Planting Reference : Perennials

Alchemilla Mollis Alchemilla Mollis
Common name: Lady's Mantle
Perennial Zones 3-9
Grows up to 24" tall & wide

Lady's Mantle blooms in late spring and into summer, clouds of soft chartreuse flowers above soft gray, green leaves. Prefers shade, but can tolerate sun.
Windflower Anemone
Common names: Windflower
Perennial Zones 5-8
Can grow up to 36"+ depending on variety

This plant is great for adding fall color to your garden. Most varieties begin blooming in early September and will continue thru late October. The plants foliage is another great feature small rich green grape like leaves. In late summer the plant will produce little balloon shaped buds that open to 1"+ blossoms. Available in white, pink and purple Anemones prefer light shade but can also tolerate full sun.
Sea Pink Armeria Maritima
Common names: Sea Pink
Perennial Zones 5-9
Grows approx. 8" x 12-18"

Evergreen,grassy, geyish-green foliage makes this perennial attractive even when it is not flowering. In May -mid June this little plant will produce dark pink ball shaped flowers a top single slim stalks. Because they look great all season these small plants are excellent for edging your garden. Armeria grows well in full sun and sandy,light, well drained soil.
Columbine Aquilegia (a-kwil-lee-gee-uh)
Common names: Columbine
Perennial Zones 3-9
Grows approx. 1-3 feet depending on variety

Although Columbine has a short bloom time it has been loved by gardeners for many years. The unusually shaped flowers and variety of colors make this perennial a must have. Planted in partial to half shade and in moist well drained soil the Columbine will give you wonderful spring time blooms.
Astilbe Astilbe
Perennial Zones 4-9
Grows depending on variety

This perennial has delicate fern like foliage. Their plume like flowers rise above the foliage in early to late summer. They can be found in shades of pink, white and red. Astilbes are a great addition to a shade garden.
Aurina Saxatilis Aurina Saxatilis
Common name: Baseket of Gold
Perennial Zones 4-9
Grows up to 12" tall 18" wide

Quick spreading and easy to grow Basket of Gold brings a burst of color to the garden. Bright yellow flowers appear from April through May. Plant in full sun.
Primrose Baptisia (bap-tiz-ee-a)
Common name: Wild Indigo
Perennial Zones 3-9
Grows 3-4 feet high

This large but airy perennial produces dainty blue flowers in mid spring to early summer. It's blue-green foliage remains handsome throughout the growing season. Grown in full sun and well drained soil, this perennial makes a great background in a border or as a specimen plant. It is also possible to dry the flower pods to be used in dried flower arrangements.
Bergenia Bergenia
Perennial Zones 3-9
Growth 12" tall and up to 24"

An excellent, usually evergreen ground cover, with leathery cabbage like leaves. Blooms in April and May clusters of very showy scentless , lilac red flowers. Will grow in full sun or full shade.
Carpet Rose Campunula
Common name: Bellflower
Perennial Zones 3-9
Grows 12-18"

There are many selections of Campunula available. One variety that works well in most gardens is "Blue Clips" because it is a small mounded plant it is great at the edge of a border. The plant has heart-shaped leaves with wavy edges. In early July a flush of open-faced, starry flowers, which bloom singly on short stalks appear. After the initial bloom the plant will produce some flowers through the summer and the sometimes flush out again in early fall. This same variety is also available in white. Full sun.
Carpet Rose Carpet Rose
Rose Zones 4-10
Grows 24-32"

This low growing, low maintenance rose looks beautiful in any garden. Available in pink, white and red this rose flowers from spring through late fall.Fully grown in two years and disease resistant. Plant in full sun to semi-shade.
Sedum Cimicifuga
Common name: Fairy Candles or Bugbane
Perennial Zones 4-8
Can grow up to 6' depending on variety

This plant will give you late summer color in your shade garden. ( what a great thing!) One variety Racemosa, produces tall spires of creamy white flowers for many weeks. Another variety Acerina provides shorter (24") flower spikes above low basal foliage in autumn. Plant in moist, organic-rich soil in any partly shady location.
Clematis Clematis
Zones 3-8
Grows Perennial Woody Climber

