A perennial plant or simply perennial (Latin per, “through”, annus, “year”) is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widely used to distinguish plants with little or no woody growth from trees and shrubs, which are also technically perennials.
Perennials, especially small flowering plants, that grow and bloom over the spring and summer, die back every autumn and winter, and then return in the spring from their root-stock, are known as herbaceous perennials. However, depending on the rigors of local climate, a plant that is a perennial in its native habitat, or in a milder garden, may be treated by a gardener as an annual and planted out every year, from seed, from cuttings or from divisions.
There is also a class of evergreen, or non-herbaceous, perennials, including plants like Bergenia which retain a mantle of leaves throughout the year. An intermediate class of plants is known as subshrubs, which retain a vestigial woody structure in winter, e.g. Penstemon. The local climate may dictate whether plants are treated as shrubs or perennials. For instance, in colder temperate climates, many shrubby varieties of Fuchsia are cut to the ground to protect them from winter frosts.
** DEER RESISTANT PLANTS
**ACHILLEA – Yarrow ‘Paprika’ – sun, height 18” (-40°) June-Sept. Red blossoms with yellow centers.
4” pot $3.99
**AGASTACHE – Aurantiaca ‘Coronado’ – sun, height 18” (-30°) July-Sept. Yellow flowers streaked with orange, silvery mint fragrant foliage, heat tolerant.
4” pot $3.99
**AJUGA – Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ – Best in 1/2 day sun, height 6” (-30°) May-June. Black evergreen foliage with deep blue flower spikes.
4” pot $3.99
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*‘Burgundy Glow’ – height 8” sun or shade, (-30°) April-May. Variegated (white/green/pink) foliage turns pink and white during colder weather, evergreen ground cover.
4” pot $3.99
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*AQUILEGIA – Columbine – ‘McKanna Giants’ – height 18” sun or shade, (-40°) May-June. Very tolerant of shady conditions, large solid and bi-colored flowers, self sows, easy to grow.
4” pot $3.99
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* ‘Remembrance’ – height 18”, sun or shade (- 40°) April-June. Blooms of white and intense deep violet are very striking, easy to grow.
4” pot $3.99
ARENARIA – Sandwort ‘ Montana’ – height 8”, Sun or part shade (-40°) June. Profuse white flowers on evergreen foliage, easy care and fast, blooms for a long period.
4” pot $3.99
**ARTEMISIA Wormwood ‘Silver Mound’ – height 12”-18”, sun (-40°) Soft finely cut foliage, almost ‘ pet-able’, gentle mounding habit, valued for the silver foliage not flowers, not evergreen, does not like wet feet, grows well drained soil.
4” pot $3.99
**AUBRIETA ‘ Audrey’ – height 6” sun or part shade, (-30°), March-May. Red Purple mix, one of the best evergreen ground covers, will remind you of creeping phlox with different colors, excellent in rock gardens, very striking when in flower, benefits from a haircut after flowering.
4” pot $3.99
‘Blue with eye’- Same as above with a blue color, very unusual. Currently not available
**BELLIS PERENNIS – English Daisy – sun or part shade, height 4”, (-30°F) April-June. Pink white and red button flowers, very hardy and tough, can become invasive in agricultural areas, biennial of short lived perennial.
4” pot $3.99
BRUNNERA -Macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’- shade, height 12”- 15” (-40°F) April-May. Stunning large silvery leaves and bright blue small flowers, a new plant for shade gardens, easy care and flowers last a long time. Perennial plant of the year, try it, you’ll like it!
1 gallon pot $16.99 available at nursery only.
**CAMPANULA – Birch Hybrids – Sun or ½ shade, height 6”-9” spread 24” (-30°F), July-Sept. Bright green spreading foliage, deep violet nodding bell flowers, very abundant, not invasive.
4” pot $3.99
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Glomerata ‘Superba ’- sun or ½ shade, height 10”-20” spread 24” (-40°F) May-July. Rich purple blue, upward facing blooms growing in large showy clusters, good performer.
4” pot $3.99
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“Peach Bells’- sun or 1/2 shade, height 10”- 30” spread 24”, (-30°F), June-Aug. Blue or white edged with blue flowers, lots of open bell shaped flowers on sturdy stems for cutting, open peach leaf type foliage, a cottage garden staple.
