21 Easy Perennial Plants for Beginner Gardeners

There’s nothing like a reliable perennial that thrives in conditions where other plants wither. Their outstanding flowers and foliage bring beauty, diversity, and pollinator value to the display. Easy to grow, the best performers are unfussy and low-maintenance. Explore exceptional perennials for gardeners of any level with expert Katherine Rowe. Beginners welcome!

A gorgeous flower garden with a variety of colorful flowers including artemisia absinthium, cleome or spider flowers, daises, coneflowers, bee balm or monarda, and blanket flowers.

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One of the many beauties of gardening is that no matter your horticultural skill level, there’s always more to learn. The garden is always teaching. The main thing is to dive in to experience nature and enjoy the harvests and flowering displays as rewards.

While trial and error is part of the fun, having a plant selection you can count on anchors the arrangement. Easy-care perennials do the job with reliable blooming, attractive foliage, and years of multi-season enjoyment.

Our list of favorites includes easy-to-grow perennials that require little gardener intervention. Deadheading, which helps some bloomers produce more flowers for an extended season, is optional.

These durable and reliable performers won’t need much supplemental irrigation, fertilizers, or extra care. They grow across a wide range of climates and zones and are often native to North America. These outstanding, long-lived perennials are ideal additions for beginner and experienced gardeners alike. 

Black-Eyed Susan

A group of bright yellow Rudbeckia fulgida flowers with dark brown center
Blooms rise prolifically on single stems from deep green basal leaves.
common-name common name Black-eyed Susan
botanical-name botanical name Rudbeckia fulgida
sun-requirements sun requirements Full Sun
height height 2-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Black-eyed Susan produces cheery golden blooms nonstop from summer through frost. The yellow-orange daisy-like flowers have chocolate button centers. They rise prolifically on single stems from deep green basal leaves.

Black-eyed Susan is native to parts of the South, Central, and Western United States. It’s naturally a meadow and prairie grower. This adaptable wildflower is self-sustaining in various conditions, including heat, humidity, and drought. It goes dormant over the winter and can withstand cold temperatures.

Rudbeckia is an easy-care plant. Its sunny flowers brighten the perennial bed in groups, along borders, and in naturalistic and cottage gardens.

Coreopsis

A field flowers focusing on the coreopsis, showing its feathery golden ray petals alongside tall stems.
Plants spread to form tidy colonies through rhizomes.
common-name common name Coreopsis
botanical-name botanical name Coreopsis spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun 
height height 6”-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-10

Coreopsis is one of the first to bloom and last to fade in late fall. At its mid-summer peak, easy waves of bright yellow flowers sweep the landscape.

Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is a common species with signature feathery golden ray petals with yellow centers. Easy to grow, C. lanceolata is winter-hardy, thrives in heat, and is drought-tolerant.

A favorite performer is Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb.’ Its stems reach 20 inches and flower uniformly, creating a billowy sea of gold. Finely textured foliage in deep green is pretty, even when the plants aren’t showing color. ‘Zagreb’ has a tight habit. Plants spread to form tidy colonies through rhizomes.

Some selections of coreopsis reseed readily in the landscape. It’s a favorite nectar and pollen source for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Songbirds forage on the seeds in fall and winter.

Catmint

A border of Nepeta in a garden, boasting purple blooming flowers and grayish green leaves, accompanied by other flowering plants and a variety of trees.
They hold essential oils that repel certain garden pests while attracting feline friends.
common-name common name Catmint
botanical-name botanical name Nepeta spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

Catmint produces a cloud of purple bloom spikes at the start of summer. It’s best known for its soft, mounding gray-green foliage and tiny, tubular flowers throughout the warm season.

Catmint blooms mostly in lavender and violet, with pink, white, and yellow species adding pastel shades. The leaves are aromatic. They hold essential oils that repel certain garden pests while attracting feline friends.

With a neat habit, ‘Cat’s Meow’ retains its shape all season. It has well-branching stems with robust blooming among small, gray-green leaves. ‘Cat’s Meow’ grows one to two feet tall with a spread of two to three feet. It bears a big bloom display among low-growing plants, especially in a group or mass planting. Periwinkle flowers in summer last until early autumn to welcome the season in jewel-tone hues.