A fantastic vine to grow up trellis's, arbors, poles etc. Showy bell shaped or flatish flowers with 4-8 petals are followed by masses of fluffy seed heads, often lasting well into winter. Clematis grows well in well drained, humus-rich, cool soil with good moisture retention. Sometimes tricky to grow because clematis like their roots to stay cool but love the sun for their flowers. At the garden center we have 4 varieties of clematis.
Cornflower Centaurea Montana
Common Name: Perennial Cornflower
Perennial Zones : 4-9
Grows 24" x 24"

This plant produces one of the most interesting flowers in the garden. It is trouble free and easy to grow. 2-3" thistle like (but not prickly !)violet-blue flowers appear mostly from May -July but sometimes even longer. These flowers are beautiful to use in bouquets or to dry. Will grow well in any time of soil as long as the drainage is good. Plant in full sun to light shade. This plant is a vigorous grower and self-sower.
Moonbeam Coreopsis - Variety Moonbeam
Perennial Zones : 3-9
Grows 18-24" x 18"

Beautiful pale yellow,daisylike flowers bloom from June until the first frost. It has very fine ferny, threadlike foliage. This plant is not fussy. It can grow in most any soil and can even handle drought like conditions. Even though Moonbeam prefers to grow in the sun it will also do well in partial shade.
Dianthus Dianthus
Perennial Zones 3-9
Growth 8"tall x 12" wide

A small low growing, spreading perennial, available in white, pinks and reds. Plant in full sun.
Bleeding Heart Dicentra-( Dye-sen-truh)
Common names: Bleeding Heart
Perennial Zones 4-8
Grows approx. 12"-18" tall and as wide

A must for a shade garden. Popular and easy to grow Bleeding Hearts have an unique flower and fine-textured, blue-green foliage. Available in several varieties, you can find Bleeding Hearts in shades of red or pink and also in white. In late spring and early summer heart shaped flowers will appear on long branching arches. Some varieties have a long blooming period while others last only a short time and naturally die back and go dormant by midsummer. Because of this it is wise to plant another plant nearby so that it will fill in the space when the bleeding heart has finished blooming. Partial to full shade. Rich, moist but well drained soil.
Bishop's Hat Epimedium 'Crimson'
Common Name: Bishop's Hat
Perennial Zones 5-8
Grows 8"-10" tall

Light pink, tiny clusters of "bishop's hats" on wiry stems. Blooms 2-4 weeks. Grows 12" wide. Likes light shade and a rich, moist, well-drained, somewhat acid soil. Like lots of organic matter and mulch. Use for groundcover, border, edger or in rock garden. Divide in late summer. Are among the choices for "Collector's Plants".
Echinacea Echinacea
Common name: Coneflower
Perennial Zones 3-9
Grows up to 36"
Clump forming plants with a daisy like flower. Coneflowers come in a variety of purples,pinks and whites. They thrive in full sun and bloom for a long period of time in mid to late summer. This perennial is very easy to grow and will multiply.
Echinops Echinops
Common name: Globe Thistle
Perennial Zones 4-9
Grows to 60" high x 36" wide
Not your common roadside thistle, almost everything about this plant is unique. Its foliage consists of deeply cut lances that end in thistly looking spines. (don't worry they are really not as prickly as they sound) In June or early July perfectly round 2-3" flower balls will appear. These steel-blue flowers will continue to bloom for a couple of months. Plant in full sun.
Snowdrop Galanthus Elwesii
Common Name: Snowdrop
Perennial Zones 3-8
Grows 6"-8" tall

Bulb. Narrow, upright, linear straps. Blooms 8 weeks. Grows about 4" wide. Prefers shade to part shade and a rich, moist, well-drained soil. Use in rock gardens and a woodland shade border. Easy to care for. Goes dormant in summer.
Blanket Flower Gaillardia
Common Name: Blanket Flower
Perennial Zones: 3-9
Growth 12"x12-18"

This perennial is easy to grow, a super long bloomer and incredibly colorful. The 'Goblin' variety (most common variety) has 3-4' flowers with dark purplish maroon centers and ray petals of rich red tipped with bright golden yellow. The flowers begin to open in June and continue up until the frost comes. If you want a colorful long blooming plant Gailardia is an excellent choice.
Lenton Rose Helleborus (hel-luh-bor-us)
Common names: Hellobore,Christmas rose, Lenten rose
Perennial Zones 4-9
Grows approx. 12-18 inches high depending on variety

