1 day Ago By Don Kinzler
You know you’re a devoted gardener if, after all your gardening chores are done, you create more.Many of us can relate to that statement; it seems we’re never “done” with our yardwork, but that’s the magic of gardening. In the perennial garden, for example, we’re always digging, dividing and adding more.
Perennial garden tasks become fewer, though, if we select types known for their longevity. Planting perennials that live for decades, or even centuries, reduces the work of replacing types that die sooner.All perennials aren’t created equal.
Some types are well-known for their long lives, with lifespans that rival the average human’s. An occasional dividing keeps them healthy and prolific.Other perennial types are well worth incorporating into the flowerbed also, but they don’t have the inherent ability to persist for decades, and require periodic total replacement.
Garden center shopping season is nearly here, and most of us find room for another perennial or two to add to the landscape or flowerbed. Long-lived perennial types are popular choices, as they create the dependable backbone of any perennial garden. Here is a list of perennials well-known for their long lives.
Peony: A staple in the flowerbeds of pioneers and homesteaders, there are well-documented peonies that were planted over a century ago, still thriving on Upper Midwest farmsteads. Peonies require several years to establish, but once in place, they enjoy long lives with occasional dividing every few decades or as needed. Daylily: New hybrids enjoy glorious colors and much larger flower size than the old-fashioned invasive types nicknamed “ditch lilies.
” Although they benefit from dividing every four or five years, or when they become crowded, such care will keep them growing almost eternally. Iris: Siberian types, with their narrower, sword-shaped leaves that form large clumps, are longer-lived with less maintenance than their German Bearded Iris cousins. But the more common German Iris cultivars enjoy long lives if divided every three or four years, keeping them perpetually healthy.
Gas Plant: Not only is this perennial long-lived, but it resents being disturbed, making it a good candidate for leaving in place for years to come. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary and rock solid, try gas plant. Hosta: A stable for shaded gardens and landscapes, a few types even perform well in sun.
Available in a myriad of color shades and variegated patterns, they’ll last nearly forever, and can be divided as needed. Ornamental grasses: Plant breeders have been prolific, developing cultivars of native grasses with enhanced qualities, while keeping their long-lived character. Locally owned garden centers offer a wider assortment than national chains.
Sedum: Both upright and spreading types thrive in hot sun and dry conditions. Aruncus Goatsbeard: Native to North America, arching plumes of cream-colored flowers grace the plants by early summer. Amending the soil with generous amounts of organic matter will keep it happy for many years.
Alchemilla Lady’s Mantle: Chartreuse flowers create interest on a carefree plant. Aconitum Monkshood: Named after the flower’s shape, colors included are purple, white, lavender and pink. Bleeding Heart: Thriving in shade or part shade, they’ll live for decades, although they go partially dormant by mid-summer if they receive a certain amount of sunshine.
Asclepias Milkweed: Made famous as a necessity to preserve the Monarch butterfly, once established milkweed and its cultivars will persist. Joe-pye Weed: Marketers should perhaps find another name that doesn’t include “weed,” because this native plant is a well-adapted feature addition to any perennial garden. The species can become quite tall, up to 6 feet high, but shorter cultivars are available.
Giant Fleeceflower Persicaria: This underused perennial makes a dramatic tall backdrop for other perennials, and can grow to 6 feet high or more, with a width of 5 or 6 feet. The long-lasting showy creamy white blossoms are borne in mid-summer on a plant that’s almost shrub-like in scale. Cimicifuga Bugbane: Although marketers should rename it, the perennial with its spike-shaped flowers will last a quarter-century or more.
Chelone Turtlehead: With interestingly shaped flowers in pink or white, this perennial will enjoy a long life, especially if the soil is amended with ample organic matter.If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at donald.kinzler@ndsu.
edu. Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.]]>.
