Plant a mix of these perennials with varying bloom times to enjoy color throughout the seasons.
We’ve listed them sequentially by bloom time to simplify yourgardening plans.
All theseeasy-to-grow plantswillreturn yearlyfor a gorgeous show in your yard.
Credit: Susan Gilmore
Hellebore
What a tough beauty!Helleboresare one of theearliest perennials to bloomfrom spring to fall.
The large bowl- or saucer-shaped flowers are delicate and lovely.
Flowers bloom in white with splashy pink, yellow, or maroon markings.
Credit: Robert Cardillo
Hellebores are cold-hardy and deer-resistant and do best inlightly shadedlocations.
They make idealcompanions for daffodilsand other spring-blooming bulbs.
Violas bloom in various colors, including white, blue, purple, yellow, and many color mixes.
Credit: Bob Stefko
They add perky color to spring container gardens andwindow boxes.
Violas are best planted in a spot shaded from the afternoon sun because excessive heat will kill them.
Their blooms are edible and make a colorful addition to a salad.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Peony plants are famously long-lived and can bloom happily for decades with little care.
The gray-green foliage is pretty, too.
If youshear back plantswhen their blooms wane, you might encourage another flush of bloom.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Catmint tolerates hot weather and cangrow through times of drought.
Plus,bees and butterflieslove it!
This easy-to-grow perennial produces spear-like foliage and long stems topped with fabulous flowers.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
Siberian iris blooms in spring.
Flower colors include white, blue, purple, orange, yellow, and pink.
Also called false indigo,baptisia plantsare hefty; they measure 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
Credit:Kevin Miyazaki
They make elegant additions to cut flower arrangements.
Baptisia is drought-tolerant and takes very little care to bloom for years.
Plus, the foliage forms tidy, low-growing mounds, making these perennialsideal bed-edging plants.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Perennial geraniums often take on pretty fall color and are generally easy to grow.
Plus, they make long-lastingcut flowers for bouquets.
These prairie natives areeasy-care, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and pollinator-friendly plants.
Credit: David Speer
It blooms for quite a while, starting in summer and continuing through autumn.
Coneflower is also nearly pest and disease-free.
Plus, it makes a lovely and long-lasting cut flower.
Credit: Andy Lyons
Phlox
By growing several differenttypes of phlox, you might have something in bloom for months.
Garden and meadow phlox producelarge flower headsin summer in white, pink, lavender, purple, and red.
These taller beauties are ideal toward the back of mixed borders.
Credit: Kindra Clineff
Lower-growing types, such as creeping phlox and woodland phlox, makecolorful groundcoversand bloom in spring.
The tall spires are covered with a mass of blooms.
Most foxgloves are biennials (they need two years to bloom and then die in the fall).
Credit: Bob Stefko
But once you get foxglove established, they reseed, so they seem like perennials.
If plants are in an open area, the tall spiresmay need stakingto protect them from wind gusts.
Thislarge sedumgrows 2 feet tall.
Credit: Bob Stefko
The gray-green succulent leaves look stunning all summer.
In late summer, they bear large, green-budded heads that open pink and turn russet red in autumn.
Pollinators will flock to the blooms.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Because it’s a succulent, ‘Autumn Joy’ doesn’t mind drought or heat.
This large, shrubby perennial offers color when you need it mostinlate summer and autumn.
The foot-long flowers stay in bloom for weeks.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Asters typically flower in deep purple and lush lavender, but there are also white and pink varieties.
Bees and butterflies love asters,sipping up nectaras one of the garden’s last big meals.
Glossy abelia has fragrant, pinkish blooms through the fall.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Beautyberry holds on to its purplish fruit through October.
Also, smoketree has leaves that turn orange-red in the fall.
verify you do a thorough fall cleanup; remove weeds and any unhealthy plants.
Container Gardening with Native Plants.
Shrubs and grasses for long-season interest.
Putting the Yard and Garden to Bed.
Utah State University Yard and Garden Extension.
