Northern Gardening 

Guide to Hardy Perennials 

E-G

A-B, C-D, H-L, M-Q, R-Z 

(Click the thumbnail photo under each plant name for a larger picture and description.)

 

PLANT NAME

ZONE

HEIGHT

LIGHT NEEDS

BLOOM TIME

PLANT DESCRIPTION

ECHINACEA
 (Purple Coneflower)   

E. purpurea 'Magnus', Bravado', Bright Star'  

 

 

3

3 ft.

 Full Sun Mid-Summer The prickly, bright orange "cones" stand out on this purplish-rose, butterfly favorite. Can be short-lived in the coldest climates--but will usually reseed itself if cones are left to fall.

EUPATORIUM
(Joe-Pye Weed)  

E. purpureum 'Atropurpureum,' Gateway'

 3 4-6 ft. Full Sun

Late Summer

 Good for water gardens or in the back of a large garden. Rose-pink to purple flowers and purplish foliage. Likes a very moist soil, but will tolerate most soils. A butterfly magnet.

EUPHORBIA
(Cushion Spurge) 

E. polychromaEuphorbia

 3 12-18 in. Full Sun Mid-Spring An interesting perennial that "blooms" with bright yellow bracts in the spring. In the fall the attractive foliage turns a beautiful reddish-orange.

FILIPENDULA
(Meadowsweet)   

F. purpurea (Japanese Meadowsweet)

 

 3 30-36 in. Full Sun Early Summer White blossoms with crimson red stems.
F. rubra
(Queen of the Prairie, Meadowsweet)
'Venusta' Filipendula		 3 4-7 ft. Full Sun  Early Summer Good back of the border plant. Will spread rampantly in a damp soil. Large plumes of fragrant peach-pink flowers.
F. vulgaris
'Plena'		 3 2 ft. Full Sun  Early Summer Grown for its attactive, fern-like foliage and white flowers.
gaillardia
 (Blanket Flower) 

G. x grandiflora
'Burgundy', 'Red Plume', 'Yellow Queen', 'Goblin' Gaillardia

 3 12-36 in. Full Sun Early Summer to Frost A short-lived perennial that does well in hot, dry locations. Its bloom time is unparalleled, flowering most of the summer and well into fall. Should reseed.

GERANIUM
(Cranesbill)

G. x hybrida 
'Nimbus', 'Johnson's Blue'

 4 12-20 in. Full Sun to Light Shade Late Spring Attractive foliage, blue flowers and a long bloom period distinguish these hybrid, hardy geraniums.
G. ibericum 3 18 in. Full Sun to Light Shade Early Summer Violet flower. Good fall color.
G. macrorrhizum
 (Bigroot Geranium)
 'Ingwersen's Variety'		 3 12-18 in.  Full Sun to Partial  Shade Late Spring Pink, purple and magenta blossoms and fragrant foliage. Good ground cover for shady areas.
G. sanguineum  (Bloody Cranesbill) 'Alpenglow', 'Shepherds Warning', 'New Hampshire Purple' 3 6-18 in.  Full Sun to Light Shade Early Summer Pink to carmine-red flowers for a long blooming season. Attractive foliage turns deep red in autumn. The var. striatum has a dwarf growing habit.

GYPSOPHILA
(Baby's Breath) 

G. paniculata
'Bristol Fairy', 'Perfecta', 'Pink Fairy'

 3 2-3 ft. Full Sun Early Summer Airy masses of white flowers that are a staple in cut flower bouquets.  Can grow to be over 3 ft. wide, so plant accordingly because it resents transplanting. 
G. repens 3 4-12 in. Full Sun Late Spring Good edging or rock garden plant. 'Rosea' is a brighter pink.

Perennials A-B, C-D, H-L, M-Q, R-Z

You can find more info on hardy perennials in:

"Perennials for Every Purpose" by Larry Hodgson.  This excellent book is written by a Quebec gardener who has pretty much covered every perennial worth growing in the North. As if that weren't enough--he also has advice on designing and installing a new perennial bed with some sample garden designs to get you started. This book is a great reference tool for any gardener--novice to expert.

Return to Northern Gardening