Perennials are the stalwarts of our garden borders, providing colourful garden flowers, year after year. There are many different types, including herbaceous perennial, short-lived perennial, woody perennial and hardy perennial. Strictly speaking, trees and shrubs are perennials, but we tend to think of perennials as long-lived plants. Most perennials flower in spring, summer, or fall, but a few bloom in winter. Many of them also have pretty leaves.
There are perennials for every garden style, aspect, and soil type. They come in a range of sizes, from low-growing herbaceous plants for the front of a border to medium-sized ones for the middle to huge ones a couple of meters tall for the back. They establish and grow quickly, with most reaching their full size in a few growing seasons. Many perennials make good cut flowers and the more compact varieties are excellent for growing in pots. Most are flowering plants that are very attractive to pollinators.
After a long winter, we all look forward to the first signs of spring. As the weather warms, it’s time to prepare your garden beds and start planning which plants to add for a beautiful spring landscape. Perennials are an excellent choice, providing years of easy-care color and visual interest. Here are my top 13 perennial picks for a spectacular spring garden.
1. Peonies
Peonies are beloved for their huge, fluffy blooms in late spring. These classic perennials come in single, semi-double and double flower forms, with colors ranging from white, pink, red, yellow, coral, and purple. Give peonies plenty of space in full sun and well-drained soil. The plants can grow quite large over time.
2. Irises
Bearded irises are another perennial spring favorite, with their tall stalks of ruffled blooms in nearly every color except true red and pure white. For best growth, plant them in full sun and well-drained soil. Cut back the spent flower stems after blooming, and divide congested clumps every few years.
3. Columbines
Columbines produce delicate, bell-shaped blooms atop lacy, mounded foliage in spring. They come in colors like red, yellow, pink, purple, white and blue. Grow columbines in partial shade to full sun and average to poor soil. They readily reseed.
4. Coral Bells
The beautifully ruffled foliage of coral bells emerges in striking colors like chartreuse, silver, purple and rose in spring. Spikes of small, bell-like blooms appear in late spring. Grow coral bells in partial shade with rich, moist soil.
5. Catmint
Catmint is a carefree perennial that blooms prolifically with blue flowers for weeks in late spring Its fragrant, gray-green foliage remains attractive all season. Catmint thrives in full sun and average soil Shear spent flowers for repeat blooms.
6. Foxgloves
Foxgloves produce tall spires lined with tubular blooms in late spring and early summer Flower colors include purple, pink, yellow and white Though biennials, they readily self-seed. Grow foxgloves in partial shade to full sun in rich, moist soil.
7. Poppies
Poppies provide a quick burst of cheery color in late spring and early summer The tissue paper-like blooms come in shades of red, orange, pink, yellow and white Most poppies thrive in full sun and poor to average soil. Allow some spent blooms to go to seed for new plants.
8. Lavender
Lavender is treasured for its fragrant purple flowers and silvery foliage that begin blooming in late spring. The aromatic blooms and leaves are perfect for drying. Grow lavender in full sun and well-drained soil. Clip back spent flowers to encourage bushy growth.
9. Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s mantle is prized for its ruffled, chartreuse foliage that forms a lovely mound emerging in spring. Tiny chartreuse blooms appear in late spring and early summer. It thrives in partial shade and moist soil. Both the leaves and blooms make nice cut flowers.
10. Lupine
Lupine produces showy, dense spikes covered in pea-like flowers in beautiful shades of blue, purple, pink, red, yellow and white in late spring. Lupines thrive in average to poor soil in full sun. Allow some seed pods to form for new self-sown plants.
11. Geranium
Hardy geranium’s saucer-shaped blooms in shades of magenta, purple, blue, pink and white appear in late spring. The mounded plants have deeply cut, attractive foliage even when not in bloom. Grow geraniums in partial shade and rich, moist soil.
12. Lavandula angustifolia
English lavender bursts into bloom in late spring with its iconic fragrant purple flowers and silvery foliage. Blooms and leaves are perfect for drying. Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage bushy growth.
13. Tulips
Few flowers embody spring better than tulips! Plant bulbs in fall for vibrant blooms the following spring. Tulips come in almost every color and work nicely with other spring perennials. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
Incorporating a variety of these easy yet eye-catching perennials will give you non-stop color in your spring garden. With proper planting and care, they will return reliably for years of enjoyment.
Best Perennials to Plant in Spring (2024)
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