Many gardeners complain that perennials just don’t match the months-long explosion of colour that annuals provide. Here are 6 easy-care perennials that bloom a long time and will brighten up any garden.
Lithodora
These low-growing, woody shrubs with narrow, deep green leaves produce masses of intense blue flowers comparable to any gentian. They bloom for months on end and are extremely low-maintenance and non-invasive. "Grace Ward" and "Heavenly Blue" are popular varities. Zones 6-8; full sun.
Phlox subulata or Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox)
Creeping phlox are low-growing, mounding easy-care perennials that will provide non-stop colour through spring and early summer. Colours range from white to shades of pink and blue. Some are even bicolored, such as P. subulata "Candy Stripe," and many varieties have contrasting eyes, like "Greencourt Purple." Zones 3-8; sun or partial shade.
Campanula glomerata superba (Clustered Bellflower)
C. glomerata superba doesn't need as much deadheading as other Campanulas. This hairy-leafed perennial grows 24 inches tall and produces balls of bell-shaped purple flowers. Once the original clusters fade, cut them off. Zones 3-8; sun or partial shade.
Rudbeckia hirta or Rudbeckia gloriosa (Black-Eyed Susan)
Black-Eyed Susan blooms from summer through frost and grows 12-36 inches tall. "Gloriosa Daisy Mixed" has flowers up to 6 inches across in yellow, bronze, and gold with many bicolors. "Rustic Dwarfs" is the 1-2 foot version with the same colours. "Irish Eyes" has a green disk floret rather than the traditional brown. Zones 3-7; sun or partial shade.
Dahlias
Dahlias are vibrant, but can be a lot of work at the end of the season. These tuberous-rooted perennials are not winter hardy in zone 7 and need to be dug, lifted, and stored over the winter. They come in a spectacular variety of colours and forms, from dwarf balls through full-sized towering decorative dinner-plates. Cut the flowers regularly and they’ll produce right through frost. Zones 7-11; sun or partial shade.
Hemerocallis (Daylilies)
There are over 30,000 named cultivars of these clump-forming perennials with arching, strap-shaped leaves. Daylily flowers come in almost every colour. In most cases, a flower lasts only one day, but daylilies flower repeatedly throughout the season (late spring to late summer). Some daylilies will bloom early, mid, or late season, depending on cultivar. Zones 3-10; full sun.
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