Suggestions for Perennials

In the past I’ve always tried to follow Jekyll’s planting scheme. Worked well, but lately I’ve introduced roses and am loving them?? as mixed border.

Perennial geraniums. 'Rozanne' is lovely and flowers for ages. Its leaves take on a reddish tinge in autumn. Also Geranium macrorrhizum for spring flowering. Both reliable, tough and very pretty.

A deer has eaten most of my Golden Wedding rose.

I would see what grows well in your neighbourghood is is your soil acid alkaline or neutral ,damp or dry shady or sunny.I have had lots of expensive plants just disappear digit me it's right plant right place.

Pudding123 is right.

I can't grow that plant that looks like a forget-me-not, but isn't one, in the ground. But I have it in containers. Flourishes.

Jacob Ladder dies on me.

I've been reading this with interest as I have, for the first time ever, properly planted my garden borders with perennials this year. Last year I put in some peonies, penstemon and about five other perennials and this year I've really gone to town and put in about a hundred and twenty other plants and summer flowering bulbs - altogether about thirty varieties. I am now watching as my garden comes to life and I'm wondering why (apart from the not inconsiderable cost) I've never thought to do this before. In the past I've simply put in a few dozen annuals from the local garden centre and hoped for the best.

Easy to grow plants with long seasons (please forgive any mis-spelling!):
Astrantia, shorter autumn flowering "Michaelmas daisies", hellebore, dicentra spectabilis (now has new name), foxgloves, santolina with pale button flowers, Anthemis punctata, herbaceous geraniums especially phaem varieties, phlox, peonies (short flowering season but lovely foliage).
Hayloft plants sell collections of salvia, penstemon, geranium and phlox as plug plants.
I also have a short, healthy, bushy, constantly flowering rose called "White Patio" which is good value. Do steer clear of ground cover roses which spread too much.

Shame I didn't know before we travelled to UK as I have so many perennials that need splitting and I could have potted up and brought with me. Got back fro Leics yesterday.

Shysal- yes, saw Jacob's Ladder everywhere in garden centres in uk this year- never before. Near us on French side, we have 2 vast wild water meadows which get covered with those every June - both blue and white. Superb.

Another plant I have here, and which grows wild too- and saw this year for sale in uk, and never before, is Thalictrum. The leaves are a cross between aquelegia and rue, grows to about 50cm tall and has tight little purple balls, like mimosa (yellow) that open into fluffy little pink balls. Is that a Chelsea phenomenon perhaps.

Phlox are great, and peonies very special, tree peonies too. Veronicas, we have white, blue and pink. Iris's.. and the list is endless really. But don't hink of individual plants, but when they flower to have a continuity, rather than all at once.

Jaccob's ladders need wet feet ...
of and of course, many types of cranesbill geranium- Chelsea chop large clumps for longer flowering time. Sedum are great too for late colour and bee nectar, both green and red leaved ones.

Simple tall marguerite daisies too. And larksspur.

I saw a gorgeous border at Hever Castle a couple of weeks ago planted with just Huecheras. It looked wonderful- you forget how many lovely colours they come in.
Personally I love Foxgloves- especially at the back of a border. they often give a second flowering too so good value.
Plus you get a lot of new ones every year to be transplanted elsewhere.

Lavatera does it for me.

Astilbe, and Bergamot (bees love it).

I too love foxgloves, craftycat, and wouldn’t be without them in my garden, but they do tend to come up in the most unexpected places each year (mostly where you don’t want them!).

If you want to cheat, Homebase sell a ready-made border. If you put Sunny or shady border in their search bit there are lots of different sizes. Thought about it myself but don't know how it turns out.

Aster and monarda have done exceptionally well. Mine flowered from June through September/Oct. They grow well and give an impressive display plus the bees love them.

I have just put some lupins in and am now on the look out for a couple of taller grasses to add a bit of movement. Don't forget spring bulbs later in the year. Oh and what about some herbs, I have a curry plant that adds a bit of grey green to the mix and intend to add some fennel too.

if you want ground cover plant Phlox ,we have the ground hugging one and a taller one and it keeps weeds at bay and flowers for most of the year and comes back every year without fail

Any or all of those suggested but also agapanthus.

I've just ordered the Hydrangea Runaway Bride mentioned above. I believe its growth is 1mx1m. I hope that's correct as I have its home planned, semi shaded and about that size.

I bought 2 of the RB Hydrangea, HannahLoisLuke. I have put one in a large pot and the other in the new bed I created late last summer to replace my veg plot. I hope they will be as spectacular as the publicity states.

It took me several attempts to get Japanese anemones to grow, now I can't get rid of the bl**dy plants. They are all over the place. This organic gardener resorted to Round-up and that hasn't worked.

I think I have most of the plants suggested above.

Same here about Japanese Anemones. I like them, especially the pink ones, but they are thugs! I am just pulling the top growth off now in the hope they will get discouraged.

And never plant an Acanthus!

Antirhinums grow like weeds in my garden, 1 plant (yellow) bought 3 years ago, now have plants of various colours.
My favourite flowers are Fuchsias but it is too cold here to keep even the hardiest from year to year.

ga, we redesigned our garden a few years ago and then got someone to do a planting a for us. Since then, we have replanted it and it is fabulous to know what is what. But, as you say, it's a little expensive.

jura, we have had Thalictrum in our garden for a while.