4”pot $3.99
**CERASTIUM – Tomentosum ‘Snow-in-Summer’ – sun, height 6” Space 18” (-40°F) May-June. Forms a low mat of soft gray felted, white leaves, well drained soil, one of the toughest evergreen ground covers we grow, white flowers are a bonus.
4” pot $3.99
** DELPHINIUM ‘Magic Fountains’ – sun, height 30” spread 18” (-40°F) June-Aug. Mix of blues, whites, and lilacs, medium height is well suited for windy areas, good for cutting, a must for cottage gardens, prefers well drained soils.
4” pot $3.99
**DIANTHUS Deltoids ‘Artic Fire’ – sun, height 6”-8” spread 18” (-30°F) June-July. White flowers with bright red center, petals are fringed, evergreen low growing, deep green foliage, small delightfully fragrant, tolerant of many growing conditions, benefits from cutting off spent flowers.
4”pot $3.99
**Deltoides ‘Flashing Lights’ – sun, height 6” space 18” (-40°F) June-July. A fast growing evergreen ground cover, bright red ½” flowers held above the foliage, tolerates hot conditions, One of our best ground covers, benefits from cutting off old seed heads (mow off).
4” pot $3.99
**DICENTRA Spectabilis Bleeding Hearts ‘Pink’ – shade or ½ sun, height 30” Spread 24” (-40°F) April-May. Soft foliage with pink and white heart shaped, pendulous flowers, easy to grow.
4” pot $5.99
**DIGITALIS Purpurea Foxglove ‘Foxy Hybrids’ – sun, height 36” (-30°F) May-July. A mix of carmine, pink, cream, and white tubular flowers with maroon speckles, a short lived perennial or biennial, self-sowing and offspring come true to the variety, more compact than most Foxglove.
4” pot $3.99
ECHINACEA Purpurea ‘Magnus’ Coneflower – sun, height 36” Space 24” (-40°F) June-Sept. Rosy purple 3”-4” daisy flowers with dark rose center cone, petals don’t droop as much as the standard variety, 1998 perennial plant of the year.
4” pot $3.99
‘Prairie Splendor’ – sun, height 24” space 24” (-40°F) June-Sept. Large deep rose flowers with coppery orange center cone, blooms early and long, flowers first year, nice compact form.
4” pot $3.99
**COREOPSIS – Tickseed-Rosea ‘Heaven’s Gate’- sun, height 24” spread 18” (-20°) July–Sept. A thread leaf coreopsis with pink flowers and rose red shadings, golden center is striking.
4” pot $3.99
**Moonbeam’ – sun, height 12” space 18” (-30°F) June-Sept. A thread leaf coreopsis with abundant lemon yellow 1” daisy blossoms, loves full sun and hot locations, very versatile border plant, very long blooming period, perennial plant of the year.
4” pot $3.99
**‘Zagreb’ – sun, height 24 “space 18” (-30°F) June-August. Another thread leaf coreopsis with golden yellow flowers, more upright than moonbeam, benefits from dead-heading.
4” pot $3.99
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*GAILLARDIA Blanket Flower ‘Arizona Sun’ – sun, height 12” spread 12” (-40°F) June-Oct. Red daisy flowers with golden yellow tips, grayish green foliage, very hardy, drought tolerant.
4” pot $3.99
**GALIUM Odoratum ‘Sweet Woodruff’ – sun or part shade, height 6” spread 12” (-30°F) May-June. Small white flowers above whorled leaves, evergreen ground cover, very competitive under trees, spreads by rhizomes but not hard to control.
4”pot $3.99
**GAURA Lindheimeri ‘Snow Fountains’- sun, height 30” space 18” (-10°F) July-Sept. Sturdy, upright, and pendulous, small butterfly like white flowers bloom as the stems grow, excellent landscape use around water features, pink varieties are available but hardy only to 0°.
4”pot $3.99
**GERANIUM Cranesbill ‘Vision’ – sun, height 8” Spread 12” (-30°F) April-August. 1” pink flowers with red veins, foliage turns a bright orange red in fall, robust ground cover, long blooming.
4”pot $5.99
**HEUCHERA Coral Bells ‘Crimson Curls’ – sun or shade, height 18” spread 24” (-40°F) May- July. Rich burgundy ruffled foliage, tidy and compact, creamy white blooms.
