Perfect Perennials for the Garden

Choosing the best perennial plants for your style of gardening takes some time and thought process. If you have an informal garden then perhaps the cottage mix would work well for you,  I like perennials not only because you only have to plant once, but because they put on a magnificent showy display year after year with very little pruning or maintenance.  You get more bang for the buck.  

The best perennials plants for your particular garden should include a mix of short, medium and tall plants that bloom early, mid-season and late season.  I encourage gardeners to plant lots of white perennials to contrast the bold riotous colors from the rest of the perennials.

I have listed a few of my favorites, which does not include the entire range and selection of perennials.  Drop me a comment and let me know your favorites.

 Hollyhocks are by far my favorite cottage garden plant.  Their regal height brings your eyes up to view the blossoms and gently guides you to view the trees, the sky, the birds flying in midair.  The seeds are also among the easiest to start and the plant is winter hardy. It blooms mid-season and can reach 10 ft.

The old fashioned medicinal foxglove plant makes a stately appearance in June to July. Their lovely pastel color adds a softness to the garden and the medium height adds dimension and structure and I love the whimsy look of the foxglove in the back of the garden. Bees and hummingbirds love this flower.

 Bellflower is a tough perennial that produces spikes of white or blue blooms in early and midsummer. Like most cottage garden plants, the flowers are great for cutting. They will grow in full sun or partial shade and grow to a stately 3 feet or more. They will start from seeds fairly easy.

Easy to grow and beautiful, columbine blooms in spring and early summer. The colorful blooms are loved by hummingbirds and gardeners alike. I can't imagine a garden without these little beauties. They grow to about one to two feet tall.

In spring and early summer, Coral bells produce sprays of pink, red, or wh
ite flowers. These flowers are a top choice of hummingbirds. They can grow to a height of 3 feet, but in my garden they only grow to about 2 foot, this is the height I prefer as they do not compete with the Delphiniums or Foxgloves.  Cora bells prefer a little shade.

Delphinium produces stately spires in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white, and are about as regal as garden flowers come. Unfortunately, taller types need staking to protect them from wind but they're well worth this bit of extra work. They will grow to a height of 6 ft. and do prefer some shade.

Daisies offer a simplistic beauty that works well in any cottage garden. Their bright white blooms with sunny yellow centers are perfect for beds and borders, as well as vases. They will grow from 2 to 3 ft. in your garden and prefer good well drained soil. Daisies will grow in full sun or partial shade.

Bees Balm or Monarda is a paradise for bees and hummingbirds. It blooms non stop all summer and it's medium height is good for the borders of your garden. They can come in an assortment of colors. They will start well from seeds. They like full sun and good soil.