Gardening brings so much joy, but I’m sure you’ll all agree it also takes a lot of patience and effort. I’ll come clean: picking the perfect plants at the start had me up the garden path!
Sure, all plants are gorgeous, but replanting every year felt like an endless chore, not to mention the hefty price tag… Well, then I discovered the true wonders of the gardening world: perennials!
They return year after year, sparing your wallet and turning the start of your gardening season into a breeze.
Pair them with annuals, trees, and shrubs, and watch your garden transform into a breathtaking masterpiece.
Now let’s dive into the top contenders! My list of breathtaking perennials is sure to leave you in awe!
1. Coneflowers Are One Of The Prettiest Perennials Out There
Well, my list starts with one of the most popular perennials ever, the stunning coneflowers. They come in a range of vibrant hues and they’ll fit perfectly into every garden design.
There are many varieties to choose from, but since their height ranges from 12 to 36 inches, you’ll need to pay attention when purchasing. You don’t want them to hide shorter plants!
Caring for coneflowers won’t take too much of your time, just make sure to give them a lot of full sun for best results!
2. Lavender For Fragrance And Beauty
Some plants can offer much more than great looks, with lavender as the most obvious example. The scent of their lovely purple blossoms is simply amazing!
You’ll find a lot of lavender varieties on the market but you should select the one suitable for your region. I grow English lavender but it’s a bit finicky and may not be suitable for beginners.
If you do not have a lot of experience, go with hybrid lavandin! Make sure to give your lavender plenty of light and improve drainage because this herb is sensitive to overwatering!
3. Draw Pollinators With Salvias
I often say salvias are a trademark of sunny summer gardens! They have mounted leaves that pair perfectly with spikes of pink, white, and purple blossoms!
These hardy plants won’t take a lot of your time and your summer garden will be buzzing with various pollinators!
4. Bearded Irises Are Another Great Choice
The long tufts of hairs on bearded irises resemble a beard, and that’s exactly how this amazing plant got its weird name.
Bearded irises are beloved among American gardeners because there are over 70,000 species and there’s at least one for every region! The most important thing in iris care is to ensure a spot with a lot of full sun.
5. Add A Splash Of Color With Heleniums
Different shades of gold, orange, red, and brown adorn the spectacular blossoms of long-blooming perennial heleniums.
Butterflies adore these plants, so if you’re after a pollinator garden, helenium is just what you need. It tends to get leggy if it doesn’t receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, so be careful when choosing a spot.
6. Balloon Flower For A Unique Touch
Do you want your summer garden to stand out next season? A balloon flower is your best bet! The tiny buds resemble balloons (hence the name) and they open to reveal a famous star-like shape.
Those who have problems with deer should definitely plant balloon flowers because these animals aren’t really fans of them. And yes, balloon flowers also need a lot of direct sun to flourish!
7. Papaver Is The New It Flower
You won’t see papaver aka oriental poppy in every garden, so this is your opportunity to add a unique touch. The plant reveals its papery blossoms in spring and they last all throughout the summer.
Butterflies love papavers and the plants self-seed, so you don’t have to worry about replanting. Poppies are big fans of full sun and papavers aren’t an exception.
8. Penstemon Is A Sun-Loving Stunning Bloomer
Are you a beginner gardener looking for a nearly indestructible plant? Then penstemon is an ideal choice for you! It’s a flower that’ll keep your garden flourishing all through the fall when most other plants stop blooming.
It’s a drought-tolerant and deer-resistant perennial and will easily thrive even on neglect. Butterflies and hummingbirds adore penstemon pink blossoms!
9. Add A Delicate Touch With Ranunculus
The small bowl-shaped blossoms of ranunculus made the plant one of the most popular for romantic gardens.
Ranunculus plants are super easy to maintain, and as long as they have full sun and free-draining soil, they’ll be happy and healthy for many seasons to come!
10. Catmint Will Make Everything Better
The long-blooming and easy-to-grow catmint plant has secured its spot on the list of most beautiful perennials thanks to its lovely and vibrant purple blossoms.
Pollinators love catmint, and if you have a cat, I’m sure it’ll appreciate this plant in your outdoor space! Catmint grows well in both full sun and partial shade!
