Top 5 perennials in my garden    (of over 150 that I have)

There's so many perennials out there, it takes years and lots of money to try them and decide the best that a home-owner should keep on his limited space around his home. I can simplify that for you and recommend a few that I just adore and are so beautiful and easy to grow in northern zones 3-6.

Feel free to click on the images below to see a full photo slideshow of these beautiful flowers.

5.  Columbine "Origami" Blue&White"


 This one is definitely a winner, with beautiful blue and white flowers, long multiple summer blooms, no preferences of light requirements. It's a shade loving plant but I have it in full sun and it does very well. I deadhead it after blooming and after few weeks it re-blooms like you see it in the pictures. Most Columbines have smaller flowers that hang down, this one really shines with it's blooms up toward the sky. Very easy overwintering, does not need any winter protection.









4. Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ (Hardy hibiscus)    

Wow, what a wonderful addition to any flower garden. Huge blooms and big dark red leaves that looks even better than tropical hibiscus, a must have.

I purchased this one in fall of 2009, was just a bare stick at liquidation price and now grows to 5ft tall full of huge flowers. It only wakes up in May but put a vigorous growth until mid July when it starts blooming and it doesn't stop until frost.

3. Bee Balm Monarda 'Peter's Purple'  


Very easy to maintain, like put it in the ground and forget about it. Does well in full sun or part sun. Very hardy plant. Beautiful summer colour and well behaved mounding growth. This one in the picture I just started one year ago from a cutting and now is a nice bush. This one I also deadhead to encourage second blooming.



2. Echinacea purpurea 'Razzmatazz'

Everybody loves echinacea flowers or coneflowers but this particular one is the best one, eye catching, not very tall, super long lasting blooms, does well in full sun and in partial shaded areas. It starts as single flowers and after two weeks develops these lovely double pinks. Flowers for more than a month. It should be fertilized in the spring or just add some compost..





1. Hydrangea "Endless Summer" Blue

Blue flowers are my favourite and there's none better than blue hydrangea. I can stare at this for hours!!!
Soo beautiful, not attacked by insects and disease resistant. Likes partial shade but tolerates sunny spots too. When this is in bloom your garden wow factor will be at the highest possible level. You have to keep your soil acidic in order to maintain the blue colour, if your soil is alkaline the flowers will change to purple or pink. There's lots of info on the web on how to acidify your soil like adding Aluminum sulfate,
cofee grounds, banana peels, peat moss or aluminum pieces to your soil. With a bit of work you'll be rewarded with the purest shade of blue like in my first picture.










Do you have any others that you just love in your garden and you think it should make it to this list?
You can add your recommendations and thoughts below.