Perennials, The Core Crew

Mixed Border of Perennials

Along with trees and shrubs, perennials are part of the core crew of reliable plants for the ever growing garden. Perennials are great because they come back year after year, but some are more trouble than they are worth--with brief showmanship, high care requirements, or lots of pest and disease issues.

The best perennials have a long season of bloom, great foliage, few pests and diseases and are fairly self-sustaining. The good news is that lots of plants offer these attributes. As with all things gardening, however, choices are largely regionally dependent. What works best in Georgia, Unites States will not always be the right choice for gardeners in Alberta, Canada, and vice versa. Looking at a plant's hardiness zone range gives us a good jump-off point.

Of course, light exposure is another important consideration. Most mixed borders, depending on the size of the trees and shrubs, have both sunny and shady spots. That mix, of sun and shade, is ideal for it gives us lots of plants to choose from. Keep in mind: full sun is considered six hours of direct sunlight. When it comes to perennials, we can often get away with a little light or partial shade. Afternoon sun is quite strong, however, so three to four hours of afternoon sun may give full-sun plants a sufficient "tan". Conversely, shade plants can handle--and often welcome--morning sun, but afternoon sun is a big NO. With that in mind, have fun exploring your options!