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Best Perennials

by: June Hutson

	Plant	Comment
	Actaea matsumurae 'White Pearl' bugbane Herbaceous perennial	This plant's pure white blooms can really light up a shady corner in the garden. It also has a very pleasing vertical habit.
	Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant' bugleweed Herbaceous perennial	I find this plant to be a great choice for St. Louis' heat and humidity. It withstands our summers better than most.
	Amsonia hubrichtii blue star Herbaceous perennial	This is a good plant with showy foliage. It is an enjoyable addition to the summertime garden.
	Amsonia tabernaemontana blue star Herbaceous perennial	The bright yellow fall foliage on this plant is one of its best characteristics in my book.
	Anemone x hybrida 'Königin Charlotte' QUEEN CHARLOTTE Japanese anemone Herbaceous perennial	I love this plant for its pink color which shines brightly in fall foliage. It tends to flop a little so you may need to stake it to keep it looking tidy.
	Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila fan columbine Herbaceous perennial	I've found this columbine to have fewer problems with leaf miners. It lives longer than other columbines.
	Asarum canadense wild ginger Herbaceous perennial	If you are looking for a good alternative to euonymous ground cover, this is the one. It will not remain evergreen though.
	Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed Herbaceous perennial	This plant requires patience since it takes forever to return in the spring, but its worth the wait.
	Aster ericoides heath aster Herbaceous perennial	If you would like something unique, the prickly foliage on this plant is interesting and remains handsome in the summer heat.
	Aster linariifolius stiff aster Herbaceous perennial	This is a wonderful, little-used plant that is a nice addition to the front of the border.
	Aster novae-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke' New England aster Herbaceous perennial	I like the big, blowzy habit of this aster. It responds well to earlier pinching which helps it turn into a star of the fall garden.
	Astilbe chinensis var. pumila Chinese astilbe Herbaceous perennial	This Plant of Merit spreads very rapidly and will turn into a large, showy clump in no time.
	Astilbe 'Deutschland' astilbe Herbaceous perennial	This is a wonderful long-time favorite. It still gives one of the best shows in the spring garden.
	Astilbe 'Sprite' astilbe Herbaceous perennial	I like to use this plant for its shiny foliage which remains handsome long after it has finished blooming.
	Baptisia australis blue false indigo Herbaceous perennial	The attractive, stately form is just one reason why this plant earned the title of Plant of Merit. Since the clump gets very wide quickly, give it lots of room to show off.
	Baptisia bracteata false indigo Herbaceous perennial	I plant this plant for its different flower color. Make sure you visit it often because the blooms don't last quite as long as other baptisias.
	Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana hardy begonia Herbaceous perennial	I love having a perennial begonia in my garden. Remember not to pull it up in the fall but just prune off the foliage at ground level.
	Blephilia ciliata Ohio horsemint Herbaceous perennial	Every garden needs something unexpected. Plant this one for its exotic look. It will reward you by naturalizing very easily.
	Boltonia asteroides var. latisquama 'Snowbank' false aster Herbaceous perennial	Invite nature into your garden by using this Plant of Merit. The bees and butterflies simply love it.
	Brunnera macrophylla Siberian bugloss Herbaceous perennial	Once you discover this plant you will understand why it is a true Plant of Merit. To keep it vigorous you must provide it with soil rich in organic matter.
	Calamintha nepeta calamint Herbaceous perennial	This is a wonderful plant but requires a watchful eye and a little work to keep it in bounds.
	Callirhoe involucrata purple poppy mallow Herbaceous perennial	This Plant of Merit has the unique quality of being able to weave itself happily amongst the rest of the flowers in the garden. It will give your garden a relaxed, natural look.
	Centranthus ruber red valerian Herbaceous perennial	One of my favorite plants to give your garden that "heirloom" look is centranthus. It also has a delightful habit of repeat blooming all summer.
