Long-Lasting Perennial Flowers

Many perennials, such as black-eyed Susans, have a long bloom season.

The best long lasting perennial flowers for your garden will depend on your U.S. Department of Agricultural hardiness zone. Once you decide which perennial flowers will perform best in your garden, look at the information on the plant to see how long it blooms.

Perennials That Bloom All Season

Echinacea has a long bloom season and comes in many colors.

Echinacea, salvia, yarrow, black-eyed Susans and dianthus are excellent long lasting perennial flowers to grow in a garden. These plants are easy to grow from seed and readily available at most garden centers. Divide these plants every three years and plant the divisions or share them with others.

Healthy Plants, Healthy Soil

The key to keeping plants blooming all season long is to keep them healthy. Adequate water, proper fertilization and healthy soil are essential. Top dress the soil around your plants with 3 inches of compost every spring to feed the soil and encourage earthworms and overall soil health.

Deadheading

Remove faded flowers with bypass pruners.

Most perennial plants require deadheading, or removal of the faded flowers, to encourage reblooming. Leaving the flowers on the plant after they die encourages the flowers to set seed, which in turn lets the plant know it is finished flowering for that growing season.

References

• University of Minnesota: Long-Blooming Perennials

Resources

• "Perennial Combinations;" C. Colston Burrell; 2008