Hardy Perennials: 28 perennial, low, tall and flowering

Perennials are popular in local gardens because they can be used in many ways. The easy-care plants are usually hardy and perennial and, once planted, can beautify the garden for many years. Because even if the upper shoots die off in autumn, the roots are hardy and the perennials will shine again next spring with fresh green and decorative flowers. Even for hobby gardeners with little time, the diverse perennials are the alternative to let the garden shine in bright colors from spring to autumn.

Perennials – definition

Perennial and hardy perennials include all plants in which only the roots remain in the ground over the winter. On the other hand, the above-ground parts of the tall perennials die off by themselves in autumn and are then cut off close to the ground before winter. Many groundcover perennials, on the other hand, are evergreen and wintergreen. In the spring, the perennials will soon sprout again with fresh greenery. In addition, even if the hardy perennials have a shorter flowering period than is known from annual flowers, they also tolerate a shady place or temporary drought. The nutrient requirement is also a lot lower and therefore most perennials are considered easy to care for. In the following, the presented perennials were divided into two categories:

  • perennial, low flowering perennials
  • perennial, tall flowering perennials

The low perennials do not reach a height of more than one meter, everything above that has been listed under the tall perennials. It is particularly decorative when high perennials are planted in the background and low perennials in the foreground in a flower bed. It becomes particularly colorful when annual summer flowers are also placed in the bed, which further underline the colorful variety.

Tip: Since perennials first have to develop their new shoots, they usually only start flowering in May. So that you can set colorful aspects in the garden in early spring, simply plant bulbous plants between the perennials, which will start flowering from the beginning of March.

Low perennial flowering perennials

The low perennials include all ground cover and perennials that are no higher than 80 centimeters to one meter. These are well suited as underplanting for tall shrubs and trees, as they usually accept a partially shaded location. But the low, hardy perennials are also very popular in rock gardens or front gardens due to the low maintenance. For clarity, the following list of low perennial flowering perennials has been made:

Anemone (Anemone japonica)

  • different varieties and different flowering times
  • from June to October, depending on the variety
  • Flowers in all colors possible
  • prefers a shady location
  • grew bushy
  • Growth height up to one meter
  • humic soil
  • hardy perennial
Idea: You can also combine the varieties of anemones very well. In this way you get a decorative picture with different flower colors, especially in shady locations. If early-flowering and late-flowering anemones are also cultivated together, you can hope for flowering throughout the summer.

Blaukissen (Aubrieta)

  • Flower colors blue or violet, depending on variety
  • Flowering time from April to June
  • forms a dense carpet
  • Leaves interspersed with flowers
  • well suited as ground cover or in the rock garden
  • hardy perennial
  • Growth height between five and ten centimeters
  • Plant neighbor cushion phlox

Filziges Hornkraut (Cerastium tomentosum)

  • year-round overhanging silver upholstery
  • reminiscent of a silver carpet
  • flower color white
  • Flowering period from May to June
  • sunny location
  • wintergreen
  • for beds, rock gardens or balcony boxes
  • Growth height ten to fifteen centimeters

Gänsekresse (Arabis caucasica)

  • Flower color pink
  • Flowering time between April and May
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • groundcover
  • Growth height between ten and fifteen centimeters
  • ideal for rock garden
  • dry, calcareous soil
  • hardy perennial
  • easy-care
  • evergreen

Grasnelke (Armeria maritima)

  • Flower color pink
  • Flowering period from May to June
  • Leaves resemble blades of grass
  • sunny location
  • as a bed border or in the rock garden
  • groundcover
  • hardy perennial
  • undemanding on soil and care
Tip: With its grassy cushions, the thrift looks like a flowering lawn and can be cultivated well between taller perennials as a ground cover.

Großblumige Kokardenblume (Gaillardia grandiflora)

  • deep red flowers
  • radiating flowers
  • Flowering period from July to September
  • upright flower stalks
  • Growth height 60 to 70 centimeters
  • slightly hairy leaves
  • fresh, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil
  • sunny location
  • popular in cottage gardens

Autumn Aster (Aster novi-belgii)

  • different flower colors depending on the variety
  • white, pink, lavender, red or purple
  • Flowering time in September and October
  • belongs to the perpetual bloomers
  • sunny location
  • Growth height between 35 and 60 centimeters
  • suitable for tubs on the balcony or terrace
  • hardy low perennial
  • Nevertheless, protect the tubs in winter
Note: If you cultivate hardy perennials in a bucket, you should always cover the bucket with brushwood mats or plant fleece in winter and place the bucket on a wooden board or polystyrene. Because it can get colder in the tub than in the bed and the roots should be protected here despite the winter hardiness of the plant.

