Landscape Fun Fact of the Day:
The term perennial, is of Latin origin, and it’s actual meaning is an oxymoron to what we think of a perennial today. The parent term, Perennis, translates to “throughout the year”. But, perennials don’t last throughout the year; quite the opposite, most will “die off” in the winter and come back in the spring.
As my Landscape Fun Fact of the Day implies, this blog entry will be about Perennials, and the “Golden Slumbers” title refers to the fact that it is now January of 2018 and the majority of perennials I will be referring to in this blog are currently sleeping.
So, why are they referred to as perennials, if they don’t actually live throughout the year, as their definition would imply?
As far as our modern-day history goes, that’s a relatively new thought, and it dates back to the Mid-1600’s. Before then, perennials referred to evergreens and other plants that lived year-round. Though I’m not sure exactly who proposed the change, the point of it was to separate the perennials that we know of today, from annuals and biennuals, which are plants that will only live for a year or two.
This leads us to the types of perennials that we know of today; in which, there are many. In the Maryland, DC, and Virginia areas, there are several large nurseries that grow perennials, and they all grow hundreds of different varieties of these plants. Some of them are new breeds of old favorites, while others have been a part of our landscapes for generations.
Since there are so many perennials, I highly recommend consulting with your designer about what characteristics you might like. Some of the factors that are worth considering are sun and shade, deer tolerance, deciduous or evergreen, flower color, and bloom time. If you’re in the market to add some color to your planting beds, I always recommend hiring the experts at Rolling Acres to design and install these spaces, since we know what we’re doing. But, if you have a green thumb and you’d like to give it a go yourself, here are some thoughts and suggestions that I have for you:
First, visit your local garden center to see what they have in stock. In the spring, you will find the most options, but soon thereafter, certain items could fly off the shelf. Second, when planting, really do a good job of digging a big enough hole for the root ball, and mixing the soil with amendments and some fertilizer to help promote root growth and encourage a strong bloom. Please also remember to water frequently over the course of the year. Lastly, feel free to dead-head any flowers after they have bloomed, but please don’t cut any of the foliage. Deciduous perennials will need their leaves to help obtain the right amount of water and sun to successfully return to prominence the following spring.
As I mentioned, there are hundreds of varieties of perennials that grow in our area. I thought it might be helpful to list some of my personal favorites, along with some pros and cons of each. For a much more thorough list, or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
In no particular order:
Daylilies (scientific name- Hemerocallis)
Pros-
Lots of flower color options
Can handle sun and part-shade
Nice compact size- most varieties get between 18-30”
Cons-
Most deer love these flowers
Black Eyed Susan (scientific name- Rudbeckia)
Pros-
State Flower of Maryland
Enjoys full sun
Most deer will avoid
Nice size for a perennial- 36-48” tall and wide (a dwarf variety is available too)
Cons-
Some deer will not avoid
Not a good “border” plant due to size
Plantain Lily (scientific name- Hosta)
Pros-
Lots of varieties to choose from
Great range in size from smallest (6”) to largest (48”)
Most can handle any amount of shade
Cons-
Most deer and rabbits love these plants
Catmint (scientific name- Nepeta)
Pros-
Deer Tolerant
Fragrant Leaves
Enjoys full sun
Cons-
Attracts Bees
Can get too large for some spaces (depending on variety)
Cranes Bill (scientific name- Geranium)
Pros-
Extended bloom time
Can handle sun or part shade
Deer Tolerant
Cons-
Can overgrow their intended space if planted to closely to others
Garden Pinks (scientific name- Dianthus)
Pros-
Extended bloom time
Great border plant
Deer tolerant
Enjoys full sun
Cons-
Can overgrow their intended space if planted to closely to others
Coneflower (scientific name- Echincacea)
Pros-
Interesting varieties of flower heights and colors
Makes for a good cut flower
Nice upright stature- most grow 18-36” height
Most deer will avoid
Cons-
Some deer will nip at flowers and leaves
Rabbits love these plants
Lenten Rose (scientific name- Helleborus)
Pros-
Evergreen
Nice compact size- most will get 12-24” tall and wide
Most varieties bloom in Late Fall to Early Spring
Can handle part or full shade
Deer Tolerant
Cons-
For whatever reason these plants are typically a good bit more expensive than other perennials of the same size
Stonecrop (scientific name- Sedum)
Pros-
Wide variety of plant types and sizes from ground covers to 18” height
Unique foliage styles and colors
Can handle full sun
Cons-
Deer and rabbits love these plants
Can easily spread
False Spirea (scientific name- Astilbe)
Pros-
Great variety of bloom colors
Can handle full to part sun
Nice medium growth sizes with foliage typically growing to 18” height and the flower extending far above
Deer tolerant
Cons-
Dry and under amended soils will severely limit the potential of this plant