The Best Perennials to Plant

Perennial Echinacea attracts butterflies and bees.

The best perennials to plant are those that do more than look good in the garden. They have a long bloom season, are easy to care for once established, plus attract a variety of wildlife and insects. Perennials are plants that come back from the roots every year. Light requirements, soil types and moisture needs are different for every plant, so choose plants that prefer to grow in the type of conditions your garden offers.

Monarda

The long blooming vibrant red, white, pink or yellowish flowers often accented with purple polka dots that top the square stemmed plants of beebalm (Monarda) make this perennial one of the best to plant. A member of the mint family, beebalm has fragrant leaves and attracts a host of butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and beneficial insects into the garden. Grow beebalm in full sun or part shade in an area that gets plenty of air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Soil preferences range from dry to moderately moist depending on the exact variety planted. Native to North America, beebalm is hardy in U.S. Department of Agricultural Hardiness Zones 4 through 10.

Hemerocallis

The multicolored daylily grows in full sun or partial shade.

Once established, daylilies (Hemerocallis) are easy to care for, drought-tolerant, pest and disease resistant perennial plants that spread by underground rhizomes. When not in bloom, the drooping green foliage creates interest in the garden. The flowers bloom for a single day and then die. Deadhead, or cut off the faded flower to prevent this plant from setting seed. Daylily flowers come in almost every color of the rainbow including black, purple, red, yellow and white. Some varieties are highly fragrant, especially the ones that bloom in the late afternoon or early evening. Grow daylilies in full sun or part shade. Daylilies are hardy in Zones 3 through 10.

Echinacea

Echinacea comes in variety of colors, including white.

Coneflower (Echinacea) is native to the central United States and attracts butterflies and bees who dine on its nectar. Deadhead the faded flowers early in the season to keep this plant blooming during the summer. As fall approaches, allow it to set seed. The seed heads attract goldfinches. The long, sturdy stems make Echinacea perfect for cut flower bouquets. Echinacea flowers come in a wide variety of colors including pink, purple, white, orange, yellow and green. Some varieties have flowers that are fragrant. Grow Echinacea in full sun or part shade; it is hardy in Zones 3 through 9.

Hosta

An established clump of Hosta, which can be used for edging.

With more than 2,500 different varieties of Hosta available there is sure to be several of these shade-loving, easy-to-care for plants that will thrive in your garden. The foliage, which comes in a wide range of colors including blue, green, white and gold, is either a single color or variegated. The fragrant single, double or triple flowers come in shades of purple and white. Hosta plants are available in a variety of sizes from miniatures perfect for trough gardens to ones that grow several feet tall. Smaller varieties make effective edging plants. Depending on variety, Hostas are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10.

References

• Kansas State University Extension: A Growers Guide Bee Balm/Monarda; Rhonda Janke and Jeanie DeArmond; May 2004
• University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service: Hemerocallis spp.; Edward F. Gilman; October 1999
• University of Illinois Extension: Plant Palette Hemerocallis -- Daylily; Jennifer Schultz Nelson; July 16, 2006
• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Echinacea; Millie Davenport; November 2009
• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Hostas; Gretchen Heinke and Jane Martin