‘I’ve always thought my flowers had souls’ is a great line from Lavender and Lace by Myrtle Reed and sums up for me the joy of a perennial plant.
Perennial in Latin translates as ‘through the years’ (although officially a perennial is classified as a plant that lives for more than two years) and the joy of seeing your faithful perennials following their seasonal cycle is truly special as they become friends and companions. Not only are they versatile (there is literally a perennial for every garden), but they are a favourite with pollinators and so are essential in a biodiverse garden.
Monarda
This bold perennial is all about the flowers which are particularly rich in nectar making it a magnet for bees. This gives it the alternative name of ‘Bee Balm’ (also known as Bergamot) and it is a firm favourite in my garden in the summer months. Forming good sized clumps, this colourful perennial has sturdy stems to support the gorgeous nectar laden flowers which have a spicy scent from June through to September. These beauties also make excellent cut flowers and can be planted in beds or containers in sun or semi-shade – just make sure they have fertile and well drained soil. For impact plant in drifts with contrasting colours of Monarda to create a striking feature within your garden.
Lupin
A classic cottage garden plant, Lupins are know for their striking vertical flowers which attract pollinating insects to garden beds and containers throughout the summer months. These towers of flowers are easy to grow, if you plant them in an open sunny spot with good drainage. As they prefer neutral or acid soil, pop in some ericaceous compost when you are planting them for the best results, but they don’t need a lot of nutrients so you shouldn’t need to feed them again. Plant in spring and early summer in soil at the same depth they were in the container and keep them well watered during their first summer to help them to establish. Most lupins are hardy in the UK but if you grow them in containers their roots will be more susceptible to the cold so move them to a sheltered spot over winter.
Achillea
Also known as Yarrow, Achillea is another traditional border perennial and is prized for its delicate foliage and clouds of fantastic, flat-topped flowers which come in a myriad of wonderful colours. You can propagate achilleas by dividing in the spring or alternatively you can also take cuttings in early spring and pop into potting compost with some sand – pot these on when the roots have established. The great news is that some varieties will self-seed and you can collect seeds to sow for even more plants if you leave the flower heads when they have finished blooming. When planting, it’s a good idea to add some horticultural grit for additional drainage and plant in sun or part shade.
Heuchera
One of my favourite perennials for year-round interest and almost infinite colour choice is a Heuchera. These hardy plants grow in sun or partial shade, and they have varieties which range from deep purple ‘Forever Purple’ to lime green varieties like ‘Lemon Love’ and ‘Apple Twist’. As well as fabulous foliage, these versatile perennials also have spires of flowers in the summer which add to their appeal and can be cut for delicate and eye-catching arrangements. There are many websites dedicated to Heucheras, but my favourite is ‘Heucheraholics’ which has an amazing variety of plants to suit all gardens.
Japanese Anemone
These beautiful and abundant perennials are a wonderful addition to your garden and will add interest long into the autumn with their saucer-shaped pink or white flowers. These tall and slender plants will tolerate shade which makes them ideal for difficult spots in the garden and they will spread readily – so keep an eye on them so they don’t take over! Japanese anemones are best planted in the spring or autumn when the ground is moist and warm, and you can buy them in full flower from garden centres for instant colour Even though the flower stems are quite tall (50cm-150cm) they don’t usually need supporting but bear their potential size in mind when planting so they don’t overwhelm smaller plants. You should carefully tidy up old flower stems in the spring before new growth starts – I like to leave the old foliage in place over the winter to provide shelter for insects.
‘Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden-in all the places.’
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
These are my personal top 5 perennials for your garden, but there is a long list of lovely plants to suit every garden – you just need to find the right ones for you to create your own magic.
If you would like further advice or information about perennials for your garden, please get in touch.