‘Walker’s Low’ is a high-performing variety. A  profusion of lavender-blue blooms begins in early summer and lasts most of the season. Plants tolerate humidity, heat, and salty conditions better than other selections. They retain a mounding form. The selection received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its performance and ornamental value.

Robust and versatile, catmint thrives with neglect. Deadhead spent flower spikes or shear plants to encourage new blooms after their initial bloom cycle.

Echinacea

A group of Echinacea purpurea flowers in a shade of bright red-orange color with brownish-orange centers, among tall grass.
It needs well-draining soils for best health and flowering.
common-name common name Echinacea
botanical-name botanical name Echinacea purpurea
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1.5-5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Echinacea is a favorite summer bloomer in vibrant purples, pinks, reds, yellows, and oranges. The native E. purpurea is a natural prairie wildflower undaunted by less-than-ideal growing conditions. Long, purple ray petals surround orange disc florets, a prime nectar source for beneficial insects.

Coneflower cultivars like ‘Sombrero Adobe Orange,’ ‘Rainbow Sherbet,’ and ‘Mango Meadowbrite’ are a few vibrant color selections. For smaller spaces or containers, more compact varieties like Echinacea ‘Butter Pecan’ (a true double bloom) and ‘Paradiso Mix’ (a mix of gem tones and flower forms) have compact habits with well-branching stems.

Coneflower flourishes in the summer heat. It needs well-draining soils for best health and flowering. Plants reseed naturally. Leave late-season blooms on the stem; the dried seed heads provide lasting winter interest and food for wildlife. Any dropped seeds will help expand the colony the following spring.

Aster

Blooming Aster flowers with purple flowers having water condensation, sitting on top pf rocks.
Their late-season blooms last well into fall and bridge the summer-to-fall transition.
common-name common name Aster
botanical-name botanical name Aster spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-8’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

Asters, many of which are native to North America, have deep blue-purple ray flowers with contrasting yellow centers. They bloom in late summer when the little daisies cover plants in a blanket of color. Their late-season blooms last well into fall and bridge the summer-to-fall transition. They flower when many other plants begin to fade.

Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) produces deep violet, two-inch flowers from October through frost. Plants form a broad clump for lovely additions to the perennial border. They grow in average soils across zones 4-9.

In late summer, ‘Purple Dome’ New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) produces masses of semi-double purple ray petals. Plants reach one to two feet tall and wide. In zones 4-8, the dense floral display and short stature make up for possible late-season foliar decline.

Asters prefer moist, organically rich soils. To prevent foliar diseases, allow plenty of air circulation. Ensure soils have good drainage.

Blanketflower

Gaillardia flowers portraying a sunrise glow with petals in vibrant shades of red and yellow.
A carefree performer, it grows in poor, sandy soils and adapts to various site conditions.
common-name common name Blanketflower
botanical-name botanical name Gaillardia spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Blanketflower brightens the garden with daisy-like flowers in spinning golds, oranges, reds, and bi-color. Brown button centers punctuate the ray petals. 

This North American native wildflower is drought and heat-tolerant. Gaillardia blooms throughout the summer until cold weather. A carefree performer, it grows in poor, sandy soils and adapts to various site conditions. With well-draining soils, blanketflower needs little else.

Look for the All-America Selections winner ‘Arizona Sun’ for compact plants with vibrant gold, orange-red, and scarlet flowers. The dwarf growers reach 8-10 inches tall and 10-12 inches wide. 

Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Arizona Apricot’ boasts masses of mellow orange and yellow blooms across hardiness zones 2-10. ‘Mesa Peach’ has upright blooms with peachy-orange centers that transition to yellow. This intense combination gives a sunrise glow in muted tones. Plants are well-branched and uniform.

