|
Northern
Gardening
Guide
to Hardy Perennials
H-L
A-B,
C-D,
E-G,
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 |
|
HELENIUM
(Helen's
Flower, Sneezeweed)
H.
autumnale
'Mardi Gras,'
'Butterpat,' 'Bruno,' 'Brilliant,' 'Moerheim
Beauty'
 |
3 |
2-4
ft. |
Full Sun
to Partial Shade |
Late Summer |
Small,
daisy-like flowers with very colorful centers. Good for cut flower
arrangements. |
H.
hoopesii
|
3 |
24-36
in. |
Full
Sun |
Late Spring |
This
helenium is not a fall bloomer, but instead blooms about the same
time as bearded iris. The petals open sideways, and are a mustard yellow.
Gray-green foliage. |
|
HELIOPSIS
(False
Sunflower, Oxeye) H.
helianthoides var. scabra
'Golden
Plume', 'Karat', 'Summer Sun'
 |
3 |
30
in-4 ft. |
Full
Sun |
Late Spring |
Very
long season of bloom. 3-4 in. bright yellow blossoms good for cutting. |
|
HEMEROCALLIS
(Daylily)
H.
fulva
(Tawny
daylily, Ditch Lily)
|
3 |
3
ft. |
Full
Sun to Partial Shade |
Early Summer |
H.
fulva is the common orange daylily you see growing alongside roads. A good
ground cover for naturalized settings. |
H
x hybrida
'Happy Returns', 'Bitsy', Stella de Oro'
 |
3 |
12
in.-4 ft. |
Full
Sun to Partial Shade |
Early Summer to
Early Fall |
The
best perennial for the low-maintenance landscape. All varieties on the
left are repeat bloomers. |
heuchera
(Coral Bells)H.
x hybrida
'Chocolate Ruffles', 'Cathedral Windows' (photo), 'Palace Purple',
Mt. St. Helens', 'Brandon Pink', 'Rain of Fire'
|
3 |
18-30 in. |
Full Sun to Partial Shade |
Early Summer |
I grow coral bells primarily for
their beautiful foliage, but some varieties also have bright pink to red
flowers. Heuchera 'Coral Cloud' & 'Northern Fire' need to be regularly
divided and are prone to winter heaving so mulching is recommended. |
|
HOSTA
H.
x hybrida
'Francis Williams', 'Golden Tiara', 'Halcyon', 'Honeybells',
'Krossa Regal', Patriot', 'Sum and Substance' 
|
3 |
12
in. to 3 ft. |
Partial
to Full Shade |
Mid-Summer |
One of
the most popular perennials for the home landscape. Please read my article
on Hosta Virus X for information on how to avoid
buying infected plants or spreading HVX to other hosta plants. |
|
IBERIS
(Candytuft)
I.
sempervirens
'Purity', 'Autumn Snow',
Pygmaea', Alexander's White'
|
3 |
4-12
in. |
Full
Sun |
Mid-Spring |
This evergreen plant makes a good edging.
the neat mound of glossy dark green foliage is covered with clusters of
white flowers. 'Purity' has larger flowers and a longer blooming season. |
|
INULA
(Sunray
Flower)
I.
ensifolia
|
3 |
12-18
in. |
Full
Sun |
Late Spring |
2 in. yellow, daisy-like flowers almost
all season if deadheaded regularly. Plant in well-drained soil. Good rock garden
plant. |
|
IRIS
I.
siberica
(Siberian Iris)
'Ceasar's Brothers',
'Atoll',
Flight of Butterflies', 'Summer Skies'
 |
3 |
2-3
ft. |
Full
Sun to Partial Shade |
Late Spring |
This species blooms in purples, mauve and
white and requires a moist location. Usually dies out in the center which
means division at least every three years. |
I.
crestata
(Crested Iris) |
3 |
4-8
in. |
Light
to Partial Shade |
Mid-Spring |
A
woodland wildflower, this small iris grows best in an acid soil. Violet,
yellow or white blossoms are 2-4 inches wide. Good as a rock garden plant. |
I.
x
hybrida
(Bearded Iris) |
3 |
1-4
ft. |
Full
Sun |
Late Spring |
Iris
borers are a serious problem. Should only be divided right after blooming
and infected rhizomes entirely removed. |
I.
x
hybrida
(Miniature Dwarf Iris) |
3 |
6-9 in. |
Full Sun to Light Shade |
Mid-Spring |
Blooms earlier than the larger bearded
iris and seems to be more resistant to iris borer and other pests. |
|
LIATRIS
(Gayfeather,
Blazing Star)
L.
ligulistylis
|
3 |
3-5
ft. |
Full
Sun |
Late Summer |
Purplish-pink flower spikes that bloom
from the top down. Needs
good drainage. A butterfly magnet. |
L.
spicata
'Kobold' |
3 |
18-24
in. |
Full
Sun |
Mid-Summer |
'Kobold
is the dwarf version of this liatris. Purple flower spikes above a neat
clump of narrow foliage. |
L.
scariosa
'White Spire', September Glory' |
3 |
4-6
ft. |
Full
Sun |
Late Summer |
More
drought resistant than other liatris. |
Ligularia
(Golden Groundsel)
L. dentata
 |
4 |
3-4 ft. |
Partial Shade to Full Sun |
Mid-Summer/Early Fall |
All varieties of ligularia do well in the
bog garden where they get the consistently moist soil that they crave.The
golden-orange daisy-like flowers are very popular with butterflies. |
|
LIMONIUM
(Sea
Lavender, German Statice, Perennial Statice)
L.
latifolium
'Violetta'
|
3 |
12-24
in. |
Full
Sun |
Mid-Summer |
Lavender sprays similar to baby's breath.
Can be divided, but will be slow to recover. Appreciates a well-drained
soil. |
lysimachia
(Loosestrife)L.
clethroides
(Gooseneck Loosestrife)
|
3 |
3 ft. |
Partial Shade |
Mid-Summer |
A lovely plant whose only fault is that
it can be invasive if planted near other perennials. White arching, flower
heads. |
L.
punctata
(Yellow Loosestrife) |
3 |
30
in. |
Full
Sun to Partial Shade |
Early Summer |
You
will see this old-fashioned plant growing by many older homes.
Lemon-yellow flowers encircle the stiff stem. Invasive. |
