Top Three Perennials

HarryS · Mar 22, 2012

I have just cleared a bed of a few old shrubs and would like to plant it with some perennials. I have at the moment
Delphiniums
Echinacea
Penstemon
Aquliegea
and a couple of clematis at the back. What are your top three perennials that I could use to fill my bed ? By top in my book , I like long flowering and showey Any suggestions anyone ?
TIA

ARMANDII · Mar 22, 2012

Depends on what time of year you want them to flower, Harry.!! I try to have a variety of herbaceous perennials so I can lengthen the flowering season. But for different effects I have in the borders:

Schizostylis
Acanthus
Peony
Japanese Anemone
Astrantia
Geum
Salvia
Phlox
Bearded Iris
Eryngium
Echinops
Eremurus
Aster
Astilbe

I have a few more but that should do you for now

loveweeds · Mar 22, 2012

2 out of my longflowering favourites are (well known classics):
aster frikartii Monk (has a nice open habit, months approx 8-10)
rudbeckia Goldsturm (needs watering most likely, months approx8-9)

HarryS · Mar 22, 2012

Thanks Loveweeds, Armandii
Your list of perennials will keep me busy looking them up this weekend ! I should have put it in the post that my prefered flowering period is summer autumn , July- October . Also my overall knowledge of perennials could best be described as thick So be gentle with me :patpat:

ARMANDII · Mar 23, 2012

Harry, the word "thick" isn't the right word, what you meant is that you knowledge of perennials is "thin" Believe me, my knowledge in many things is rather thin which is why I like GC as I can learn every day on it.

The mainstay of my borders are herbaceous perennials for many reasons. One of the reasons is that there is such a variety of colours, leaves, structures, textures and shapes of flowers, plus you can have a long flowering season going from March up to December somewhere in the borders. Also I like them as they don't really require a lot of work. They appear as green shoots out of the soil, grow, flower, die back and do all that with minimal attention, what more could you ask for!! If you've seen my borders you'll know that I pack plants shoulder to shoulder with very little space in between and herbaceous plants seem to like that, so long as you give them good soil and nutrients. The secret to to a long flowering season is a large variety of different herbaceous perennials.

There is one plant that I would recommend which is worth looking at to see if you like it and that is Solomon's Seal, [Polygonatum]. It flowers from May to June, with unusual white flowers hanging down from curving stems. It's unusual and graceful and people will ask what it is when they see. Good luck with your quest!!

Ariadae · Mar 23, 2012

The best looking plants in my bed last year were a deep pink Diascia, and a deep blue Salvia. Both interplanted with white mallow,which they grew above,to about 1.5m. Wish I had taken a picture.

Gay Gardener · Mar 23, 2012

Long-flowering and showy. Depends on your particular situation but I think the following 3 might be worth considering:

Coreopsis
Fuchsia
Helianthus

Good luck.

*dim* · Mar 23, 2012

If I only had to choose 3 ...

hakonechloa macra auerola (sun or shade - water more if planted in sun)

http://www.creekhillnursery.com/images/2009_Hakonechloa_Aureola.pdf

Huechera Georgia Peach (sun or shade but water more in sun):

Brunnera jack frost (for shade/semi-shade):

longk · Mar 23, 2012

Penstemon digitalis "Huskers Red"

Campanula (Kent Belle?). Can be a little invasive though..........

Campanula persicifolia

Lobelia laxiflora is unlikely to be perennial, but easy to propagate spare plants to over-winter. Not what you asked for, but well worth considering if you want something unusual

Marley Farley · Mar 23, 2012

ARMANDII said: ↑
Harry, the word "thick" isn't the right word, what you meant is that you knowledge of perennials is "thin" Believe me, my knowledge in many things is rather thin which is why I like GC as I can learn every day on it.

The mainstay of my borders are herbaceous perennials for many reasons. One of the reasons is that there is such a variety of colours, leaves, structures, textures and shapes of flowers, plus you can have a long flowering season going from March up to December somewhere in the borders. Also I like them as they don't really require a lot of work. They appear as green shoots out of the soil, grow, flower, die back and do all that with minimal attention, what more could you ask for!! If you've seen my borders you'll know that I pack plants shoulder to shoulder with very little space in between and herbaceous plants seem to like that, so long as you give them good soil and nutrients. The secret to to a long flowering season is a large variety of different herbaceous perennials.

There is one plant that I would recommend which is worth looking at to see if you like it and that is Solomon's Seal, [Polygonatum]. It flowers from May to June, with unusual white flowers hanging down from curving stems. It's unusual and graceful and people will ask what it is when they see. Good luck with your quest!!
Click to expand...

Armandii I have to absolutely agree with you & Solomons Seal is on my list of to gets when I get round to the other corner in my garden.. They really are such beautiful slender & graceful looking plants.. and of course one of my out & out favourites have to be Iris & this is just a tiny selection..

longk · Mar 23, 2012

Polygonatum gets a thumbs up from me too, but it does have a short season. Mine is just emerging, along with the Uvularia too. Uvularia ticks all the same boxes as Polygonatum too................

PeterS · Mar 23, 2012

My favorite three are ones that flower for a very long time, as well as being nice - all three can be in flower for 16 to 20 or more weeks.

Geranium 'Patricia' - needs a very low support around it so it doesn't fall outwards and show a bald patch in the centre.

Centranthus ruber. Happy in very dry conditions. Cut it back in early July after it has flowered and it will be back in flower again a month later.

Astrantia. Tends to flower a second time without the neat to deadhead.

gcc3663 · Mar 23, 2012

My small offering:-
Bush Lobelia
Campanula persicifolia (excellent for propogation-dead easy)
Foxgloves
Evergreen Azalias
Evergreen Rhododendron
Japenese Anemone
Laveteria
Monarda

longk · Mar 23, 2012

gcc3663 said: ↑
My small offering:-
Bush Lobelia
Click to expand...

Tell me more about "Bush lobelia" - not familiar with this.

gcc3663 · Mar 23, 2012

longk said: ↑
Tell me more about "Bush lobelia" - not familiar with this.
Click to expand...

Can't say a great deal. I bought a Blue and a Red from a local Garden Centre a few years ago.
They grow to about 2' tall in a sunny border, flowering all the way up and round the stalks.
They are about 6" diameter at the base and die back in late Autumn. I cut off at ground level and the come on strong in the Spring.
I have about 1" showing at the moment, with the promise of the usual show.
I'm sure others will have all the technical terms for them.

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Top Three Perennials

HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

loveweeds Gardener

HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

Ariadae Super Gardener

Gay Gardener Total Gardener

dim Head Gardener

longk Total Gardener

Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

longk Total Gardener

PeterS Total Gardener

gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

longk Total Gardener

gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

A living topiary Gromit!

Can small courgettes which have stopped growing and are slightly soft be eaten?

Topping up Soil Level in a Herbaceous Border

Topped Cherry Tree

May photo competition, do we have a topic yet?

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Top Three Perennials

HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

loveweeds Gardener

HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

Ariadae Super Gardener

Gay Gardener Total Gardener

*dim* Head Gardener

longk Total Gardener

Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

longk Total Gardener

PeterS Total Gardener

gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

longk Total Gardener

gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

A living topiary Gromit!

Can small courgettes which have stopped growing and are slightly soft be eaten?

Topping up Soil Level in a Herbaceous Border

Topped Cherry Tree

May photo competition, do we have a topic yet?

Share This Page

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