	Ceratostigma plumbaginoides plumbago Herbaceous perennial	This is a nice addition to the perennial garden. Make a note not to remove its foliage during your fall cleanup.
	Chelone glabra turtlehead Herbaceous perennial	This plant is a good choice for a really wet spot or even a bog garden.
	Chelone obliqua shellflower Herbaceous perennial	I recommend trying this plant in your garden. You can either weed out or share the seedlings since it self-seeds easily.
	Clematis heracleifolia clematis Herbaceous perennial	Try planting this one for something different. It is definitely underutilized and very attractive.
	Clematis recta 'Purpurea' clematis Herbaceous perennial	An attractive feature to this plant is that the new foliage is purple. Be sure to provide it with support so it does not flop over.
	Conoclinium coelestinum blue mistflower Herbaceous perennial	Some nice perennials have the not-so-nice habit of spreading all over. You will need to keep an eye on this one.
	Coreopsis verticillata 'Grandiflora' threadleaf coreopsis Herbaceous perennial	This delightful plant will bloom all summer without being deadheaded. What could be better?
	Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' threadleaf coreopsis Herbaceous perennial	Every perennial gardener should make a spot for this easy plant. If you provide it with an acid soil, it will reward you many times over.
	Cunila origanoides American dittany Herbaceous perennial	I value this plant for its wonderful pungent foliage.
	Dicentra 'Luxuriant' bleeding heart Herbaceous perennial	The foliage of this plant is a great treat in the spring perennial garden . It may not stay attractive as the summer heats up.
	Dicentra spectabilis bleeding heart Herbaceous perennial	Bleeding heart is an old-fashioned spring tradition with its softly arching flower stalks and wonderful deeply cut foliage. Summer heat will make this plant go dormant and may cause root damage too.
	Echinacea pallida pale purple coneflower Herbaceous perennial	This species of coneflower grows happily in even drier soils than the ever-popular purpurea variety. Finches will love the seed heads if left to ripen on the plant.
	Echinacea paradoxa yellow coneflower Herbaceous perennial	If you have a rock garden, this is the coneflower for you. This hardy species has been used as a parent to many of the new cultivars on the market.
	Echinacea purpurea purple coneflower Herbaceous perennial	This great drought-tolerant plant is a butterfly magnet when in bloom. The petals reflex giving it an instantly recognizable look.
	Echinacea tennesseensis Tennessee coneflower Herbaceous perennial	If you love mysteries try this variety of coneflower. It crosses readily with other coneflower species so who knows what jewel you might discover.
	Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' bishop's hat Herbaceous perennial	If this outstanding plant tried out for the "Survivor" series it would surely be a winner. How many plants can happily tolerate dry shade and spread to form an attractive ground cover too? A 2005 Plant of Merit, this hybrid has proven to be the most reliable of the genus and will survive some sun too!
	Epimedium x warleyense bishop's hat Herbaceous perennial	Who wouldn't love a plant that tolerates dry shade? This unusual hybrid has beautiful orange flowers in spring, too.
	Eryngium yuccifolium rattlesnake master Herbaceous perennial	If you are interested in adding a desert look to your garden, this plant is a nice addition. It will seed abundantly so plan on it spreading in the future.
	Galium odoratum sweet woodruff Herbaceous perennial	This is a handy plant to add to your garden as it grows reliably under deciduous trees and shrubs. Especially nice under azaleas and rhododendrons.
	Geranium maculatum wild geranium Herbaceous perennial	To keep this geranium looking tidy, cut it back after blooming to promote a new flush of handsome foliage.
	Geranium sanguineum bloody cranesbill Herbaceous perennial	This is the hardiest of all the perennial geraniums and will earn its spot in the garden. The delicate foliage will turn an attractive red color in the fall.
	Geum triflorum purple avens Herbaceous perennial	Don't try to spoil this plant, it doesn't like the attention. Provide it with lean soil to keep it happy.