Kriechender Günsel (Ajuga reptans)

  • Flower color blue
  • Flowering period from May to July
  • rich flowering
  • pleasant shade of brown in the foliage
  • strong ground cover
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • very moist to wet soil
  • easy-care
Idea: The creeping bugle is particularly suitable as a pond border, as it prefers a very moist to wet soil.

Maideneye (Coreopsis grandiflora)

  • deep yellow flowers with a red crown
  • Petals frayed at the edges
  • Flowering period from July to September
  • pinnate, dense foliage
  • sunny location
  • is well suited as a foreground plant
  • hemispherical and cushion-like growth
  • Growth height between thirty and forty centimeters
  • can be cultivated well with asters
  • popular cut flower because of its long flowering period

Moossteinbrech (Saxifraga arendsii)

  • white bloom
  • Flowering time between March and May
  • evergreen groundcover
  • Growth height between five and twenty centimeters
  • partially shaded location
  • with sufficient watering also sunny
  • requires little space
  • very easy to care for
Tip: If there is a natural stone wall in your garden, then the moss saxifrage is particularly suitable for decorating the top of the wall. It can also be cultivated in the joints.

Polsterglockenblume (Campanula poscharskyana)

  • Flower shines in blue
  • Flowering period from June to September
  • popular bee pasture
  • Growth height between fifteen and twenty centimeters
  • hanging in a jar
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • Pot planting possible
  • protect buckets in winter
  • hardy in the bed
Tip: Even if the cushion bellflower is actually a ground-covering perennial, the plant can also find a wonderful place in a traffic light on your west- or east-facing balcony or terrace.

Polsterphlox (Phlox subulata)

  • different colors depending on the variety
  • violet, white, pink, blue or pink
  • open, star-shaped flowers
  • Flowering time from April to May
  • sunny location
  • low perennial, ground covering
  • Growth height ten to fifteen centimeters
  • evergreen
  • lies like a carpet over the bed
  • weed suppressing
Note: Unlike the other tall perennials, the evergreen ground cover perennials do not need to be pruned regularly before winter. Here it is sufficient if you cut them back slightly every two to three years so that you get a fresh shoot in the spring.

Storchschnabel (Geranium wallichianum)

  • Flower colors vary depending on the variety
  • white, red, pink, violet
  • long flowering period from June to November
  • vigorous, bushy growth
  • Growth height forty to fifty centimeters
  • groundcover
  • but is also able to climb
  • hardy
  • Leaves change color in autumn
  • sunny location

Tall perennial flowering perennials

Tall, perennial, hardy, flowering perennials are very versatile in the garden. They can find a place in front of a demarcation fence, be cultivated as an alternative hedge or visually enhance a plain corner. The easy-care perennials are particularly popular in cottage gardens, because they attract numerous other insects in addition to bumblebees and bees. So the following list of the most popular tall perennials in our local gardens was created to help you decide:

Blue poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia)

  • originally native to the Himalayas
  • very large, light blue, bright flowers
  • yellow dust center
  • Flowering period: June and July
  • Leaves small, oblong, jagged
  • Growth height up to 1.50 meters
  • Location sunny to semi-shade
  • sheltered place
  • Soil texture slightly acidic
  • absolutely hardy perennial
Note: Please note that most perennials can be planted all year round. However, the day and the ground should be frost-free on a planting day in winter.

Buschknöterich (Persicaria polymorpha/Polygonum polymorphum)

  • impressive and striking perennial
  • long, feathery, white flower spikes
  • grow steeply upwards
  • Flowering period from June to October
  • slightly unpleasant smell
  • Growth height between 1.50 and two meters
  • Location partially shaded to sunny
  • Soil conditions moist to dry

Buschmalve (Lavatera olbia)

  • flower color white
  • Hybrid is crimson
  • have pink eye
  • Flowering time between July and October
  • sunny location
  • well-drained, slightly moist soil
  • bushy growing
  • Growth height between one and two meters
  • conditionally hardy
Tip: You can also use bush mallows as cut flowers for vases due to the long flower stalks and the large number of flowers on a perennial.

China-Wiesenraute (Thalictrum delavayi)

  • Country of origin: Western China
  • filigree, pyramidal flower panicles
  • Flower color purple-pink
  • finely divided foliage
  • delicate, fragrant accents
  • Growth height between 1.20 and 1.80 meters
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • hardy
Note: In summer, cut back the perennials around the faded inflorescences after the first flowering, then you will get another beautiful flowering in autumn before the plants go into hibernation.

