What blooms with what?
That’s one of the big questions gardeners struggle with.
Plantshrub rosesin clumps or drifts to provide a solid mass of bloom where you need color the most.
Credit: Jamie Hadley
The pink ‘Knock Out’ roseis an eye-catching companion forblue salviain this border.
These plants areheat- and drought-resistantfeaturing perennial flowers that bloom all summer into fall with minimum care.
Its nectar-rich flowers will alsolure colorful hummingbirds to your yard.
Credit: Deb Wiley
In this country garden, yuccas bloom alongside a patch of bright redAsiatic lily.
Plant tubular-shaped blooms to attract hummingbirds, and include vibrant red flowers nearby to catch their attention.
Mix Contrasting Flower Shapes
Make your flower border more interesting by pairingbeautiful planting combinationswith different flower shapes.
Credit: Jack Coyier Photography
Planted individually, they’re lovely but grown together, they put on an eye-popping show.
Here, the rosy-red flowers ofastilbeglow when paired with chartreuse and blue-green leafhostas.
These perennials are super easy to grow andthrive in low-light conditions.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Hydrangeas Make a Beautiful Backdrop for Perennials
Flowering shrubs and your favorite perennials makeideal plant partners.
Here, ‘Blue Shades’anemonepops into bloom just as the first leaves of ‘Caramel’coral bellsstart to unfurl.
To create the best bulb and perennial plant combinations, tuck bulbs around existing plants in the fall.
Credit: Rob Cardillo
Other reliable bulbs for extra early-spring color include snowdrops, crocus,Scilla,Puschkinia, narcissus, andEranthis.
Just give themrich, moist soiland enjoy their spirit-lifting blooms.
They may seem idle during the spring and summer, but these hardworking plants burst intobloom when autumn comes.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Here,Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile)and wood’s purpleasterprovide a colorful finale to the perennial border.
They also both attract hordes of colorful butterflies to your garden.
In this border, Oriental lily andphloxare a double-sweet pairing.
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Pollinators rely on petal color and scent tolocate pollen, nectar, and floral oils.
Choose a variety of flowers to provide food, shelter, and gathering spots to encourage repeat visits.
Look for varieties that sport foliage that’s speckled or splashed with different colors.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Today, you could create a similar look in your yard by teaming white-flowering perennials together in a bed.
Some of the best low-growing bloomers include azalea,viburnum,spirea,hydrangea, andpotentilla.
Plus, some shrubs like thisSpirea bumalda’Goldflame’ produce colorful flowers and foliage.
Credit: Andre’ Baranowski
This easy-care mounding plant blends beautifully with the blue flower spikes of ‘May Night’perennial salvia.
They act as a colorful focal point to draw the eye and give the garden visual balance.
Other tall perennials includegarden phlox,heliopsis, Oriental lilies,delphinium,allium, andlupine.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Cinnamon fern gets its name from the cinnamon-color fibers found near the frond bases.
In this garden, this red-flowered hibiscus makes a stunning pair withDelphinium elatum.
Bearded iris,peony,coreopsis,gaillardia, andphloxare just some examples of perennials with bicolor options.
Credit: Rich Pomerantz
And by selecting bicolor varieties, you’ll double thecolor in your beds and borders.
In this spring border, it just takes purplealliumand bicolorbearded iristo create a tapestry of bloom.
In this border, ‘Jackmanii’ clematis and ‘Harvest Moon’ coneflower are a feast for the eyes.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Consider Year-Round Appeal
Sadly, most perennials die back to the ground after the first hard freeze.
This means that your border in cold climates will look bare for several months of the year.
Team somelow-growing evergreenswith your perennial flowers instead of having nothing to look at during long winter days.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
In this border,dwarf junipersandarborvitaestand guard over clumps ofdayliliesand other flowers.
Include Tender Perennials
Large-leavedcannasmake a dramatic statement in any garden.
Tender perennials are plants from warm climates that cannot survive freezing temperatures and may not survive the winter.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Plant Perennials in Large Groups
Building a gorgeous garden isn’t like building an ark.
You don’t need two of everything to make a big impact.
If perennials look good in a vase, they’ll certainly look good in your garden.
Credit: Andrew Drake
In this mixed border,perennial salvia, yellow gaillardia, andShasta daisywork together as a living flower arrangement.
Credit: Jamie Hadley
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Celia Pearson
Credit: Paul Vandevelder
Credit: Laurie Black
Credit: Bob Stefko
Credit: Kindra Clineff
Credit: Rob Cardillo
Credit: Kindra Clineff
