Top Three Perennials

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by HarryS, Mar 22, 2012.

  1. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2010
    Messages:
    8,906
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wigan
    Ratings:
    +16,251
    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 :blue thumb: Any suggestions anyone ?
    TIA
     
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,845
    Depends on what time of year you want them to flower, Harry.!! I try to have a variety of herbaceous perennials so I can lengthen the flowering season. But for different effects I have in the borders:

    Schizostylis
    Acanthus
    Peony
    Japanese Anemone
    Astrantia
    Geum
    Salvia
    Phlox
    Bearded Iris
    Eryngium
    Echinops
    Eremurus
    Aster
    Astilbe

    I have a few more but that should do you for now:biggrin:
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • loveweeds

      loveweeds Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 25, 2012
      Messages:
      268
      Location:
      Liverpool
      Ratings:
      +210
      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)
       
      • Like Like x 2
      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

        Joined:
        Aug 28, 2010
        Messages:
        8,906
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Wigan
        Ratings:
        +16,251
        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 :snork: So be gentle with me :patpat:
         
      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jan 12, 2019
        Messages:
        48,096
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +100,845
        Harry, the word "thick" isn't the right word, what you meant is that you knowledge of perennials is "thin":biggrin: Believe me, my knowledge in many things is rather thin which is why I like GC as I can learn every day on it.

        The mainstay of my borders are herbaceous perennials for many reasons. One of the reasons is that there is such a variety of colours, leaves, structures, textures and shapes of flowers, plus you can have a long flowering season going from March up to December somewhere in the borders. Also I like them as they don't really require a lot of work. They appear as green shoots out of the soil, grow, flower, die back and do all that with minimal attention, what more could you ask for!! If you've seen my borders you'll know that I pack plants shoulder to shoulder with very little space in between and herbaceous plants seem to like that, so long as you give them good soil and nutrients. The secret to to a long flowering season is a large variety of different herbaceous perennials.:snork:

        There is one plant that I would recommend which is worth looking at to see if you like it and that is Solomon's Seal, [Polygonatum]. It flowers from May to June, with unusual white flowers hanging down from curving stems. It's unusual and graceful and people will ask what it is when they see. Good luck with your quest!!:biggrin:
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Ariadae

          Ariadae Super Gardener

          Joined:
          Aug 18, 2008
          Messages:
          460
          Location:
          Shropshire
          Ratings:
          +679
          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.
           
          • Like Like x 3
          • Gay Gardener

            Gay Gardener Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Nov 16, 2011
            Messages:
            1,258
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            The Wash, Fens
            Ratings:
            +1,978
            Long-flowering and showy. Depends on your particular situation but I think the following 3 might be worth considering:

            Coreopsis
            Fuchsia
            Helianthus

            Good luck.
             
            • Like Like x 3
            • *dim*

              *dim* Head Gardener

              Joined:
              Jun 26, 2011
              Messages:
              3,548
              Location:
              Cambridge
              Ratings:
              +1,593
              • Like Like x 1
              • longk

                longk Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Nov 24, 2011
                Messages:
                11,401
                Location:
                Oxfordshire
                Ratings:
                +23,150
                Penstemon digitalis "Huskers Red"
                [​IMG]

                Campanula (Kent Belle?). Can be a little invasive though..........
                [​IMG]

                Campanula persicifolia
                [​IMG]

                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:dunno:
                [​IMG]
                 
                • Like Like x 3
                • Marley Farley

                  Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  May 11, 2005
                  Messages:
                  30,588
                  Occupation:
                  Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
                  Location:
                  Under the Edge Zone 8b
                  Ratings:
                  +14,127
                  Armandii I have to absolutely agree with you & Solomons Seal is on my list of to gets when I get round to the other corner in my garden.. They really are such beautiful slender & graceful looking plants.. :SUNsmile: [​IMG] and of course one of my out & out favourites have to be Iris & this is just a tiny selection.. [​IMG]
                   
                  • Like Like x 3
                  • longk

                    longk Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Nov 24, 2011
                    Messages:
                    11,401
                    Location:
                    Oxfordshire
                    Ratings:
                    +23,150
                    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................
                    07.04.2011-3.jpg
                     
                    • Like Like x 2
                    • PeterS

                      PeterS Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Mar 18, 2005
                      Messages:
                      6,662
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Retired
                      Location:
                      N Yorks
                      Ratings:
                      +4,016
                      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.
                      2011_06280002.JPG
                      Geranium 'Patricia' - needs a very low support around it so it doesn't fall outwards and show a bald patch in the centre.

                      2011_06070011.JPG
                      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.

                      2011_06140001.JPG
                      Astrantia. Tends to flower a second time without the neat to deadhead.
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • gcc3663

                        gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

                        Joined:
                        May 6, 2011
                        Messages:
                        3,860
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        North Tyneside/South Northumberland
                        Ratings:
                        +1,663
                        My small offering:-
                        Bush Lobelia
                        Campanula persicifolia (excellent for propogation-dead easy)
                        Foxgloves
                        Evergreen Azalias
                        Evergreen Rhododendron
                        Japenese Anemone
                        Laveteria
                        Monarda
                         
                        • Like Like x 2
                        • longk

                          longk Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Nov 24, 2011
                          Messages:
                          11,401
                          Location:
                          Oxfordshire
                          Ratings:
                          +23,150
                          Tell me more about "Bush lobelia" - not familiar with this.
                           
                        • gcc3663

                          gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

                          Joined:
                          May 6, 2011
                          Messages:
                          3,860
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Location:
                          North Tyneside/South Northumberland
                          Ratings:
                          +1,663
                          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.:blue thumb:
                           
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice