20 Essential Perennials

Perennials are the superstars of the plant world in terms of value: coming back multiple years with bold displays of flowers and foliage. In this video I'll discuss 20 perennials that really stand out for length of bloom period, ease of growing and adaptability to various garden situations.
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Photo credits:
Salvia Caradonna by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova CC BY-SA 4.0
Salvia Purple Knockout courtesy of Jelitto
Hemerocallis Stella d’Oro by Salicyna CC BY-SA 4.0
Spanish lavender by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT CC BY-SA 3.0
Geranium Rozanne by Burkhard Mücke CC BY-SA 4.0
Geranium Splish Splash by Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) CC BY-SA 3.0
Dianthus by Noordzee23 CC BY-SA 3.0
Heuchera Georgia Peach and Electra courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries
Sedum Touchdown Teak courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries
Sedum Autumn Joy by FD Richards CC BY-SA 2.0
Echinacea purpurea by by Swallowtail Garden Seed CC BY 2.0
Rudbeckia Goldsturm by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz CC BY-SA 2.0
Rudbeckia Henry Eilers by Derek Ramsay CC BY-SA 2.5
Monarda by Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) CC BY-SA 3.0
Phlox paniculata by Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) CC BY-SA 3.0
Gaillardia fanfare by JJ Haarrison CC BY-SA 3.0
Gaillardia Arizona Apricot by Don McCulley CC BY-SA 4.0
Perovskia by Salicyna CC BY-SA 4.0
Stargazer Lily by Drew de F Fawkes CC BY 2.0
Campanul carpatica by Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) CC BY-SA 3.0

[@TheMonroemomma]

Please do a part 2 with those others! This was great. I have many of these perennials already, but I didn't know about the wide varieties in some of them such as echinacea. Great information. Thank you! :0)

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

You bet. I'm doing a bit of a deeper dive into lavender next week so look for that too.

[@carmenbailey1560]

Nice selection Jason, I’ve had my years of favourites and not so favourites. # one if they don’t behave out they go and some are harder to get rid of than others so I’ve learned a few lessons over the years. Thanks for your collection. Can’t wait to see your garden in full bloom surrounded by roses.. 👍❤️🙂

[@abdelali5187]

Thank you from Hamburg Germany 🇩🇪♥️👍

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

My pleasure - enjoy your gardening season!

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Jason. 🌷💚🙃

[@bctrissel]

Wonderful choices!

[@allanac9207]

Wonderful review. Thank you!

[@PatriciaFeifer]

Thank you. Just made a new garden and was looking for a variety of plants.

[@BetterwMeador]

Great list! Lots of fun ideas.

[@youannbory7042]

Thank you so much for your show very good recommendation🙏👍👍👍

[@MyFocusVaries]

Thanks for the list. I've got a few of these, with brunnera probably my favourite. Pretty hard to beat for its gorgeous foliage and its early flowering -- I think it was in flower almost before I noticed the leaves back in February, and it's looking great now. I think last year it stayed in full flower through June. I've got some lavender cuttings started, inspired by your other videos.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks. Yes, and brunnera's cousin: pulmonaria for early season interest!

[@Growing-Our-Retirement]

Thanks Jason! Doing more with perennials but only Martha knows what she is doing. Great list to focus on. So much info!

[@user-fx5sq1zc6l]

Very informative… thank you👍

[@marydrew3568]

Great list Jason! I'm here in the Willamette Valley near Heirloom Roses. I have had great experience with Penstemon, Pink Snow Berries, and Anenomies.

[@MickF04]

We're growing Gaillardia "Spintop Red" for the first time here in Central Texas. As you mentioned in the video, it is supposed to be very heat tolerant, and that's supported by the fact that the Spintop series (7 varieties) are sold at every nursery within 25 miles of our home. Deadheading is reported to extend blooming through much of the fall here.

[@Hunterforflowers983]

Useful advises, thank you so much! And you have a nice landscape around, clouded mountains are a fairy tale!

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks so much!

[@krisy-in-italy]

I want them all! 😂 thank you.