However Alant (Inula helenium)

  • originally native to southern Europe
  • yellow bloom
  • Flower head as a loose corymb
  • Flowering period from July to September
  • herbaceous growing
  • Growth height up to two meters
  • sunny location
  • nutrient-rich soil
  • multiplies rapidly from seeds

Fackellilie (Kniphofia)

  • different breeds available
  • Flower color mostly salmon pink and cream
  • tubular single flowers
  • sit on piston-like inflorescences
  • subtle aromatic scent
  • Growth height up to 1.60 meters
  • sunny location
  • hardy perennial
  • well-drained, humus-rich soil
Tip: The torch lilies are a very popular part of cottage gardens, because they are also very popular with insects and are often made available to bees and bumblebees as nectar plants.

Flammenblume (Phlox maculata)

  • many different varieties
  • Flower colors: white, crimson, red, pink, violet
  • Flowering period from June to August
  • Growth height up to 1.50 meters
  • humic and moist soil
  • suitable plant neighbors roses
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • hardy perennial

Tall Larkspur (Delphinium elatum)

  • Flower colors white, red or blue
  • Flowering period from June to September
  • candle-like upright growth
  • depending on the variety up to two meters high
  • sunny location
  • Cottage garden, also terrace or balcony
  • good cut flower
  • humus garden soil
  • very frost hardy
Tip: If you cut back delphiniums in summer after the first flowering, you can enjoy a second flowering in late summer to autumn.

Great goat’s beard (Aruncus dioicus)

  • creamy white flower spikes
  • Flowering period from June to July
  • sprawling, upright growth
  • large multipinnate leaves
  • Growth height up to two meters
  • semi-shady to shady location
  • fresh, sandy and loamy soil
  • Soil rich in nutrients and lime
  • hardy perennial
  • can be cultivated along streams

Mullein (Verbascum chaixii)

  • flower color white
  • spike-like dense inflorescences
  • thick flower spikes up to 60 cm thick
  • Flowering period June to August
  • candle-shaped, upright, tall growth
  • Growth height up to one meter
  • sunny location
  • also considered a graceful cut flower
  • preferably in cottage gardens
  • popular insect plant
Tip: Rejuvenate all your perennials by dividing them regularly. Every two years in autumn after flowering, alternatively in spring before they sprout, you should remove the perennials from the ground, divide the roots and then replant them. In this way, the joy of blooming is maintained in the years to come.

Lupinen (Lupinus polyphyllus)

  • flowers in many colors depending on the variety
  • white, purple, blue, yellow, pink, red or brown
  • tight, upright flower clusters
  • Flowering between June and August
  • large, umbrella-like leaves
  • Growth height up to 1.50 meters
  • promotes soil fertility
  • ideal for the neighboring plants
  • well suited for cottage gardens

Perennial Foxglove (Digitalis mertonensis)

  • different flower colors
  • red, yellow, white, pink
  • thimble-shaped flowers
  • Flowering time from April to May
  • Growth height up to two meters
  • Location semi-shady to shady
  • hardy perennial
  • toxic to children and pets
  • popular in cottage gardens
Tip: You can put the perennials from the Foxglove varieties very well in places in the garden that can hardly be planted otherwise, as they prefer a shady location. In this way, even shadowy corners can shine in a sea of ​​flowers.

Pfingstrose (Paeonia officinalis)

  • varying colors depending on the variety
  • the shape of the flowers is also variable
  • double flowers
  • different shades of red, white and pink
  • Flowering time between May and June
  • long-lived hardy perennials
  • Growth height up to two meters
  • sunny location
  • strongly scented
  • also suitable as a cut flower

Sunflower (Echinacea purpurea)

  • red or crimson coneflowers
  • Varieties also in yellow, orange, purple, white or pink
  • sunny location
  • humus garden soil
  • Flowering period from July to September
  • also suitable as a cut flower
  • needs a lot of care
  • Growth height up to two meters
  • for cottage gardens or tubs
  • hardy perennial

Spotted water daffodil (Eupatorium maculatum)

  • umbrella-shaped daisy flowers
  • upright and loosely growing
  • Flower color soft pink to crimson
  • large flower balls (20 cm)
  • late flowering from July to December
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • Growth height up to two meters
  • very bushy growing
  • well suited as a summer hedge
  • easy-care
Tip: If you are looking for greenery in front of a fence or a wall for the summer, then the bushy and high water bush is particularly well suited for this. In winter, on the other hand, this hardy perennial is also removed close to the ground so that it can sprout again in spring.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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