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6 Trusted Perennials for Any Garden



Looking for a perennial you can trust? You will not be disappointed with the beauty and blooms of these dependable perennials.


Dependable perennials


Sometimes, gardeners have so many perennials that opening a catalog or visiting a greenhouse can make your head hurt. How do you know which is best? Just because it looks good in a photo or in a pot in the nursery doesn't mean it will do well in your garden. Never get tired of shopping for perennials! When it comes to choosing the best flowers, there are certain plants that you can always count on to perform well. How to get started with a reliable perennial? Learn more about our favorite six below!


1. 'HGC Joseph Lemper' Hellebore (Hellephorus niger)



One of the best qualities of this new cultivar is its upward facing flowers. But, the beautiful dark green foliage is attractive. Because it blooms so early, give 'HGC Josef Lemper' a spot where you can see the flowers without tripping over snow or mud.


Although 'HGC Josef Lemper' is great in the garden, you may find it sold as a winter houseplant. Keep it cool and moist indoors until you work the ground to dig a hole


2. Tall meadow rue (Thalictrum rosepruneum)


Good-looking blue-green, fern-like leaves are low on the plant, with flower stalks rising above. So even before it blooms, tall meadow rue makes an excellent filler between other perennials. Small lavender flowers are arranged in loose, open clusters, so wherever you place it in a border, you can easily see the plants behind. Hard stems mean you rarely need to stake to keep it looking good. Sometimes called "lavender mist," this is not a plant for southern gardeners. It does not tolerate high heat and humidity.


3. 'Pallida' Veronica (Veronica gentianoides)



A 'pallita' is perfect in front or in the middle of the border. Light blue flowers stand out against their pale stems. Deadhead spikes can keep the plant neat and show off the glossy green rosette of leaves. In areas with mild winters, the foliage is often evergreen. And deer and rabbits don't disturb the leaves or flowers.


4. Japanese Roof Iris (Iris tectorum)


Plant this short iris along a path or near a border, where you can easily enjoy the flowers and foliage. It doesn't bloom for long, but the flowers are heavenly. The glossy sword-like leaves remain attractive long after the flowers have faded and look great with short billowing plants.


Each crested flower is up to 6 inches. Like other irises, it forms large clumps that need to be divided every three or four years.


5. 'Princess Diana' Clematis (Clematis Hybrid)



Each bright pink tulip-shaped flower is up to 2½ inches long. Its moderate size, only 6 to 8 feet tall, makes it ideal for small gardens. Since this variety is in pruning group 3 or C, trim all stems to within a foot of the ground before the leaf buds sprout in spring. New growth is fast and blooms in summer. Enjoy the silky seeds in autumn. They are more subtle than flowers, but still attractive.


6. Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima)


Because of its foliage, don't hide this North American native in the back of the border. Plant it as a focal point in the middle of a bed. This texture creates a wonderful contrast to the grasses. And with its size and thick blue leaves, the large cone flowers can hold their own even in shrub borders.


Don't bother pollinating the golden-yellow flowers. Leave black cones 2 to 6 inches tall to feed finches and other small birds. If they miss a few seeds, you'll see more plants sprout in the spring that you can share with friends.

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Location: United States

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