Everything you need to know about Perennials

Perennials

Perennial is defined as “lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time, enduring or continually recurring”.

In the plant world, annuals live for one growing season, biennial plants live for two growing seasons and perennials live for more than two years. A growing trend across the US is to create native landscapes that include perennial plants for sustainability, storm water management, less maintenance, wildlife habitat and to avoid deer damage.

Why Perennials?

Perennials bring color and can add creativity to your landscape year after year. Most Perennials need little water or fertilizer and are not as time consuming as annuals. They do not produce as many blooms as annuals because of their need to grow strong and deep roots. Perennials normally bloom for one season, although some varieties bloom longer.

When is the best time to plant perennials?

Spring is the ideal time to plant, and it’s also the best time to divide existing perennials that have multiplied, such as daffodils or Irises. Fall is a great time to plant spring or summer blooming perennials because the winter months allow roots to establish. We would not recommend planting in the hot summer months especially when the Missouri summers have been extremely hot and dry.

Where can you plant perennials?

The answer is simple – you can plant perennials anywhere. The key is in picking the correct perennial for the location. For example – dry shady areas would do well with Purple Coneflower (Echinacea). Sunny areas would do well with Moonbeam (Coreopsis verticillata) or Yarrow (Achillea millefoliumm), and wet areas would do well with Siberian Iris (Iris Sibirica).  

When thinking about your perennial garden, keep in mind that perennial varieties bloom at different times – some spring, some summer, some fall. Our staff can help you choose varieties specifically for your location, type of soil and those that will keep your garden looking good throughout the spring, summer and fall. We stock a variety of perennials including Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Yarrow (Achillea millefoliumm), Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa); Liriope (Liriope spicata), Siberian Iris (Iris Sibirica), and many Fern and Hosta varieties.

For sustainability and easy maintenance choose perennials. Mill Creek is ready to help you design and install your personalized perennial landscape this fall. Call Julie at 442-1199!