11. Butterflies Will Appreciate Yarrow
If butterflies could speak, their first sentence would be to plant as many yarrows as possible! These plants come in various shades of red, white, yellow, and pink and they’ll fit into every garden design.
Pests stay away from yarrow and it shows excellent tolerance to drought. Make sure to give it a lot of sun and plant it after the last frost.
12. Cranesbill Is An Ideal Plant For Beginners
Hardy geraniums aka cranesbill plants are renowned for their outstanding resilience and tolerance to cold and poor soils. Even though cranesbills prefer sun, mine grow in partial shade and they still bloom abundantly.
Rabbits hate the pungent scent of hardy geranium leaves, so you won’t have issues with these little critters!
13. Stunning Dahlias For Romantic Gardens
Ok, I’ll admit it! My vote for the most beautiful perennial definitely goes to dahlias. There’s something special about those large ball-shaped blossoms.
Dahlias are a part of almost every sunny garden and their flowers last for a long time in a vase.
If you live in cooler climates, make sure to dig the tubers and store them during the winter months.
14. Coreopsis Is One Of The Toughest Plants
Do you need a hardy plant that withstands different humidity levels, tolerates heat and cold, attracts pollinators, and makes the perfect cut flowers?
Well, coreopsis has it all! It’s one of the easiest plants to grow and its blossoms will last from summer through fall with little effort.
15. Peony For Beauty And Vibrance
If you’re starting a perennial garden, trust me, you must plant peonies. These plants can literally live for decades, so it’s a long-term investment!
The blossoms come in various colors, shapes, and sizes and they typically open in late spring. Don’t worry if you spot an ant or two on your peonies; they enjoy feeding on nectar but they aren’t harmful.
Find a spot that receives full sun and your peonies will thrive for many years to come!
16. Astilbes Are Definitely Underrated!
While most perennials prefer full sun, astilbes are happiest in partial shade! The feathery plumes and fern-like foliage are a true sight to behold and I really don’t know why these plants aren’t more popular.
Astilbes are also deer-resistant perennials and generally problem-free.
17. Lungwort And Shade Make Excellent Friends
As well as astilbe, another perennial that does well in shady gardens is lungwort. Its foliage is covered in silvery spots and it pairs perfectly with purplish-pink blossoms.
This plant also goes under the name pulmonaria and, believe it or not, it was used to treat breathing disorders in the past.
18. Coral Bells Have It All
A few years ago, many gardeners didn’t know that coral bells even existed. Nowadays, you’ll find them in every nursery and, of course, in almost every garden.
The reason? The most beautiful colorful foliage you’ll ever see! But this perennial also produces lovely flowers and hummingbirds love them.
They do well in both full sun and partial shade, but if you live in hot climates, I highly recommend you ensure some shade during afternoons.
19. Japanese Anemone For Late Season Colors
If you don’t want your garden to look dull during the late season, Japanese anemone is the perfect perennial for you.
Magnificent pink and white blossoms appear on the top of mounted foliage creating a dreamy display!
20. Lenten Rose For A Touch Of Elegance
And now, I have something amazing for you! Winter gardens won’t look lifeless and colorless if you add beautiful lenten roses.
Otherwise known as hellebores, lenten roses look pretty delicate, but don’t let their look fool you. They’re one of the hardiest plants ever!
21. Use All The Benefits Of Bee Balm
The list of reasons to add a bee balm to your yard is very long and all experienced gardeners will recommend this plant.
It’s a US native plant which means it’ll quickly adapt to the conditions in your garden. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are addicted to the nectar of bee balm flowers.
Don’t forget to deadhead regularly to enjoy beautiful flowers all season long!
22. Add A Finishing Touch With The Lovely Phlox
And the last plant on my list is the stunning phlox. Its star-shaped blossoms appear in clusters and will create a carpet in your flower beds.
Deer and other critters typically stay away from phlox but pollinators love it. Choose phlox varieties depending on sun exposure in your garden because some varieties perform best in full sun while others are more for partial shade.
And there you have it! The most beautiful perennials in one place! Choose at least one and make your flower garden the envy of the neighborhood!