Perennial plants live for multiple growing seasons

Although their tops often die back after they pass their flowering season, their roots are still very much alive, and they send up shoots the following spring. These plants have many uses and purposes in the home landscape. The perennial border is a classic cottage garden that works well with any home style and can be adapted to any yard size.

Perennial ground covers make an excellent alternative to traditional lawn grass and can be used on banks and hillsides for erosion control. The wide variety of available perennial plants means that there's something for nearly any landscaping situation, such as sunny spots, shady spots, and everything in between. Many perennials are also native plants that work well in naturalized landscapes.

Perennials for the Border

The traditional layout of the classic perennial border is that the plants are arranged by size, with the smallest at the front and the largest at the back.

  • Typical back-of-the-border options include Marsh Hibiscus, Partridge Pea, and Turks Cap Lily.
  • Trumpet Vine is an excellent choice for rambling over a fence at the back of the border.
  • Virginia Bluebells, Black-Eyed Susan, and Red Cardinal Flower are mid-size plants for the middle of the border.
  • At the same time, Blue Violets and Hepatica Plant are diminutive enough to be placed at the front.

Perennials for Sunny Areas


Full sun is defined as six or more hours per day of direct sunlight. Sun-loving perennial choices include Blazing Star Plant, Blue Vervain, Golden Ragwort, and Coneflower Plant. All of these can be used in borders in sunny yard areas or as specimen plants on berms or the side of entryways. They're also ideal for the southern and western sides of the home, where many plants struggle with too much heat and sun.

Perennials for Shady Areas

Flowering perennial options are part of the yard and garden area with a lot of shade, including Trillium, Goldenseal, Trout Lily, Jewelweed, and Creeping Buttercup.

Fan Clubmoss and a variety of ferns are nonflowering options for shaded areas. Because most types of lawn grass don't grow well in the shade, homeowners often choose to naturalize shady parts of the yard to complete the woodland effect provided by the trees. Besides being ideal for planting under trees, these plants are also good for the north side of the home.

Perennials for Ground Covers

Perennial ground covers can be used in place of lawn grass, planted for erosion control, used at the front of perennial borders, planted on the sides of walkways, or used in rock gardens. Good options include Wild Ginger Plant, which brings bright green foliage and small white flowers to the often hard-to-fill areas under shade trees, and Partridge Plant, an evergreen featuring white flowers in spring and bright red berries in autumn and winter.

Perennials for Native Plant Gardens

Homeowners have many benefits from having a native plant garden in their yards. Native plants are often more resistant to pests and diseases than their cultivated counterparts, and their water needs are usually met by rainfall. Some types, such as Milkweed Plant and Goat's Beard Plant, provide valuable habitats for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other vital pollinators. Native plant gardens are often sited around the edges of naturalized woodland gardens.

Perennials for Autumn Flowering

Although perennials are generally associated with spring and summer flowering, many types bloom in autumn. Brown Eyed Susan and Goldenrod, for instance, provide bright yellow blooms from summer through fall. Wild Aster and daisy plant brings old-fashioned daisy-like charm to the picture and is ideal for naturalizing areas with many suns. Mountain Mint is a low-growing perennial that produces discreet, small white flowers in the fall, while the tall purple spires of Blazing Star Plant make a dramatic statement in the home landscape.

Perennials for Drought Conditions

With drought conditions on the rise in several states and increases in utility costs, many homeowners are seeking solutions in the form of drought-tolerant vegetation. Fortunately, many perennials evolved in environments with little natural water yet still bring abundant flowering beauty to the home landscape. Red Daylily and Stella De Ora Daylily are excellent for specimen plantings. At the same time, Larkspur and Black-Eyed Susan can be used in borders or naturalized areas such as wildflower gardens.