Heliopsis

Heliopsis helianthoides in full bloom boasting bright yellow petals with fuzzy centers, surrounded by green spikey leaves.
In summer through fall, golden sunflower-like blooms with fuzzy yellow button centers rise above deep green leaves.
common-name common name Heliopsis
botanical-name botanical name Heliopsis helianthoides
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 2-5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Heliopsis, commonly called false sunflower, is native to the central and eastern United States. In summer through fall, golden sunflower-like blooms with fuzzy yellow button centers rise above deep green leaves.

Heliopsis has stiff, sturdy stems that grow to five feet. Compact varieties like ‘Tuscan Sun’ and ‘Sunstruck’ make excellent options for the front of the border and containers. ‘Tuscan Sun’ is heat-tolerant and doesn’t need deadheading for prolific flowering. ‘Sunstruck’ produces loads of deep yellow ray florets above unique, variegated foliage.

Heliopsis’ showy flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Birds eat the seeds post-bloom, and leftovers will self-seed. False sunflower adapts to various soil conditions, making it a no-fuss wildflower.

Blazing Star

A focused image of Liatris  with dense flower spikes in purple, pink, and white shades.
Plants give a strong vertical accent to beds and fresh-cut florals.
common-name common name Blazing Star
botanical-name botanical name Liatris spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Blazing star liatris holds dense flower spikes in purples, pinks, and whites. Arching, fine-bladed foliage clumps beneath the leafy stems. The flowering batons thrive in the summer heat, and their long-lasting color attracts pollinators

Blazing star blooms from July to September. Stiff, upright stems reach up to five feet tall, depending on the variety. Liatris ‘Lavender Glowsticks’ has exceptionally long bloom spikes in electric lavender along narrow stems.

‘Kobold’ is a garden classic that grows 18 to 30 inches tall with bright purple-pink spikes. Plants give a strong vertical accent to beds and fresh-cut florals.

Liatris are hardy perennials native to North America, from Canada to Florida, depending on the species. Once established, blazing star is cold-hardy, heat-resilient, and drought-tolerant.

Iris

A field of Iris flowers featuring purple ruffled petals atop long slender stems.
They grow best in organically rich soils with consistent moisture.
common-name common name Iris
botanical-name botanical name Iris spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

With nearly 300 species of Iris and thousands of cultivars, these blooming perennials span the spectrum in color, form, and size. They bear the name of the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow, Iris. The blooms sprung up wherever her feet touched the ground and in a rainbow of colors.

Popular garden selections include bearded iris, crested iris, Siberian iris, Japanese iris, and sweet iris. Each brings vertical interest to the garden with distinct flower forms of three upper and three lower petals (falls). Petals range from broad and ruffled to narrow and strappy with solid tones, stripes, and painterly details.

Irises grow best in organically rich soils with consistent moisture, though some readily adapt to varying conditions. While low maintenance, you may opt to divide iris colonies every few years. Replant the divided rhizomes to expand the collection.

Salvia

a dense group of Salvia flowers with purple tubular flowers growing on long stems in a garden.
Its vibrant, tubular blooms are a favorite among pollinators.
common-name common name Salvia
botanical-name botanical name Salvia spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-10

Salvia, or sage, encompasses over 1,000 species and varieties, bringing diversity in color and form to planting arrangements. Its vibrant, tubular blooms are a favorite among pollinators.

One of the first to bloom in spring is Salvia sylvestris ‘May Night.’ It flowers abundantly in deep violet spires through early summer, and its compact, mounding habit makes it a good fit for a pot or border. 

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ is a favorite native salvia. It performs well in partial shade and has tall, deep blue tubular flowers through the fall. 

Salvia leucantha, or Mexican bush sage, features velvety purple and white bicolor blooms in late summer through fall. The vibrant, tubular blossoms attract pollinators at a time when other flowers fade. Foliage is silvery gray and aromatic. Cultivars include ‘Danielle’s Dream’ with pink flowers, ‘Santa Barbara’ with a compact habit, and ‘All Purple’ with royal purple blooms.

Salvia thrives in hot, dry conditions. Ensure soils are well-draining. Water during dry spells, allowing soils to dry out slightly between sessions.

