Growing Perennials

Many gardeners have delightful groupings of bearded irises growing in a sunny flower garden. Not only are these perennial flowers a colorful garden addition, but they are also simple to maintain...

Hydrangeas are popular perennial shrubs that are best known for their large clusters of vibrant blooms and the ability to change the color of these blooms by altering the acidity of the soil they...

Hostas are among the most versatile, prolific and easy to grow perennials in the ornamental garden, with more than 7,400 cultivars from which to choose. Once you establish a healthy stand of...

When it comes to strange and unusual plants, staghorn fern, with its large fronds resembling moose antlers, is one of the strangest. In their natural tropical environment, staghorn ferns attach...

Petunias are popular perennials known for their fantastic selection of bright colors and their long blooming season, which lasts from spring to winter; they're popular in hanging baskets and...

Trumpet plants are hearty and rambunctious garden vines featuring bright green leaves and stems. The blooms are yellow, orange or pink and feature a trumpet-like shape. Trumpet vines will climb...

Birds of paradise are a tropical flowering perennial plant. The colorful blooms grow at an angle to the flower stalks and resemble a bird. Usually grown outdoors in tropical areas, they also do...

Cutting back is a drastic form of pruning plants at certain times of the year. It allows phlox to bloom with new growth and gives it a neater appearance by cutting back all the dead blooms, stems...

Hostas are herbaceous (leafy stemmed) perennials that spend the cold winter months dormant. Hosta leaves die back to the crown (where new growth emerges) after the first hard frost. Removing the...

Furman red sage plant is an attractive perennial plant that is sometimes called Texas Sage. The bright red blossoms of this blooming plant will bring hummingbirds and butterflies to flower gardens...

A cone flower is a perennial flower that will bloom yearly. This hardy plant requires very little care and is easy to grow. Fertilization should occur in the springtime and should be done...

Also known as a Lenten rose, helleborus is a hardy perennial and a spring blooming plant. Each flower resembles a small rose. The blooms come in a variety of colors and there is also an earlier...

Carefree, sun-loving & drought tolerant plants play a major role in my garden. I choose to plant no-fuss plants as I have a large yard that I have to fill. . My first choice,would have to be...

Salvia is the term commonly used for ornamental sage. Blue Hill salvia, a type of Salvia nemorosa, has spiky true blue flowers. The Blue Hill salvia is known for its long-lasting flowers, which...

The texture and grace that ornamental grasses add to a perennial garden border, meadow or foundation planting provide many seasons of interest. Identifying grasses can be challenging, especially...

With its dominating presence, pampas grass provides an exclamation point to gardens and lawns. As with any plant, it is important to know the proper growing conditions for pampas grass, including...

Hardy perennial geraniums are often grown from seed, as many nurseries prefer to carry the less hardy annual bedding varieties. Instead of purchasing new seed each year, saving your seeds allows...

Lantana is a drought tolerant blooming perennial that is used as a landscape plant and to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. In the wild, lantana spreads by seed and roots and can form dense...

Perennials are plants and flowers that have a lifespan of 2 to 3 years. Perennial flowers blossom continuously around the same season, typically during Spring and usually die around winter time....

Irish moss is a perennial seaweed that looks similar to moss and can be used as a cover plant. It grows well around concrete objects such as stepping stones, without overtaking them, which makes...

A peony is a type of flowering perennial bush which can normally survive without human help, but will require minor care to look good, including regular fertilizer use and the installation of...

The cardinal flower, or Lobelia cardinalis, is a perennial wildflower that grows in wet woodlands of the eastern half of the United States. One of the most colorful wildflowers, this plant grows...

Clematis are a hardy perennial that come in a wide variety of flower colors and sizes, as well as bloom times. In recent years, the popularity of this plant has increased due to the wide variety...

Indoor houseplants, especially palms, can be very temperamental. One day they are happy, green and growing nicely, the next they are brown, crispy and dying. Why is this? Palms are tropical...

Whether you're a novice gardener or a green thumb master, climbing perennials are a beautiful addition to your yard that require minimal care. One such beauty for warmer climates is Pink Bower...

