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When it comes to a successful and low-maintenance garden design, hardy perennials are the perfect choice. Fresh green and beautiful blossoms in all imaginable colors pamper our senses. So that the plants are particularly easy to care for and also bloom lushly, the right location is particularly important. That's why we've organized an extensive list of flowering hardy perennials not only by color but also by location.
Hardy flowering perennials
While many wild species are commercially available in just one color, there is an incredible range of colors available from the cultivated forms of countless species. In this way, beds in violet, pink or even blue tones, motley color mixtures or arrangements in complementary colors can be created. In darker areas of the garden, yellow-flowering, hardy species are popular, adding immense luminosity to the shade realm. If you are wondering which perennials are actually annual and which perennials, this question can be answered easily: Perennials always grow perennial. Most perennials that are native to us are also hardy.
Flowering perennials for full sun
Basically, perennials are easier to care for, the better the actual location is adapted to their needs. Frugal dry artists such as hardy rock garden plants, flowering prairie plants or alpine perennials are recommended for full sun in the garden with nutrient-poor soil. In order to create a harmonious overall picture, it is best to orientate yourself on the natural model, because plants with similar location requirements usually also harmonize visually quite well with each other.
Note: When making your selection, always pay attention to the preferred soil conditions, because some sun shrubs require slightly moister garden soil.
Yellow & White Flowers
White flowering species
- Candelabra speedwell 'Alba' (Veronicastrum virginicum): candle-shaped umbels of flowers in July/August, growth height up to 70 cm
- Pearl basket 'Summer Snow' (Anaphalis triplinervis): umbel-shaped flowers, up to 20 cm high
- Magnificent candle (prairie candle, Gaura lindheimeri): overhanging flower clusters from July to October, height 60 to 100 cm
Magnificent candle, Gaura lindheimeri; Pearl Daisies 'Summer Snow', Anaphalis triplinervis
yellow flowers
- Andean cushion (Azorella trifurcata): evergreen mat-former, yellowish flowers in May to June, one of the lowest perennials of all
- Large-flowered Damsel's Eye (Coreopsis grandiflora): Continuous flowering (June to September), height 45 cm
- Dyer pod 'Lemon Meringue' (Indigolupine, Baptisia): black calyx with sulphur-yellow petals, flowers in May/June, height up to 120 cm
- Schönauge 'Pierre Bennerup' (Coreopsis tripteris): elegant growth up to 170 cm, late flowering (August/September)
- Suneye (Heliopsis scabra): free-flowering border perennial up to 120 cm high, flowering period from July to September
- Sun bride 'The Bishop' (Helenium bigelovii): lemon-yellow flowers with a brown center, flowering period June to August, height of growth 60 to 70 cm
- Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii): upright inflorescences up to 100 cm high, deep yellow with a black eye (August to September)
Greater Tickseed, Coreopsis grandiflora; Coneflower, Rudbeckia
Pink - blue flowering perennials
Pink to red flowering perennials
- Thrift (Armeria pseudoameria or alpina): cushion plant with bright flowers in May/June, height of growth up to 15 cm
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): large flowering stars from July to September, height of growth up to 100 cm
- Speedwell 'Red Fox' (Veronica spicata): long flowering bee perennial with spike-shaped flowers, growth height 30 to 40 cm
- Spur flower (Centranthus ruber): light red to pink-colored flower umbrellas (June to September) with growth heights of up to 60 cm
- Sonnenbraut 'Moerheim Beauty' (Helenium Hybride): copper-red flowers with a dark centre, flowering period July/August, height of growth around 100 cm
Thrift, Armeria alpina, Echinacea purpurea
Purple to blue flowers
- Arkansas aster (Veronica arkansana): purplish-violet umbels of flowers in August to October, slender growth up to 200 cm
- Squill bush (Amsonia tabernaemontana): impressive clusters of blue star-shaped flowers in June/July, up to 100 cm high
- Garden sage (Salvia nemorosa): dark violet flowers until September, height of growth up to 60 cm, also available in white
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): purple continuous bloomer from June to October, depending on the variety 25 to 90 cm tall
- Upholstery thyme (Thymus praecox): aromatic, fragrant perennial with lush red-violet flowers between May and August, growth height of around 10 cm
- Prairie lily (Camassia): violet-blue, radiating flowers in panicles from April to May, stature height 60 to 80 cm
- Wollziest (Stachys byzantina): Plant with felty hairs, carpet-like growth up to 40 cm high, flowering period from July to August
garden sage, Salvia nemorosa; Prairie lily, Camassia
notice: With optimal soil conditions, many sun-loving, flowering perennials also grow easily in semi-shade.
Hardy perennials for semi-shady locations
The transition area between a cool, shady location and sunny, hot locations is very common in nature. The selection of flowering perennials is correspondingly large.
White to orange flowers
white flowers
- Columbine 'Alba' (Aquilegia vulgaris): flowers on long stems freely above the foliage, flowering period June/July, height of growth up to 60 cm
- Balkan Hogweed 'White Lips' (Acanthus hungaricus): perfect for Mediterranean-style gardens, height around 90 cm, flowering months: June/July
- Dyer master (Asperula tinctoria): delicate wild perennial with a veil effect in June, height about 40 cm
- Creeping Bugle 'Alba' (Ajuga reptans): white flower clusters in April/May, height around 10 cm
- Snow loosestrife (Duckbill loosestrife, Lysimachia clethroides): flowers shaped like a duckbill from July to September on 80 cm high stalks
- Silver cohosh (Cimicifuga ramosa): between 80 and 200 cm high, depending on the species, candle-shaped flowers from August until frost, poisonous
Colour: yellow to orange
- Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis): beautiful, easy-care area cover with yellowish umbel flowers, height of growth about 40 cm
- Japanese wax bell (Kirengeshoma palmata): light yellow, nodding bell flowers from August to October, height of growth up to 70 cm
- Caucasus chamomile (Doronicum orientale): numerous individual flowers similar to daisies in April/May, stature height around 40 cm
- Ragwort, Ligularia stenocephala: ornamental foliage and flowering perennial, bright yellow flower spikes in July/August on stems up to 100 cm high
- Long-spurred garden columbine 'Yellow Queen' (Aquilegia chrysantha): yellow flowering garden columbine growing up to 80 cm tall, flowering May/June
- Maiden's eye (Coreopsis hybrids): hardy perennial with lush flowers from July to August, up to 40 cm high,
- Oxeye (Buphthalmum salicifolium): Wild perennial for dry slopes, long flowering period (May to July), height around 50 cm
- Daylily (Hemerocallis): large flowers with enormous luminosity, growth height about 50 cm, flowers in July/August
yellow-red daylily, Hemerocallis fulva; Caucasus Gemswurz, Doronicum orientale
Pink - blue flowers
Pink to reddish flowers:
- Asters (Aster): many different types and varieties, mostly pink, white or violet flowers, height of growth between 20 and 200 cm, different flowering times
- Burning bush (Dictamnus albus): densely bushy, upright growth up to 100 cm, pink star-shaped flowers in June/July
- Flame flower (cushion phlox, Phlox atropurpurea): lush seas of pink flowers, early or late flowering varieties, growth heights between 10 and 60 cm
- Musk mallow (Malva moschata): soft pink, pink or white flower cups on 60 cm high stems from June to September
- Snail knotweed (carpet knotweed, Bistorta affinis): robust, richly flowering ground cover from May to October, resistant to snails
lamb flower, Phlox atropurpurea; Aster; Burning bush, Dictamnus albus
Flower Color: Blue to purple
- Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) gentian blue flowers with a late flowering period (from August), height of growth about 25 cm
- Sweet nettle (Korean mint, Agastache rugosa): fast-growing, long-blooming insect magnet (June to September), height up to 110 cm
- Commemorative Plant (Omphalodes verna): dainty blue flowers April/May, low-growing groundcover
- Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana): countless white or blue flowers from June to September, carpet-forming perennial up to 20 cm high
- Autumn monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii): reliable late bloomer (from the end of August) with large, violet flower clusters, growth height up to 150 cm, poisonous
- Jacob's Ladder (polemonium caeruleum): native flowering perennial with dense panicles of flowers about 70 cm high, flowering June/July
- Night Viola (Hesperis matronalis): flowers from May to July, fragrant, height of growth up to 70 cm
- Cranesbill (Geranium): Extremely easy-care ground cover with a long flowering period (June to October), many colors available, mostly in shades of blue, pink and purple
- Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris): established perennial with elegant blue flowers from April to June, stature height 40 to 80 cm
- Cymbalaria muralis: slightly hanging perennial, light violet flowers from June to October
Plumbago, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides; Commemoration, Omphalodes verna; Sweet nettle, Agastache rugosa
shade perennials
Your bed has little light, the ground is in the shade of buildings or trees? These so-called shadow gardens are often perceived as unattractive. If you want a lot of bright colors in the garden, you may find it difficult to find suitable species. But even in the less sunny areas of the garden, things don't have to be dull and colorless. Because there are a number of flowering perennials for this location. They often have bright flower colors and usually form dense carpets. These forest perennials usually bloom in early spring when there is still enough light on the forest floor.