Bee Balm

A flowering Monarda didyma border showing flared flower cluster in purple, pink, and red hues.
Monarda grows best with good air circulation, organic soils, and consistent moisture.
common-name common name Bee Balm
botanical-name botanical name Monarda didyma
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

Bee balm is native to the eastern U.S. and is a favorite performer due to its hardy nature and outstanding scarlet blooms. Flared flowers cluster on stems above minty, herbaceous foliage.

Numerous hybrids offer vibrant flowers in purple, pink, and red hues. ‘Jacob Cline’ in brilliant red is a hardy variety with good powdery-mildew resistance. The bloom season is long, lasting from early summer until freezing temperatures. 

‘Fireball’ is a compact plant with large, bushy petals in bright crimson. The plant’s small size doesn’t reduce the big bloom display from mid-summer. ‘Cherry Pops’ is a dwarf cultivar with robust growth and a uniform habit. Prolific carmine blooms persist on sturdy stems.

Monarda spreads by both seed and rhizome. Divide plants and weed out volunteers to keep them in check. Monarda grows best with good air circulation, organic soils, and consistent moisture.

Yarrow

Close up of an Achillea millefolium, flower clusters with peach colored petals with yellow centers
It flourishes in a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
common-name common name Yarrow
botanical-name botanical name Achillea millefolium
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Yarrow is a tough, adaptable, native North American perennial with fine, feathery foliage. Its large, flat flower clusters in vivid colors attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The species boasts broad, yellow flower heads atop tall, upright stems.

Cultivars in red, apricot, pink, white, and purple vary in height, with improved forms for dense, floriferous plants. Achillea ‘Crazy Little Thing’ is a pink-blooming dwarf form, ideal for pots and containers. 

Achillea ‘Firefly Peach Sky’ holds lovely peach flower clusters atop sturdy two-and-a-half-foot stems. Similar in size, ‘Paprika’ in scarlet and salmon retains its color-saturated hues all summer. 

Yarrow is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennial. It flourishes in a sunny spot with well-draining soil.

Baptisia

A Baptisia australis plant with long slender stems covered in bright yellow flowers.
After the flowers fade, spikes bear showy seed pods that add winter interest.
common-name common name Baptisia
botanical-name botanical name Baptisia australis
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Baptisia, or false indigo, is a beloved perennial known for its sweet pea-like blooms in spring and summer. Its blue-green foliage is soft, full, and attractive all season. After the flowers fade, spikes bear showy seed pods that add winter interest.

Baptisia is native to the eastern U.S. and grows naturally along streambanks, meadows, and open woodlands. It tolerates average to dry soils.

The straight species is highly ornamental, with numerous spikes covered with blue-purple, lupine-like flowers. Cultivars in sky blue, purple, white, yellow, and bicolor blooms create a pronounced display on denser forms.

‘Carolina Moonlight’ bears buttery yellow blooms in spring on tall flower spikes. ‘Pink Lemonade’ has bicolor flowers that begin light yellow and mature to raspberry mauve. The long spikes grace a vase-shaped habit.

A Perennial Plant Association award-winner, baptisia is long-lived. It spends its first seasons developing hardy roots and shines in its third year. Native bees and bumblebees appreciate tucking into the blooms.

Hardy Hibiscus

close up image of a Hibiscus flower with big disc-like red flowers featuring long pistils.
The vast blooms reach eight to nine inches across.
common-name common name Hardy Hibiscus
botanical-name botanical name Hibiscus spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 3-5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Hardy hibiscus lends a tropical look with huge disc flowers that reach six to ten inches across. North American native mallows include H. moscheutos, H. laevis, and H. coccineus. Hardy hybrids feature improved landscape durability and hardiness

Flowers emerge from mid-summer through fall and range from pale pink to deep scarlet. Although buds open only for a day, plants produce numerous blooms simultaneously for continual flowering.

Hibiscus ‘Holy Grail’ is striking with nearly black foliage and crimson flowers. The vast blooms reach eight to nine inches across. For bold drama, this hibiscus shines.

‘Ballet Slippers’ softens the look with ruffly white blooms tinged with blush pink edges. Centers are deep red. Bright green leaves provide a lovely backdrop to the large discs.

