Perennials form the basis of the garden. They are suitable for garden beginners, are hardy, easy to care for and bloom. We have compiled a list of twelve popular varieties and planting tips for you.
In a nutshell
- Perennials are perennial, herbaceous, mostly hardy plants
- Subdivision according to growth height into high, medium-high and low cushion or ground cover perennials
- Planting time usually in spring or autumn
- Propagation by seed or division
Plants from A to H
Columbine (Aquilegia)
The easy-care flower with the unusual flower shape is also popularly known as fool's cap, devil's bell or dove flower. It fits into the cottage garden and is popular as a cut flower. If you remove the faded flowers of the columbine in early summer, it will bloom again in the fall.
- Flower Color: White, Yellow, Pink, Red, Blue, Violet
- Flowering period: May to June
- Soil: permeable, nutrient-rich, moist
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Feature: Toxic
- Planting: in spring or in autumn
Tip: The perennial is often attacked by the columbine sawfly. In this case, a complete pruning is required.
Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
The blue flowers shine from afar. The flowering shoots can reach a height of up to 1.50 meters.
Monkshood, Aconitum napellus
- Flower color: blue
- Flowering period: June to August
- Soil: sandy, loamy, nutritious, moist
- Location: partially shaded to sunny, warm
- Feature: highly toxic
- Planting time: in spring
Tip: Put horn shavings or compost in the planting hole. Plants benefit from regular fertilization with horn shavings.
Christmas rose (Helleborus niger)
In the middle of winter, the Christmas rose produces its white blossoms. Even the remains of the snow cannot stop them. Christmas roses are suitable as cut flowers for the vase. However, they should not be cut in frost.
Christmas rose
- Flower color: white
- Flowering period: January to April
- Soil: calcareous, nutrient-rich, permeable
- Location: shady to semi-shady
- Feature: more than one hundred flowers possible in strong plants per season
- Planting: in August
Tip: Don't worry if your Christmas roses suddenly collapse. You are not frozen. It is a protective mechanism. In severe frosts, the plants draw water from the stems to protect them from frost damage.
Dalmatian cushion bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana)
The Dalmatian cushion bellflower is one of the most beautiful and long-lasting cushion perennials. It is suitable as a ground cover, grows in rock gardens, on dry stone walls and also unfolds its blossoms in the flower box on the balcony.
Campanula portenschlagiana, Dalmatian bellflower
- Flower color: blue-violet
- Flowering period: June to September
- Soil: permeable, dry
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Feature: bee pasture
- Planting: from spring to autumn
Tip: The cushion bellflower can be propagated by sowing seeds or by dividing the plant in spring or autumn.
Dyer's chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria)
Dyer's chamomile gets its name from its use as a dye plant. The small flowering perennial looks attractive in cottage gardens and is also suitable for planting in window boxes.
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering period: June to September
- Soil: sandy, well drained, dry
- Location: sunny
- Feature: Suitable as a cut flower
- Planting time: in autumn
Tip: Dyer's chamomile is also called dyer's dog chamomile. Bright yellow, single flowers make them a favorite perennial in the garden and an important forage plant for bees, bumblebees and Co.
Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla)
Lady's mantle can be wonderfully combined with small bedding plants. The cushion-forming perennial grows reliably and can be easily propagated by dividing in spring. Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora) has been used medicinally for centuries.
- Flower color: green-yellow
- Flowering period: June to August
- Soil: rich in nutrients, permeable
- Location: partially shaded to sunny
- Feature: strong propagation through self-sowing
- Planting: in spring or in autumn
Tip: Young or divided plants should be watered regularly after planting.
Funkie (Hosta)
Hostas do not impress with their flowers, but with their attractive foliage. They are excellent for shady locations.
- Flower color: white, light purple
- Flowering period: July to August
- Soil: sandy, loamy, well-drained, moist, rich in nutrients
- Location: shady to semi-shady
- Feature: colored leaves
- Planting: in the spring after the ice saints
Tip: Hostas look decorative as cut flowers in the vase.
Common Thrift (Armeria maritima)
Thrifts form dense cushions. They fit in rock gardens and are suitable as a bed border.
Source: © Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0, Armeria maritima (plants), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Flower color: white, pink
- Flowering period: May to July
- Soil: sandy, dry, permeable
- Location: sunny
- Feature: wind and weatherproof, very robust
- Planting: in March or April
Tip: It doesn't always have to be geraniums. Plant thrifts in tubs or balcony boxes. The bright flowers can be seen from afar.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea)
Hydrangeas used to be considered old-fashioned. They were also called mother-in-law flowers. Today there is hardly a flower lover who would want to do without the easy-care plant with the decorative blossom.
Panicle Hydrangea
- Flower Color: White, Light Green, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Purple
- Flowering period: May to July
- Soil: well drained, moist, slightly acidic
- Location: partially shaded
- Feature: Cut back in spring or fall
- Planting time: in spring
Tip: You don't have to do without the hydrangea blooms in autumn and winter either. Hang the flowers upside down to dry. The dried flowers are well suited for arrangements and look very elegant individually in the vase.
Plants from J to P
Japanese anemone (Anemone japonica)
The easy-care Japanese anemones are available in a large selection with single or double flowers in many shades.
Autumn anemone, Anemone japonica
- Flower color: white, pink, red
- Flowering period: August to September
- Soil: rich in nutrients, permeable, moist
- Location: partially shaded
- Feature: Propagation by seeds or runners
- Planting: in spring
Tip: Some varieties of the Japanese anemone grow to a height of more than one meter. To keep the filigree stems from snapping, the elegant plants should be placed in a wind-protected location.