	Glandularia canadensis rose verbena Herbaceous perennial	Try substituting this plant in place of annual verbenas since it suffers less from insects and diseases.
	Helianthus salicifolius willow-leaved sunflower Herbaceous perennial	This Plant of Merit boasts better drought tolerance. It has attractive narrow leaves on smoother stems. For best performance, prune back by one-half in spring.
	Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Sommersonne' SUMMER SUN ox eye Herbaceous perennial	This tall beauty will charm you though the heat of summer with her dancing daisy-like flowers of yellow-orange. It is happiest among other tall perennials or when grown with some support for the best display.
	Helleborus orientalis hellebore Herbaceous perennial	No garden should be without helleborus to grace the dawn of each new season. Nothing is more welcome than walking along a path where the nodding flowers greet you in the chilly air of spring. When left to mature this Plant of Merit forms colonies and the foliage stays evergreen in mild winters.
	Heuchera americana coral bells Herbaceous perennial	An excellent addition to a native garden, this heuchera is underused primarily due to the fact that it has solid green leaves.
	Heuchera 'Montrose Ruby' coral bells Herbaceous perennial	With its beautiful red coloring, this heuchera is hard to find but worth the effort since it is so reliable to grow.
	Heuchera 'Purple Sails' coral bells Herbaceous perennial	The maple-like leaves of 'Purple Sails' adds such a nice touch to the front of the border. It is not susceptible to mid-summer rot like many of the others.
	Heuchera x brizoides 'Chatterbox' coral bells Herbaceous perennial	One of the older varieties of heuchera, the airy coral sprays of flowers dry well for a long-lasting display.
	Hibiscus coccineus scarlet rose mallow Herbaceous perennial	This species is called swamp hibiscus for a good reason - it loves wet soil. Not only will this plant stop traffic but hummingbirds will be waiting in line for a chance to visit it too.
	Hibiscus lasiocarpos rose mallow Herbaceous perennial	This is an handsome relatively unknown species with long wooly leaves.
	Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' AUTUMN JOY stonecrop Herbaceous perennial	I love the fact that the color of 'Autumn Joy' goes with almost anything. It's a very versatile plant
	Hylotelephium spectabile 'Brilliant' hylotelephium Herbaceous perennial	This is a great plant. Leave the blooms on all winter to add winter interest to your garden.
	Kalimeris mongolica double Japanese aster Herbaceous perennial	One very desirable feature of this plant in that it will flower all summer. That makes it a winner in my garden!
	Leucanthemum x superbum 'Alaska' shasta daisy Herbaceous perennial	This is an old variety but still one of the best. It does become floppy though, and is hard to stake in an artistic manner.
	Liatris pycnostachya prairie blazing star Herbaceous perennial	I love this plant because it is a great plant for attracting butterflies.
	Liatris spicata 'Kobold' blazing star Herbaceous perennial	A great plant but rabbits can be a problem as they always seem to like to nibble at its bulbous base.
	Limonium platyphyllum sea lavender Herbaceous perennial	I find the airy mass of flowers very charming. It does need staking, however.
	Liriope muscari 'Big Blue' lily turf Herbaceous perennial	As the name suggests, this is a larger growing plant but it is very sturdy. A winner in my garden.
	Liriope muscari 'Variegata' lily turf Herbaceous perennial	I've always found this plant to be a very hardy standby that makes a good, tough ground cover.
	Liriope spicata 'Gin-ryu' SILVER DRAGON lily turf Herbaceous perennial	Has proven quite hardy and I love its unusual white (with some green) foliage. Parts of the plant may revert. Dig these parts out so you don't loose the variegated part of the plant.
	Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flower Herbaceous perennial	I've always found this to be one of the best plants for hummingbirds. It's only drawback is that its flowering period is short.
	Lobelia siphilitica blue cardinal flower Herbaceous perennial	Once you've had this wonderful plant it should come back year after year and will spread, controllably, by reseeding itself.