Mallows need consistent, evenly moist soils. They tolerate various soil types but don’t withstand prolonged dry spells

Sedum

Sedum plant with flower clusters in a lovely shade of pink, atop tall stems, with big leaves.
Butterflies enjoy the late-season flowers as a food source.
common-name common name Sedum
botanical-name botanical name Sedum spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3”-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Sedum, or stonecrop, brings exciting color and texture through its foliage and flowers. The heat-tolerant succulents typically bloom in summer and early fall.

The favorite Hylotelophium ‘Autumn Joy’ has large clusters of tiny, starry flowers in the fall. The late-season blooms emerge as pink flowerheads and gradually become deep rose-red, fading to copper as they mature. Silvery green, padded leaves are attractive from spring through heavy frost.

For a fall-flowering groundcover, opt for Sedum ‘Yellow  Brick Road.’ The low-growers have deep green, mounding, and spreading foliage. Small yellow blooms create a carpet of color in mid to late summer and early autumn.

‘Back in Black’ brings clumping, nearly black foliage. Tall, upright stems hold massive flower heads that develop mid-summer. Creamy white petals with deep red centers beautifully contrast the dark leaves.

Sedums are drought-tolerant succulents that need well-draining soil to thrive. Butterflies enjoy the late-season flowers as a food source. Let them persist on the plant through the cool season for added interest.

Columbine

An array of vibrant, colorful flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, red, and white, with pointed petals, oval and heart-shaped leaves.
This perennial appreciates shade protection from the afternoon sun.
common-name common name Columbine
botanical-name botanical name Aquilegia spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

Columbine is a North American native perennial with delicate, intricate blooms. The nodding flowers range from vibrant red and yellow to blues, purples, and pinks, depending on the variety. Hummingbirds and other pollinators appreciate the nectar from the tubular blooms, and birds feed on the seeds in the fall.

Columbine has a natural habitat along woodland edges, clearings, and riverbanks. It grows best in moderately moist, well-drained soils (not too wet or dry). Columbine is semi-evergreen and retains its basal leaves except in overly cold and hot temperatures when it enters dormancy until temperatures level off.

Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) has gracefully drooping red flowers that transition to pale yellow. Colorado blue columbine (A. coerulea) has purple-blue sepals that support white petals with bright yellow centers.

Columbine appreciates shade protection from the afternoon sun. In cool climates, it tolerates sunnier conditions.

Hosta

A Hosta plant ina stone lined flower bed, with big green-white leaves.
They bring high textural contrast and visual interest to shade gardens.
common-name common name Hosta
botanical-name botanical name Hosta spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 4”-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Hostas have lush, sculptural leaves in various shapes, from broad to strappy to curly. They bring high textural contrast and visual interest. Color tones of blue-green, emerald, lime, and variegated foliage brighten shady spots and cool down the arrangement.

Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ carries large, uniquely cupped leaves. ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ features petite blue-green rounded foliage, while miniature Hosta ‘Curly Fries’ has rippled, narrow leaves in chartreuse. ‘Sum and Substance’ is one of the largest and slightly more sun-tolerant varieties. Bright green leaves vary from light green to gold based on sun exposure.

In addition to stunning leaves, hostas bloom in early summer with lavender or white flowers. Tall bloom scapes float above the leafy base and attract hummingbirds.

Morning sun benefits bright or variegated varieties to retain color and vibrance. Provide well-draining soils and regular moisture as plants establish.

Swamp Sunflower

Helianthus angustifolius flowers with yellow petals and brown centers as well as flower buds atop long stems.
Plants bloom in late summer and fall for a surprise of bright gold.
common-name common name Swamp Sunflower
botanical-name botanical name Helianthus angustifolius
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5-8’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Perennial sunflowers have tall, branching stems with clusters of yellow daisy-ray flowers. Plants bloom in late summer and fall for a surprise of bright gold. They lend a naturalized look to the border. 

Helianthus angustifolius, or swamp sunflower, is a large native U.S. perennial. They’re an excellent food source for birds and specialized bees and a host plant for the silvery checkerspot butterfly. 

