in rich,(Globeflower) orange mound part shade moist soils. Cut back

foliage in late summer.

Veronica spp. Blue, pink, 1/2-4 12-18; June- Sun to 3-8 Spring; 4 Tolerates wet soils.(Speedwell) purple, white mound or August part shade Intense blue flowers.

spreading

Viola spp. Sweet violet Blue, purple, 1/2-1 12; April-June Part shade 4-9 Spring; 3 Grows best in moist(Violet) Garden violet red, white, mound to shade soils high in organic

yellow matter. Flowers are fragrant. Some species are North American natives.

Yucca filamentosa White 3-5 24; July-August Sun 4-10 Propagated by(Adam’s-needle) vertical offsets from crown.

Drought tolerant. Needs good drainage.

27

E = EarlyM = Middle * Times are approximate for the middle of USDA Zone 5.L = Late

February March April May June July August September October

Perennial E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L

Ajuga spp. X X X X X X

Arabis albida X X X X X X X

Aubrieta deltoidea X X X X X X X X X

Bergenia cordifolia X X X X X X

Brunnera macrophylla X X X X X X X X X

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides X X X X X X

Chrysogonum virginianum X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Doronicum caucasicum X X X X X X

Euphorbia epithymoides X X X X X X

Festuca cinerea X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Geranium spp. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Helleborus niger, H. orientalis X X X X X X X X X

Iberis sempervirens X X X X X X

Incarvillea delavayi X X X X X X X X X

Mertensia virginica X X X X X X

Phlox subulata X X X X X X

Primula spp. X X X X X X

Viola spp. X X X X X X

Aegopodium podagraria X X X X X X

Aquilegia spp. X X X X X X X X X

Armeria maritima X X X X X X

Aurinia saxatilis X X X

Baptisia australis X X

Centranthus ruber X X X X X X X X X X X X

Cerastium tomentosum X X X X X X

Convallaria majalis X X X X X X

Dianthus X allwoodii X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Dicentra eximia X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Dicentra spectabilis X X X X X X

Dictamnus albus X X X X X X

Epimedium spp. X X X

Galium odoratum X X X X X X

Geum quellyon X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Heuchera sanguinea X X X X X X X X X X X X

Iris hybrids X X X X X X X X X X

Iris sibirica X X X X X X

Lamiastrum galeobdolon X X X

Lamium maculatum X X X

Lupinus hybrids X X X X X X

Myosotis spp. X X X X X X X X X

Nepeta X faassenii, N. mussinii X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Paeonia hybrids X X X X X X X X X

Polemonium caeruleum X X X X X X

Polygonatum spp. X X X X X X

Polygonum affine X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Potentilla spp. X X X X X X X X X

Trollius hybrids X X X X X X

Achillea millefolium and hybrids X X X X X X X X X X

Achillea X ‘Coronation Gold’ X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Anthemis tinctoria X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Artemisia schmidtiana X X X X X X X X X X X X

Aruncus dioicus X X X X X X X X X

Asclepias tuberosa X X X X X X X X X

Astilbe X arendsii X X X X X X X X X

Calamagrostis acutiflora X X X X X X X X X X X X

Campanula glomerata X X X X X X X X X X X X

Centaurea montana X X X X X X X X X X X X

Coreopsis grandiflora, C. lanceolata X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Delphinium X elatum X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Erigeron speciosus X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

BLOOM CHART

28

February March April May June July August September October

Perennial E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L E M L

Festuca cinerea X X X X

Gaillardia X grandiflora X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Gypsophila paniculata X X X X X X X X X X X X

Hemerocallis spp. and cultivars X X X X X X X X X

Iris kaempferi X X X X

Lavandula angustifolia X X X X X X X X X X X X

Leucanthemum X superbum X X X X X X X X X X X X

Linum perenne X X X X X X X X X

Lychnis chalcedonica X X X X X X X X X X

Monarda didyma X X X X

Oenothera missouriensis X X X X X X X X X X X X

Opuntia humifusa X X X

Papaver orientale X X X X X X

Penstemon spp. X X X X X X X X X

Prunella X webbiana X X X X X X

Pyrethrum roseum X X X

Salvia spp. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Saponaria ocymoides X X X X X X X X X X X X

