If you want more flowers in your garden, you need plants that are guaranteed to perform. But with so many plants to choose from, how do you know which are the easiest to grow and will give you the most flowers?
I've put together a list of my 10 favourite perennial flowers that are easy to grow and have a long blooming period, providing you with loads of interest in your garden. These plants are also excellent for attracting bees and other pollinating insects to your garden.
Lavender is a fantastic all-rounder – it can be grown in pots or in the ground, it’s evergreen, with wonderfully fragrant leaves, fantastic for pollinators and suits different garden styles, from cottage gardens to contemporary schemes. Beyond aesthetics, lavender flowers can be harvested for various DIY projects, such as creating potpourri, sachets, or essential oils. The calming fragrance of lavender promotes relaxation, making it perfect for home gardens or outdoor seating areas—a natural stress reliever. Additionally, lavender is deer and bunny resistant - a bonus for any landscape!
Salvia nemorosa is a versatile flowering perennial that boasts pretty, low-growing perennial blooms that emit an intense fragrance. It thrives in sunny beds, rock gardens, and prairie landscapes, making it an excellent choice for borders, cottage gardens, and mixed perennial beds. Its long-lasting blooms delight gardeners and pollinators alike, and its nectar-rich flowers serve as an essential food source for bees and butterflies. Salvias are also deer and bunny resistant.
Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ features deep, rich, dark orange-red petals surrounding a prominent chocolate brown center disk rimmed with gold and covered with golden pollen that attracts butterflies. This perennial grows up to 4 feet tall and looks stunning when planted in mass or mixed with ornamental grasses and other perennials. It’s also attractive as cut flowers and has good resistance to most insects and diseases.
Hardy geraniums, also known as cranesbill geraniums, thrive in moderately fertile, well-drained soil and can tolerate partial shade. Their lush foliage and colorful blooms create a carpet-like effect, adding texture and visual interest to your garden. Whether planted in flowerbeds, containers, or along garden borders, hardy geraniums provide a charming and versatile display. These perennials are easy to grow, disease-resistant, and pest-resistant. They are fantastic for pollinators such as bees and hoverflies. Grow in sun or shade. Cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush of blooms.
‘Gaudi Pink’ Gaura is a charming herbaceous perennial known for its delicate pale pink flowers that gracefully sway on tall stems, adding elegance and visual appeal to gardens. This compact variety is perfect for containers and smaller garden spaces, providing abundant blooms throughout summer and fall. It attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. Additionally, Gaudi Pink is highly resilient, thriving in heat, drought, and poor soils, although its long taproot requires careful site selection to avoid transplanting difficulties.
Catmint 'Walker’s Low' is a versatile perennial that combines beauty, fragrance, and functionality. Its lavender-blue flowers bloom from spring to early autumn, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. With low maintenance requirements, drought tolerance, and pest resistance, Walker’s Low is an excellent choice for gardens. Its soft gray-green foliage adds charm to borders, rock gardens, and containers, making it a delightful addition to any landscape. It is also deer and bunny resistant.
Blanket flowers (Gaillardia spp.) are vibrant, low-maintenance perennials that bloom throughout the warm season in striking shades of red, yellow, and apricot, attracting pollinators. Deadheading spent blooms promotes continuous flowering, and their drought tolerance makes them ideal for water-wise landscapes. Thriving in hot, dry conditions, they pair well with other sun-loving perennials like coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), and ornamental grasses, creating a dynamic and colorful garden display.
Real Charmer Shasta Daisy is a delightful perennial with large, semi-double flowers in creamy ivory to lemon-yellow hues. These daisies bloom from early to late summer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. They’re low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and make excellent cut flowers. They’re great for borders, containers, or cottage gardens.
Globe flowers, also known as Trollius, are versatile and captivating flowering plants. They thrive in various settings, including bog gardens, meadows, and near water sources. Their unique shape, vibrant hues, and graceful appearance brighten up outdoor spaces. They are spectacular in mass plantings. Globe flowers attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. Cut back after flowering to promote more blooms.
Pincushion flowers, also known as Scabiosa, are delightful and easy-to-grow perennials. Their button-like pincushion flowers with fluttering petals come in hues of pinks, purples and white. They thrive in full sun, prefer moist but well-draining soil, and are a magnet for butterflies and other beneficial insects. If you deadhead them they will keep producing blooms throughout the warm season.