What Is a Perennial?
A perennial, unlike an annual, is a plant that blooms for more than one growing season. Perennials can live for more than two years if properly cared for. Some long-living perennials, like peonies, daylilies and hostas, can last decades in the right growing conditions.
General Perennial Plant Care
- Choose the right location. Make sure to understand where your chosen perennials will thrive before planting them. From full shade to full sun, light requirements vary by the specific type of perennial.
- Space them out. Check your perennial’s plant tag for its space requirements and plant accordingly. Leaving a plant with too little space can result in decreased air circulation and poor growth.
- Prep the soil. If planting perennials in the ground, most soils will need to be amended with a quality in-ground garden soil. When potting in a container, use all-purpose potting soil.
- Water regularly until established. When you first plant perennials, keep the soil moist to encourage root establishment.
- Consider mulching. Adding a thin layer of mulch to newly planted perennials can help keep weed growth at bay and keep the soil moist.
- Fertilize for best results. Generally, you should fertilize perennials in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer. Check your perennial’s specific fertilizing needs as some plants require fertilizing more often than others.
- Keep an eye out for pests. Many plants, whether perennial or annual, are susceptible to pests and diseases. Check your plants regularly for signs of distress and take immediate action with pest control.
- Prep perennials for winter. Because perennials can come back after the winter season, you should prep them before they go dormant during the cold. Remove weeds and water your plants before freezing temperatures set in. Some perennials will need to be cut back and mulched before cold temperatures arrive.
Top-Selling Perennials at Lowe's
Here's a list of our top-selling perennial plants. Learn perennial garden tips for each type to keep your garden healthy and blooming.
1. English Lavender
English lavender is wonderfully fragrant and easy to maintain. It makes a great border around a garden, adding beautiful color and fragrance. It can also be cut and used for a variety of uses including making essential oils, soaps, teas, simple syrups and more. Another unique benefit of lavender is its texture. It will instantly add visual interest whether you plant it around a mailbox, in a rock garden or in garden beds. Easy to maintain, it's no wonder English lavender is one of our most popular perennials.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Low, once established
Blooming Time: Spring and summer
Spacing: 12-18 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Pincushion Flowers
Known to be tough and easy to care for, pincushion flowers are a great option for the beginner gardener. If placed in a sunny, well-drained location, pincushions have a long growing season. These plants feature pincushion-like blooms and wiry stems and can be used in various locations including rock gardens, raised garden beds and as borders. They even make great cut flowers.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Low, once established
Blooming Time: Summer and fall
Spacing: 18 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit
3. Blanket Flower Plants
Blanket flower plants produce vibrant blooms when they're planted in bright sunlight. Though they can tolerate some shade, they generally do best with as much sun as possible. Their ability to tolerate heat makes them a favorite for summer gardens. They feature beautiful multi-color flowers and look great planted with other sun-loving perennials. If you're looking for a hardy plant that doesn't require a lot of water once established, this is it.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Low, once established
Blooming Time: Summer and fall
Spacing: 24-36 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit
4. Salvia
These tall, cylindrical flowers instantly add visual appeal to planters and garden beds. Pollinators flock to salvia, making them ideal for your garden if you want to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer-resistant and heat-loving, salvia is a perfect low-maintenance perennial.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Keep soil semi-moist
Blooming Time: Spring, summer and fall
Spacing: 12-18 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit
5. Coral Bells
This unique perennial adds texture to shaded and partly shaded gardens. It's popularly used along pathways and as a border in garden beds. It comes in shades of deep purple and green.
Light Requirements: Shade (can tolerate morning sun in cool climates)
Water: Keep soil semi-moist
Blooming Time: Spring and summer
Spacing: 18-24 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -30 degrees Fahrenheit
6. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a low-maintenance perennial that's deer- and rabbit-resistant. This sun-loving perennial attracts bees and butterflies with its colorful blooms and is considered drought tolerant. If you're looking for a perennial that basically takes care of itself once established, this is it. To keep coreopsis blooming until the end of summer, use a pair of pruning scissors to cut off spent flowers at the stem.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Low, once established
Blooming Time: Summer and fall
Spacing: 18-20 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -30 degrees Fahrenheit
7. Artemisia
This plant features a unique silvery foliage that looks great in any garden. Known to be a sun-loving and easy-care plant, it’s ideal for gardeners looking for low-maintenance options. Artemisia offers aromatic qualities and can produce small flowers during its blooming season.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Low, once established
Blooming Time: Summer
Spacing: 2-3 feet
Cold Hardiness: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit
8. Phloxes
Featuring pretty, dainty flowers, phloxes are a beloved perennial native to North America. They do well in partial sunlight but some can tolerate full sun. Phloxes come in a variety of colors including white, pink and blue. They bloom in late summer, from July to August, and have fragrant flowers. Because there are many types of phloxes, including low-to-ground creeping varieties and upright options, make sure to read specific care instructions on the variety you're growing.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Low, once established
Blooming Time: Spring
Spacing: 14-18 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit
9. Creeping Thyme
This type of dense thyme makes an excellent groundcover as it only gets a few inches high but spreads out to 18 inches wide. Its aromatic leaves are a big draw for many gardeners. When temperatures heat up from late spring to early summer, creeping thyme will flower and attract pollinators. If you’re looking to fill in bare spots in a lawn or in between stepping stones on a garden path, creeping thyme is a great pick. Though creeping thyme prefers full sun, it can tolerate partial shade. It's also drought tolerant and known to thrive in poor soil. As for pest issues, creeping thyme is considered resistant to most pests.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Low, once established
Blooming Time: Summer
Spacing: 16-18 inches
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -30 degrees Fahrenheit
10. Asiatic Lily
This upright, statement-making plant produces large, showy blooms ideal for decorating patios, porches, balconies and garden beds. They come in a variety of colors including yellow, pink, orange and white. Unlike some varieties, Asiatic lilies are typically non-fragrant. Known to be easy to grow and maintain, this is the perfect perennial for a beginner’s garden.
Light Requirements: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)
Water: Prefers semi-moist soil
Blooming Time: Spring
Spacing: 12-14"
Cold Hardiness: Cold hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit
