Perennials are capable of transforming any garden year after year, and are also grown on the terrace and the balcony. Just simply plant them once and for all in April or May depending on the region, that is to say when the risk of frost has passed. They are carefree plants that are suitable for all gardeners, even beginners, and by selecting the species and varieties well, a spectacular effect can be obtained from January to December. Here are some suggestions for perennials to plant in the spring to enjoy a colorful garden in every season.
Winter Heather (Eric the meat)
Bloom from october to may. Heathers, from the family of Ericaceae come in 800 species. They can therefore be mixed to have carpets of flowering heather in each season. Of course, Winter Heather has its place in the garden where there is sometimes a severe lack of flowers during the off-season.
Hellebore niger (hellebore niger)
Flowering of November to April. It is also called Christmas Rose. This magnificent perennial plant of the family of Ranunculaceae is covered with white flowers, which, when they begin to fade, turn pale green or delicate pink. The cold does not scare it since it can withstand up to -28°C, and it even flowers under the snow. This Hellebore can reach 70 cm in height and brings a decorative touch to the garden in all seasons since its beautiful foliage is evergreen.
L’Ancolie (Aquilegia)
Bloom May to July. This perennial of the family of Ranunculaceae has a lifespan of about 5 years but it reseeds itself spontaneously which allows you to always have some in the garden. Its flowers are of great originality and come in a wide range of colours, brown, pink, red, burgundy, pale yellow, white and various blues. Columbines do well in the ground or in a large planter and are very hardy. The different varieties of columbines hybridize easily, so that each spring you can be surprised to discover flowers of different shapes and colors. Magical !
The Lupine (Wolf)
Bloom from spring to summer. This plant of the family of Fabaceae is distinguished by its long spikes 40 to 150 cm high, plain or bicoloured. The Lupine brightens up the garden with its many colours, white, pink, yellow, blue, red, purple, and its foliage is decorative. In order not to exhaust the plant, it is thought to cut the faded flowers as they go before they go to seed.
The Campanula (Campanula)
Bloom from april to october. This perennial of the family of Campanulaceae is among the darlings of gardeners who take advantage of its abundant flowering for almost 7 months a year. Rustic, it resists to -20°C. Its multiple flowers in the shape of stars or bells follow one another throughout the season. It is interesting to plant in the spring several varieties of bellflowers with different habits (with erect stems, creeping or even ground cover). They nicely dress up old low walls, flowerbeds, rockeries but also planters and suspensions.
Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)
Bloom from May until the beginning of October. This perennial of the family of Valerianaceae which is also called Valerian of the gardens is an ornamental plant whose woody tufts reach 100 cm in height. Hardy since it easily tolerates -20°C, it also tolerates drought. It is a plant without history which grows quickly, easy to maintain, ideal in a dry garden. We love its flowers gathered in cymes, white for the variety ‘Albus’ and red for variety ‘Coccineus‘ that should not be hesitated to associate.
Florist’s Buttercup (Asiatic buttercup)
Bloom May to July. This perennial plant belongs to the family of Ranunculaceae. Its extremely beautiful plain or two-tone flowers bring colorful notes to the garden: orange, white, mauve, red, yellow, pink, green. They are perfect for creating sumptuous bouquets of cut flowers because they hold well in a vase. Florist’s Buttercup is planted in spring in all regions where winters are well marked and in autumn in a mild climate. It is better to shelter this chilly person in winter in harsh climates.
Le Lavatère (Lavatera)
Bloom from june to october. In a single season, the Lavatère, from the family of Malvaceae, forms a delightful flowering bush that can quickly reach 2 m in wingspan. It can be used alone or in a group, in a bed, in a pot and even in a hedge. Its ash green foliage is semi-evergreen. As for its abundant flowers which resemble those of the Hibiscus, they are large corollas with many nuanced colors, wine-red, red, magenta, pink, mauve, white… The Lavatère is ideal if you want to leave on vacation during the summer season because it is not very demanding in care.
