‘Adagio’ dwarf maiden grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
Silver gray narrow foliage to 3-4′ tall with a 3-4′ spread. Pink inflorescence appear in … Continued
browsing: perennials that last
Perennials are plants that are expected to live longer than two years, unlike annuals, which live for one growing season, and biennials, which need two growing seasons to mature and go to seed. Perennials may go to seed every year and often die back to the ground, but their root systems continue to live and the plants will continue growing. Some perennials are considered to be short-lived, but because they self-seed so readily they appear to live much longer.
Not all plants are perennial in all areas. Some can be killed by freezing temperatures, excessively dry conditions, or other growing conditions. This is why hardiness zones are so important. Knowing what zone you garden in will allow you to determine what plants will survive in your area. As of the 2012 USDA hardiness map, the region in which Vinland Valley Nursery is located in Zone 6a.
Perennial plants have a shorter blooming season than annuals since their survival doesn’t depend upon creating as much seed. However, many plants bloom for weeks, and with careful planning and a diversity of plants in the garden, you can keep things pretty colorful from early spring through frost.
If you’re looking for natives click the button to filter the list.
‘Little Zebra’ dwarf zebra grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra'
‘Little Zebra’ is shorter and more upright than ‘Zebrinus’ but retains the distinctive gold banding. … Continued
‘Morning Light’ maiden grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
Feathery, fan-shaped, pale pink panicles. Neat narrow-leaved upright grass arches outward at the top in … Continued
‘Dixieland’ maiden grass, variegated eulalia
Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland'
Also called Japanese silver grass, this ornamental grows 4-5′ tall with wide leaves that are … Continued
‘Zebrinus’ zebra grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
Horizontal yellow bands on wide foliage that grows 4-6′ tall and 3-5′ wide. Tolerates poorly … Continued
spotted bee balm
Monarda punctata
Prefers sandy soils and full to part sun. It has an exotic flower form and … Continued
‘Buzz Cherry Pops’ bee balm
Monarda 'Buzz Cherry Pops'
In midsummer, ‘Cherry Pops’ forms a solid dome of cherry red, 2-2½” flowers on strong, … Continued
dwarf bee balm
Monarda didyma
Monarda didyma ‘Balmy Pink’ is a dwarf plant covered in lavender-rose blooms in summer. ‘Balmy Purple’ sports cool … Continued
‘Gardenview Scarlet’ bee balm
Monarda didyma ‘Gardenview Scarlet’
Large red flowers in June through August on mildew-resistant foliage growing 4-5′ tall. Heat and … Continued
bee balm, wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Violet blossoms with aromatic foliage. A familiar sight on the prairie. Native to most of … Continued
Mexican feathergrass
Nassella (formerly Stipa) tenuissima
This zone 7 perennial will self-seed in our northern zone 6 gardens. Excellent soft, fine … Continued
‘Walker’s Low’, ‘Junior Walker’ & ‘Little Trudy’ catmint
Nepeta species
Perennial Plant Association 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year! faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ grows up to … Continued