Northern Gardening Guide to Hardy Perennials 

A-B

C-D, E-G, 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

ACHILLEA
 (Yarrow)           

A. filipendulina 'Coronation Gold'Achillea 'Coronation Gold'

3

3-4 ft.

 Full Sun Mid-Summer Flat mustard yellow flower heads, gray green foliage. Dries nicely for winter arrangements.
A. millefolium 'Cerise Queen', 'Summer Pastels', 'Paprika' 2 18-24 in. Full Sun Mid-Summer Ferny green foliage with flowers in red, apricot, and many other colors. Some varieties can be" weedy" looking.

ACONITUM
 (Monkshood) 

A. carmichaelii, A. henryi, A. napellus, A. x. bicolorAconitum

 		 2 3 ft. Partial Shade Early Fall Resembles the delphinium’s purple or blue flowers, but blooms at a time when most perennials are through.  Prefers moist soil and resents transplanting All parts are extremely poisonous. 

Agastache
 (Anise Hyssop) 

A. foeniculumAgastache (anise hyssop)

 

 3 3-5 ft. Full Sun to Partial Shade Late Summer One of my favorite plants, the foliage has a licorice scent and the lavender flower spikes are a favorite of butterflies and bees. Though a short-lived perennial it will almost certainly reseed itself.

ALCHEMILLA
 (Lady's Mantle) 

A. mollis, A. vulgarisAlchemilla mollis 

 3 18 in. Full Sun to Partial Shade Early Summer Small chartreuse flowers. The real interest is the fuzzy gray green leaves that hold the morning dew. 

aquilegia
 (Columbine) 

A. x hybrida 

 2 10-36 in. Partial Shade to Full sun Late Spring Leaf miners, leaf spot and mildew all  plague this plant. Also susceptible to crown rot, so needs good drainage. A. canadensis is often used for naturalizing.

AMSONIA
(Bluestar)             

A. tabernaemontana

 3 3 ft. Full Sun to Partial Shade Late Spring Very inconspicuous steel blue, star-shaped flowers followed by seed pods. The willow-like foliage stays tidy all season long. Bright yellow fall color. Not fussy.

Anthemis
(Golden Marguerite, Dyer's Chamomile) 

A. tinctoria 

 4 2 ft. Full Sun Late Spring This perennial is short-lived but self-seeds so prolifically that you should always have it even in zone 3. If dead-headed you will have the small, yellow "daisies" all summer long.

Arabis
(White Rockcress) 

A. alpina
 'Snowcap' 

 4/5 4-8 in. Full Sun Early Spring One of the first perennials to bloom in the spring, this edging, wall or rock garden plant needs good drainage (especially in winter) to do its best.

ARMERIA
 (Sea Pink, Thrift)

 		 3 6 in. Full sun Late Spring Excellent for rock gardens. Pink flowers from June to August. Must have well-drained soil.

Artemisia
 (Wormwood) 

A. ludoviciana 'Silver King', 'Silver Queen'Artemisia 'Silver King' 

 3 1-3 ft. Full Sun Foliage Plant The silvery-white foliage dries easily for winter arrangements. Good plant for hot, dry, sandy areas where nothing else will grow. In the garden it can be invasive.
ARUNCUS
 (Goat's beard)

A. dioicus

3 4-5 ft. Partial Shade Late Spring White plume flowers and attractive foliage. Resembles a small shrub. Needs a moist, rich soil.
ASCLEPIAS
(Butterfly Weed)

A. tuberosa

 3 18-24 in. Full sun Mid-Summer The common variety has orange flowers. Resents transplanting.
(Swamp Milkweed)
A. incarnata		 3 36" Full Sun Mid-Summer A much taller asclepias with pink blossoms. Butterflies love them both.

aster
 (Aster) 

A. novi-belgii (New York Aster)New York aster

 

 

 3 3-4 ft. Full Sun Early to Mid-Fall Staking is usually needed and aster yellow, fungal leaf spots, mildew, rust and wilt are a common problem. Purple, white, and pink daisy-like flowers.

Astilbe
 (False Spirea) 

A. spp. 

 3 24-40 in. Partial Shade to Full Sun Early to Mid-Summer Astilbe does best if given constant moisture and regular fertilization. If you are willing to do both, you will be rewarded with it's beautiful pink, red or lavender plumes and very attractive foliage.
BAPTISIA
(False Indigo)

B. australis

 3 3-4 ft. Full Sun Late Spring Lavender pealike flowers which become black seed pods, good for dried arrangements. The blue-green divided foliage looks attractive all season long.
BERGENIA

B. cordifolia

 3 12 in. Partial Shade to Full Sun Mid-Spring Flowering (pink) is sporadic. Their real value is the large fleshy leaves which turn a dark red in the fall and persist all winter.
BOLTONIA

B. asteroides
'Snowbank'Boltonia 'Snowbank'

3 3-4 ft.. Full Sun Early Fall 1 inch white daisy-like flowers. A good fall flowering plant without the problems asters and mums have.
B. asteroides
'Pink Beauty' 		3 4-5 ft.. Full Sun Late Summer Pale lilac-pink flowers. Blooms earlier than 'Snowbank' (see above).

Perennials  C-D, E-G, H-L, M-Q, R-Z 

"The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Perennnials", The Definitive Illlustrated Reference Guide.  Editor-in-Chief Graham Rice. This is the most comprehensive book on perennials that I have seen so far. New in 2006, not only does it cover over 6,000 perennials, but it also includes many of the newer introductions.  Produced under the auspices of the American Horticultural Society, you know that the information given is accurate.  A great reference tool for any gardener--novice to expert.

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