Northern Gardening 

Guide to Hardy Perennials 

M-Q

A-B, C-D, E-G, H-L, 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
macleaya
 (Plume Poppy)

M. cordata

 3 6-8 ft. Sun to Partial Shade Mid-Summer This huge perennial is best planted in a natural landscape. It can become invasive. The small, white flowers bloom for a long period and can be used as dried flowers.

MERTENSIA
(Virginia Bluebells)   

M. virginica

3

18-24 in.

 Partial Shade Mid-Spring Pink blossoms that turn blue as they mature. A beautiful companion to spring-flowering bulbs. Transplant when it goes dormant.
monarda
 (Bee Balm)

M. hybrids

4 15-48 in. Full Sun to Partial Shade Mid-Summer Hybrid monarda are not as winter hardy as their wild relative M. fistulosa. Even the newer hybrid varieties will  eventually succumb to mildew (but not as fast). Hummingbird favorite.

NEPETA
(Catmint)   

N. x faassenii
N. x mussinii
'Walker's Low,' 'Dropmore', 'Blue Wonder'Nepeta x faassenii

3

6-36 in.

 Full Sun to Partial Shade Early Summer Lavender or white blossoms on aromatic gray foliage. Will rebloom reliably if cut back by half after blooming. 
N. sibirica
'Souvenir d'Andre Chaudron'Siberian Catmint		 3 30-42 in. Full Sun to Partial Shade Early Summer Not widely know, but one of the longest flowering perennials in my border. The lavender flowers are a great favorite of hummingbirds.
oenothera
 (Sundrops)

O. fruticosa

3 18-24 in. Full Sun Late Spring An old-fashioned flower which can become invasive in the border so best used as a ground cover or in a wildflower setting. Bright yellow flowers.

PAEONIA
(Peony)   

P. hybridsSingle Flowered Peony

3

3 ft.

 Full Sun Late Spring The backbone of the perennial garden. Very hardy, with numerous colors and cultivars to choose from.
P. tenuifolia
(Fern Leaf Peony) 'Plena'

 

 3 12-18 in. Full Sun Early Spring I like this smaller peony because the foliage is outstanding all season long and it blooms earlier than most varieties.

PAPAVER
(Oriental Poppy)

P. orientale
'Helen', 'Elizabeth' (salmon), White King', 'Big Jim' (dark red)

3

30 in.

 Full Sun Late Spring Best planted between other  perennials such as daylilies that will fill the hole left when they go dormant and disappear. 

PEROVSKIA
(Russian Sage)   

P. atriplicifoliaPerovskia

3

3-4 ft.

 Full Sun Mid-Summer Silvery foliage with sprays of small lavender flowers. Good drainage is a must. Trim it back to six inches in the spring.

PHLOX

P. divaricata (Woodland Phlox)

3

12-18in.

 Partial Shade Mid-Spring A good shade groundcover, especially nice planted over spring-flowering bulbs. Lavender or white flowers.
P. paniculata
P. maculata
(Garden or Summer Phlox)
'David,' 'Flower Power'Phlox 'Starfire'		 3 18-48 in. Full Sun Mid-Summer Garden phlox can be susceptible to mildew and other leaf diseases. 'David' is a new more mildew resistant hybrid. Regular division is recommended.
P. stolonifera
(Creeping Phlox)
'Home Fires'		 3 6-12 in. Partial Shade Mid-Spring Another good groundcover for shade. Flowers in lavender, blue, rose, and white.
P. subulata
(Creeping Phlox)
'Red Wing'		 2 4-6 in. Full Sun Mid-Spring A favorite for rock gardens and slopes. Pink. lavender or white flowers cover needlelike foliage. Needs a well-drained soil.
physalis
 (Chinese Lantern)

P. alkekengi

2 18-24 in. Full Sun Fall The bright orange husks used in dried arrangements  appear in the fall. VERY invasive, keep contained.
Physostegia
 (Obedient Plant, False Dragonhead)

P. virginiana
'Bouquet Rose', 'Vivid', 'Summer Snow' Loosestrife)Physostegia (Obedient Plant)

2 2-3 ft. Full Sun to Partial Shade Late Summer Pink, purple or white spires. Can be invasive. The variegated species is not as hardy as the common varieties. 

PLATYCODON
(Balloon Flower)   

P. grandiflorus
'Fuji Blue', Shell Pink', 'Albus' purple Platycodon

3 1-3 ft. Full Sun Mid-Summer Long blooming season. Very long-lived and pest resistant. Late to come up in the spring, so mark its location.

PULMONARIA
(Lungwort)   

P. saccharata
'Mrs. Moon', 'Janet Fisk', 'British Sterling'

 3 10-20 in. Partial to Full Shade Mid-Spring Silver-spotted foliage. Pink flower buds turn gentian blue when open. Good plant for the deer-resistant landscape.

Perennials A-B, C-D, E-G, H-L, 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.

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