Perennial Flowers for Beautiful Beds

Shasta daisies are attractive perennial flowers that grow well in flower beds.

Perennial flowers are attractive, colorful plants that return year after year. Once they have established themselves in your garden, perennials are easy to maintain and have few issues with pests. Since perennial flowers are a long-lasting addition to your landscape, planting them in beds requires careful planning and proper plant selection. There are a variety of perennial flowers available; choose plants that are best suited for the location and soil conditions found in your beds.

Daylily

Daylillies (Hemerocallis) are hardy, easy-to-grow perennial flowers that flourish in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9. The plants reach heights of 1 to 4 feet and are often used as borders in landscaped areas and flower beds. Although daylillies prefer full sun, they will tolerate some shade during the hottest part of the day. Daylillies thrive in most soil conditions, as long as the soil is well-drained. The flowers come in a wide variety of colors including red, gold, peach, pinks, purples and yellows and bloom continually throughout the summer.

Columbine

The columbine (Aquilegia) is the state flower of Colorado and often used in rock gardens and as border plants for flower beds. Although the columbine is a perennial flower, it may need to be replanted in your garden every three to four years. Columbines range in heights from 18 inches to 4 feet and bloom during the spring and early summer months. The columbine blossoms are normally blue and white, but some cultivars produce flowers that are shades of pink, red, yellow and purple. The plants thrive when placed in moist, rich soil and in partially shaded areas of the garden. Columbines are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9.

Golden Marguerite

Considered a hardy, low-maintenance perennial, Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria) adds a dash color to any flowerbed. The brilliant yellow blooms of the Golden Marguerite are delicate and are similar in appearance to chamomile or daisies. Golden Marguerite reaches heights of 2 to 3 feet and blooms in the late spring. The plants require at least six hours of full-sun exposure each day and will thrive in any well-drained soil. Golden Marguerite perennials are grown in USDA zones 3 through 9.

Shasta Daisy

Found growing throughout USDA growing zones 5 through 9, the shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a easy-to-grow perennial. The plants are often used as border flowers or as filler plants in flower beds. The shasta daisy reaches heights ranging from 1 to 3 feet and produces a daisy-like flower with white petals and a yellow center that blooms from June until September. Shasta daisies thrive when planted in moist, well-drained soil and prefer full sun, but also tolerate light shade.

References

• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Growing Perrenials
• Colorado State University Extension: Perennial Gardening
• University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Daylilies
• University of Vermont: Aquilegia
• The University of Tennessee: Golden Marguerite
• University of Illinois Extension: Shasta Daisy

Resources

• Texas Tech University Department of Plant and Soil Science: Daylily
• Michigan State University Extension: Golden Marguerite Anthemis tinctoria