Doug’s favorite perennials

Longtime readers will be familiar with one of my favorite perennials, but since it only has a Latin name, for others this will be the introduction to Corydalis lutea. It starts blooming in April and will continue to flower into November. Corydalis grows in dry shade or part sun and is deer resistant. The plant makes a nice colony in a couple of years by throwing seeds, not invasive underground runners. This low-maintenance plant needs nothing from the gardener and is even the perfect addition to a container due to its long bloom time.

Corydalis lutea starts blooming April and will continue flowering into November. It’s a great deer resistant perennial that will form a small colony after a few years.

I’ve been experimenting with perennials in pots by using corydalis and different types of ivy. A beautiful, hardy variegated ivy can be found at nurseries for a song this time of the year and makes a great “spiller,” softening the edges of pots.
Butterfly weed, swamp milkweed and common milkweed have become a big part of the gardening world as a way to help monarch butterflies. The species (asclepias) is the only host plant for the insect. All three are easy to grow in part to full shade and are deer resistant, too. Don’t let the word “weed” in the names of these plants throw you. All three are beautiful and are a great choice for any garden.

Perennial hibiscus grows in part to full sun, blooms later in the season and is deer resistant. I’ve never watered or fertilized the cultivars in my garden. Some have huge flowers the size of dinner plates.

Perennial hibiscus plants often have big flowers and bloom towards the end of the summer.

Anemone or windflower is another carefree plant with many different cultivars. ‘Queen Charlotte’ has intense, purple buds that open to pretty, light purple flowers that sway in the breeze. The deer will nibble on the buds, but don’t like them.

Anemone ‘Queen Charlotte’ doesn’t require much from the gardener and will bloom through the summer.

Ligularia is a shade-loving perennial which, once established, will bloom for decades. I grow ‘Britt Marie Crawford,’ which has purplish, bronze foliage and then spectacular yellowish orange, daisy-like flowers. Even though they have a reputation as a plant that likes moist areas, I’ve never watered this one.

Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’ is a carefree perennial that blooms in mid-summer.

Hostas are deer candy, so keep that in mind when planting them. The foliage can be as small as a mouse ear or three feet across. There are a wide range of colors and variegations too. As long as you can keep the deer off them with something like Bobbex, this is a great plant for the shade.

Hostas are loved by the deer, but make great shade plants and come in many different shapes and sizes.

Daylilies are almost as attractive to the deer as they are to the gardener. They love full sun and come in a plethora of sizes, shapes and colors. Reblooming varieties can flower for more than 200 days. ‘Stella de Oro’ might be the most popular, with its short yellow blooms, but there are many different types out there.

Daylilies are an easy to grow perennial, many varieties are repeat bloomers.

Peonies are a spring favorite, as many have an intoxicating fragrance and are maintenance free. Some suffer from fungal issues later in the season, but nothing serious.

Planting perennials like peonies will provide blooms for decades.

Perennial salvias are one of my all-time favorite plants. They are deer resistant, tough and beautiful. They love full sun, but will take some afternoon shade. ‘May Night’ is a long bloomer that is nearly indestructible.

Salvia ‘May Night’ is a tough, long blooming perennial.

Doug Oster is editor of Everybody Gardens, a website operated by 535Media, LLC. Reach him at 412-965-3278 or doster@535mediallc.com. See other stories, videos, blogs, tips and more at everybodygardens.com.

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