Proven perennial winners hardy in northern and midwest climates

Listed here are some of the most reliable hardy perennials for northern and midwest gardens. Keep in mind that a severe winter in your zone may actually expose your plants to conditions of a more northern zone. Some winter protection is always recommended in the north or midwest garden to ensure that your perennials survive whatever the weather presents, even hardy perennials. Hardy perennials heavily protected with deep mulch, leaves mounded in and around the base, and a good snow cover will often survive winters in zones north of their hardiness rating.

Asiatic lily (also Oriental lily): (lilium) Full sun to part shade Zones 3-8. Striking masses of blooms in pinks, whites, yellows and reds. Oriental lilies generally are larger overall with slightly larger blooms, often blooming later than Asiatics. Asiatics are available in more colors and multiply more rapidly. They are easier to grow than Orientals and tolerate a wide range of soils. Orientals however are fragrant and sometimes have more “tropical” looking blooms. Blooms generally in June and July and are great cut flowers. Corms multiply rapidly, divide and/or thin as needed - they dig up and separate easily. Divide every 3 to 5 years. Lilium is hardy and strong, but if grown in too much shade the stems may become spindly and have trouble supporting the masses of blooms. Give them at least 6 to 8 hours for strong plants. Lilium does not like wet soils, clay soil should be amended with organic material or peat to improve drainage. Most liliums are hardy to zone 4, some to zone 3. Should not need winter protection up to zone 4 if snow cover is dependable, at least 3 inches of mulch is recommended. Most varieties are about 4 feet tall, but can be as short as 2 feet and as tall as 5 feet.

Aster (hardy): Sun to light shade Hardy in zones 5-9, some to zone 3. The hardy perennial asters are fairly long lived and easy to grow and care for. They prefer reasonably fertile soil that is moist, and blooms in summer until med fall Very few asters are hardy north of zone 5. ‘Purple Dome’ is a sun lover hardy to zone 3, with deep blue-purple blooms in fall. Stems are sturdy and don’t need support. ‘Stoke’s Aster’ is hardy to zone 5 with lavender flowers 2-5” on 1 to 2 foot stems. Dwarf varieties are also available, growing to 8-12”, and are often hardy to zone 4. Plant asters in waves or masses for dramatic effect. Propagate by seed or division, divide every 3 to 4 years.

Astilbe: (Astilbe spp) Part shade to shade Zones 4-8, some to zone 3. A long blooming shade loving perennial hardy to zone 3 or 4. They thrive in moist shade with dark green feathery foliage and bright airy plumes of red, white or pink in late spring to mid summer. Astilbe will do well along water features that are moist or even very wet, if shaded. The Chinese species, A.chinensis, may withstand more heat, humidity, and slightly drier conditions.. Will tolerate sun if well watered. 2 to 3’ tall, propagate by division. Plant in masses for a bright drift in dark areas. Fresh or dried plumes are wonderful in floral arrangements.

Azalea, deciduous: (Rhododendron canescens) Sun-part shade Zones 4-9. Shade loving flowering shrub, actually. The spectacular blooming qualities and wide variety of this flowering shrub frequently places it in the garden bed to start the spring perennial show. Azalea is generally hardy for zones 5-9; For zone 4, ‘Golden Lights’ is bred to withstand -30 F, and is mildew resistant with golden blooms in late spring. ‘Yaku Princess’ is hard to find, and not quite as hardy as ‘Golden Lights’, but may make it in zone 4 with protection. Azalea are shallow rooted and should not be planted too deep. They prefer a cool, moist organic soil and are not tolerant of dry periods, make sure they get enough water. Rhododendrons continue to grow well into autumn and are susceptible to early freeze damage. Water thoroughly until the ground freezes to allow the plant to properly acclimate to winter. Evergreen Azalea and Rhododendron are susceptible to dessication (drying out from winter winds and lack of moisture. Applications of an anti-transpirant in December and February will help prevent the foliage from drying, turning brown and dropping off.

Baby’s Breath: (Gypsophila paniculata) Full sun Hardy in zones 3-7. Often grown for cutting, they are also great ”arrangement fillers” in the garden. the plant grows into 3’ balls of white flowers. They prefer full sun and well drained, alkaline soil. Gypsophila repens ‘Silver Carpet’ is hardy to zone 3, with silvery gray foliage with white edging. Grows to only 18”, making it a good choice for edging or at the front of the border garden. Be careful not to get the annual ‘Baby’s Breath’, which is also available in pinks and blues, as well as white

Balloon Flower:(Platycodon) Full sun to part shade Hardy in zones 3-8. Puffy buds open to bell shaped flowers with five points of blue, white or pink. This perennial is slow to break dormancy in spring so be patient, signs of life will not appear until late spring. Grows 18-24” tall, stake the plants before flowering, if they fall over the stem will break. Prefers some sun but will tolerate shade. Deadhead to encourage repeat flowering. Divide clumps in spring or fall, but division is not usually necessary, and should not be disturbed unless necessary after established. The plant is known to re seed, deadheading will reduce seed production. Balloon flower is a long living perennial. It will benefit from winter protection in zones 3 and 4, mulching 3-4” thick should do it.

