Perennials

Perennials

Perennials are herbaceous plants, a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level, that lives for more than two years. Perennials, especially small flowering plants, grow and bloom over the spring and summer and then die back every autumn and winter, then return in the spring from their root-stock rather than seeding themselves as an annual plant does.

Common Name: Yarrow

Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 0.75 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: June - September
Bloom Color: Bright yellow
Common Name: windflower
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae

Common Name: Windflower

Anemone are perennial herbs; plants which grow from rhizomes, caudices or tubers. Leaves grow from the base and can be simple, compound or attached with a leaf stalk.

Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Range: None
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: August - September
Bloom Color: White with yellow stamens
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Common Name: White Sage

Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: August - September
Bloom Color: Yellowish-gray
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium

Common Name: New England Aster

Zone: 5 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: None
Height: 1.5 to 2 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: August - September
Bloom Color: Royal purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Common Name: Chinese Astilbe

Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Saxifragaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: July - August
Bloom Color: Pink
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Common Name: Creeping Jenny

Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: June
Bloom Color: Yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium

Common Name: Mazus

Zone: 5 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Native Range: Himalayas
Height: to 0.25 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: June - July
Bloom Color: Lavender, purplish-blue with white and yellow markings
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low

Common Name: Catmint

Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Family:
Lamiaceae
Native Range:
None
Height:
0.75 to 1 foot
Spread:
0.5 to 0.75 feet
Bloom Time:
April - September
Bloom Color:
Lavender blue
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Water:
Dry to medium
Maintenance:
Low

Common Name: Peony

Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Paeoniaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 2.5 to 3 feet
Spread: 2.5 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: Red
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium

Common Name: Russian Sage

Zone: 5 to 9
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Family:
Lamiaceae
Native Range:
None
Height:
2 to 4 feet
Spread:
2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time:
May - June
Bloom Color:
Light blue
Sun:
Full sun
Water:
Dry to medium
Maintenance:
Low

Common Name: Slender Mountain Mint

Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Family:
Lamiaceae
Native Range:
Eastern United States
Height:
2 to 3 feet
Spread:
2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time:
July - September
Bloom Color:
White
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Water:
Dry to medium
Maintenance:
Low

Common Name: Rosemary

Zone: 7 to 10
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Family:
Lamiaceae
Native Range:
Mediterranean
Height:
2 to 6 feet
Spread:
2 to 4 feet
Bloom Time:
June - July
Bloom Color:
Pale blue to white
Sun:
Full sun
Water:
Dry to medium
Maintenance:
Medium

Common Name: Black-eyed Susan

Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Family:
Asteraceae
Native Range:
None
Height:
2 to 3 feet
Spread:
1 to 2 feet
Bloom Time:
June - September
Bloom Color:
Yellow rays with black center disk
Sun:
Full sun
Water:
Dry to medium
Maintenance:
Low

Common Name: Stonecrop

Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Crassulaceae
Native Range: None
Height: 0.5 to 0.75 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: August - September
Bloom Color: Dark ruby red
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low

For this information and more, check out Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center For Home Garening.