White & yellow flowers
white flowers
- Monkshood 'Snow White' (Aconitum napellus): loose flower clusters with large, helmet-shaped individual flowers, poisonous
- Commemorative 'Alba' (Omphalodes verna): simple, cup-shaped flowers in May/June (often as early as April)
- Goatsbeard (Aruncus): medium-sized to tall perennial (100 to 200 cm) with cloudy flowers in June/July
- Heart-leaved foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia): loose, yellowish-white flower clusters from April to May, cushion-like growth up to 20 cm, evergreen (bronze autumn colour)
- Knotweed 'Johanniswolke' (Aconogonon x fennicum): can be used as a shrub or as a solitary plant, growth height up to 200 cm, creamy-white blooms from May to July
- Porcelain flowers (Saxifraga x urbium): Leaf rosettes form carpets, reddish flower stalks with star-shaped flowers on long panicles in May to June
- 'Younique White' (Astilbe japonica): long, finely divided flower spikes, growth height up to 40 cm
- Petite elf flower 'Niveum' (Epimendium x youngianum): snow-white, filigree flower, cup-shaped
Magnificent pier, Astilbe japonica
yellow flowers
- Hanging Goldbell (Uvularia grandiflora): rare perennial with flowers hanging downwards, around 50 cm high
- Golden nettle (Lamium galeobdolon): also grows in the deepest shade, flowers in May/June, height of growth around 30 cm
- Japanese forest poppy (Hylomecon japonicum): bright yellow spring bloomer, blooms a little longer in the shade
- Waldsteinia (Waldsteinia ternata): evergreen ground cover with yellow cup-shaped flowers in April and May
Pink to blue flowering perennials
Pink perennials
- Altai bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia): ornamental foliage plant with broad bushy growth, small bell-shaped flowers in clusters (April/May)
- Great Masterwort (Astrantia major): semi-perennial for sunny locations with exceptional pink-white flowers (June to August), height of growth up to 50 cm
- Elf Flower 'Rose Queen' (Epimedium grandiflorum): large-flowered variety with dark pink, spurred flowers
- Japanese autumn anemone 'Splendens' (Anemone hupehensis): strong pink colored petals, slightly lighter at the edge, flower stalks up to 80 cm long
- 'Younique Pink' (Astilbe japonica): fluffy panicles of flowers up to 40 cm high
- Bleeding Heart (Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis): overhanging pink umbels of flowers with a white appendage, flowering period in May/June, height up to 80 cm
Bergenia, Bergenia; Magnificent pier, Astilbe japonica
Colour: purple to blue-violet
- Bell hosta (Hosta ventricosa): Ornamental foliage plant with bell-shaped flowers on panicles up to 80 cm long
- Caucasus forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla): robust ground cover with countless small blue flowers in April/May, special variety with silvery-white leaves: 'Jack Frost'
- Small-leaved periwinkle 'Bowles' (Vinca minor): undemanding, evergreen ground cover with large flowers
- Globe primrose (Primula denticulata): large, spherical inflorescences up to 25 cm high, flowering March/April
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis): pillow-like growth up to 40 cm, cup-shaped flowers from March to May, also grown in other colors, green in mild winters
- Forest bellflower (Campanula latifolia var. macrantha): large, dark violet flower bells in June to July, height of growth up to 100 cm
Globe Primrose, Primula denticulata; Caucasus forget-me-not ,Brunnera macrophylla