The Hellobore provides gardeners with one of the first signs that winter will truly end. Depending on the climate Hellobores can start blooming as early as mid-winter and can continue for up to a month or more, withstanding freezing temperatures and snow. Although one common name is Lenton rose, Hellebores are not part of the rose family and in fact are part of the buttercup family. One can find the cup-shaped flowers in green, white, pinks, and dusty red-purples. Hellobores will grow best if they are in full sun in the winter and shade in the summer. Because of this it is best to plant them under deciduous (no leaves in winter) trees and shrubs, or among large leafed perennials. They prefer moist but well drained soil and should be mulched in summer to keep soil moist and in winter for protection.
Hemoracallis Hemoracallis
Common name: Day Lily
Perennial Zone 3

Individual blooms last only for a day , but are borne in great numbers on strong stems above grassy foliage. Many varieties bloom for long periods of time throughout the growing season. Available in many colors, Churchill Gardens has over 25 varieties of daylilies.
Coral Bells Heuchera
Common Name: Coral Bells
Perennial Zones: 4-9
Growth- up to 18"x 18"

Heuchera may be found in many different varieties. Most of them grow in a mounding form and are more well known for their foliage than their flowers.

One outstanding variety is 'Purple Palace'. This plant has dark purple metallic leaves that show many different colors in the sunlight. The plant forms mounds of 4"maple to grape like leaves, in summer, small whitish flowers appear on tall thin stems above the foliage. The other great thing about this plant is that it can grow in full sun or partial shade.
Primrose Iberis sempervirens- (eye-beer-is)
Common name: Candytuft
Perennial Zones 4-9
Grows 8" high

Candytuft produces dense mounds and cascades of petite,long-lasting, fragrant white flowers throughout the spring. This very dependable plant remains attractive throughout the year with its fine-textured, evergreen foliage. Candytuft works well when used in the front of a border or on rock walls. Full sun.
john cabot John Cabot Rose
Climbing rose
Zones 3-7

2-3" double red, fragrant blossoms bloom freely from June-July. The dark green foliage has Excellent disease resistance. With pruning, this extremely hardy climbing rose can also be grown as a bush rose. As a climber height will reach to 5-6'.
john cabot Juniperus Horizontalis 'Wiltoni'
Common name: Blue Rug Juniper
Ground Cover
Zones 3-10

With a moderate growth rate Blue rug juniper will spread horizontal branches 10' in 10-15 years, matures to 12-16' across and approx. 6" high. Evergreen silvery blue foliage. Will grow in most any soil, in full sun and pruning is rarely needed. Great for rock gardens and slopes.
Russian Sage Ligularia
Perennial Zones 5-9

This striking plant is native to China and Japan. It's huge leaves are topped by brilliant yellow spikes in late summer. Plant in moist soil in shade. For best display plant in groups.
Pincushion Filipendula
Common name: Meadowsweet
Perennial Zones 4-9
Grows 4-5'

A great choice for the side of a water garden. Meadowsweet thrives in any damp location receiving full sun or part shade. A massive stand of dark green leaves is complemented by flower clusters in early to late summer.Currently at the nursery we have several varieties a pink that may grow as high as 5 ft., another pink that will reach about 48" and a white that is only 15" tall.
Russian Sage Perovskia Atriplicifolia
Common name: Russian Sage
Perennial Zones 5-9
Grows 3-5'

Shrubby perennial with gray-green leaves and airy sprays of tiny blue flowers. The most common variety grows 3-5' tall , a smaller version 'Little Spires' grows to only to about 25". Plant your Russian sage in full sun.
Primrose Primula (prim-yew-lah)
Common name: Primrose
Perennial Zones 3-8
Grows 6-8 inches tall and as wide

Springs little burst of color ! Although tiny the primrose can add a great deal of color to your spring garden. Available in many colors such as red, yellow, purple and pink the primrose is a darling plant. Growing requirement will vary among varieties but for the most part primrose will grow well with partial sun and moist but well drained soil.
Paeonia Stokesia
Common name: Stokes Aster
Perennial Zones 5-8
Grows 12-15"

A wonderful addition to any garden. This plant is heat and drought tolerant and thrives in full sun. It's very large flowers that appear from summer through autumn are excellent for cutting. This year at the garden center we have stokes aster in blue, yellow and white.