There are many varieties of perennial plants and flowers. Perennial plants and flowers come back every Spring. Once you plant one, it will bloom every year. Perennials die every Winter, but come back as vibrant as ever every Spring. They are fairly easy in which to care. There are low growing and tall growing perennial plants and flowers. Perennials come in a variety of colorful leaves and flowers to beautiful foliage. Nature Hills Nursery advises,”Blooming perennials tend to average about 3 weeks of bloom time so choosing plants with attractive structure and foliage and flowers will enhance your landscape for years to come.

It is Spring so it is time that many of us get out and work in our gardens or in our landscapes. Since perennials are such perfect plants and flowers for gardening and landscaping, I want to suggest some perennials that you may add to your garden or landscape this year. Here are the top 20 Perennials counted down by appearance and care for either gardens or landscapes.

1. Aster Blue Autumn
Mature Height: 12 to 20 inches
Mature Spread: 16 to 20 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Flower Color: Deep Blue
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-8
The Aster Blue Autumn is covered with hundreds of deep blue flowers. Fall color is not different. The beautiful flowers look the same through the Fall. This new hybrid is mildew resistant and great for summer color in gardens or landscaping. According to Nature Hills Nursery, Asters do best in full sun with morning shade and well-drained soil.
“The healthy dark green foliage of ‘Blue Autumn’ PPAF has a compact mounding habit and is very resistant to mildew. You can always count on your Asters to put on a delightful, refreshing show every Autumn and attracts butterflies!”-Nature Hills Nursery

2. The Astilbe ‘Country and Western’
Mature Height: 14 – 16 inches
Mature Spread: 24 – 30 inches
Soil Type: Normal, Sandy, Clay
Moisture: Moist
Mature Form: Upright, Spreading
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full Shade – Partial Sun
Flower Color: Bright Pink
Fall Color: Green
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Zones: 3-9
The Nature Hills Nursery describes the Astilbe ‘Country and Western’ as a colorful feathery flower with bright puffy pink blooms and shiny deep green foliage. The Country and Western is known for its large puffy blooms. Very beautiful flowers! Partial sun and rich soil are best for this plant, but water is the most successful key to growing it. It is very important to keep this plant watered.
Wait to cut the foliage back until spring as that will protect the plant during the winter. Fertilize Astilbes in late spring before the flowers emerge. Astilbes can be used as cut flowers, perennial borders or shade gardens with Hosta’s and Ferns.” -Nature Hills Nursery

3. Balloon Flower Astra Double Blue, Platycodon ‘Astra Double Blue’
Mature Height: 8 to 10 inches
Mature Spread: 6 to 8 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: Blue
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-8
Balloon Flower Astra Double Blue, a new dwarf variety, is a compact, well-branched plant. These flowers make for beautiful cut flowers! They are also a beautiful addition to any landscape or garden. Very easy to maintain and thrives in any well-drained soil!
“The interesting balloon-like buds burst open into bell-shaped double flowers. It can easily adapt to grow in either full sun or part shade. It has exceptional branching and thick flower petals that make for long-lasting periwinkle blue blossoms.” -Nature Hills Nursery

4. Basket of Gold, Aurinia saxatilis ‘Summit™’
Mature Height: 7 to 9 inches
Mature Spread: 15 to 20 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Spreading
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Flower Color: Yellow
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-7
According to Nature Hills Nursery, the Basket of Gold forms a low bushy mound of grey-green leaves, smothered by masses of tiny, bright golden-yellow flowers for several weeks. This plant demands full sun, but does not require a lot of water. A perfect addition to a rock garden!
“Basket of Gold, Aurinia saxatilis ‘Summit™’, is one of the most popular of spring-flowering perennials, most often seen in rock gardens or as a border edging. Clip plants back by half, immediately after blooming, but do not prune in fall or early spring.” -Nature Hills Nursery

5. Bellflower White Clips, Campanula carpatica ‘White Clips’
Mature Height: 6 to 8 inches
Mature Spread: 12 to 24 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: White
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-8
Bellflower White Clips has upward-facing, cup-shaped flowers over the dark green foliage. This beautiful plant blooms from late spring to late summer. It prefers moist, but well-drained soil. This bellflower grows in full to partial, but some shade is required in frequent hot weather.
“Hummingbirds love this plant! White Clips’ will enhance your landscape as edging, in decorative containers, or along the front of borders. Cutting the plants back hard after flowering will keep them more compact, and may also result in a second flush of blooms.” -Nature Hills Nursery

6. Clematis Dr. Ruppel’
Mature Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Soil Type: Widely Adaptable
Moisture: Moist
Mature Form: Climbing
Growth Rate: Medium
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: Pink
Flowering Date: Spring to Fall
Foliage Color: Green
According to Nature Hills Nursery, the Clematis Dr. Ruppel has deep rose-pink 8 inch flowers that have petals with bold carmine-red central bars. It blooms in late spring and again in late summer. Though it needs plenty of room its roots to grow, it is very easy in which to care. use mulch to shade the roots, but the tops require sunlight.
“Good cut flower variety. Awarded Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Clematis ‘Dr. Ruppel’ needs a supporting structure to grow properly but will also grow over large shrubs, over walls, cover stumps, and make perfect cover ups for unsightly service areas.” -Nature Hills Nursery

