Perennials are among the most useful plants for the home landscape.  This group is easy to grow, they come up year after year, and they offer an abundance of flowers in an enormous array of colors and forms.  These hardy perennials can be the cornerstone of your perennial garden.

 

May Night’ Salvia (Salvia x superba ‘May Night’)
 -Perennial plant of the year - 1997
 -Reblooming, deep indigo blue flowers, June-July
 -Clump forming habit; aromatic, gray green foliage
 -Grows in average, well drained soil
 -Full sun to part sun, height 18-24 inches

 

‘Zagreb’ Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’)
 -Reblooming, flat clusters of daisy-like, golden-yellow flowers, July-Sept.
 -Spreading habit; finely divided, thread-like bushy foliage
 -Grows in average, well drained soil
 -Full sun to part sun, height 12-15 inches

 

Karl Foerster Ornamental Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora Karl Foerster)
 -Perennial plant of the year - 2001
 -Slender spikes of golden brown seedheads rise 5 feet or more in
      summer and persist through winter
 -Clump forming, upright habit
 -Grows in rich, well-drained to moist soil
 -Full sun to part shade
 -Excellent winter interest

 

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niobium ‘Pictum’)
 -Perennial plant of the year - 2004
 -Clump forming habit; soft metallic gray-green fronds with red stems
 -Grows in rich, moist soil
 -Full sun to part shade, height 12-18 inches

 

Daylily (Hemerocallis)
 -Extremely adaptable and low maintenance
 -Numerous cultivars in wide range of colors
 -Clump forming habit; strap-like foliage
 -Great perennial for those who do not have a green thumb!
 -5 of my favorites-
  ‘Rocket City’ - bittersweet orange
  ‘Catherine Woodbury’ - soft lavender pink
  ‘Hyperion’ - lemon-yellow
  ‘Red Volunteer’ - velvety dark red (photo) 
  ‘Chicago Peach’ - deep peach pink