Perennials

Perennials

Our enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable perennials team is here to answer your questions and help you choose the best perennials for your situation. There’s always something in bloom for sun, shade, butterflies, birds or deer resistance  as well as a variety of bulbs for your space.

Stroll through our time-tested favorites and introduce yourself to the newest varieties. We garden with perennials too; we love them and it shows!

Aster divaricatus 'Eastern Star'

Small, white flowers appear in clusters on dark, burgundy stems. USDA 3-8

Aster 'divaricatus'

Height: 30 inches

Spread: 30 inches

Sunlight: partial shade full shade

Hardiness Zone: 3a

Other Names: syn. Aster divaricatus, White Star Aster

Description:
A profusion of airy white flowers with gold to red eyes, over a mound of small green leaves; thrives in shade and tolerates dry conditions; water the root zone instead of from the top to reduce fungal disease; water regularly to encourage more blooms

Ornamental Features:

White Wood Aster has masses of beautiful white flat-top daisy flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from mid to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its small heart-shaped leaves remain light green in color throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes:

White Wood Aster is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration: Disease

White Wood Aster is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
- Container Planting

Planting & Growing:

White Wood Aster will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 4 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to dry locations, and dislikes excessive moisture. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

White Wood Aster is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

Phlox subulata 'Snowflake'

Plant Height: 4 inches

Flower Height: 6 inches

Spacing: 15 inches

Sunlight: full sun, partial shade

Hardiness Zone: 2a

Other Names: Creeping Phlox
Description:
This variety produces a showy carpet of bright white flowers shining in the spring sun; prune lightly after flowering to encourage a dense growth habit; wonderful for rock gardens, edging, or in mixed containers

Ornamental Features:
Snowflake Phlox is smothered in stunning white star-shaped flowers with buttery yellow eyes at the ends of the stems in late spring. Its tiny needle-like leaves remain forest green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes:
Snowflake Phlox is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:

- Spreading

Snowflake Phlox is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover

Planting & Growing:
Snowflake Phlox will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 6 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 15 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Deschampsia cespitosa

Rich-green fronds have a dense, upright growth habit. White, puffy plumes in late summer. USDA 4-9

Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau'

Cool season semi-evergreen ornamental grass. Deep, dark green foliage and airy, golden yellow flowers. USDA 4-9

Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners'

Height: 3 feet

Spacing: 30 inches

Sunlight: full sun partial shade

Hardiness Zone: 2a

Other Names: False Dragonhead

Ornamental Features:
Miss Manners Obedient Plant has masses of beautiful spikes of white hooded flowers rising above the foliage from mid summer to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its pointy leaves remain dark green in color throughout the
season.

Landscape Attributes:

Miss Manners Obedient Plant is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Miss Manners Obedient Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing:

Miss Manners Obedient Plant will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 30 inches apart. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Stachys byzantina 'Helen Von Stein'

Silvery green foliage. Flowering stems are rare. USDA 4-9

Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum'

Fragrant white blooms. Varigated foliage. Naturalizing. USDA 3-8

Helleborus x 'Walhelivor'

Height: 15 inches

Spacing: 14 inches

Sunlight: partial shade full shade

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Other Names: Lenten Rose, Winter Rose

Description:
Large dangling buttercup-type flowers of ivory streaked with rose and chartreuse emerge in late winter and spring, one of the first flowers to come up in cool weather and what a beautiful harbinger they are; great in woodland gardens and on shaded slopes

Ornamental Features:
Ivory Prince Hellebore features showy nodding white cup-shaped flowers with chartreuse overtones and rose streaks at the ends of the stems from late winter to early spring. Its glossy oval compound leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes:
Ivory Prince Hellebore is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Ivory Prince Hellebore is recommended for the following landscape applications:
- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing:
Ivory Prince Hellebore will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Helleborus x ballardiae 'COSEH 700'

Ivory rose outward facing blooms. Glossy foliage. USDA 5-8

Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride'

Plant Height: 24 inches

Flower Height: 3 feet

Spacing: 20 inches

Sunlight: full sun partial shade full shade

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Other Names: Maple Leaf Alumroot, Coralbells

Description:
Airy spikes of creamy bells rise from a large, dense mound of cup shaped, ruffled green foliage, great versatility; keep soil moist in heat of summer

Ornamental Features:
Autumn Bride Hairy Alumroot features showy spikes of creamy white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large crinkled lobed leaves remain green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes:
Autumn Bride Hairy Alumroot is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Autumn Bride Hairy Alumroot is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Container Planting
- Planting & Growing

Autumn Bride Hairy Alumroot will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 20 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. However, you may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Autumn Bride Hairy Alumroot is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

Heuchera 'Silver Scrolls'

Plant Height: 15 inches

Flower Height: 24 inches

Spacing: 10 inches

Sunlight: full sun, partial shade, full shade

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Other Names: Coralbells, Alumroot

Description:
Creamy bells rise from compact mounds of silvery and purple foliage with dark purple and green veins; amazing contrast to other plants;great versatility; keep soil moist in heat of summer

Ornamental Features:
Silver Scrolls Coral Bells is primarily valued in the garden for its distinctive form, with the flower stalks towering over the foliage. It features tiny spikes of creamy white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer. Its attractive crinkled lobed leaves remain silver in color with distinctive deep purple veins and tinges of green throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes:
Silver Scrolls Coral Bells is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Silver Scrolls Coral Bells is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Container Planting
- Planting & Growing

Silver Scrolls Coral Bells will grow to be about 15 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. However, you may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Silver Scrolls Coral Bells is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.