7. Clematis Roguchi
Mature Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Soil Type: Widely Adaptable
Moisture: Moist
Mature Form: Climbing
Growth Rate: Medium
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: Deep Blue
Flowering Date: Summer
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-9
Clematis Roguchi, a newer Japanese Clematis, has bell-shaped flowers of intense deep blue/purple with lighter blue recurved petals. As a weaver, this plant does not need any type of formal support because it grows through and among surrounding plants. Give his plant rich soil with plenty of room for the roots. This plant also needs shade for the roots, but lots of sunlight for the tops. .

8. Bergenia Winter Glow
Mature Height: 12 to 15 inches
Mature Spread: 8 to 12 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
Flower Color: Red
Fall Color: Reddish bronze
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-8
Bergenia Winter Glow features shiny, cabbage-like leaves and clusters of bright red flowers from early to late spring. According to Nature Hills Nursery, during the fall and winter months, it is normal for the leaves of this plant to furn a reddish-bronze hue, but the leaves will turn back to green in the Spring. The Bergenia grows moist, but well-drained soil and partial to full shade.
A versatile plant for use as a ground cover, edging, or container gardening. It is considered an evergreen in the South.” -Nature Hills Nursery

9. The Hemerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’, also known as a Daylily
Mature Height: 12 inches
Mature Spread: 12 – 24 inches
Soil Type: Widely Adaptable
Moisture: Moist, Dry
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full Sun – Partial Sun
Flower Color: Yellow
Fall Color: Yellow
Bulb Type: Tuberous Root
Bulb Spacing: 18 – 24 inches
Planting Depth: 1 inch
Foliage Color: Deep Green
Flowering Period: June to September
Zones: 2-9
The Hemerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’ has a very fragrant dark yellow flower with dark green foliage. According to Nature Hills Nursery, it has been named Perennial of the Year. This plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
“Although the blooms will last only for one day, there are many blooms on strong stems that rise above tall grassy foliage, (remove in late fall). Stella de Oro’ is considered to be pest and deer resistant. Use for cut flowers, massing, edging, borders or in mixed containers and tubs.” -Nature Hills Nursery

10. Daylily Alabama Jubilee, Hemerocallis ‘Alabama Jubilee’
Mature Height: 26 to 30 inches
Mature Spread: 18 to 24 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: Red Orange
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-9
Nature Hills Nursery describes the Daylily Alabama Jubilee as having spectacular 7″ flowers which are fluorescent red-orange with a brighter red halo and greenish throat. Blooms appear in early to mid-season. This plant can survive in the cold of the North and the heat of the South. It grows in any soil condition from dry to wet. This plant makes for a carefree and colorful ground cover.
“This remarkable daylily is an excellent grower with healthy pest resistant foliage and sturdy scapes with over 25 buds each! The incredible bloom power and unique color make ‘Alabama Jubilee’ a real head turner. Daylilies are some of the easiest plants to grow and are a good choice for any gardener.” -Nature Hills Nursery

11. Daylily Irish Envy, Hemerocallis ‘Irish Envy’
Mature Height: 18 to 24 inches
Mature Spread: 18 to 24 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: Yellow
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-9
The Daylily Irish Envy has yellow flowers that are edged with softer yellow ruffles around each petal. It grows in any soil condition and is very easy to grow. This plant makes for a beautiful ground cover and crowd out ugly weeds.
“This early summer bloomer is a re-blooming variety, so you will enjoy an encore of more blooms in mid-late summer! Daylilies are some of the easiest plants to grow and are a good choice for any gardener. Use for stand alone plantings, edging, in borders or in mixed containers and tubs.” -Nature Hills Nursery

12. Hosta ‘Gold Standard’, Hosta fortunei
Mature Height: 24 inches
Mature Spread: 36 – 48 inches
Soil Type: Widely Adaptable
Moisture: Moist
Mature Form: Mounding, Clump
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full Shade
Flower Color: Pale Lavender
Fall Color: Gold, Green
Foliage Color: Gold, Green
Zones: 3-8
According to Nature Hills Nursery, the Hosta ‘Gold Standard’, Hosta fortunei, has heart-shaped large broad leaves with creamy yellow and variable dark green margins. This plant is known more for its beautiful foliage than its pretty pinkish, lavender flowers. It needs moist, but well-drained soil and full shade.
“A great choice for any beginner gardener.” -Nature Hills Nursery

13. Hibiscus Luna Red, Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Luna Red’
Mature Height: 2 to 3 feet
Mature Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: Red
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 4-9
The Hibiscus Luna Red is a compact, bushy plant with dinner plate-sized, five-petaled, hollyhock-like gigantic 8″ bright burgundy red flowers. This plant requires fertile, well-drained soil and plenty of moisture. Plant before the summer heat sets in.
The shorter stature of Hibiscus ‘Luna Red’ makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or large patio containers. Deer resistant! Hibiscus needs little care once established, attracts butterflies, and it has the largest flowers of any perennial!” -Nature Hills Nursery

