Search: >>Home Get new gardening articles e-mailed to you! Growing Perennials in the USA Friday, December 29, 2006 TIPS FOR GROWING PERENNIALS Herbaceous perennials generally survive well for three or more growing seasons, with the tops usually dying back to the ground in the autumn. The plant's crown and roots resume new growth in the next spring season. A few perennials are evergreen, retaining a green rosette of leaves at the base of the plant during the winter. Hardy perennials can live through the winter without protection. Many plants like cannas and dahlias are hardy perennials in South Carolina and elsewhere in the south, and will not live through the winter outdoors farther to the north. On the other hand, many of the perennials that grow well in the Northeast United States or England will not tolerate hot, humid summers. Since books about perennials are often written for cooler climates, it is important to good information in selecting plants that are adapted specifically to Southern heat and humidity. Check with your garden store to be sure about your selections. ORNAMENTATION IN THE GARDEN Perennials provide color and decor for your landscape all year with endless variations in colors, sizes, and blooming times. Although some perennials flower for only a few weeks at a time, the changing displays form excitement of variation for your perennial garden. Many perennials will bloom again in the warm climate of the south. Some perennials, such as ferns and hostas, are grown specifically for their beautiful foliage. Foliage plants lengthen the season for color and texture in gardening. THE LANDSCAPE While the traditional English perennial plant border was entirely herbaceous perennials, they can be attractively used with other plants in the total landscape for variety of color and texture. Perennials are good ground covers, mixed with annuals, grown in containers, and used to accent garden areas. There are perennials groomed for full sun or heavy shade, and for almost any type of soil. You should select perennials suited to the inherent growing conditions of their planting space. Select a planting area with good air circulation and good drainage. TIPS FOR PLANTING PERENNIALS Good soil preparation is vital to perennials, since they may be in place for several years. Deeply spade the beds to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Enhance clay soils by mixing in at least 2 inches of pine bark humus, compost, leaf mold, or small pea gravel in well to improve drainage and aeration. Improve water retention in sandy soils by mixing in 2 to 3 inches of pine bark humus, composted leaf mold, or peat moss. Good soil drainage is essential to the success of most perennials and raised flowerbeds will ensure adequate drainage. Base your fertilizer and lime applications on the results of a good soil test. In the absence of a soil test, add a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at the rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet of flowerbed area or a complete slow release fertilizer, following the label directions. A pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is goods. Most southern soils are acidic and require the addition of lime to correct pH. Check your soils with a soil test in the north. Incorporate lime and fertilizer, as needed, into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil after mixing in the soil boosters. Then rake the soil surface until smooth. Most perennials are planted in the autumn or early spring. Fall planting gives the plant more time to establish itself before the start of active spring growth. Perennials planted in the fall are well established before hot weather. Fall planting should be finished at least 6 weeks before hard-freezing weather occurs. Early spring, after soils is well thawed, is a good time to plant perennials. Many perennials grow from seed, but many gardeners prefer to established plants. Perennials are available grown in containers, field-grown, or shipped with bare roots and still dormant. If plants are somewhat pot bound at planting time, loosen the roots around the bottom and sides of the root ball and spread them out in the bottom of the planting hole. To encourage side root growth, make the hole twice as wide as it is deep. Place the plant, fill the hole, firming the soil in around the plant to remove air pockets. Be sure the crown of the plant is flush with the soil surface. WATERING Water plants by allowing them to settle first after planting. Pay attention to watering the first few weeks while plants develop root systems and become established. Adequate moisture is essential for perennials. Most perennials require at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water weekly from rain or irrigation. More is needed during hot weather. To promote deep root growth, water thoroughly and allow the soil surface to dry before watering again. