Hardy perennials for your garden

As a class of perennials, hardy perennials are some of the easiest to grow and maintain. Hardy perennials for your garden need very little ongoing care with many of them needing none at all. These plants provide a naturalistic effect to surrounding areas and they are often used in landscape design. Due to the fact that hardy perennials will grow in most climates, they are used in flower gardens, river banks, borders, and prairies, as well as rock gardens.

Many hardy perennials grow easily by seed but they should be sown in a prepared bed before the seedlings are transplanted to their permanent locations. Sow seeds outside after the first heavy frost has passed for best results. Many species propagate even more easily by division and, considering how long they will live, it is also considered inexpensive to purchase cultivars directly from a nursery to plant in a garden.

All hardy perennials will still thrive if they are left in your flower garden throughout the cold months of winter. Typically, they will not require any maintenance but caring for the soil, pruning them, and providing some winter protection will ensure that they are able to prosper fully.

Although certainly not all-encompassing, here is a short list of some of the most popular hardy perennials;

• Anemone, or wind flower: In most species and varieties anemone usually flowers early and produces white blooms, although blue is possible also. These hardy perennials grow best in full sun to part shade and will tolerate nearly any type of soil. They will often grow quite tall and will spread as wide as they are given room to grow. Some species are considered to be very aggressive growers and can be invasive if not held in check.
• Aster: Asters are very ornamental and are common in flower gardens throughout most of the world. They need full sun but tolerate a wide variety of soils. All asters produce blooms that are yellow in the center and daisy-like in appearance with petals in hues of pink, blue, and purple. The yellow center is actually made up of multiple tiny flowerets. Asters make excellent cut flowers and, depending on specific species, generally grow between 10 to 24 inches.
• Chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemum is a genus that contains many hardy perennials including marguerites, mums, and daises. Depending on species, they can produce all colors of blooms except blue, although their name originates from the Greek and means gold flower. This perennial is native to China and Japan where it is very symbolic. The Chinese named their royal throne after the chrysanthemum and it is portrayed on Japan's imperial flag and weapons.
• Digitalis, or foxglove: Foxglove is very common and has been cultivated for hundreds of years. It produces blooms in shades of yellow, pink, rose, white, and purple that grow on tall spikes that vary on height depending on the specific species. If planted from seed, most species will bloom the second year after they have been planted.
• Hollyhock: Hollyhocks are another hardy perennial that are used in borders, along walls, and in flower gardens. Produces single and double blooms and, depending on species, flowers in shades of white, pink, and magenta on towering stalks up to 9 feet tall. They will bloom the second year after being sown from seed and they are self-seeding.
• Peonies: Peonies are a perennial favorite in many flower gardens. They will grow up to 4 feet tall and can be as short as two feet high. Flowering will usually occur in the late spring or early summer and last just a week. Depending on specific variety planted, peonies will produce flowers in every color except blue.