14. Hosta Maui Butttercups
Mature Height: 8 to 10 inches
Mature Spread: 12 to 14 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
Flower Color: Purple
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Yellow
Zones: 3-9
Hosta Maui Butttercups has bright, rounded leaves, which are deeply cupped and corrugated. The ‘Maui Buttercups’ has flared, medium violet flowers. This plant grows best in moist, well-drained soil. It requires high-filtered or dappled sunlight. Morning sun helps to intensify the leaf colors, but hot afternoon sun can be deadly.
“‘Maui Buttercups’ is a nice medium sized hosta that brightens the shade garden, and one of the very best yellow hostas. This low care perennial is ideal for shady positions. They are most at home in shady, woodland settings and often work well as specimen or edging plants.” -Nature Hills Nursery

15. The Hosta Touch of Class
Mature Height: 24 inches
Mature Spread: 20 inches
Soil Type: Widely Adaptable
Moisture: Moist
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Slow
Sun Exposure: Full Shade – Partial Sun
Flower Color: Lavender
Fall Color: Blue, Yellow
Foliage Color: Blue, Yellow
Zones: 3-9
The Hosta Touch of Class only has dark blue up-right leaves with a yellow gold flame in the leaf center. This plant has lavender flowers, but is more known for its leaves. It needs moist, well-drained soil in full shade. This plant is very low maintenance!

16. Phlox Alexandra, Phlox paniculata ‘Alexandra’
Mature Height: 24 to 28 inches
Mature Spread: 18 to 24 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Flower Color: Deep Pink
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-8
Nature Hills Nursery describes the Phlox Alexandra, Phlox paniculata ‘Alexandra’, as having bright rosy red flowers, which have small silvery white centers that stand atop very dark green foliage. Bright non-fading fragrant colorful flowers! Expect beautiful dense foliage.
“Growing 2-3′ tall, they are excellent for perennial borders, corners and for cut flowers. Butterflies love them! Plant about 18-20″ apart in rich, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade.” -Nature Hills Nursery

17. Sea Shell Peony, Paeonia ‘Sea Shell’
Mature Height: 2 to 3 feet
Mature Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Soil Type: Well drained
Moisture: Widely adaptable
Mature Form: Rounded
Growth Rate: Medium
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Flower Color: Pink
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 3-7
The Sea Shell Peony has large, single flowers of bright pink that have a center of yellow stamens, which stand out in any garden. This plant is very adaptable to all soils. Peonies can survive in limited shade and live best in full sun. Peonies are simple to grow and are a beautiful addition to any garden!
“A Gold Medal Winner, it is one of the best pink singles! Since it is a tall plant, it is great at the back of border. As a bonus, it makes a superior cut flower! Often thought of as a plant used on the farm or out in the country, they bring a little bit of that country feeling to your garden.” -Nature Hills Nursery

18. Violet Etain
Mature Height: 6 to 8 inches
Mature Spread: 6 to 8 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
Flower Color: Yellow
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 5-8
According to Nature Hills Nursery, the Violet Etain has large 1.75″ lemon yellow flowers beautiful contrasting lavender margins and are incredibly fragrant. This plant grows best in cool, moist, shady environments. It can tolerate full sun, but prefers partial to full shade. Cut back after the first bloom cycle, and it will likely bloom again in the fall.
“Very long flowering from May through October!” -Nature Hills Nursery

19. Violet Rebecca
Mature Height: 8 to 10 inches
Mature Spread: 8 to 10 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Moisture: Moderate
Mature Form: Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
Flower Color: White
Fall Color: N/A
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 5-8
Nature Hills Nursery describes the Violet Rebecca as having a “sweet, vanilla scented flowers that are uniquely colored white with a yellow flush in the center, and then flecked with deep purple around the edges.” This plant grows best in cool, moist, shady environments. Cut back after the first bloom cycle, and it will likely bloom again in the fall.
“Very long blooming, in cooler areas of the country, Viola ‘Rebecca’ flowers from May through October!” -Nature Hills Nursery

20. Clematis Reiman, Clematis ‘Reiman’™’
Mature Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Soil Type: Widely Adaptable
Moisture: Moist
Mature Form: Climbing
Growth Rate: Medium
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Flower Color: Violet Blue
Flowering Date: Spring and summer
Foliage Color: Green
Zones: 4-9
The flowers of the Clematis Reiman are bluish-purple with intense red streaks down the center of each petal. This plant requires a supporting structure to grow properly. Clematis is easy to grow in rich soil with plenty of room for the roots to spread. Shade the roots, but make sure the tops get plenty of sun light.

All information on perennials was provided by Nature Hills Nursery at www.naturehills.com. Check out their website to view pictures of all of the perennial listed above and for more information on each perennial. Also, you may purchase perennials on their website. Happy landscaping and gardening to all!

List of Sources:
www.naturehills.com/catalong/Perennials.aspx?page=0
Nature Hills Nursery