PERENNIALS PRETTY UP YOUR PATIO
These versatile, hardy plants are simple to maintain and offer beautiful colour all year
As we move into summer, perennials should be playing centre stage in our gardens and on our patios.
We spend more time at home during the summer enjoying our outdoor spaces, and the colour and diversity of perennials can add a sophisticated touch to our gardens that few other plants can match.
The current fascination with perennials has engaged gardeners of all demographics, and Gary Lewis, our B.C. perennial guru and owner of Phoenix Perennials in Richmond, believes there are many reasons why.
Lewis says the most significant factor is the incredible diversity. Perennials are multi-seasonal, providing a succession of colour from very early in the year until heavy frost, and their hardiness and tolerance of so many difficult situations means perennials can be enjoyed right across Canada.
Today, there’s great concern about the well-being of pollinators, and our perennial gardens can be part of the solution. By creating a habitat of diverse plants that provide pollen and nectar, we can help more than 80 local bee species. Butterflies and birds also benefit from a well blended perennial garden that spans three seasons.
The old cottage garden look is the first image that comes to mind when thinking about this amazing family of plants. Lewis says the romance of cottage gardening is very strong, but folks are beginning to look for updated versions of these old favourites. They are wanting gardens that feature newer, better performing and more disease- and pesttolerant varieties. Lupines, irises and hollyhocks are just some of the plants providing renewed opportunities. ‘West Country’ lupines, for example, are a recent introduction, and they provide some very unique colour combinations on each plant. The old-fashioned look of hollyhocks (alcea) has been rejuvenated by new varieties like the ‘Snazzy’ and ‘Halo’ series that offer great blossom diversity and bi-colour flowers. Baptisia is making a comeback, perhaps because it has a lupin-like appearance, great foliage, and it attracts bees and other pollinators.
I know they are expensive, however, Itoh peonies, with their stunning flowers, forms and colours, are a big hit — as are all peonies.
When folks spend time in their summer gardens, Lewis says they are looking for vibrant colour. Perennials, like the blue ‘Rozanne’ geraniums that bloom from June through to frost, are a great choice, as are other long-blooming geraniums like ‘Rosetta,’ ‘Lilac Ice,’ ‘Azure Rush’ and ‘Rise and Shine.’
Other long-blooming stars: Agastaches are the No. 1 bee attractors, and if cut back, they quickly rebloom. Rudbeckias, like ‘Little Gold Star’ and ‘Viette’s Little Suzy,’ add a uniqueness to this large family.
Some of the new coreopsis, like the ‘Big Bang ’ series, have attractive bi-colour blooms. I particularly love the reds, like ‘Mercury Rising’ and ‘Red Elf.’
Lavenders are particularly hot right now, not only because of their old-fashioned charm and the historical use of their oils, but also because they are wonderful plants for pollinators. The perfume is also a huge sensory factor. Often growing quite large, Lewis said that by growing lavenders in well-drained but poor soils, they will stay more compact.
English lavenders are hardy, and some of the very small varieties, like ‘Thumbelina Leigh,’ are far more compact. I like the ‘Elegance’ series of lavender, especially the beautiful white varieties. The stoechas varieties are not hardy, but they produce beautiful elongated flowers all summer and are ideal in containers.
Echinaceas are old-fashioned favourites and are great bird and bee-friendly plants, but some have problems overwintering them.
Lewis says he plants echinaceas in well-drained but not richly composted soils near a brick pathway, and has been very successful. Much like peonies, echinaceas need an open, porous soil that is not loaded with rich organic matter. He also recommends that when purchasing echinaceas they are well-established.
How important is perennial foliage? Says Lewis: “Very. Especially in the shoulder season when colour is harder to achieve. Hardy succulents are very much in demand, and they provide colour in the dark months. I’m particularly impressed with the new ‘Chick Charms’ series that includes a golden sempervivum called ‘Gold Nugget.’ It’s brighter and more vibrant in cooler weather. Coral bells are getting better and better with new foliage colours and rust resistance. They, too, prefer well-drained, not too rich soils.”
Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’) is everyone’s favourite, but in B.C.’s winters, it’s an annual, not a perennial. Grasses with a touch of red are still sought after. Japanese blood grass, with its splash of crimson, is, perhaps, the most well-known red perennial grass, but miscanthus ‘Little Miss,’ panicum ‘Hot Rod,’ and panicum ‘Shenandoah,’ as well as pennisetum ‘Burgundy Bunny,’ all have a touch of this same vibrant colouring.
What about combining perennials? “We have huge pots at our garden store showing folks just how beautiful perennial combinations can be. We also have ‘recipes’ for our customers to create their own. Perennial combinations are becoming a huge trend,” Lewis says.
In today’s small space realities, is there a place for tall perennials?
“You bet,” Lewis says. “Sometimes they can be used as screens for privacy, but most often they are used to create a stately look of elegance. Tall grasses are wonderful, and tall Rudbeckia triloba and R. maxima are unique looking and quite beautiful. Delphiniums, too, just never fall out of favour.”
What about the use of neonicotinoids for insect control and their potential harm to bees?
“It’s a very complex issue that scientists are still looking at, but we do not use them in our growing,” Lewis says.
“I have checked with our suppliers of plugs and starter plants, and they confirm their non-use of neonicotinoids. The industry is trending in the right direction, but I don’t think anyone can say they are 100 per cent free of these products. In my opinion the use of neonicotinoids is minimal.”
Even though we are moving into the summer heat, it’s not too late to plant perennials. Most garden stores are now showcasing the summer-blooming varieties, so this is a great time to visit to see the wide range of colours and varieties. Because the perennials will be in containers, all you have to do is transition them into good soil, water them well and keep them moist until the roots push out and start growing.
Established perennial plants are easy to maintain with minimal watering, even during times of water restrictions. Soaker hoses are ideal for getting water to the roots where it is needed most.
I share Lewis’ enthusiasm for these wonderfully versatile plants.
He does a great deal to inspire others to add the beauty of perennials to their gardens. Planted now, they will colour up your summer garden this year and for many years to come.