Periwinkle - Vinca minor - TN Nursery

Periwinkle Plant

Periwinkle is a perennial vine and a low-growing, evergreen ground cover plant with glossy green leaves and small, violet-blue flowers. It is often used to fill in garden spaces and control erosion. Incorporating it into landscaping offers many benefits that add beauty and functionality to outdoor spaces. This versatile ground cover brings lushness, adaptability, erosion control, low-maintenance care, and soft elegance to garden settings. Periwinkle - Vinca minor is famous for its blue flowers, and this flower is an excellent groundcover. Unlike some groundcovers, it proliferates without becoming invasive. Because of this, many home gardeners and landscape designers like to add this cheery flower to their landscape. Periwinkle Plant Has Many Names It initially originated in central and southern Europe. Classified as a part of the dogbane family, this flower quickly spread to the Baltic States, the Netherlands, and the Caucasus. Today, it is grown around the world as a groundcover. Sometimes, people may refer to this groundcover by other common names, like creeping myrtle or myrtle. Periwinkle Plant Helps With Soil Erosion  Periwinkle Plant is truly a gardener’s delight. Its strong roots help to control soil erosion, and its trailing vines are full of glossy leaves. Because deer don’t usually like it, you don’t have to worry about it disappearing. Plus, it can handle some foot traffic, so it doesn’t get trampled easily. Because it is considered an evergreen, it will keep its glossy, green leaves in the winter. After you plant it, the vines will gradually spread over neighboring areas. While it mainly grows along the ground, this vine can sometimes get up to 16 inches tall. Unlike other vines, it never climbs or twines around trees or walls. Instead, you can enjoy having it as a permanent ground cover in your garden. The Periwinkle Plant Flowers Are Sure to Impress The most notable part of this vine is its flowers. They are typically created between early spring and the middle of summer. Sometimes, you will still notice a few flowers in autumn. All of the flowers have a violet-purple shade and a five-lobed corolla. On some species, you can even find white and pale purple flowers. With Periwinkle Plant, you will have an evergreen mat in your garden beds throughout the year. The flowers remain for many of spring and summer so that you can appreciate bright blue pops. Thanks to its rapid growth, you don’t have to wait long to see this lovely vine fill empty areas in your yard.

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Cardinal Flower - TN Nursery

Cardinal Flower

The Red Cardinal Flower has vibrant red blooms and tall, erect stalks. It adds color and elegance to gardens, parks, and various outdoor spaces. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it offers several advantages, making it a popular choice for landscapers and gardeners. The scarlet-hued Lobelia cardinalis is a perennial in the bellflower family. Its tall, nectar-filled bloom spikes attract hummingbirds and create a beautiful display in your garden. The plant's common name refers to the red robes a Roman Catholic cardinal wears.     Natural Habitat Of The Cardinal Flower Lobelia is native to the North and South American continents and blooms from July through September. This moisture-loving plant grows on stream banks and in low woods, marshes, and meadows across the United States. If you want to create a handsome show in your garden, Lobelia will surely delight. The plant's fiery spires yield brilliant red blooms that open gradually from the bottom to the top of their racemes. Each long, narrow, tube-shaped blossom has two flat upper petals and three lower petals at the tips. The delicate plant crown leafy 2’-4' stems, covered with shiny, lance-shaped, bright green leaves that sometimes have a bronze or reddish tint. The leaves alternate as they climb the stems, enhancing the blooms to create a lively riot of color. Cardinal Flower is a favorite of gardeners who love adding bold splashes of crimson. This plant is perfect for shady woodland plots, wet meadow plantings, water gardens, pollinator gardens, and rain gardens. Its long stems can add height to borders and create depth when placed in the back sections of your landscape. The blossoms are most spectacular from midsummer into fall and make excellent cut blooms. Ecology Of The Cardinal Flower Some people say Lobelia will bring hummingbirds in from the sky. The plant's blooming period coincides with the late-summer migration of ruby-throated hummingbirds traveling south to Mexico. The birds pollinate the plant by dipping their beaks into the plants' long, red tubes. The blossoms are also beautiful to swallowtail butterflies and bees, making them a wonderful centerpiece in a pollinator garden. Cardinal Flower Is A Bold Statement In Any Garden  When you want to make a bold, beautiful statement in your garden, include the Cardinal Flower in your plan and celebrate the summer season.