The dwarf Helianthus salicifolius ‘Low Down’ reaches two to three feet, while ‘First Light’ grows three to four. Both have good branching and compact forms that support bundles of sunny blooms seen from near or far. Leaves are narrow and willowy.

Perennial sunflowers tolerate occasionally wet and dry conditions. They withstand high heat and humidity.

Chrysanthemum

A bunch of Chrysanthemum with a mix of flowers and buds, with its flowers in red and pink shades, accompanied by ovate leaves.
Plant them and forget until the stunning bloom show unfolds.
common-name common name Chrysanthemum
botanical-name botanical name Chrysanthemum spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 2-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

A hallmark of autumn, chrysanthemums bloom in profusion from early fall until heavy frost in seasonal jewel tones. Scarlet, gold, orange, pink, or purple blooms cover dark green, lobed leaves that mound and trail.

Perennial chrysanthemums are cold-hardy and rich in color. They grow vigorously with upright or sprawling stems and a clumping habit. ‘Ryan’s Pink’ is a lovely trailer in pale pink. ‘Mrs. Robinson’ yields prolific pincushions of deep red. ‘Miss Gloria’s Thanksgiving Day’ has daisy-like rose pink flowers.

Easy-care chrysanthemums grow best in moist, organically rich soils. Plant them and forget until the stunning bloom show unfolds.

Daylily

A Hemerocallis plant with gorgeous purple and link colored flowers with yellow center and long stamens, surrounded by very long leaves.
For a tidy appearance, deadhead spent blooms and stems.
common-name common name Daylily
botanical-name botanical name Hemerocallis spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Daylilies follow the sun with their lovely blossoms that open during the day and close at night. Each flower lasts only a day or two, but with abundant successional blooms, they offer long-lasting color. Flower stems rise tall above mounds of strappy, bladed leaves in green or blue-green.

The breeders of Hemerocallis ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’ did all the work for us in creating a stunning raspberry, white, and yellow bloom that reaches six inches across. This midseason bloomer flowers in July and produces a second round of blooms.

‘Apricot Sparkles’ has peach flowers with a sprinkling of diamond dust and ruffled edges. Dwarf plants reach 15 inches high and are ideal for containers and garden borders. ‘Apricot Sparkles’ blooms early, from May to June, and reblooms later in the season.

‘Going Bananas’ blooms continuously from early summer to fall with yellow four-inch blossoms. Stems are uniform, and flowers are fragrant.

As tough perennials, daylilies handle hot and cold climates and live for years with little care. For a tidy appearance, deadhead spent blooms and stems. Choose species that aren’t invasive to your region, as there are many that are across North America.

Hellebore

close image of the Helleborus orientalis, with cupped-shaped nodding blooms in a toned down shade of pink atop long, dark green leaves.
They bloom in late winter and early spring.
common-name common name Hellebore
botanical-name botanical name Helleborus orientalis
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 18”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

Hellebores, or lenten roses, feature elegant, cupped-shaped nodding blooms atop dark green leaves. They bloom in late winter and early spring. Depending on the climate, the leaves are evergreen or semi-evergreen.

Hellebores’ toothed, palmate leaves provide interest year-round, and their exquisite single or double blooms bring beauty to the late winter landscape. Hellebores feature a long bloom time in various colors, from creamy white to soft pink to wine red.

‘Mother of the Bride’ bears three-inch flowers in pale apricot with tinges of pink along the edges. This glowing, frilly hellebore is part of the Wedding PartyⓇ series of vigorous double-flowering selections.

The HoneymoonⓇ series also boasts improved vigor and numerous blooms per plant but with single flowers. ‘Sandy Shores’ warms the garden with tropical pale peach flowers and deep rose undersides. ‘Irish Luck’ has creamy green petals with a central burgundy flare; the stamens are pale green and ivory.

Helleborus ‘New York Night’ brings single blooms in black and dark purple shades. The drama is high among dark green leaves.

Hellebores thrive in well-drained soils in a woodland setting. They colonize slowly in consistently moist, average soil under canopy cover.

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