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation are ideal. They save water and avoid soaking leaves and flowers. To retain moisture, mulch with a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost, pine bark or pine straw; and avoid heavy mulching. MAINTENANCE Weed control should be done by hand. Follow label directions before using any herbicides. Fertilization should be based on the results of a soil test. In the absence of a soil test, apply a complete fertilizer such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 at the rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet of bed area just before new shoots emerge in the early spring. Avoid touching emerging leaves with fertilizer to avoid damage. Several types of perennials will not bloom the first year; and a few, such as peonies, take several years to bloom fully. Many perennials need to be staked to prevent them from bending during wind and rain. When staking is done correctly, the plants grow to cover the stakes. Remove old flowers to encourage rebloom on perennials. Many perennials must be cut back to ground level after bloom is finished to encourage new leaf growth from the base. Remove dead foliage and stems in the fall, and mulch to protect crowns and roots from mild and freezing weather variations. Most perennials become overcrowded and require division and thinning. Many perennials are easily propagated in this way. Other methods of propagating perennials include stem cuttings, root cuttings, and seeding. PERENNIALS FOR SPECIFIC GARDEN USES Many perennials are available in several different cultivars of various colors, heights, blooms timings, and blooming potentials form small to large flowers. For example, heat resistant and humidity tolerant cultivars like lambs ears are better suited to southern climates in the US than to the northern states. Be sure to consult with a local garden center in your community for perennial cultivars that are especially suited to your region, according to soil type, weather, seasons, and other natural considerations. Below are listed several of the perennial plants that are useful for special purposes. Your experience with the plants may vary somewhat across the USA. Of course, this list is not all inclusive, but does include plants that should work well. Use it as a guide and then experiment a little. The Latin name and a common name are given for most of these following perennial listings. Check with your garden center on your final selections in order to gather more information and planting guidelines. Perennials Successful in Sunny, Dry Areas Achilles Achillea or Yarrow Anthemis tinctoria Golden Marguerite Arabis caucasica Rock Cress Armeria maritime Common or Sea Thrift Artemisia Artemesia Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed Catananche caerulea Cupid's Dart Coreopsis Coreopsis Echinops ritro Small Globe Thistle Euphorbia Spurge Gaillardia Blanket Flower Helianthus x multiflorus Perennial Sunflower Hemerocallis hybrids Daylily Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender Liatris Gayfeather Malva alcea Hollyhock Mallow Oenothera Sundrops Opuntia humifusa Prickly Pear Cactus Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian Sage Polygonum cuspidatum var. compactum Fleeceflower Rudbeckia Blackeyed Susan Sedum Autumn Joy, Showy Stonecrop, Live Forever Sempervivum tectorum Hens and Chickens Stachys byzantina Lamb's Ear Yucca filimentosa Yucca Perennials Successful in Poor or Sandy Soils Achillea species Yarrow Anthemis tinctoria Golden Marguerite Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed Baptisia species Wild Indigo Belamcanda chinensis Blackberry Lily Euphorbia species Spurge Gaillardia species Blanket Flower Gaura lindheimerii Gaura Hemerocallis species Daylily Hesperaloe parviflora False Red Yucca Lantana species Lantana Plumbago auriculata Plumbago Salvia greggi Texas Sage Setcrasea pallida Purple Heart Yucca species Yucca Perennials Successful in Moist to Wet Areas Aruncus dioicus Goat's Beard Astilbe x arendsii Astilbe Campanula glomerata Clustered Bellflower Cimicifuga racemosa Black Snakeroot Dicentra Bleeding Heart Houttuynia cordata Variegata, Houttuynia Iris ensata Japanese Iris Ligularia Ligularia Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower Lysimachia clethroides Gooseneck Loosestrife Lysimachia punctata Yellow Loosestrife Matteuccia pensylvanica Ostrich fern Physostegia virginiana Obedient Plant Rodgersia pinnata Featherleaf, Rodgersflower Tradescantia x andersoniana Virginia Spiderwort Trollis europaeus Globeflower Perennials Successful in Full Shade Ajuga reptans Bugleweed Arum italicum Pictum, Painted Arum Asarum Wild Gingers Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley Dodecatheon media Common Shooting Star Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff Helleborus orientalis Lenten Rose Hosta Hosta Lamium maculatum Spotted Deadnettle Liriope spicata Creeping Lilyturf Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Polygonatum biflorum Small Solomon's Seal Polygonatum commutatum Great Solomon's Seal Pulmonaria angustifolia Blue Lungwort Pulmonaria saccharata Bethlehem Sage Tiarella cordifolia Foam Flower Tradescantia x andersoniana Virginia Spiderwort Viola odorata Sweet Violet Perennials Successful in Partial Shade Alchemilla mollis Lady's Mantle Anemone x hybrida