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Coneflower Plant - TN Nursery

Coneflower Plant

The coneflower plant, or echinacea, is known for its distinctive daisy-like, purple flowers with a prominent cone-shaped center. These flowers attract pollinators and add color to gardens.  The Coneflower Plant Blooms Mid-Summer Coneflowers, which resemble daisies, typically bloom in the middle to end of summer. Certain types may begin blooming earlier or continue into the autumn. They are available in a rainbow of hues, from yellow to deep pink, and with both single and double blooms that are incredibly vibrant. Magnus Superior variants bloom from the end of spring until the end of summer with rosy-violet rays that can reach a diameter of seven inches. These plants respond exceptionally well to deadheading. They spread gracefully like wildflowers thanks to their abundant seed production and self-sowing capabilities. Their delicate branches and colorful flowers make them perfect for gardens, where they provide visual interest without drawing attention to themselves. This naturalizing effect makes the plant look better and works well to fill in gaps between flower beds. Add Uniqueness to Your Garden With It Because of their unusual shape and composition, cones are a great way to add variety to your landscape. Their unique cone shapes also make them eye-catching accents among other garden plants. They provide textural variety to a garden by growing erect, contrasting wonderfully with trailing or mounding plants. In expansion, they can adjust to a broad range of soil types and light levels, giving you more alternatives for planting them. Invite Pollinators to Your Yard With It Since Coneflower Plants produce both nectar and pollen, many pollinators rely on these flowers for sustenance. Each 250 to 500 blooms that make up its black, cone-shaped flower head serves as a little cup of nectar for the pollinators. Bees and hummingbirds are just a few of the pollinators that love it. This variant can grow up to three feet tall and typically blooms between the middle of summer and the beginning of September each year because they produce seeds and are a popular nectar source for birds. They are of the same genus as the daisy, which you could guess by looking at. They bear stunning purplish-pink petals and are naturally drought-tolerant. As a native plant, they provide professionals and gardening enthusiasts with a low-maintenance option for adding complexion to outdoor spaces. What Do They Look Like?  The Coneflower (also called Echinacea) may be well-known for its petals' deep to pastel purple tinge. However, a closer look will reveal one of the most intricate and alluring central disks of all flowering plants. This flower gets its name from this striking and unique central disk.  It has received this moniker thanks to the spiny central hub. The spines are spread out in an almost exact order of distance, giving the cone a symmetrical shape and order that is truly stunning when observed closely.  In full bloom, their petals may splay out parallel to the ground or stretch downward. This positioning puts the central cone on full display and accentuates its bulbous shape. The spines on the cone can adopt a rust, red, orange, or yellow pigmentation throughout the blooming season.  Of course, the petals are nothing to sneeze at. Being a daisy gendaisieshe, the petals are lance-shaped and can grow to about 1.5 inches long. The flower is mostly an intense purple, where it connects with the stem and washes out gradually towards the tip. In some lights, this creates a pastel effect that is perfect for pairing with other flowers without drawing too much attention.  The stem grows erect and can reach heights between 2 and 4 feet. This makes this plant a great contrast to creeping or bunching plants. The leaves are basal and arranged alternately. They are a deep, cool green reminiscent of forest floors.  What Should You Plant Coneflowers If their chromatic and structural traits aren't enough to entice you, check out some of the more practical benefits of adding this flower to your landscape:  Planting Options: They are very versatile when it comes to planting. Once established, they are highly adaptable and can live with varying degrees of light and soil types. So, no matter what soil you have or what kind of space you have to work with, you can still enjoy these flowers. They Attract Pollinators. Hummingbirds and bees love the pollen and nectar they produce. The cone can house 250-500 spines, which are filled with food for a wide variety of pollinators.  Easy to Maintain - While they will require regular watering after planting, they only need a little maintenance after they are established. They respond well to deadheading, which can also help control seeding if you want them to spread only a little. They can handle several types of soil as long as it is well-drained.  They're Drought Tolerant - Want to contribute to the palette of your garden without spending a fortune on water? The plant is drought-tolerant. Once the roots have been established, maintaining them takes very little water. They Come in a Variety of Colors-They come in a bouquet of colors, from the typical purplish-pink to yellow shades. This makes them a popular choice for gardeners who want their landscapes to explode with color while maintaining strong uniformity.  Frequently Asked  Are you ready to start planting them in your lawn or garden? The following answers to commonly asked questions may prepare you.  When Do They Bloom?  The blooming season for them is typically between mid-summer and later summer. Some variants can bloom into autumn.  Do They Like Sun or Shade?  Like most flowers in the daisy family, daisies love sunshine. Planting them in an area with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily would help.  Do They Come Back Every Year? They are perennials, which means they come back every year. This makes them a good choice if you want to add consistent color and variety to your outdoor spaces.  How Tall Are They?  They can stretch to 2-4 feet tall. The stem holds the flower clear above the basal leaves, allowing it to be the show's star, even on the shorter end.  How Do You Plant Them?  Start by digging a hole twice the width of the root ball's diameter. The root ball should be set to level with the soil line. To help retain moisture, add a small amount of compost and mulch to the plant site. After planting, they will need regular watering until the plant has established.  Will They Bloom Again If Deadheaded?  Coneflower respond well to deadheading. They will bloom again if you deadhead them. There are particular advantages to deadheading. Firstly, it will keep them from overtaking other plants in your garden (deadheading prevents seeding). Secondly, it may prolong the bloom time.  How Do You Deadhead A Coneflower It will help if you always deadhead (prune) yours with shears, as the stems can be very hardy and rugged to snap by hand. Deadhead after the flower has faded, cutting it down to a leaf close to new growth.  TN Nursery Provides Year-round Beauty for Your  Whether you want the whole gamut of colors or lush greenery to add to your garden, TN Nursery has you covered. We offer many ferns, flowers, plants, mosses, shrubs, perennials, vines, trees, and more. Your order is backed up by a full, year-long, 100% satisfaction guarantee. Our prime specimens make planting and maintaining easy and allow you to enjoy the fulfillment of gardening. Place an order now and beautify your outdoor spaces.