Scabiosa caucasica X X X X X X X X X X X X

Sidalcea malvaeflora X X X X X X

Thymus spp. X X X X X X

Tradescantia X andersoniana X X X X X X X X X

Veronica spp. X X X X X X X X X

Belamcanda chinensis X X X X X X X X X

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides X X X X X X X X X

Echinacea purpurea X X X X X X X X X

Echinops ritro X X X X X X X X X X X X

Heliopsis helianthoides X X X X X X X X X X X X

Hibiscus moscheutos X X X X X X

Leontopodium alpinum X X X X X X

Liatris spicata X X X X X X X

Limonium latifolium X X X X X X

Ligularia spp. X X X X X X

Liriope spicata X X X X X X

Lobelia cardinalis X X X X X X X X X X X X

Lysimachia punctata X X X X X X

Phlox paniculata X X X X X X X X X

Physalis alkekengi X X X X X X

Physostegia virginiana X X X X X X X X X

Platycodon grandiflorus X X X X X X X X X X X X

Rodgersia spp. X X X X X X

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ X X X X X X X X X

Sempervivum spp. X X X X X X

Stokesia laevis X X X X X X X X X

Thalictrum spp. X X X X X X

Yucca filamentosa X X X X X X

Aconitum spp. X X X X X X X X X

Anemone X hybrida, A. vitifolia, A. hupehensis X X X X X X X X X

Dendranthema grandiflora X X X X X X X X X

Helenium autumnale X X X X X X

Helianthus X multiflorus X X X X X X

Hosta spp. X X X X X

Pennisetum alopecuroides X X X X X X X

Sedum X ‘Autumn Joy’ X X X X X X X X X

Aster novae-angliae X X X X

Eupatorium coelestinum X X X X X X

Miscanthus sinensis X X X X

BLOOM CHART

29

CROSS-REFERENCE INDEXAconite/AconitumAdam’s-needle/Yucca filamentosaAlpine aster/Aster alpinusAstilbe/Astilbe‘Autumn Joy’ Sedum/Sedum X ‘Autumn

Joy’Avens/Geum quellyonBaby’s-breath/Gypsophila paniculataBalloon flower/Platycodon grandiflorusBarrenwort/EpimediumBasket-of-gold/Aurinia saxatilisBeard-tongue/PenstemonBearded iris/Iris hybridsBee balm/Monarda didymaBellflower/CampanulaBergenia/Bergenia cordifoliaBethlehem sage/Pulmonaria saccharataBishop’s weed/Aegopodium podagrariaBlack-eyed Susan/Rudbeckia fulgidaBlackberry lily/Belamcanda chinensisBlanket flower/Gaillardia X grandifloraBlazing-star/Liatris spicataBleeding-heart/Dicentra spectabilisBlue fescue/Festuca cinereaBluebells/CampanulaBugleweed/AjugaButter daisy/CoreopsisButterfly weed/Asclepias tuberosaCandytuft/Iberis sempervirensCardinal flower/Lobelia cardinalisCarpathian harebell/Campanula carpaticaCarpet bugle/AjugaCatmint/Nepeta X faassenii, N. mussiniiCheckerbloom/Sidalcea malvaefloraChecker mallow/Sidalcea malvaefloraChinese-lantern plant/Physalis alkekengiChinese peony/Paeonia hybridsChristmas rose/HelleborusCinquefoil/PotentillaClustered bellflower/Campanula glomerataColumbine/AquilegiaCommon blue flax/Linum perenneCommon yarrow/Achillea millefoliumCoralbells/Heuchera sanguineaCornflower aster/Stokesia laevis‘Coronation Gold’ yarrow/Achillea X

‘Coronation Gold’Cottage pink/DianthusCranesbill/GeraniumCreeping lilyturf/Liriope spicata

Creeping phlox/Phlox subulataCushion spurge/Euphorbia epithymoidesDaisy fleabane/Erigeron speciosusDaylily/HemerocallisDelphinium/DelphiniumEdelweiss/Leontopodium alpinumEnglish lavender/Lavandula angustifoliaEulalia grass/Miscanthus sinensisEvening primrose/Oenothera missouriensisEvergreen candytuft/Iberis sempervirensFalse dragonhead/Physostegia virginianaFalse indigo/Baptisia australisFalse spirea/Astilbe X arendsiiFeather reed grass/Calamagrostis acutifloraFern-leaf yarrow/Achillea X ‘Coronation