[@madaboutflowers3136]

I love these types of videos. Thanks

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks Kim

[@cindyl3916]

Jason! Thank you for such through explanations on these plants. Many I had questions about. Seeing them growing at your place helped immensely as well. As usual you do great work! Much appreciated ❤

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks Cindy

[@marmaladesunrise]

Always informative, Jason. 🙂

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thank you

[@marmaladesunrise]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm You are so welcome, Jason.

[@kathlee5107]

Thank you! Great information

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks!

[@emkn1479]

I am so intrigued by that dark leaved salvia! I hope I can find it somewhere.

[@Christie-gp2cy]

Jason, I always enjoy your videos. They are always interesting and educational. Not to mention the beautiful array of flowers. Thanks so much for sharing with us.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

I'm so happy that you've been enjoying the videos! Thanks for the feedback.

[@dipdinger]

Covered a bunch of great ones, a new one I just found, not a very long bloom period, but has a unique drooping flower and early bloom was Giant snowdrops

[@gwbuilder5779]

Great suggestions Jason.👌 While I am focusing primarily on edible plants and not really a fan of the musty scent of lavender vegetation, it certainly is an excellent choice food source for beneficials. I will likely add Munstead and Spanish lavender because they can handle the erratic weather up here as well as violets. The Chamomile has finally taken hold is slowly taking over the area I seeded several months ago. Now, they are on their own to continue self propagation and expanding. Looks like everything is just on the edge of exploding into full bloom.🤙

[@SusanMiddleton1]

My best Returns Daylily is "Romantic Returns". Blooms fairly early and blooms again in late summer. I've seen it trying for a third time in October. Zone 7a in Niagara, Ontario. Love my few varieties of Cheddar Pinks, a ground cover, mat forming Dianthus.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks Susan!

[@JennJenn9]

Great List !! the only one I’d add is a Fall Aster… I find they withstand some light frosts much better than chrysanthemums- also I like having a pollinator plant blooming so late in the season

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks. Great addition

[@geraldinefields1730]

Thank you.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

My pleasure

[@cathymonck3726]

It spreads a lot to the point in my gardens it was invasive!!

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Which one? I'm guessing the campanula?

[@cathymonck3726]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm l’m referring to to the bee balm in red!

[@HoaGarden902]

Great list. Only thing I am missing is clematis. Will be adding that this year.

[@Pinkswan-yf9mg]

Great vid keep up the good work😁👍

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Will do. Thanks!

[@lorip2109]

My list is growing! A few years ago I tried Monarda but it got a powdery mildew and eventually died. I will try again but will plant in the sunniest part of my garden. Thank you Jason, I love all of these!

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks. Definitely a problem on some monarda (and phlox) varieties - worth looking for newer varieties bred for resistance.

[@lorip2109]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm Thank you, I will. Looking forward to visiting your farm.

[@debrap947]

I love Clematis but have never been able to keep it alive...and yes I cover the root system to keep them cool. I finally gave up after about 15 years of trying. 🤦🏻‍♀ I found that Lungwart grows really well for me and is beautiful with or without the flowers, so lush in the Summer months...even in the Smok'nagan. 😉

[@mercury_rising]

My Pulmonaria look awesome! None of my 4 Brunnera returned 😢, but I’m going to add more Pulmonaria instead since they do so well and their blooms are so beautiful and long lasting.

[@MeganJoyHilly]

Interesting list. Makes me want to try the ones with which I am less familiar. Which plants are in spots 21 to 30...? Thank you, great video.

[@bradcarby3765]

Yer garden looks more amazing every time I see it. Kind of feel a bit sad for you though when it is mid-spring and you still have three layers on. It is mid-autumn here and I'm sweating in a t-shirt. Take care Jason.

[@MyFocusVaries]

I feel sad for us, too! (I'm in the same area as Jason.) It's been a cool spring. The only upside is the cherry trees stayed in blossom for longer this year. Silver linings.

[@mercury_rising]

@@MyFocusVariesand we get to have lilacs! Plus we don’t need to prechill our bulbs 😊.

[@arnorrian1]

I would add: Heliopsis (Bleeding Hearts is amazing) Lychnis chalcedonica (aka Maltese Cross) Veronicastrum (so architechtural) Verbena bonariensis (butterflies adore it)

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks for adding your picks. Any one of them would have been a good addition to the list.