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White Trillium - TN Nursery

White Trillium

White Trillium is a spring-blooming wildflower with large, white, three-petaled flowers and a distinctive, whorled arrangement of leaves, typically found in woodland habitats. It is prized for its large, showy, white flowers that bloom in the spring. The blooms can add a touch of elegance and beauty to your landscaping. It is a native North American wildflower that can provide several landscaping benefits. White Trillium, commonly known as the "wood lily "and the "large-flowered wake-robin," is a long-lived perennial wildflower that grows in eastern North America. Its bright to dark-green foliage blooms with large, colorful flowers in April, May, and June. The Habitat Of The Great White Trillium Its native range includes woodlands from Quebec to Georgia. In the wild, the plant grows in deciduous or mixed forested areas and on mesic slopes, as well as on rich rock ridges and in thickets and swamps. In Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, the herb sometimes produces mixed populations of rose-pink and white blossoms. The Appearance Of White Trillium Its flowers have showy white blossoms that stretch more than 4" in diameter. Their long, pointed petals take on a pink tint over time. Each outwardly curved flower rises above three glossy, green, oval-shaped leaf-like bracts with a visibly veined appearance and pointed tips. A short rhizome that serves as the plant's stem branches out into peduncles aboveground that grow up to 15" tall. The plant commonly forms large, dense colonies that spread slowly as they age. Whether you're designing a woodland or wildflower garden or want to add a little texture to a shady spot, it will make a lovely addition to your landscape. These spring-blooming flowers complement hosta, ferns, iris, and jack-in-the-pulpit beautifully and make your yard a natural haven. Since they go dormant during the summer, pairing them with groundcover plants and perennials will help them flourish into autumn. White Trillium Is Great For Wildlife White Trillium serves as host plants for the American angle shades moth and the black-patched clips. During the blooming season, native and honey bees visit the blooms to pursue nectar. Ants eat the lipid-rich elaiosome surrounding the seeds, then drop them on the soil, where they grow into healthy new plants. The plant colonies can provide habitat and coverage for small mammals in places where the plant grows prolifically. White-tailed deer also enjoy grazing the blossoms and foliage.