4.5” pot $12.99
**‘Obsidian’- sun or shade, height 10” spread 16” (-30°F) June-July. Very shiny black leaves, creamy white flowers.
4.5” pot $12.99
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*‘Peach Flambe’ – sun or shade, height 10” spread 14” (-30°F) May-July. Bright orange leaves mature to peach color then to plum, white flowers.
4.5”pot $12.99
IBERIS Candytuft ‘Purity’ – sun, height 10” spread 18” (-30°F) April-May. Profuse with flowers almost covering the foliage totally, good evergreen ground cover that can be used to border areas, deer like this plant.
4”pot $4.99
**LAVANDULA Lavender Angustiifolia ‘Elegance Purple’
– sun, height 12” spread 18” (-20°F) June-Aug. Silvery green foliage with deep bluish purple flowers, a gracefully compact, free flowering, well branched, flowers the first year, long blooming period.
4”pot $4.99
**Hidcote Superior’ – sun, height 18” Spread 24” (-20°F) June-Aug. Dense rich blue flowers spikes, gray foliage and compact habit.
4”pot $4.99
**‘Violet Intrigue’ – sun, height 12” spread 24” (-20°F) June-Aug. Long violet spikes with a strong fragrance and high oil content, dark green foliage.
4”pot $4.99
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*LEUCANTHEMUM Superbum (Shasta Daisy) ‘Silver Princess’ – sun or ½ day shade, height 12” spread 14” (-30°F) May-Aug. Classic single white daisy with yellow center, large flowers, compact plant, very tough and easy to grow.
4”pot $3.99
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*‘Snowcap’ – height 6” spread 18” Single large white flowers, compact plant with nice foliage, consistent bloomer, easy care.
4” pot $3.99
**LEWISIA Cotyledon ‘Sunset Group’ – sun or ½ day sun, height 8” spread 12” (-30°F) May-June. Bright colored orange, pinks and yellows clusters of round petal flowers, great for rock gardens. First discovered by Lewis and Clark in high alpine areas, an evergreen succulent that needs good drainage.
4”pot $6.99
**LIATRIS Spicata (Gayfeather) ‘Kobold’ – sun, height 18” spread 12” (-50°F) July-Sept. Flower spikes bloom from top down, prized for cut flowers, tall stems have narrow leaves, long lasting flowers.
4”pot $3.99
**LUPINUS Lupine ‘Red Flame’ – Height 36”, space 24”, -40, June-July, Sun, – Red flowers, Lupines come into their own in late spring, tall bright colored spikes, best in cool summers, great cut flowers.
4”pot $3.99
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‘The Governor’- sun, height 24” space 18” (-40°F) May-June. Deep blue and white flowers on sturdy, strong stems.
4”pot $3.99
**‘Gallery Series’ Mix -sun, height 36” space 24” (-40°) June-August. Short flower stalks with compact habit, blue, red, pink, yellow, white colors.
4”pot $3.99
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*LYSIMACHIA Nummularia ‘Creeping Jenny’ – sun or part shade, height 3” spread 18” (-30°F) June. Long stems of small round leaves form a thick carpet, evergreen ground cover, roots as it grows, bright yellow flowers are a nice addition, easy to grow and reasonably fast as a ground cover, available with gold foliage.
4”pot $3.99
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*MONARDA Bee Balm – Height 36”, space 24” (-30°F) July-Sept. A herbaceous bushy perennial topped with 2”-3” rounded flower clusters. Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, available in bright coral, red, and purple.
4”pot $4.99
**PENSTEMON barbatus ‘Pinacolada mix’ – Sun, height 18”, space 18” (-30°F) June-August. Penstemons are known for tolerating poor rocky soils, sometimes found growing in cracks of rocks, ‘Navigator is a compact mix of pink, lavender, blue and purple lupine shaped flowers, low care.
4”pot $3.99
**PEROVSKIA Russian Sage – Sun, height 36”, space 36” (-30°F) July-Sept. Finely textured aromatic foliage, small bluish purple flowers on tall spikes, prefers well drained soil and full sun, loves hot, dry conditions, perennial plant of the year, great performer.
