In designing with plants, it is the perennials that ensure that there is constant change, and that there is always an element of surprise or interest in the garden.
Getting to know the dormant and flowering periods of the plants is essential to achieving the right balance in the design, so that as one perennial goes to sleep, another awakens.


Perennials, perhaps more than any other group of plants, are available in a huge range of colours, forms, textures and fragrances in both foliage and flower. There are perennials suitable for almost every area of the garden: from full sun to full shade, in large gardens or small beds and to suit every mood or style. Popular perennial plants include Penstemon, Gaura, Canna, Dahlias, Salvias, Lupins, Columbines, Lilies, Delphiniums and Hellebores - oh! the list is endless.

A perennial plant (Latin per, "through", annum, "year") is a plant that lives for more than two years, unlike an Annual which grows, sets seed, gayly disperses it and then dies - all in a single season. Perennial plants are divided into two large groups: those that are woody and those that are herbaceous. They can be short-lived (only a few years) or they can be long-lived, and can vary in size from only a few millimeters to over 10 meters tall. They include a wide assortment of plant groups from Ferns to the highly diverse flowering plants like Orchids and Ornamental Grasses.


Perennials typically grow structures that allow them to adapt to living from one year to the next. These structures include bulbs, tubers, woody crowns, rhizomes plus others. They might have specialized stems or crowns that allow them to survive periods of dormancy over cold or dry seasons during the year. Many perennials have adapted to survive under extreme environmental conditions: some can survive hot dry conditions, or cold temperatures. These plants tend to invest a lot of resource into their adaptations and often do not flower and set seed until after a few years of growth.



Many perennials produce relatively large seeds, which can have an advantage as they produce larger seedlings after germination that can better compete with other plants or more quickly develop leaves, ensuring their survival.

In warmer climates, perennials grow continuously. In seasonal climates, their growth is limited to the growing season. For example, in temperate regions a perennial plant may grow and bloom during the warm part of the year, with the foliage dying back in the winter. These plants are deciduous perennials. Regrowth is from existing stem tissue. In some species, perennials retain their foliage all year round; these are evergreen perennials. Come in and take a look around. We've always got something pretty, perky and persuasive in the perennial line.

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aka Lily of the Nile

Here's something a little different - a variegated Agapanthus. Striking foliage of cream and green combines well with very pretty sky blue flowers. A sterile form that will not seed "willy-nilly". Forms a compact clump, looks great planted in groups of 3 or more. Summer flowering Evergreen.

 

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Large, silvery white leaves lightly veined in green. This vigorous variety has thicker, non-melting leaves that stand up well to heat and humidity. Loose clusters of tiny blue flowers float above the foliage in spring. Brunnera prefer well drained, moist soil enriched with organic matter. Perennial

Use Brunnera to add interest under deciduous trees or shrubs. The leaves are quite large and bold when mature. Just a little bit different.

 

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A succession of red tubular blooms that end in a purple bat-like 'face' are topped by a pair of glowing red 'ears' creating the interesting 'bat face' look. This is a tough and reliable low mounding perennial which blooms from late spring to frost. Great for Hummingbirds, mixed containers, and in mass plantings. Enjoy!

 

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Excellent Silver leaved plant for hanging Baskets., groundcover or in a pot mixture. A vigorous cascading grower that performs best in full sun position being very drought and heat tolerant recovering quickly if wilting occurs. Expect a long season with this beauty.

 

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aka Mat Rusher

This Aussie perennial is ideal for group planting in sun or part shade. Fine needles of lime-green foliage form an attractive clump and look good all year round. Little stems of yellow fragrant flowers in summer. Tolerates poor soil but likes good drainage. Easy to grow. Evergreen.