Japanese Anemone Aquilegia Columbine Astilbe Astilbe Bergenia cordifolia Heartleaf Bergenia Brunnera macrophylla Siberian Bugloss Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Plumbago Dicentra Bleeding Heart Doronicum cordatum Leopardsbane Geranium Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium Heuchera sanguinea Coralbells Myosotis sylvatica Garden Forgetmenot Tricyrtis hirta Toadlily Perennials Good for a Long Blooming Season Achillea Moonshine Yarrow Asclepias tuberose Butterfly Weed Coreopsis lanceolata Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata Moonbeam Dicentra eximia Fringed Bleeding Heart Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower Gaillardia x grandiflora Blanket Flower Rudbeckia fulgida Goldsturm Blackeyed Susan Salvia x superba Perennial Salvia Scabiosa Pincushion Flower Sedum Autumn Joy, Showy Stonecrop, Live-Forever Veronica spicata Sunny Border Blue, Spike Speedwell Perennials that Produce Fragrant Flowers Arabis caucasica Rock Cress Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley Dianthus plumarius Cottage Pinks Dictamnus albus Gas Plant Hosta plantaginea Fragrant Plantain Lily Iris hybrids Iris Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender Paeonia lactiflora Peony Viola odorata Sweet Violet Perennials that Produce Flowers Good for Cutting Achillea Achillea or Yarrow Aconitum napellus Garden Monkshood Alchemilla mollis Lady's Mantle Anemone x hybrida Japanese Anemone Aquilegia Columbine Armeria maritima Common or Sea Thrift Astrantia major Great Masterwort Campanula persicifolia Peachleaf Bellflower Chrysanthemum x superbum Shasta Daisy Convallaria majalus Lily of the Valley Coreopsis Coreopsis Delphinium elatum Delphinium or Larkspur Dicentra Bleeding Heart Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower Echinops ritro Small Globe Thistle Gaillardia Blanket Flower Gypsophilia paniculata Baby's Breath Heliopsis helianthoides Sunflower Heliopsis Heuchera sanguinea Coralbells Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender Liatris Gayfeather Lilium Hardy Lilies Lupinus Russel Hybrid Lupine Paeonia hybrids Peony Penstemon Beardtongue Platycodon grandiflorus Balloon Flower Rudbeckia Blackeyed Susan Scabiosa Pincushion Flower Stokesia laevis Stokes Aster Veronica spicata Spike Speedwell Perennials Ideal for Dried Flower or Fruit Arrangements Achillea Achillea or Yarrow Alchemilla mollis Lady's Mantle Asclepias tuberose Butterfly Weed Baptisia australis False Indigo Catananche caerulea Cupid's Dart Echinops ritro Small Globe Thistle Gypsophilia paniculata Baby's Breath Iris siberica Siberian Iris and its seed pod Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender Liatris Gayfeather Limonium latifolium Statice Papaver orientale Oriental Poppy and its seed pod Physalis alkekengi Chinese Lantern and its seed pod Scabiosa Pincushion Flower Perennials that Attract Butterflies Achillea Achillea or Yarrow Armeria maritime Common or Sea Thrift Aruncus dioicus Goat's Beard Asclepias tuberose Butterfly Weed Aubrieta deltoidea False Rock Cress Chrysanthemum Mums Coreopsis Coreopsis Dictamnus albus Gas Plant Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower Gaillardia Blanket Flower Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender Liatris Gayfeather Monarda didyma Bee Balm Phlox paniculata Summer Phlox Rudbeckia Blackeyed Susan Sedum Autumn Joy, Showy Stonecrop, Live-Forever Perennials that Attract to Hummingbirds Alcea rosea Hollyhock Aquilega Columbine Asclepias tuberose Butterfly Weed Dianthus Cottage Pinks Dicentra Bleeding Heart Digitalis Foxglove Hemerocallis Daylily Heuchera sanguinea Coralbells Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower Monarda didyma Bee Balm Penstemon Beardtongue Perennials that Attract Other Birds Actea, or Baneberry: Actea rubra with red berries and Actea spicata with white berries Ligularia clivorum Lupins Perennial grasses, genus Panicum: Panicum virgatum Perennials That Can Be Invasive Aegopodium podagraria Goutweed Ajuga Bugleweed Artemisia ludoviciana Western Mugwort Arundinaria Bamboo Arundo donax Giant Reed Bambusa species Clumping Bamboo Campanula rapunculoides Creeping Bellflower Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Oxeye Daisy Coronilla varia Crown Vetch Cortaderia jubata Purple Pampas Grass Equisetum hyemale Horsetail Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress Spurge Elymus arenarius Blue Lyme Grass Eupatorium coelestinum Hardy Ageratum Hemerocallis fulva Common Daylily, Ditch Lily Houttuynia cordata Chameleon Plant Imperata cylindrica Japanese Blood Grass Iris pseudocorus Yellow Iris Lantana camara Lantana Lychnis coronaria Rose Campion Lysimachia Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife Miscanthus sinensis Silver Grass, Zebra Grass Macleaya Plume Poppy Mentha Mint Oenothera Evening Primrose Persicaria virginiana Tovara Phalaris arundinaceae Ribbon Grass Phyllostachys Japanese Bamboo Physostegia virginiana Obedient Plant Polygonum Knotweed Tanacetum vulgare Tansy Vernonia Ironweed 5:21 PM Comments: Post a Comment << Home

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