	Lychnis coronaria rose campion Herbaceous perennial	Parents of the plant can be short-lived, but I've had very good luck in having the plant reseed itself so I'm never without it.
	Manfreda virginica false aloe Herbaceous perennial	This is a great substitute of yucca and has attractive seed heads to boot.
	Mazus reptans mazus Herbaceous perennial	I love to use this plant between stepping stones. Keep it watered during dry periods as it doesn't like to get too dry.
	Mertensia virginica Virginia bluebells Herbaceous perennial	Wonderful for spring flowers but the foliage will die down in late spring. I like to plant it between hostas as hostas come up later and the leaves of hosta will then cover the space left by the dying bluebell foliage.
	Nepeta subsessilis nepeta Herbaceous perennial	I find this a very useful plant as the gray foliage is attractive when the plant is not blooming.
	Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen' ornamental oregano Herbaceous perennial	I love to use this plant in containers where its weeping flowers can be appreciated close-up.
	Pachysandra terminalis Japanese pachysandra Herbaceous perennial	Very common, but still one of the best evergreen ground covers in my book.
	Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt' peony Herbaceous perennial	This is still one of the best peonies and you can always count on the foliage looking good.
	Penstemon cobaea dew flower Herbaceous perennial	You will fall in love with the robust, lovely lavender flower of this reseeding biennial as I have.
	Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' beard tongue Herbaceous perennial	I think the most attractive feature of this hardy perennial is its foliage color. It can flop, however, so plan on staking it.
	Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage Herbaceous perennial	This is certainly one of best long-season bloomers for our area.
	Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' mountain fleece Herbaceous perennial	'Firetail' is a robust grower that need lot of room.
	Phlox pilosa var. ozarkana prairie phlox Herbaceous perennial	This is a great plant for a rocky soil. It is best to cut it back after it has bloomed.
	Pollia japonica pollia Herbaceous perennial	I love to include this plant in a garden for its tropical look. The lovely blue fruit is as lovely as it is unusual.
	Polygonatum biflorum Solomon's seal Herbaceous perennial	I like this plant because it is the smallest of the group and makes a very nice ground cover.
	Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum' Solomon's seal Herbaceous perennial	You'll love this plant for its very architectural habit and its season-long clean foliage.
	Pulmonaria longifolia subsp. cevennensis pulmonaria Herbaceous perennial	Probably the best lungwort for standing up to our summer heat and winter wetness.
	Pycnanthemum tenuifolium slender mountain mint Herbaceous perennial	I find that the pungent scent of the foliage is this plant's best attribute.
	Ratibida pinnata grey-head coneflower Herbaceous perennial	The reflexed petals add a lovely look to this plant, which it will reseed readily in your garden.
	Rodgersia pinnata rodgersia Herbaceous perennial	A wonderful plant but give it a humusy soil and don't let the soil dry out.
	Rudbeckia missouriensis Missouri coneflower Herbaceous perennial	I like this plant because it is less invasive than R. hirta. It is also more delicate.
	Ruellia humilis wild petunia Herbaceous perennial	Can reseed it self all over the garden, but I find that a plus. Won't emerge until late in spring.
	Salvia azurea var. grandiflora blue sage Herbaceous perennial	The flowers are a lovely shade of blue but it can have quite a sprawling habit if not grown with tall partners.
	Salvia transsylvanica sage Herbaceous perennial	This salvia holds up well to summer heat and blooms periodically.
	Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain' lilac sage Herbaceous perennial	Never covered in flowers, but still nice.
	Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauhügel' BLUE HILL wood sage Herbaceous perennial	The flowers of BLUE HILL are smaller than other varieties but the bushy habit of the plant makes it desirable.
	Scutellaria incana skullcap Herbaceous perennial	I love this plant because it is long blooming in either sun or shade.
	Sedum album 'Coral Carpet' white stonecrop Herbaceous perennial	This plant makes a good ground cover and you'll love the unusual foliage.