Gold’Five-fingers/PotentillaFleabane/Erigeron speciosusFleece flower/Polygonum affineForget-me-not/MyosotisFountain grass/Pennisetum alopecuroidesFringed bleeding-heart/Dicentra eximiaFunkia/HostaGarden loosestrife/Lysimachia punctataGarden peony/Paeonia hybridsGarden phlox/Phlox paniculata hybridsGarden violet/ViolaGas plant/Dictamnus albusGay-feather/LiatrisGerman statice/Goniolimon tartaricumGlobe thistle/Echinops ritroGlobeflower/Trollius hybridsGoat’s-beard/Aruncus dioicusGolden century/Centaurea macrocephalaGolden dead nettle/Lamiastrum galeobdolonGolden Marguerite/Anthemis tinctoriaGoldenstar/Chrysogonum virginianumGoldentuft alyssum/Aurinia saxatilisGoutweed/Aegopodium podagrariaGrass pink/DianthusGreek valerian/Polemonium caeruleumGreen-and-gold/Chrysogonum virginianumGroundsel/LigulariaHardy ageratum/Eupatorium coelestinumHardy aster/AsterHardy carnation/DianthusHardy chrysanthemum/Dendranthema

grandiflora Hardy geranium/Geranium Hardy gloxinia/Incarvillea delavayiHarebell/Campanula

Heliopsis/Heliopsis helianthoidesHellebore/HelleborusHen-and-chickens/SempervivumHerbaceous peony/Paeonia hybridsHosta/HostaHouseleek/SempervivumIndian pink/Lobelia cardinalisJacob’s-ladder/Polemonium caeruleumJapanese anemone/AnemoneJapanese iris/Iris kaempferiJapanese-lantern/Physalis alkekengiJoe-pye weed/Eupatorium maculatum, E. purpureum

Jupiter’s-beard/Centranthus ruberKing Solomon’s-seal/PolygonatumLance-leaf coreopsis/CoreopsisLavender/Lavandula angustifoliaLeadwort/Ceratostigma plumbaginoidesLenten rose/HelleborusLeopard’s-bane/Doronicum caucasicumLily-of-the-valley/Convallaria majalisLiveforever/SempervivumLungwort/Pulmonaria saccharataLupine/Lupinus hybridsMaiden grass/Miscanthus sinensisMaiden pink/Dianthus deltoidesMaltese-cross/Lychnis chalcedonicaMeadow rue/ThalictrumMichaelmas daisy/AsterMist flower/Eupatorium coelestinumMonkshood/AconitumMoss phlox/Phlox subulataMountain bluet/Centaurea montanaMum/Dendranthema grandifloraNew England aster/AsterObedience/Physostegia virginianaObedient plant/Physostegia virginianaOrange coneflower/Rudbeckia fulgida

‘Goldsturm’Oriental poppy/Papaver orientaleOswego tea/Monarda didymaOxeye/Heliopsis helianthoidesOzark sundrops/Oenothera missouriensisPainted daisy/Pyrethrum roseumPeony/Paeonia hybridsPerennial flax/Linum perennePerennial larkspur/DelphiniumPerennial salvia/SalviaPerennial statice/Limonium latifoliumPerennial sunflower/Helianthus X multi-

florus, Heliopsis helianthoides

30

Phlox/Phlox maculataPincushion flower/Scabiosa caucasicaPink/DianthusPlantain lily/HostaPrairie gay-feather/Liatris spicataPrickly pear/Opuntia humifusaPrimrose/PrimulaPurple coneflower/Echinacea purpureaPurple rock cress/Aubrieta deltoideaPyrethrum/Pyrethrum roseumRed valerian/Centranthus ruberRock cress/Arabis albidaRodgersia/RodgersiaRose mallow/Hibiscus moscheutosSage/SalviaScabious/Scabiosa caucasicaSea lavender/Limonium latifoliumSea pink/Armeria maritimaSea thrift/Armeria maritimaSelf-heal/Prunella X webbianaSenecio/LigulariaShasta daisy/Leucanthemum X superbumSiberian forget-me-not/Brunnera macrophyllaSiberian iris/Iris sibiricaSilver king/Artemisia ludoviciana

