10 Beloved Perennials That Will Steal the Show in Your Garden
Bring your backyard to life with perennials that bloom year after year. These garden favorites don’t just survive—they thrive, adding color, texture, and charm to any space. Vibrant flowers will attract native birds and pollinators, and these ten perennials will surely become the stars of your landscape.
Common Daisy
The common daisy (Leucanthemum superbum) is simple, pretty, and easy to grow. Their white petals and yellow centers brighten up any garden without a lot of work. They’re tough, low-maintenance, and perfect for anyone who wants an easy way to make their outdoor space look better. Whether they grow wild or in neat rows, they add a nice, fresh look to your yard.
Common daisies grow best in full sun but can handle light shade, especially in warmer climates. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and thrive in cool to moderate temperatures. Once established, they spread quickly and can fill a lawn or meadow with minimal effort. These daisies are often used as ground cover or to create a natural wildflower look. You can also use them in borders or as accents in flower beds. They’re not fussy, but regular deadheading encourages more blooms and keeps them tidy.
Tickseed
Tickseed, also known as coreopsis, is a bright and easy way to liven up your garden. Its yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom for weeks and can handle heat, poor soil, and drought. These plants attract bees and butterflies, adding movement and life to your yard. Tickseed is low-maintenance and works well in flower beds, borders, or even containers. It’s the perfect choice if you want cheerful blooms without a lot of effort.
Tickseed works well in pollinator-friendly spaces, attracting bees and butterflies all season. It’s often used in borders, wildflower gardens, or as a filler in mixed flower beds. Trim the spent flowers to encourage new growth if you want even more blooms. These plants also do well in containers, so they’re great for patios or small spaces.
Coneflower
Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are rugged and beautiful plants that bring long-lasting color to your yard. Their purple-pink petals surround a spiky, cone-shaped center that stands out in any garden. These perennials are easy to grow and love full sun, but they can handle partial shade, too. They prefer well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant once established.
Coneflowers bloom from summer through early fall, making them an excellent choice for keeping your garden vibrant. They’re also magnets for bees, butterflies, and even songbirds who love their seeds. Coneflowers work well in flower beds, borders, or wildflower gardens, and they make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements.
Siberian Iris
Siberian irises are graceful plants with tall, slender leaves and delicate blooms in shades of purple, blue, white, and yellow. These perennials thrive in full sun to part shade and do best in moist, well-drained soil, though they can tolerate occasional dry spells. They’re perfect for adding height and texture to flower beds, borders, or around ponds.
Blooming in late spring to early summer, Siberian irises are low-maintenance and deer-resistant. Their clumping growth habit makes them ideal for naturalizing over time. These plants also pair beautifully with other perennials like peonies and daylilies, creating a layered look in your garden.
These perennials thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer moist, well-drained soil, making them an excellent choice for borders, water features, or naturalized areas. Siberian irises are hardy, low-maintenance, and resistant to pests and diseases. Unlike German iris, their foliage stays attractive even after flowering, providing texture and greenery throughout the season. They’re a reliable addition to any garden.
Daylily
Daylilies are versatile plants that come in a rainbow of colors, including yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and even creamy white. These hardy perennials thrive in full sun but can handle part shade, making them adaptable to different spots in your yard. They grow well in almost any soil, as long as it drains properly, and are drought-tolerant once established.
Daylilies bloom from early summer to late fall, with each flower lasting just one day, but the plants produce so many buds that they stay colorful for weeks. They’re great for flower beds, borders, and slopes, and they look stunning in mass plantings. Daylilies are also low-maintenance and resistant to pests, making them a favorite for gardeners of all experience levels. Some varieties even tolerate “wet feet” (clayey soils that hold water).
Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Lavender is a fragrant plant that’s both attractive and practical. Its soft purple flowers and silvery-green leaves make it stand out in any garden. Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, preferring drier conditions. It’s drought-tolerant once established, making it a great choice for low-maintenance gardens or containers.
This plant blooms from late spring to summer and works well in borders, rock gardens, and herb gardens. Lavender attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies while keeping pests like mosquitoes away. It’s also popular for crafting, dried arrangements, and making sachets or oils. Pair it with rosemary or sage for a Mediterranean-inspired garden.
Perennial Geranium
Perennial geraniums (Geranium striatum), also known as striped geranium, is a low-growing perennial that adds soft pink flowers with darker veining to your garden. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and grows well in well-drained soil, making it a versatile option for a variety of spots. It’s drought-tolerant once established and spreads to form a dense, attractive ground cover.
Blooming from late spring to early summer, geranium striatum is perfect for borders, rock gardens, or under taller plants. Its neat mounds of lobed, green leaves stay attractive even after flowering, adding texture to your space. This geranium is low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and easy to grow, making it a favorite home gardeners.
Standard Phlox
Phlox paniculata, or garden phlox, is a showy perennial known for its vibrant blooms and sweet fragrance. It comes in many colors, including pink, purple, white, and red, with some varieties featuring eye-catching bi-color patterns. This plant thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, and it prefers moist, well-drained soil.
Blooming from mid-summer to early fall, phlox paniculata brings a pop of long-lasting color to flower beds, borders, or cottage gardens. Its tall stems make it perfect for creating height, and it pairs well with shorter perennials. Pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds are drawn to its nectar-rich flowers. With regular deadheading, you can extend its bloom time and keep your garden looking fresh.
It thrives in sunny spots and well-drained soil, but many varieties tolerate heavy soils and shade, making it easy to grow for everyone. Phlox is perfect for the backs of borders and cut flower arrangements.
Bellflower
Campanula, commonly known as bellflower, is a versatile perennial that offers charming bell-shaped blooms in shades of blue, purple, and white. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil, making it adaptable to different garden spots. Some varieties are low-growing and perfect for ground cover, while others grow taller, adding height and texture to your space.
Blooming from late spring to midsummer, bellflowers are a great choice for borders, rock gardens, or even containers. They’re also deer-resistant and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. With their delicate yet abundant flowers, campanulas are ideal for softening hard edges or filling in gaps with effortless color.
Peony
Peonies are garden favorites known for their lush, full blooms and sweet fragrance. These perennials come in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow, with single, semi-double, or fully double flower forms. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and can live for many decades with minimal care, making them a lasting addition to your garden.
Peonies bloom in late spring to early summer, creating a dramatic display. They’re perfect for borders, cottage gardens, or accent plants. Their large, showy flowers make excellent cut blooms, while the glossy green foliage stays attractive through the growing season. Peonies pair well with plants like irises and catmint, adding layers of color and texture.
They have a heavy fragrance and attract ants to pollinate them, but bees and hummingbirds are also attracted. The petals are used to make tea, which in turn makes a delicious floral peony jelly.
Once established, these flowers are easy to grow and care for; they tolerate most soils and full sunlight, but some varieties will also thrive in the shade.