A Heliamphora plant may be any of 16 species of pitcher plants native to South America. These plants are known for their ability to capture and digest insects which allows them to grow in poor...

Pansies, a relative of the wild viola plant, are colorful cool-weather perennials that brighten gardens throughout the winter in the South, and spring and summer in the North. They have a romantic...

The agapanthus flower, also known as African Lily or Lily of the Nile, is a perennial flower that usually blooms blue or purple umbrella-like flowers during the summertime. If your agapanthus...

Variegated grasses make an attractive addition to any landscape and are sometimes arranged in gardens containing only decorative grasses. Many variegated grasses produce tall seed plumes later in...

Licorice is a hearty, versatile plant and its root has many uses. In addition to making a delicious candy, licorice root is useful in treating aches and pains, from sore throats and upset stomachs...

Whether you are planting spring bulbs like daffodils or summer blooming bulbs like dahlias, preparation of your planting area helps ensure success. While not technically bulbs, corms are perennial...

Irish moss (sagina subulata), a perennial plant and not a true moss at all, hardily survives freezing temperatures. In summer, it produces small white flowers, adding a nice touch to rock gardens,...

Container gardening adds depth and interest to any garden, patio, deck or porch. Perennials grown in pots can be overwintered and are easily maintained, since weeds are rarely found in them....

Hydrangeas are large, easy-to-care-for flowering perennial shrubs. They produce huge blossoms ranging from purple, white, green, and red and pink. Their ease of care and waves of long lasting,...

The dwarf gardenia (Gardenia radicans) is a 2- to 3-foot evergreen shrub suitable for small gardens, patios and indoor cultivation. It also is suitable for bonsai. The plant is hardy in U.S....

The bird of paradise is a tropical plant that thrives in warm regions that stay above 40 degrees F. Bird of paradise needs full sunlight and seems to prefer being somewhat pot-bound in a...

Variegated grasses are normal plants, but instead of being solid green, they have stripes of white, cream or yellow. True collectors of plants know the value of the variegated ones. They are...

Since Black-Eyed Susan perennials spend most of the fall blooming and thriving, not much fall care is necessary. These perennials are a wildflower that require little attention and can thrive in...

The Latin name for daylilies is "Hemerocallis." Translated, it means " beauty for a day." This popular perennial plant's flowers last only about 18 hours before they shrivel and die. But the flush...

Contrary to its name, reindeer moss is not a moss at all but a lichen that grows on rocks and in the sandy soil on the outcroppings of the forest. It was named after reindeer because it is a...

Bloodleaf plant (scientific name Iresine herbstii), also known as chicken gizzard, is a tropical perennial herb loved for its red leaves. It is often grown as an annual that blooms and sets seeds...

The waffle plant, or purple waffle plant (scientific name Hemigraphis exotica), has crinkled foliage that is glossy green and burgundy and has tiny white blossoms. It's a tropical perennial that...

Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients and wreak havoc on lawns and gardens. Fortunately, many products today kill weeds. Some products, though, pose a threat to other plants, including...

Blanket flower got its name for the way this perennial flower covers fields during the summer months. Some gardeners call this abundantly blossoming flower Indian flower and gardeners can easily...

Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), also known as the Chinese Bellflower, is a hardy perennial that's easy to grow, which makes it a perfect choice for the beginning gardener. They bloom...

Asparagus is a perennial that sprouts from the existing roots each spring. Though you can plant asparagus from seeds, it is time consuming, and you will have to transplant the crowns after one...

Ornamental grass is a popular choice for planting among gardeners and homeowners because of its low maintenance requirements. It is considered a "green" choice because it has the ability to...

Blue flax (Linum perenne) is a perennial wildflower with bright blue flowers that appear from early summer through fall. It is a prolific bloomer that is highly tolerant of both drought and cold...

Azaleas love the sun and love the moist warmth that much of the mid to lower United States offers. When growing these beautiful perennials in Illinois, a gardener must remember how the plant...

Tree peonies can be propagated by taking cuttings of their stems and preparing them for rooting and then planting. Unlike their cousins the herbaceous peonies whose foliage dies back yearly, tree...