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Discover the best perennials to plant now for interest

Perennials with Staying Power



There’s a bewildering selection to choose from online and at garden centers, so how do you choose the right ones for your garden? One way to choose perennials is to choose perennials: This means they’re reliable, or have long-lasting blooms or foliage that makes an impact all year round. This is especially important in a small space where every plant needs to add value. This is especially useful if you’re planting in containers. Combine a small evergreen shrub, a trailing plant like ivy, and a long-blooming perennial for a mix that will look good for months.


Change Up Your Garden This time of year, it’s exciting to think about plants that will change up your garden over the summer. Instead of choosing plants that look good for a month and then reusing them, choose hardy perennials like geraniums, salvias, or penstemons, which are not only low-maintenance but also bloom for months, often in early fall. This will save you time and money.


 Other perennials to consider are deciduous, and while these don’t have the star quality of summer flowering plants, they do act as a foil for vibrant colour. Plants such as hostas add impact with their large, thick leaves, while euphorbias, which have acid-green foliage or flowers, are used throughout the planting scheme or in containers.


1. Geranium Rosanne (‘Gervad’) 



Hardy geraniums are easy to grow and a great choice for the summer border, blooming for months and covering the ground under shrubs and trees. ‘Rosanne’ is a particularly reliable variety, with large purple flowers. Flowering: June to September. HxS: 2ftx2ft 8in (60x80cm).


2. Penstemon ‘Andenken und Friedrich Hahn’ 


The flowers are loved by bees, and the colour will enhance any border. They are easy to grow and reliable growers, but it is a good idea to take cuttings as insurance in colder areas. Flowering: July to October. HxS: 2ftx2ft 8in (60x80cm).


3. Salvia nemorosa 'Austfriesland' 



Add height to the border with salvias that produce tall towers of purple-blue flowers. This perennial is good all summer, so you can enjoy them for weeks. Deadhead regularly to keep the flowers coming. Flowering: July to September. HxS: 1½x2ft (45x60cm).


4. Euphorbia x martinii


Leafy perennials can make just as much of an impact as the flowering types. Look for plants that add interest over the long term, such as this euphorbia, which has architectural value with its lime-green foliage with red eyes, and its tall grey-green leaves. Flowering from March to August. HxS: 3x2½ft (90x75cm).


5. Hosta 'France' 



Bring thick foliage to your borders and containers with hostas. These leafy plants add value throughout the growing season. You can also find more variegated varieties like 'France' with lavender flowers. They thrive in shady areas. Blooms: July to August. HxS: 1ft 10inx3ft 3in (55cmx1m).


6. Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'


These are useful for filling gaps at the front of borders or for combining with flowering perennials in a container. Many are evergreen or semi-evergreen and come in a range of shades from light green to deep purple. Plant in full sun or dappled shade. Blooms: June to August. HxS: 2ftx1ft 8in (60x50cm).


7. Erigeron garwinskianus 



This low-growing plant produces small daisies throughout the summer. The flowers emerge white and turn pink. It looks great at the front of borders or along paths and will spread around the garden. Flowering: May to October. Height: 1 ft x 3 ft 3 in (30 cm x 1 m)


8. Alchemilla mollis 


It is ideal for planting at the edges of borders, between flowering perennials or under trees, and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types. With attractive scale-like leaves, it bears clouds of small bright green flowers. Plant in sun or shade. Blooms: June to September. Height: 1x2 ft (30x60 cm)

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