Contents
The Basics of Perennials
How to Choose the Right Perennials for Your Garden
How to Buy Perennials
How to Grow Perennials From Seeds
How to Propagate Perennials
by Division
How to Propagate Perennials
from Stem Cuttings
How to Harden Off Perennial Seedlings
How to Transplant Perennial Seedlings Outdoors
How to Transplant Potted Perennials
How to Plant Bare-Root Perennials
How to Care for Perennials
How to Deadhead Perennials
How to Pinch Perennials
How to Stake Perennials
Winter Care for Perennials
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How to Choose the Right Perennials for Your Garden
Though all perennials are similar in that they return year after year, different species of perennials prefer different climate characteristics, such as amount of sunlight, air and soil temperature, and soil conditions.
Climate Preferences
Different species of perennials have different levels of tolerance for cold temperatures. Though most perennials go into dormancy during the winter, not all perennial species can survive the same degree of cold: one species may be able to withstand the cold winters of New Hampshire, while another may be able to survive only as far north as Virginia.
Different perennials are described as being hardy to different temperatures. A perennial that can withstand temperatures of 10°F, for instance, is said to be hardy to 10°F. Only perennials that are hardy to the lowest temperatures in your region will be able to live for many years in your garden.
How to Choose the Right Perennials for Your Climate
The easiest way to tell whether a particular perennial can grow in your region is to use the Hardiness Zone Map developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This map divides North America into a series of 11 numbered “zones” based on average low winter temperature, with 1 being the coldest and 11 the warmest. Each perennial is
assigned a number based on the coldest zone in which it could survive the winter. So a perennial that’s a 4 could survive the winter in zone 4 of the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, as well as in warmer (higher-numbered) regions.
To choose perennials that can survive the winter in your region, you need to know the hardiness zone in which you live as well as the specific perennials’ hardiness ratings, usually found on seed packets, in seed catalogs, plant
encyclopedias, and at nurseries. For more on the USDA
Hardiness Zone Map, see How to Choose the Right Plants for Your Climate in the Quamut guide to Gardening Basics.
Perennials as Annuals
Just because a particular perennial can’t survive the winter where you live doesn’t mean that you can’t grow it. Some gardeners simply grow perennials as annuals—they just grow in the spring and summer and then die when it gets cold. However, before planting just any perennial with the idea of growing it as an annual, make sure that it’s a perennial that tends to bloom in its first year after being planted. Some perennials don’t produce many blooms in their first year, which makes them pointless to grow as annuals.
Sun and Shade Preferences
Perennials are often grouped according to the amount of sunlight they need.
- Full sun: Sun-loving perennials need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Direct sunlight means sunlight during the middle of the day, when the sun is at its most intense, without any filtering or dappling by branches or other intervening objects.
- Partial sun: Light-shade or partial-shade perennials need at least six hours of filtered sunlight per day, meaning sunlight that may be partially blocked by branches or other intervening objects.
- Shade: Shade-loving perennials thrive when they are in shade for much of the day and may even be damaged by too much direct sunlight.
When buying perennials, make sure that the area in your garden where you plan to grow them offers the right amount of sunlight or shade throughout the day.
Soil Preferences
Most perennials grow best in loamy soil—soil composed of an even mix of clay, sand, and silt—that drains well but also retains some moisture. However, some species of perennials may also be able to survive in (or even prefer) other types of soil, such as sandier or siltier soil. Before buying perennials, get a sense of the soil or types of soil found in your garden and then look for perennials that will do well in those soils. (For more on the different types of soil as well as how to improve your garden’s soil, see the Quamut guide to Gardening Basics.)
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