Glowing Lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis)
Grape-shaped inflorescences with bright red flowers attract the attention of garden visitors. The Luminous Lobelia looks attractive in combination with blue or purple flowering plants. Bluebells and Glowing Lobelia make a dream couple!
Source: John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America, J20160810-0059-Lobelia cardinalis-RPBG (28900292935), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
- Flower color: red
- Flowering period: July to September
- Soil: moist, nutritious, avoid waterlogging
- Location: sunny
- Feature: suitable for grave planting together with low cushion perennials
- Planting: from mid-May
Tip: Lobelia can be propagated by seeds. They are light germinators, the seeds must not be covered with seed soil.
Oxeye (Buphthalmum salicifolium)
The oxeye with its bright yellow flowers is suitable for wild perennial gardens. It looks confusingly similar to arnica.
Source: C T Johansson, Buphthalmum salicifolium-IMG 3584, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering period: May to September
- Soil: dry, calcareous, poor in nutrients
- Location: sunny
- Feature: bee pasture
- Planting: from March to October
Tip: Hardly any other perennial blooms as tirelessly as the oxeye.
Pearl daisy (Anaphalis triplinervis)
The low perennial impresses with shiny silver foliage and delicate white flowers. Summer Snow and Silver Rain are the most popular varieties.
Pearly daisy, Anaphalis triplinervis
- Flower color: white
- Flowering period: July to October
- Soil: calcareous, moderately nutritious, well-drained, moist
- Location: sunny
- Feature: perfectly suited as a bed edging
- Planting time: in spring
Tip: After planting, you should water the pearl basket well. Once established, the undemanding perennial requires little maintenance.
Astilbe (Astilbe)
No garden should be without ornamental spars, also known as astilbes. They come in small or large, with white, soft purple, or pink flowers. So that astilbes can grow well before winter, it is recommended to plant this perennial in autumn.
- Flower color: white, pink
- Flowering period: July to August
- Soil: permeable, moist, rich in nutrients
- Location: shady to semi-shady
- Feature: bee pasture
- Planting: in autumn
Tip: A regular addition of compost increases the willingness to bloom of the splendor.
Purple Bells (Heuchera)
The purple bell enchants with its filigree flowers and beautifully drawn leaves. It is one of the most popular foliage perennials.
- Flower color: white, yellow, pink, red
- Flowering period: July to August
- Soil: sandy, well-drained, humic
- Location: partially shaded
- Feature: tolerates short dry periods
- Planting: in spring
Tip: The range of Heuchera varieties is large. Choose small, medium or tall varieties depending on your needs.
Plants from S to Z
Wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Bees and butterflies love its nectar, we love its aromatic scent and the flowers of the cushion-forming perennial. Wild thyme fits perfectly in rock gardens, is suitable for roof greening and can be planted as a bed border.
Wild thyme, wild thyme, Thymus serpyllum
- Flower color: pink
- Flowering period: June to August
- Soil: sandy, permeable, poor in nutrients
- Location: sunny, warm
- Feature: Use as a medicinal and aromatic plant
- Planting: from spring to autumn
Tip: Wild thyme should be rejuvenated by division every three years.
Yarrow (Achillea)
The tall, richly flowering perennial should not be missing in cottage gardens.
- Flower colors: white, yellow, orange, red, pink
- Flowering period: July to September
- Soil: rich in nutrients, permeable, dry
- Location: sunny, warm
- Feature: Bee forage plant
- Planting: in spring or in autumn
Tip: Water the root ball before planting. If the soil is poor, put compost in the planting hole.
Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)
The Turkish poppy is also known as perennial poppy. Huge flowers in enchanting colors attract bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
Turkish poppy, Papaver orientale
- Flower colors: white, pink, orange, red
- Flowering period: May to August
- Soil: rich in nutrients, permeable
- Location: sunny, warm
- Feature: Bee forage plant
- Planting: in spring or in autumn
Tip: Cut off the yellowed leaves of the oriental poppy after flowering. The perennial retreats into the ground in late autumn to sprout again the following spring.
ornamental onion (Allium)
Ornamental onions with the bright flower balls are eye-catchers in every garden. The flower stalks are up to one meter high. Bees, butterflies and other flower-visiting insects are magically attracted to the decorative plant.
- Flower colors: white, pink, purple
- Flowering period: April to September
- Soil: rich in nutrients, permeable, dry
- Location: sunny, warm
- Feature: Bee forage plant
- Planting: September to November
Tip: Fertilizing in the spring after sprouting leads to a magnificent bloom.
frequently asked Questions
My garden is very shady. How do I find suitable perennials?Ask for shade perennials at the nursery. Hostas, Christmas roses and splendor, for example, feel very comfortable in the shade.
What preliminary work is required when planting perennials?Loosen up the bed for the perennial well at the recommended planting time. Remove all weeds. Dandelions, goutweed and bindweed compete with the young plants and impair their development. Loosen up the root ball of purchased perennials. Put the plant in water for 20 minutes. Dig a planting hole. Insert the plant, fill in soil, fix the surface and water well.
How does the division of flowering perennials succeed?After flowering, you can divide perennials. Use a clean, sharp spade to do this. Cut off part of the plant and place it in a prepared planting hole filled with compost. Dividing a perennial stimulates growth and flowering.
When is the best time to plant perennials?Most perennials can be planted in spring or in autumn after flowering without any problems. Follow the tips in our list or the instructions on the plant labels of purchased plants.