	Sedum kamtschaticum var. ellacombeanum orange stonecrop Herbaceous perennial	A good ground cover that is almost evergreen. Good for dry areas.
	Sedum 'Rosy Glow' sedum Herbaceous perennial	A good sedum to add to your garden for its late bloom time.
	Sedum ternatum three-leaved stonecrop Herbaceous perennial	Unlike most sedums this one will do well in deep shade. A real plus in my book!
	Silene regia royal catchfly Herbaceous perennial	Let this plant grow and reseed where it will. It can be hard to grow it as a single stand.
	Solidago 'Crown of Rays' goldenrod Herbaceous perennial	Better than most tall goldenrods and it not invasive!
	Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' rough goldenrod Herbaceous perennial	One of my top choices for a mid-sized goldenrod for the middle of the border.
	Solidago sphacelata 'Golden Fleece' goldenrod Herbaceous perennial	You'll fall in love with the cascading habit of this goldenrod as we at the Kemper Center have.
	Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' lamb's ear Herbaceous perennial	A good choice for St. Louis as this cultivar stands up to humidity well. It also doesn't flower so it stays low and doesn't need cutting back to remove the flower stalks.
	Stachys macrantha 'Superba' big betony Herbaceous perennial	I love the erect flower stalks that flower over a very long time. A real winner.
	Thalictrum rochebruneanum meadow rue Herbaceous perennial	A great choice for a back of the border plant that doesn't need staking but will reward you with lovely flowers.
	Thermopsis villosa Carolina lupine Herbaceous perennial	Looks like a yellow lupine! In a climate where lupines struggle to just stay alive here is a great substitute. Short bloom time, however.
	Tricyrtis hirta Japanese toad lily Herbaceous perennial	This is a great plant for your garden but you will probably have to protect it from rabbits.
	Verbascum chaixii nettle-leaved mullein Herbaceous perennial	A most reliable plant. It come is white-flowered forms.
	Veronicastrum virginicum Culver's root Herbaceous perennial	Plant the species but also look for named cultivars which can provide a range of colors.
	X Pardancanda 'Violet Stitches' candy lily Herbaceous perennial	Here is a plant with beautiful flowers that are long lasting. Who could ask for more.
	Bouteloua curtipendula sideoats grass Ornamental grass	I find the flowers dangling off to one side of great interest and charm. It will make a hardy, attractive addition to any garden.
	Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass Ornamental grass	The very vertical nature of this grass in full sun adds drama to the garden and also is easy to manage. It may flop in shade, however.
	Elymus hystrix bottlebrush grass Ornamental grass	A good grass for shady areas.
	Miscanthus sinensis 'Kirk Alexander' eulalia Ornamental grass	I find the short stature of 'Kirk Alexander' makes it a very versatile plant in my garden designs.
	Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Kitten' eulalia Ornamental grass	This is the shortest of the Miscanthus, which can get quite large. Great for most any home garden.
	Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' eulalia Ornamental grass	I like to position this plant so morning light shines through the foliage. The effect is stunning.
	Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus' eulalia Ornamental grass	I like to use this plant as a vertical accent in a monochromatic setting.
	Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' fountain grass Ornamental grass	An excellent choice for a small grass that performs very well in our area.
	Saccharum ravennae plume grass Ornamental grass	If you want a tall grass that can be a show stopper, this one's for you. Give it room!
	Sorghastrum nutans Indian grass Ornamental grass	For best effect I like to plant this grass where the sun will shine through the inflorescence. The effect is stunning.
	Sporobolus heterolepis prairie dropseed Ornamental grass	Some love the fragrance of this plant, others hate it. Smell before you buy. If you like it however, you have found one of the best performing grasses for your garden.
	Carex elata 'Aurea' Bowles' golden sedge Rush or Sedge	I like to use this plant in dark shade where the stark yellow foliage seems to glow.
	Carex 'Ice Dance' Japanese grass sedge Rush or Sedge	A great plant to light up dark, shady areas.