Top Three Perennials

I have just cleared a bed of a few old shrubs and would like to plant it with some perennials. I have at the moment
Delphiniums
Echinacea
Penstemon
Aquliegea
and a couple of clematis at the back. What are your top three perennials that I could use to fill my bed ? By top in my book , I like long flowering and showey Any suggestions anyone ?
TIA

 

2 out of my longflowering favourites are (well known classics):
aster frikartii Monk (has a nice open habit, months approx 8-10)
rudbeckia Goldsturm (needs watering most likely, months approx8-9)

 

Thanks Loveweeds, Armandii
Your list of perennials will keep me busy looking them up this weekend ! I should have put it in the post that my prefered flowering period is summer autumn , July- October . Also my overall knowledge of perennials could best be described as thick So be gentle with me :patpat:

 

The best looking plants in my bed last year were a deep pink Diascia, and a deep blue Salvia. Both interplanted with white mallow,which they grew above,to about 1.5m. Wish I had taken a picture.

 

Long-flowering and showy. Depends on your particular situation but I think the following 3 might be worth considering:

Coreopsis
Fuchsia
Helianthus

Good luck.

 

If I only had to choose 3 ...

hakonechloa macra auerola (sun or shade - water more if planted in sun)

http://www.creekhillnursery.com/images/2009_Hakonechloa_Aureola.pdf



Huechera Georgia Peach (sun or shade but water more in sun):


Brunnera jack frost (for shade/semi-shade):

 

Penstemon digitalis "Huskers Red"


Campanula (Kent Belle?). Can be a little invasive though..........


Campanula persicifolia


Lobelia laxiflora is unlikely to be perennial, but easy to propagate spare plants to over-winter. Not what you asked for, but well worth considering if you want something unusual

 

Polygonatum gets a thumbs up from me too, but it does have a short season. Mine is just emerging, along with the Uvularia too. Uvularia ticks all the same boxes as Polygonatum too................

 

My favorite three are ones that flower for a very long time, as well as being nice - all three can be in flower for 16 to 20 or more weeks.

Geranium 'Patricia' - needs a very low support around it so it doesn't fall outwards and show a bald patch in the centre.


Centranthus ruber. Happy in very dry conditions. Cut it back in early July after it has flowered and it will be back in flower again a month later.


Astrantia. Tends to flower a second time without the neat to deadhead.

 

My small offering:-
Bush Lobelia
Campanula persicifolia (excellent for propogation-dead easy)
Foxgloves
Evergreen Azalias
Evergreen Rhododendron
Japenese Anemone
Laveteria
Monarda

 

Tell me more about "Bush lobelia" - not familiar with this.

 

Can't say a great deal. I bought a Blue and a Red from a local Garden Centre a few years ago.
They grow to about 2' tall in a sunny border, flowering all the way up and round the stalks.
They are about 6" diameter at the base and die back in late Autumn. I cut off at ground level and the come on strong in the Spring.
I have about 1" showing at the moment, with the promise of the usual show.
I'm sure others will have all the technical terms for them.