Sneak Peek at Perennials

Perennials may be a bit more expensive than annuals, but if you consider the number a years you can enjoy the plant in the garden the difference is clear.  Since they come back every year perennials make a great addition to your foundation plantings and other gardens in your landscape often requiring little care and fuss.

For 2018 Sargent’s expects to have about 100 new perennials that we have never carried before so expect to see lots of new things in the garden center this year along with a nice selection of native woodland perennials too. Here are just a few of the new perennials you can plan on adding to your gardens this spring and summer. Find these and other perennials, trees and shrubs in Plant Finder.

Allium ‘Millennium’ 

We will start off the list with the 2018 Perennial of the Year.  Allium is often sold as a bulb that must be planted in the fall, but you can plant this containerized beauty anytime. The 2″ clusters of purple flowers bloom late July into August in part to full sun.   The plants grow about 20″ tall and are not fussy about what soil they grow in.

Hibiscus ‘Cherry Choco Latte’

If you don’t have any hibiscus in your gardens then add Cherry Choco Latte this year especially if you are looking for a smaller variety.  This hibiscus produces 8-9″ wide flowers on a plant with beautiful dark green to bronze leaves.  At 4′ tall and wide it will thrive in full sun locations.

Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’

‘Storm Cloud’ is a new variety of Amsonia from Proven Winners.  Dark green, almost black stems emerge from the soil in spring with light blue star-shaped flowers showing up in late spring.  Its wide, mounded shape has the look and size of small shrub growing just over 2′ tall and up to 40″ wide. Prefers full to part sun locations.

Persicaria f. ‘Painter’s Palette’

‘Painter’s Palette’ is grown primarily for its foliage in part shade spots in the garden. The variegated leaves are fantastic massed as a ground cover and the airy spikes of flowers appear in fall. Grows about 18-24″ tall and wide.  Can spread in optimal growing locations by rhizomes and self-seeding.

Photo credit: Missouri Botanical Gardens

Big Bluestem ‘Dancing Wind’

Grown for the scarlet red colored leaves, the entire plant turns deep red after frost. Grows as a clump in full sun locations reaching 6′ tall with the big bluestem “turkey foot” flowers showing in mid-summer into fall.