Le Phlox
Bloom from april to september. This plant of the family of Polemoniaceae offers very abundant flowering. Whichever variety is chosen (covering or tall with an upright habit), it is covered with a multitude of starry flowers of all colors: mauve, white, red, blue, pink, salmon… Easy to grow, the Phlox deserves its place in the garden. And you can even compose magnificent bouquets of cut flowers if you think of planting a few varieties of paniculated phlox.
The Dahlia (Dahlia)
Flowering of June until the first frosts. The Dahlia, from the family of Asteraceae, is a marvel. There are so many varieties and cultivars that you can create a real festival in the garden just by planting this bulbous plant, as long as you can offer it a warm and sunny position. Dwarfs, tall, decorative dahlias whose flower ligules are flat and wide, pompom dahlias, cactus dahlias, lace dahlias, or even with camellia flowers, anemone flowers, orchid flowers , with peony flowers…
Geranium ‘Patricia‘
Bloom May to November. He ranks among the best perennial geraniums. We appreciate its rapid growth, its floridity, the duration of its flowering without interruption (more than 6 months) and its beautiful dark green foliage. Geranium ‘Patricia‘ can reach 50 cm in height and 40 cm in width. It forms a tuft that attracts all eyes. Its flowers are magenta pink to deep red petals and have a black heart.
L’Agapanthe (Agapanthus africanus)
Bloom May to September. This spectacular plant of the family of Amaryllidaceae is sometimes called Blue Tuberose. It is a must in the garden, on a lawn, but also on the terrace since it is also grown in a large container. Its ribbon-like leaves form a tuft from which flower stems 70 cm high emerge, proudly carrying umbels of great beauty that include up to 100 flowers!
Spiky Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia)
Bloom August to October. To see this plant of the family of Asteraceaewe opt for perennial varieties such as Rudbeckia hirta sometimes named Suzanne Black-Eyed. The Rudbeckia brings a luminous note to the garden. Its daisy-like flower heads have bright yellow or orange-yellow ligules and a prominent brown heart that contrast nicely with the dark green downy leaves. Easy to grow, perennial Rudbeckia should be planted in the spring when there is no longer any risk of late frosts.
Crowned Anemone (Coronary anemone)
Bloom from March to May. There is a wide variety of anemones, plants of the family of Ranunculaceae, but the single-flowered cultivars ‘de Caen’ and ‘St. Double-flowered Brigid’ are among the most commonly grown. The Crowned Anemone, also called Florists’ Anemone, has beautiful graphic foliage with its very indented leaves and flowers in various colors such as pink, purple, red, white, blue, which can even sometimes be marked with a small touch of contrasting colour. This perennial can be used in rockery, in beds and in planters. The florist’s anemone is perfect for making pretty bouquets of cut flowers that last at least 8 days in a vase.
The Garden Aster (Symphyotrichum)
Bloom May to November. Asters are perennial plants in the family of Asteraceae which form very long-lasting carpets of flowers and are also grown in pots. It is wise to plant different species of asters, with spring, summer or autumn flowering, in order to stagger the flowering periods and to benefit for long months from a multitude of colors, garnet, mauve, white, red, blue … Asters are vigorous, very hardy (they withstand temperatures down to -30°C) and drought resistant.
The large-flowered Gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata)
Bloom from june to october. This perennial plant of the family of Asteraceae brings a note of gaiety to beds, borders, and can even be grown in large pots. It quickly forms a graceful tuft. It has fluffy greyish-green leaves and blooms profusely. There are today different hybrids with varied and warm colors. The flowers that evoke daisies, plain or two-tone, can be mahogany red, clear yellow, orange-brown, or even with bright yellow petals and red ends. Gaillardias measure, depending on the variety, between 20 and 70 cm in height.
Le Gaura de Lindheimer (Oenothera lindheimeri)
Bloom May to October. This plant of the family of Onagraceae can reach 150 cm in height. It is an ornamental whose flowers are of breathtaking beauty with their pure white or pale pink petals and their long stamens. Note that the variety ‘Lollipop Pink’ is deep pink. Gaura is grown both in the ground and in pots. It is necessary to think of wintering it in the regions with marked winters or to protect it by a thick mulch and a veil of wintering. Otherwise, this plant is easy to maintain and blooms generously from spring until frost, without interruption.