Northern Gardening Plant Guide M-Q

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'	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'	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. hybrid*s	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. atriplicifoli*a	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. panicu*lata P. maculata (Garden or Summer Phlox) 'David,' 'Flower Power'	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)	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. grandifloru*s 'Fuji Blue', Shell Pink', 'Albus'	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
"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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