4”pot $5.99
**PHLOX paniculata garden phlox – Sun, height 36”, space 24” (-30°F) July-August. An old time perennial and great performer, sweet scented flower clusters on long stems, good for cutting, many colors available in whites, pinks, and reds. Easy to grow.
4”pot $4.99
PHLOX subulata creeping phlox – Sun, height 6”-9”, space 18” (-40°F) April-May. Forms a carpet of flowers in pinks, blues and reds, prefers well drained soils, needle like foliage, benefits from fertilizing after flowering.
4”pot $3.99
**POLEMONIUM caeruleum Jacob’s Ladder ‘Brise d’Anjou’ – 1/2 day sun, height 18”, space 18” (-30°F) May-July. One of the best and most vibrant variegated evergreen plants we carry, violet blue flowers are a bonus, bell shaped flowers on stalks like lupines, not drought tolerant and not tolerant of staying too wet.
4”pot $3.99
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*RUDBECKIA fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ – Sun or ½ day sun, height 24’, space 24” (-30°F) July-Oct. One of the Black-Eyed Susans, Golden yellow flowers with a distinct cone center, straight stems make this variety suitable for cutting, easy care and tolerant of many growing conditions. Perennial plant of the year.
4”pot $3.99
**SALVIA nemorosa ‘May Night’ – Sun, height 18”, space 24” (-40°F) May-July. A very large group of plants including the culinary sages, happiest in well drained, sunny locations, dark violet blue flowers on deep purple stems, good for cutting, drought tolerant.
4”pot $3.99
**SEDUM creeping stonecrop rupestre ‘Blue Spruce’ – Sun, height 10”, Space 24” (-30°F) June-August. Bluish green succulent needle like foliage, Bright yellow flowers, evergreen, easy to grow, likes full sun and drier sites.
4”pot $3.99
Spurium ‘Blaze of Fulda’ – Sun, height 6”, Space 18” (-30°F) June-August. Dark maroon foliage with deep burgundy blooms.
4”pot $3.99
Spurium ‘Tricolor’ – Sun, height 3”, Space 18” (-30°F) June-August. Green leaves with cream and red edging, pink flowers, evergreen in milder areas.
4”pot $3.99
SEMPERVIVUM ‘Hens and Chicks Mix’ – Sun, height 4”, Space 12” (-40°F) August-Sept. Evergreen succulents, form rosettes of thick leaves, multiply by offsets that spread by runners, flowers are interesting and leaves come in different colors.
4”pot $5.99
**TANACETUM Pyrethrum Daisy ‘Robinson’s Pink’ – Sun, height 24”, space 18” (-20°F) June-July. Long stem blossoms excellent long lasting cut flower, prefers moist fertile soil, also known as painted daisy.
4”pot $3.99
**THYMUS – Creeping Thyme –Coccineus Major – Sun, height 3”, space 18” (-30°F) June-August. Tiny red blossoms on aromatic foliage, great low ground cover, evergreen foliage turns bronze in fall. Will take light traffic.
4”pot $3.99
**‘Wooly Thyme’ – A dense mat of gray hairy leaves, covered with pink blossoms.
4”pot $3.99
**‘Elfin Thyme’ – A very tight growing thyme, grows slower than other varieties, the best for between patio stones, lavender flowers.
4”pot $3.99
**‘Lemon Thyme’ – Lemon scented leaves sometimes used in cooking, golden variegated leaves with tiny lavender flowers.
4”pot $3.99
**VERONICA Speedwell ‘Giles van Hees’ – Sun, height 6”, space 12” (-30°F) June-August. Dwarf variety with loads of pink flower spikes, long blooming period.
4”pot $4.99
**‘Blue Bouquet’ – Sun, height 18”, Space 24” (-40°F) June-August. Rich green leaves with dark violet flowers.
4”pot $3.99
**‘Eveline’ – Sun, height 12”, space 15” (-30°F) June-August. Durable, disease resistant plant with long tapered spikes of rose purple flowers, glossy green leaves.
4”pot $4.99
VINCA MINOR –Periwinkle ‘Bowels’s Variety’ – Sun or shade, height 3”, Space 18” (-30°F) April-May. Classic lavender blue flowers on medium green evergreen foliage.
4”pot $4.99
‘Illumination’ – height 6”, Space 12” (-30°F) April-May. Golden yellow leaves edged with green, periwinkle blue flowers.
4”pot $4.99