Yesterday I popped by a few of the local nurseries on the hunt for perennials. Specifically I’m trying t find pink, purple, lime green and maybe some coral perennials that have staying power.
Plants that will bloom more than a week or two. Maybe you have some suggestions?
Two of my stops had dahlias, which I LOVE, but I forgot to dig mine up last fall and they rotted. Dahlias would count as a perennial… right? I mean if I dug them up?
Another one I liked was this purple baptisia. I’ve never grown baptisia before. The flowers look sort of like a softer, prettier, lupine to me.
Do you live in New England? Do you have these in your backyard? Are they easy to grow? Do the blooms keep on coming?
I have a sneaking suspicion that by the end of summer there will be a full blown cottage garden out front.
Even the HH is starting to get into going flower hunting with me. Which is sort of hilarious. Usually he’s just the guy who unloads the car and digs the holes.
But now he has opinions. 😉
I think if it were actually possible to live in a greenhouse surrounded by topiaries and flowers, I would. One of these days I’m going to get a topiary in one of those glorious pots. Mark my words.
One of the dreamiest potting sheds around.
If only there was a wood stove and a little hooking nook this would be the perfect hideaway during the winter months.
Flower pots and rugs… What more do you need? Well, tea and pastries.
And maybe a duck or two.
Gardening season… It’s finally here. I’ll probably be tired of yard work come September… but right now, the only thing I want to do is play outside.
I hope you have a lovely weekend. 🙂
Peace Out.
~Mavis
Nancy Settel says
Mavis have you thought about Cat Mint (it doesn’t draw cats to the yard)? Such a beautiful lavender/purple color and blooms so much through the summer. Cut it back a bit in June/July and it perks right back up for late summer. We have always used it at all of our houses over the years and it is always a winner. We always did pink, lavender and blues. Knock out roses, blue hydrangas, cat mint, etc. Check it out I think you will like it.
Mel says
I second catmint and would add blue and black sage!
Nancy Settel says
Mel great idea! Nancy
J in OH-IO says
Some ideas for purple perennial- salvia, purple cone flowers, lavender, phlox, Russian sage, Alliums (whimsical puff balls in early spring!)
Pink perennial- bee balm,
Zinnias, bleeding heart, pink sedum, peonies, phlox
Coral- tulips (salmon colored?)
Lime green- hosta, (for planters sweet potato vines but they are not perennials but would add a pop of bright green), and ground cover creeping Jenny (but it creeps everywhere)
Love the pallet color combo – happy gardening!
Brianna says
I have 1 baptista. The first year it was small and didn’t do well. The second year the deer ate it down, so much for being deer-resistant. The third year it was small and sad and borderline being replaced. This year, fourth year, it is bushy and wide and was one of the first to bloom. It bloomed for two weeks or so and then decided it was done. I am zone 7a.
Sarah says
I am over in the Sunapee region of NH and the purple baptisia does beautifully in my yard. It is easy to split and easy to seed save.
Sue says
IMNSHO, anything that has to be dug up in the fall and replanted in the spring does NOT count as a perennial.
Delphiniums are breathtaking; my mother had glorious swaths of them in her foundation plantings. But their toxicity is a consideration.
Lana says
I adore potted topiaries and I have bought a bunch of them but no matter what I do I have not been able to pull them through the winter. And I am a complete failure at keeping them trimmed into a ball. But if you don’t mind the cost of a one season deal go for it. They have brought me joy all summer long.
Laura says
Crocosmia is a nice orange perennial that spreads well
J in OH-IO says
Hardy Geraniums are purple, too.
suzanne says
Agree with the catmint, cone flower, bee balms, russian sage (smaller varieties) and the hardier salvia. I have them in pink, purple and white. Penstemon, Cimicifuga, many new sedums, astilbe’s, ruby pigsqueak and euphorbia’s will continue the purply or lime color long after the flowers fade. Clematis comes in many colors and is easily trimmed into a bush. Look at Sapphire Indigo sold by white flower farm. If you’re happy with leaf color and texture than bronze fennel, Purple sage, many grasses and Heuchera’s or coral bells can’t be beat and huge range of colors. If you want a specific flower shape and color you may be stuck growing the very popular annuals. Amaranth’s and zinnia seed come in every color, seed is easy to collect and they’ll sell like hotcakes. Lastly smaller easily trimmed shrubs like spirea and hybrid barberry’s.
Richelle says
Agree!
Bonnie in Ga says
Good afternoon Mavis, have you thought of encore azaleas? They have several colors and bloom most of the warm season.
I think they may work up north.
Julie says
Millennial Allium!!! Beautiful bulbs that last a long time!!! Honey suckle…Mr Wheeler….something?? Comes and goes, but all summer ling and it’s viney. And my mist beautiful favorite ….Winecups!! Also known as Purple Poppy Mallow!! I would HOPE it grows up there!!
I love cottage gardens!!!
MK says
I have baptisia in my garden & I love it! Beautiful and has gotten fuller each year (in 7b). Another plus is that it forms really neat pods if left to go to seed. Black & interesting in dried arrangements.
Richelle says
I love mine, too. It has reliably bloomed annually for at least 20 years. No special care needed. Be warned that the flowers can stain (native peoples used them for dye, hence the common name false indigo).
Richelle says
… in Tacoma
Christa H says
The Van Engelen site is active today to get your bulbs. I already missed out on one kind I wanted.
Nanci Fitschen says
I found false indigo to be very invasive with tap root that seemed to go to the center of the earth. Very hard to get rid of. Don’t plant creeping jenny or creeping charlie. Also invasive and hard to get rid of.
Judi Y. says
Oh my. Those pots the bushes and topiaries are in are everything I’ve ever dreamed of. You NEED to have a couple of those! If anyone in the world deserves them, it’s you.
Denise says
Lady’s mantle is a wonderful perennial with lime green flowers, bright pink yarrow blooms all summer and I also love foxgloves and delphiniums.
Mallory Lemieux says
My columbines bloomed all summer long last year. I’ve got a coral/terracotta variety, and a blue/purple variety. Interesting looking/dainty flowers, but pretty hardy plants.
Salvia/catmint have great staying power as well. I’ve only seen purple locally.