Perennial Plant Guide: The Best Flowers for Year-Round Beauty
A perennial plant guide is essential for gardeners looking to create a low-maintenance, vibrant garden that thrives year after year. Perennial plants bloom seasonally but return each year, making them a long-term investment for landscaping. This guide introduces ten stunning perennials that bring color, fragrance, and pollinators to your garden while being easy to care for.
At The Growing Concern, we are passionate about helping gardeners cultivate thriving, sustainable landscapes with high-quality perennial plants. Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned horticulture enthusiast, our selection of perennials ensures beauty, biodiversity, and lasting impact in your outdoor space.
1. Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower – A Must-Have Perennial Plant
(Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’)
This perennial plant guide wouldn’t be complete without the Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower, a standout variety with multi-colored blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. These daisy-like flowers bloom from early summer to fall, attracting butterflies, bees, and birds. With excellent drought resistance, this coneflower is perfect for sunny landscapes.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
- Mature Size: 18-30 inches tall, 18-24 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
2. Phenomenal Lavender – A Fragrant Perennial Plant
(Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’)
A classic addition to any perennial plant guide, Phenomenal Lavender is one of the hardiest and most fragrant lavender varieties available. It features silvery-green foliage that provides year-round interest and deep purple blooms that appear in mid-to-late summer. This variety is highly adaptable, thriving in hot, humid, and dry climates, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of gardens.
Not only is Phenomenal Lavender drought-tolerant once established, but it’s also resistant to deer and pests, requiring minimal maintenance. Its strong fragrance attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it a fantastic addition to pollinator-friendly gardens. Whether planted in borders, rock gardens, or containers, this lavender variety adds both beauty and resilience to outdoor spaces.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
- Mature Size: 24-32 inches tall, 24-36 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
3. Goldi Creeping Jenny – A Versatile Ground Cover
(Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldi’)
If you’re looking for vibrant ground cover options in this perennial plant guide, Goldi Creeping Jenny is an outstanding choice. This low-growing perennial features bright golden-yellow foliage that forms a dense, trailing mat, creating a striking contrast against darker greens in the garden. Its lush, cascading growth habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets, rock gardens, and edging pathways, where it spills gracefully over borders.
Thriving in moist, well-drained soil, Goldi Creeping Jenny flourishes in shaded and partially shaded areas, making it a perfect choice for woodland gardens, wet landscapes, and rain gardens. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this hardy and fast-spreading ground cover helps with erosion control and suppresses weeds, making it a low-maintenance yet visually stunning addition to any garden.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Mature Size: 4-8 inches tall, spreading up to 36 inches
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
4. Super Star Tickseed – A Low-Maintenance Perennial Plant
(Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Super Star’)
A true highlight of this perennial plant guide, Super Star Tickseed produces large golden-yellow flowers with orange centers. It blooms from late spring through summer, adding a bright pop of color to gardens. Drought-tolerant and easy to grow, it’s perfect for low-maintenance landscapes.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
- Mature Size: 12-18 inches tall, 12-24 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
5. Coral Reef Bee Balm – A Pollinator Favorite
(Monarda ‘Coral Reef’)
No perennial plant guide would be complete without Coral Reef Bee Balm, a favorite for hummingbirds and bees. Its coral-pink flowers are highly fragrant, and its aromatic foliage is deer-resistant. This plant thrives in moist soil and is ideal for rain gardens and cottage gardens.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
- Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall
- Mature Size: 24-36 inches tall, 18-24 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
6. Munstead Lavender – A Classic Perennial Herb
(Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’)
Another must-have in this perennial plant guide, Munstead Lavender is a compact and fragrant English lavender variety. Its purple blooms attract pollinators, while its gray-green foliage adds texture to gardens. This drought-tolerant herb is perfect for borders and container gardens.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy soil
- Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
- Mature Size: 12-18 inches tall, 18-24 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
7. Pixie Meadowbrite™ Coneflower – A Compact Perennial
(Echinacea ‘Pixie Meadowbrite’)
A standout in this perennial plant guide, Pixie Meadowbrite™ Coneflower is a compact, drought-tolerant coneflower with deep pink blooms. It thrives in hot, dry conditions, making it perfect for rock gardens and low-water landscapes.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
- Mature Size: 18-24 inches tall, 12-18 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
8. Felix Supreme Peony – A Lush Perennial Bloomer
(Paeonia ‘Felix Supreme’)
If you love classic, fragrant flowers, this perennial plant guide recommends Felix Supreme Peony, a double-petaled peony with deep rose-red blooms. It’s a long-lived perennial that becomes more spectacular each year.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Rich, well-drained soil
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Mature Size: 24-36 inches tall, 24-36 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
9. Cherokee Sedge – A Versatile Ornamental Grass
(Carex cherokeensis)
One of the most adaptable perennials in this perennial plant guide, Cherokee Sedge grows in both wet and dry conditions. It’s ideal for erosion control, shade gardens, and native landscapes.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade
- Soil Type: Moist to dry, well-drained soil
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Mature Size: 12-24 inches tall, spreading habit
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
10. Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan – A Classic Perennial
(Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’)
No perennial plant guide would be complete without the Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan, a stunning, long-blooming perennial that brings a burst of golden-yellow color to the garden from mid-summer to early fall. Its bright, daisy-like flowers with dark brown centers create a striking contrast against its deep green foliage, making it a standout in any landscape.
This hardy and low-maintenance perennial thrives in full sun and is highly drought-resistant, making it an excellent choice for dry, sunny gardens, meadows, and roadside plantings. It’s also a pollinator magnet, attracting butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, supporting a healthy ecosystem. Whether planted in mass groupings, mixed borders, or wildflower gardens, Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan adds vibrancy, resilience, and lasting beauty to your outdoor space.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, average soil
- Bloom Time: Mid-summer to early fall
- Mature Size: 18-24 inches tall, 18-24 inches wide
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-