Looking to grow a garden but not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place! Read about the top nine perennials you can start a perennial garden with.
1. Coral Bells
Coral bells (Heuchera) come in a variety of foliage colors that will help your perennial garden stand out. These flowers bloom in late spring to early summer and are known for their tall, bell-shaped blooms. Coral bells are easy to grow in a Minnesota garden, especially in the shade or filtered sun.
2. Karl Foerster Grass
Karl Foerster Grass, named after a German nurseryman, was the first ornamental grass to win Perennial Plant of the Year 2001. This reed grass is great for starting your perennial garden because it is one of the first grasses to start growing in the spring. With the short growing season that Minnesota has, this asset makes an ideal plant. Its height also creates a wonderful contrast amongst low shrubs and perennials.
3. Stella de Oro Daylilies
Stella de Oro Daylilies are hardy in all zones and bloom for months on end. This award winning perennial is the most popular daylily, featuring a dense clump of grassy green foliage with golden yellow trumpet like flowers from early summer into fall. It works perfectly for mass planting, edging, boulevard planting, or used as borders. This selection is one of the most low-maintenance perennials – all you need to do is trim back spent flower stalks!
4. Salvia
If you were to look in other gardens, chances are you would find at least one variety of salvia growing. This perennial is versatile and can be grown in sun or shade, and with or without lots of rainfall. One variety is the Salvia Blue Hills’ (sage), which features a dense mound of foliage that boasts dense sky blue flower stalks in spring. It is the truest blue of all salvia and a long time favorite due to its striking flower color. This is a definite addition to any Minnesota garden.
5. Coneflowers
Coneflowers, or Echinacea, are extremely hardy for cold climates which make them perfect for Minnesota. Many coneflower varieties can grow to 2 feet to 3 feet and come in an array of colors. Plus, they are great for attracting butterflies to your garden!
6. Autumn Joy Sedum
Autumn Joy Sedum is the most dependable and popular sedum for gardens. It features green succulent foliage that support large clusters of pink flowers in late summer.
7. Bergenia
Bergenia have large, deep green leaves that age to a shiny maroon as the season progresses. This makes it a great plant to have for year-round interest. Ruby pink flowers bloom mid-summer atop narrow stalks. Bonus – The critters will also stay away from this, because bergenia is rabbit and deer resistant!
8. Coreopsis
Coreopsis are also a good perennial choice to add to your garden. Coreopsis Zagreb, in particular, has extremely long blooming and is a hardy plant that is somewhat drought-tolerant and can tolerate poor soil. If you want long-lasting color, coreopsis is the plant for you, with boasts of intense deep yellow flowers that bloom atop of daintily leaved stems.
9. Rudbeckia Goldsturm
Rudbeckia Goldsturm is among the most popular perennials for the past 50 years. Goldstrum display mid-sized yellow flowers with black eyes. These bloom in abundance from late summer into fall. Overall, this plant is great year-round: in the spring its thick basal leaves spread thickly enough to choke out weeds and form an attractive groundcover, its native roots make it at home in any natural meadow garden, it attract overwintering birds and butterflies, and in winter the study stalks and black seed heads provide excellent winter interest against ornamental grasses.
