Are you excited to get your garden growing but don’t know where to start? Below are 10 perennials that are ideal for the northeast’s sometimes fickle weather!
| Name | Color | Grow Zone | Soil Needs | Exposure | Other Notes |
Astilbe | Pink purple white | 4 to 8 | dry to medium moisture well drained | Full sun to part shade | blooms once does not require deadheading does better with afternoon shade |
| Spiked Speedwell | blue pink & white cultivars Purple | 3 to 8 | Medium moisture well-drained | full sun | Grows 1-3 feet high cut back flower stalks for repeat bloom divide ever 3 years |
| Coral Bells | coral or pink flowers foliage is bronze, green or yellow. | 4 to 8 | moist rich well-drained neutral – slightly acidic pH | Full sun-part shade. The leaf color can be washed out with heavy sun. | Grows 12-18 inches high Mulch after ground freezes to protect the crowns. |
| Bleeding Heart | Pink red white | 2 to 9 | Average Well-drained soil | Part to Full shade | Blooms once Stays in flower Can’t handle the hot summers Deadhead to get repeat flowering Divide ever 4-5 years |
| Cranesbill Geraniums | Pale to Dark Purple or Pink | 4 to 8 | Average neutral – slightly acidic pH | Full sun – Part shade | Grow 9″ to 2′ Divide every 6-8 years |
| Catmint | Lilac – Violet | 4 to 8 | Average dry – medium moisture well-drained | Full sun | Grows 18″ Shear back after it blooms for repeat bloom |
| Columbine | blue pink purple salmon white yellow | 2 to 9 | Average slightly acidic Will adapt to any soil | Full sun – part shade | drought tolerant once established divide every decade or so |
| Russian Sage | blue lavender | 4 to 9 | Average dry – Medium Moisture | Full sun | Hard prune in Spring when buds start breaking. Divide every 4-6 years Entire plants will not transplant well. |
| Daylily | Come in all colors, including bicolors. | 3 to 9 | Average slight acidic pH will tolerate any soil | Full sun – part shade | Cut back flower stems to get reblooms if you have reblooming variety |
| Peonies | bi-colors pink purple red white | 3-8 | Average well-draining | Full sun – part shade | Plant with good circulation of air to ensure the leaves don’t remain wet. |
Please feel free to comment. We’re always glad to hear from our readers! Thanks for taking the time to read.