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Fleabane Daisy - TN Nursery

Fleabane Daisy

Fleabane Daisy boasts delicate, white to pale pink petals surrounding a yellow center, and it is known for its ability to thrive in various natural habitats.is a charming and beneficial plant with numerous advantages in landscaping projects. This perennial flower belongs to the Asteraceae family and is known for its delicate appearance and versatility in outdoor spaces. The Fleabane Daisy is a precious North American flower that embodies the beauty of simplicity. As a pioneer species of the Rocky Mountains, this indigenous plant is acclaimed for its bright coloration and vibrancy. What Makes Fleabane Daisy So Unique Also known as Erigeron annuus, it is not your typical flower. In contrast to other members of its genus, this flower can be partially distinguished by its ample coarse-toothed leaves. The unusual cleft shape is a distinctly recognizable attribute that is particularly noticeable around the stem base. A tendency towards narrowing can be observed near the top, but their symmetrical pattern remains intact. The stem showcases a slight hairiness that can often only be seen up close. Fleabane Daisy Blooms White, Pink, Purple  With faint shades of pink and purple, the petals subtly evoke qualities of both romance and affection. From off-white to lavender, these daisies possess an irresistibly eye-catching and attractively understated gradient. Their gold and yellow centers discreetly provide an ideal contrast that lavishly amplifies the flower’s soft visual enticements. The relatively small circular core keenly enhances a slender and wispy presentation. Their blooming is culturally associated with late spring, and they commonly continue sprouting new flowers into mid-autumn. Heights vary widely due to their adaptive spirit, but they often grow up to 4 feet tall. Meanwhile, the delicate petals vary in length individually. They are approximately 1 inch long, and there are usually more than 100 per flower. An impressive clustering capacity often generates over 40 flower heads per stalk. This powerful inflorescence ultimately cultivates a rich and luscious visage. Fleabane Daisy Reseeds Itself  Fleabane Daisy is typically an annual species but has also been observed adapting to a biennial life cycle. Its quaint appearance masks an underlying robustness. It is renowned for its resilience, and this hearty nature lends itself to an abundant flowering cycle. Despite a reliance on standard pollination processes, these plants also can self-fertilize. As a favorite delicacy among bees, it is recognized for its contributions to healthy landscapes of all kinds.

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Stella De Oro Daylily - TN Nursery

Stella De Oro Daylily

Stella De Oro Daylily is a popular perennial plant known for its prolific golden-yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers and long blooming period, making it a favorite in gardens and landscapes. As a part of the genus Hemerocallis, this flower is native to Asia. Despite its name, it is not a true lily. A true lily grows on tall stems and has flowers at the top of the stem. This flower has short stems and produces a large fountain of foliage at the base of the plant. Stella De Oro Daylily Is A Golden Beauty When this flower blooms, it fills your yard with a golden, sunny brilliance. Typically, the flowers will start blooming in late May. While orange flowers were the original version of this flower, more than 20 species and 20,000 hybrids are available today. This particular version is popular because of its famous yellow petals. It initially blooms in late spring and then blooms a second time in late fall. Once the first frost arrives, the flowers will disappear. Stella De Oro Daylily Bulbs Reproduce on Their Own Because it is a perennial, you don’t have to replant this flower each year. Instead, it uses fleshy, thickened roots and rhizomes for reproduction. Stolons from the rhizome help the plant spread out over time. The flower’s root system can hold water and nutrients, so these hardy plants can prevail out of the soil for weeks. Stella De Oro Daylily Has Verdant Leaves Stella De Oro Daylily are unique because of the way they grow. Grass-like leaves are produced at the bottom of the plant, which is one of the most significant differences between this flower and a true lily. These arching leaves are surprisingly long, so they look like blades of grass. This mounded foliage thrives, which is excellent for filling up space in a garden bed. Because Stella De Oro Daylily is known for reblooming, you will see it in home gardens and commercial landscapes. Thanks to its no-fuss attitude, it is also trendy in median strips along highways. Its fleshy roots allow it to be exceptionally hardy because it can always draw on the nutrients in the roots when there aren’t nutrients in its natural environment. Whether you want a hardy plant or a lovely flower, this perennial will surely please.

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