Bee Balm: (Monarda) Full sun to part shade Hardy in zones 3-10. Monarda is a butterfly magnet. They are easy to grow in fertile soil, but can be susceptible to mildew, so dry conditions in sun is best. ‘Marshall’s Delight’ has spikey globe-shaped pink heads with minty foliage. ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ has red “mophead” flowers and grows to 2-3 feet. Both are mildew resistant. Most varieties grow to 28-40” tall and bloom in midsummer. They prefer sun, but may tolerate some light shade. Some are hardy to zone 3, many will survive in zone 3 with protection. Can be invasive, so divide every 2 to 3 years in spring or fall (fall is best), which will also reduce mildew by thinning and increasing air circulation. Failing to divide may also encourage crown rot. Drought resistant, but may be short lived in hot dry regions.

Bellflower: (Campanula spp.) Full sun to part shade Hardy in zones 3-9. In the north, campanula will tolerate full sun if not allowed to dry out, but most benefit from some shade, and some are hardy to zone 3 or 4 but not all. Flowers are bell shaped in blue, blue-purple, or white, some blooming from spring to fall. A range of varieties from small mounding plants excellent for edging a garden bed, to tall back of the border varieties. Taller varieties may need staking. Propagate by division, some propogate fairly easily by seed. Division in fall is best, but may be divided in early spring.

C. lactiflora are all hardy to zone 4 and bloom from around mid July into September. Blooms are violet blue, and they enjoy moist shade, but can tolerate dry shade.

C. persicifolia blooms white or blue in early summer and is 2 to 3 feet tall with strong stems. It tolerates dry shade, and is easy to grow from seed. Very heat and cold tolerant, it is hardy to zone 4.

C. poscharskyana has blue blooms, growing to 1 foot or taller and spreads easily. Commonly know as blue or white clips (or chips), they are non stop bloomers excellent for edging a border or in rock gardens. Both blue and white clips self sow, blue clips more readily. Both are easily divided in spring or fall.

Black-Eyed Susan: (Rudbeckia) Full sun Hardy in zones 4-9 One of many Rudbeckias, Black-Eyed Susan has striking bright gold daisy blooms from mid summer until frost. Great for cut flowers. They are very easy to grow and drought tolerant. They spread easily, be prepared to thin out as necessary. Propogate by division, fall is the best time, but they may be divided in early spring. They grow 2 to 3 feet tall.

Bleeding Heart: (Dicentra spp.) Half to full shade Zones 3-8 or 9. This North American native loves shade and evenly moist soil. Clusters of heart shaped pendant blooms of pink, rose or white from mid spring to summer on arching stems. Bleeding Heart prefers slightly acidic soil, moist and rich. Dig in some peat moss when planting. divid in early spring. The old fashioneds are most cold tolerant.

Common Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis) has pink or white flowers and does fine in partial shade. Hardy to zone 2 or 3 with mulching.

King of Hearts has rosy pink flowers off and on all summer. Will tolerate near full sun to light shade and is hardy to zone 4. Snowdrift, Luxuriant and Zestful are dwarf varieties

Brunnera: (Brunnera macrophylla) Light shade to shade Zones 3-8. Hosta-like plant with forge-me-not--like flowers. They are easy to grow in light shade and are cold tolerant, but needs moist soil and lots of organic matter. All vaieteis have interesting foliage, and flowers in lavender blues of pink. ‘Jack Frost’ has heart shaped leaves with a crackled silvery white overly. Sky-blue flowers appear in spring. Grows to about 12-18” high and wide.

Centaurea (Perennial Cornflower): Full sun Hardy in zones 3-9. An unusual flower with 2 inch showy blue flowers with spider-like petals, and is long blooming. Centaurea is one of many varieties of Bachelor Buttons. ‘Montana’ has dark green foliage and flowers in late spring, re-blooming in fall if cut back after the first bloom, and is 2’ high. ‘Gold Bullion’ has bold/chartreuse foliage, is 12-15” high and may also rebloom if cut back promptly. Needs good drainage, will spread (but not be invasive) best in enriched soil. ‘Gold Bullion’ is triking in small clumps, breathtaking as a ground cover. Centaurea is tolerant of dry conditions. Plant in sun to light shade. Divid in spring or fall every 2 to 3 years to minimize spreading. May be hard to find, try Wayside Gardens, or Bluestone Perennials, or Whiteflower Farms.

