Categories: Gardening

Perennials that Bloom All Season Long

Perennials are beautiful when they are blooming. If you want constant color through the growing seasons, the Tristan strawberry, Prunella and angel trumpet won’t disappoint. They are easy to grow and require little care.

Tristan Strawberry

What could be better than a blooming plant that also provides you with sweet tasting fruit? The Tristan strawberry gives you both. This perennial came from Holland and it is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 8. The flowers look like the kind you find on regular strawberry plants, but instead of being white, they are a deep rose color. Tristan strawberries are a small, compact plant. You can grow this strawberry in raised beds or in 4 to 6 inch pots filled with well-drained soil. Place the pot in a sunny location. Tristan strawberry plants grow 12 inches in height with a 20 to 25 inch spread.

Prunella

This beautiful flowering plant is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 8. It grows 7 to 12 inches in height with a spread of about 10 inches. Prunella, is also a herbaceous perennial, which means that the stems are soft and green. Although the foliage dies back in the winter, it will grow again in the spring. If you live in the colder zones, plant prunella in an area with full sun exposure. For people living in warmer zones, prunella can grow well in part shade during the hot afternoons. This plant tolerates almost any type of soil. The flower colors are blue, pink, red, and purple. If you like blue flowers, try growing the Freelander Blue prunella.

Angel Trumpet

The angel trumpet is a native plant from South America. It is a hardy perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 9 through 11. In these zones you can plant the angel trumpet in the ground or grow them in pots Angel trumpets are excellant container plants and they make a wonderful addition to your deck or patio. If you live in a zone that is lower than 9, grow them in a pot so you can move them indoors in the fall. Some angel trumpet plants can survive in zone 8, but a frost will kill them unless they are protected. You can over winter them in a sunny window or prune them back and store them in a cool, dark place such as a basement. One rare variety is the Lavender angel trumpet. The flowers are lavender colored and very fragrant.

Grow the angel trumpet in full sun, unless you live in the warmer climates, find an area that offers some shade during the hot afternoon hours. Angel trumpets are often thirsty, so water often. Don’t water it so much that the soil remains soggy. otherwise the roots will rot. The soil should remain evenly moist. The flowers are fragrant and come in several colors such as white, yellow, pink and double lavender. This plant grows to a height of 6 to 8 feet and prefers a moist soil. All parts of the angel trumpet are poisonous. If you decide to grow this plant in your yard or home, keep it out of reach from children and pets.

Sources:

Gardening: How to Plant and Car for Tristan Strawberries