[@asaliden4584]

I’ve also bought Salvia Lyrata seeds from Jelitto! 😄 I have about 10 plants.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Nicely done!

[@jktbali]

Great information and sounds easy but I’ve tried many here and managed t kill most of them except Russian sage 😢. But I listened all the way to #20 anyway just in case there’s something I haven’t tried (and killed 😅)

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Lol. Doesn't surprise me that perovskia is the exception!

[@brianandtamiolson2330]

What is the name of the dark shrub behind you when you talked about the phlox varieties? Love it for the dark foliage.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

That one is berberis 'Rosy Glow' - with red and pink markings on the foliage on fresh growth. Stunning!

[@annetang5532]

Very informative video. How do you prepare heuchera and dianthus for winter? Cut them back? Same question for ground cover like lamium. Thanks!

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

I'm a little lazy that way, and let the cooler temperatures knock them down a bit before I do a cleanup in late winter. I don't think fall pruning/cleanup is strictly necessary to prepare them for winter unless you've noted some problems due to rot, etc.

[@annetang5532]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm i didn't cut back my bumbleberry pie dianthus and when I was cutting away the leaves last week the main root just ripped apart. I'm afraid I lost my plants :( I'm in zone 5

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Sorry to hear it!

[@lookatmysheeaat]

I’ve been watching a lot of your rosé cuttings propagation videos and want to try it again. I was just wondering if you have a preferred rooting hormone you find works best? I bought some from a big box store and I think it’s just a jar of talcum powder because I’ve had 0 success with it regardless of plant.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

What's available in your market will vary. Here in Canada it's generally StimRoot, but in the US Hormodin corresponds closely

[@lookatmysheeaat]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm thank you I’ll check them out

[@nessawaters-zf7xv]

Hi Jason! At 1:57, could you pls tell me the name of that large shrub with the pink panicle-like flowers growing above the perennials? I've been trying to find out its name for ages! Thank you :)

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

That's a lilac - and old variety that's been in the garden forever here.

[@patriciamiller8279]

Great list! I recently discovered the Roxanne geranium and I'm excited to grow it this year for the first time. I'm in zone 6B and I've struggled getting my rudbeckia to return. I have it planted in my flower bed. I even mulched it heavily with leaves this last winter. And yet I've not seen any signs of life on it yet this spring. Any idea what I'm doing wrong??

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

I can't say too much on your particular situation, but I'll give you my thoughts: 1) if it's a rudbeckia hirta variety, those are basically annuals rather than perennials. Fulgida, subtomentosa & others are true perennials. 2) Drainage. Excessive winter wet is one of the few things that can kill otherwise tough plants, 3) the hardiest of plants are sometimes the latest to show life again in spring. If you dig gently around and can find a firm crown of the plants, that's a hopeful sign. If it's absent (or mushy) then you have your answer.

[@patriciamiller8279]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm Thank you so much - that's helpful!

[@MyFocusVaries]

I'm curious about the campanula recommendation. I have a deep fear of that classof plants. I've tried a couple and found them thuggish/near invasive. Is the variety you recommend more slow to spread?

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

I hear you. I've seen some of the weedy and runnering bellflowers absolutely strangle their neighbors, so always a good idea to read up on the cultivar in advance. The Carpatica varieties ('Clips', 'Rapido') are fairly well behaved in my experience, and while the peachleaf do spread, it's generally by self-seeding rather than runners. C. glomerata spreads modestly, and even the Blue Waterfall is manageable. The weedy C. rapunculoides is the worst I've seen, and C. punctata (while beautiful in flower) grows similarly.

[@MyFocusVaries]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm thanks. I'll watch out for variety names!

[@orphicprince]

Are all these planta growable in British Columbia? If so where would you recommend?

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Yes, all of these are suitable for growing in BC - that's where we are! As for finding them, there are loads of good independent garden centers, depending on your community. We sell many of them and we're not far from Mission/Abbotsford

[@shanaw3806]

Blanket flower is so beautiful but it doesn’t come back for me, I guess our winter is too wet for it

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Makes sense. Apparently they're pretty indestructible in most climates, but here with wet and mild over winter it's a crapshoot for me

[@julesdavis1845]

I adore lilies, however, the Japanese beetle has mounted an effective campaign, forcing us to pull all of our lilies.