Question:
What are some good, long-lived perennials?Answer:
When selecting perennials for the home landscape, it’s important to consider their size, bloom period, hardiness, and cultural requirements. Another consideration is their longevity. Some perennials are short-lived. Short-lived perennials persist for several years and then decline and fade away. In contrast, some perennials are extremely long-lived. It’s not uncommon to see 50- to 60-year-old peonies in the yards of older homes in Iowa.
Long-lived perennials include:
- black snakeroot (Actaea racemosa)
- lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
- goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)
- butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- false blue indigo (Baptisia australis)
- gas plant (Dictamnus albus)
- ferns (various species)
- hardy geranium (Geranium spp.)
- ornamental grasses (various species)
- daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
- hosta (Hosta spp.)
- Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)
- blazing star (Liatris spp.)
- daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
- peony (Paeonia spp.)
- balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
- lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)
- black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’)
- stonecrop (Sedum spp.)
- Carolina lupine (Thermopsis villosa)
When given favorable growing conditions and good care, long-lived perennials often thrive for 20 or more years.
Last updated on
February 23, 2022