Clematis: Full Sun, some in light shade Zones 4-8, some to zone 3. With so few climbers hardy enough for the true northern garden, clematis is a must have. Selection for zone 4 is excellent, and several are hardy to zone 3, Wayside Gardens even offering a zone 2, Silmakivi Clematis. Also offered by Wayside Gardens ia a new miniature, Clematis Bourbon. At 3-4 feet, it is perfect for containers, with a small pillar or a mailpost, or tumbling down a slope. All are long bloomers, but start at varying times. some can tolerate light shade. Height can range from 4-8 feet, for posts, pillar frames or tall arches. Follow pruning instructions or you may lose all your next seasons blooms! Jackmanii hybrid is used widely in the north. an old fashioned, it is hardy to zone 4, and produces abundant 4 to 7 inch deep purple flowers on new wood. Jackmani should be cut back to a few inches in early spring and remove all vines. Plant all clematis deep, as much as several inches deeper than they grew in the pot so the crown is 3 to 4 inches below the soil level. and be sure to keep the roots cool by shading from surrounding plants, and the plant in full sun. Feel all clematis every 4 to 6 weeks with a 10-10-10- fertilizer, do not use manure around the plant, and do not mulch around the crown to avoid fungus. If you soil is acid, add a little lime to the soil when planting.

Chrysanthemum: Full sun Hardy in zones 5-9, some in zone 4. Hundreds of mum species area available, be sure to select one hardy for your zone. And unknown to most gardeners, blooming mums purchased and planted in the fall, do not overwinter well. They should be planted in the spring so they are well established over the summer. Even then, mulch heavily at least the first winter, especially in zones 4 and 5. Leaves of the hardy garden mum are aromatic and the stems are strong enough to hold the showy flowers. Decreasing day length initiate the late season blooms. Well drained, evenly moist soil and full sun is required. Pinch back frequently until July to encourage a full bushy plant, loaded with blooms. Propagate by cuttings or by division.

Columbine: (Aquilegia) Full sun to part shade Hardy in zones 3-9. These are graceful flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and resists deer and rabbits. Pick when half open for a lovely cut flower. When grown in zones 9 and 10, columbine must have shade to survive. In zone 3, winter protection of heavy mulch is advised. Available in single or bicolors in red, yellow, blue, or white. Some varieties self seed. They are very adaptable and easy to grow.

Coneflower: (Echinacea) Full sun Hardy in zones 3-9. This North American native comes from the daisy family. Droopy daisy-like flowers are produced from late June until frost, in bright colors. It is very easy to grow, requiring only ordinary soil, and is quite tolerant of heat, drought, cold and poor soil. Cut flowers are long lasting, or left on the plant the cone in the flowerhead supplies nourishment for birds. E. pupurea is a rugged species, ‘Fragrant Angel’ is hardy to zone 3. One of the few fragrant Coneflowers, it has double rows of white petals held horizontally. Strong branches make great bouquets. ‘Coconut Lime’ is also hardy in zone 3, a double flowering white bloom has large flower heads with a row of white petals surrounding a lime green pompom cone of lime green.  Propogate by division in fall.

Coral Bells: (Heuchera sanguinea) Sun to full shade Hardy in zones 4-9. There are many varieties, all with dainty bell-shaped flowers on long stems, and new hybrids with a bronzy foliage. Many varieties have foliage in interesting colors and or textures and grow in neat mounds from 12 to 18”. Most prefer light shade, some prefer sun, especially in the north. Plant in moist but well drained, organically enriched soil. Coral bells are resistant to disease, drought and pests. ‘Crimson Curls’ is long blooming with cream flowers atop the curliest purply color leaves. This one is hardy to zone 3.

Coreopsis: Full sun Hardy in zones 3-9, some to zone 2. Coreopsis is a bright and cheery perennial that blooms all summer. They are very easy to grow in well drained soil. Hot, dry conditions don’t bother coreopsis at all. Cut back after the first bloom to encourage continued blooming. ‘Moonbeam’ has pale yellow flowers produced profusely all summer, floating atop delicate foliage. After flowering is finished, cut back all the stems to a nice foliage mound. ‘Moonbeam’ is hardy to zone 3. The new ‘Jethro Tull’ has very unique flower petals. They are produced as a “tube” and notched, in bright yellow. Flowers are produced all summer, deadhead to encourage the flowering. Propagate by division in fall. It is hardy to zone 5.

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2/08 Best Perennials

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