CROSS-REFERENCE INDEX‘Silver Mound’ artemisia/Artemisia schmidtiana

Silver queen/Artemisia ludovicianaSmartweed/Polygonum affineSneezeweed/Helenium autumnaleSnow-in-summer/Cerastium tomentosumSoapwort/Saponaria ocymoidesSolomon’s-seal/PolygonatumSpeedwell/VeronicaSpiderwort/Tradescantia X andersonianaSpotted dead nettle/Lamium maculatumSpotted phlox/Phlox maculataStokes’ aster/Stokesia laevisStonecrop/SedumSummer phlox/Phlox paniculata hybridsSundrops/OenotheraSweet violet/ViolaSweet woodruff/Galium odoratumThread-leaf coreopsis/Coreopsis verticillataThrift/Armeria maritimaThyme/ThymusTickseed/Coreopsis spp.True lavender/Lavandula angustifoliaTurtlehead/CheloneViolet/ViolaVirginia bluebells/Mertensia virginica

Wall cress/Arabis albidaWild bergamot/Monarda didymaWild bleeding-heart/Dicentra eximiaWild indigo/Baptisia australisWindflower/Anemone X hybridaWolfsbane/AconitumWormwood/Artemisia schmidtianaYarrow/Achillea millefoliumYellow archangel/Lamiastrum galeob-

dolonYellow chamomile/Anthemis tinctoriaYellow loosestrife/Lysimachia punctata

31

Grid Sheet for Planning Your Garden

32

North Central Regional Extension publications are subject to peer review and prepared as a part of the Cooperative Extension activities of the 13 land-grant universities of the12 North Central states, in cooperation with the Extension Service-U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. The following states cooperated in making this publica-tion available.

University of Illinois *Michigan State University North Dakota State Univ. University of WisconsinAg. Publication Office Room 10B Ag Hall Extension Communications Cooperative Extension Publications69 Mumford Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1039 Box 5655, Morrill Hall Rm. 245Urbana, IL 61801 (517) 355-0240 Fargo, ND 58105 30 N. Murray St(217) 333-2007 (701) 237-7881 Madison, WI 53715-2609

(608) 262-3346

Purdue University University of Minnesota Ohio State UniversityPublication Mailing Room Distribution Center Publications Office301 S. Second Street 3 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Ave. 385 Kottman HallLafayette, IN 47901-1232 St. Paul, MN 55108-6064 2021 Coffey Rd.(317) 494-6795 (612) 625-8173 Columbus, OH 43210-1044

(614) 292-1607

Kansas State University University of Missouri South Dakota State Univ.Distribution Center Extension Publications Ag Comm. CenterUmberger Hall 2800 McGuire Box 2231Manhattan, KS 66506-3400 Columbia, MO 65211-0001 Brookings, SD 57007-0892(913) 532-5830 (314) 882-2792 (605) 688-5628

*Publishing state

For copies of this and other North Central Regional Extension publications, write to: Publications Office, Cooperative Extension Service, in care of the university listed abovefor your state. If they do not have copies or your state is not listed above, contact the publishing state as specified.

Programs and activities of the Cooperative Extension Service are available to all potential clientele without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age or disability.

In cooperation with NCR Educational Materials Project

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and CooperativeExtension Services of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Gail Imig, director, MSU Extension,East Lansing, Michigan 48824.

Major Rev. 11:94-35M-LJ-IN, Price 50¢, Single copy free to Michigan residents. File: Gardening – Flowers.

GrowingPerennials

The flowers listed in theillustration at the top ofpage 9 in NCR 556,“Growing Perennials” areANNUALS. Following isthe correct version forPERENNIALS. We are sorryfor any difficulties this hascaused.

This bed is designed to provide continuous bloom through-out the growing season.

North CentralRegional Extension Publication No. 556

(CorrectionSheet, Feb. 1995)

CORRECTION

SHEET