In contrast to annual summer flowers, hardy perennials beautify the garden bed for several years. There are many varieties that are also comfortable in sunny locations and thrive and bloom profusely there.
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Columbine(Aquilegia)
Columbines belong to the buttercup family and develop in unusual flower shapes. That is why the plants have many strange names in popular parlance, including elf glove, fool's cap, dove flower, Venus chariot and gypsy bell. The colorful perennial provides attractive cut flowers for wildflower bouquets in early summer. With the small-stature varieties, cultivation is also possible in small-format gardens.
- Both tall varieties and dwarf forms
- Height of growth from 15 to 90 cm, depending on the variety
- Flower colors are blue, blue-violet, blue-white, yellow, red and white
- Flowering time from May to July
- Cut back after the first flowering leads to late summer re-flowering
- Soils rich in nutrients, fresh and humus
- Pay attention to well-drained qualities, avoid waterlogging
- Popular varieties are Blue Star, Jewel White, Nora Barlow, and William Guiness
Scented nettle(Agastache)
The scented nettle belongs to the mint family and forms pretty flower candles. The plant beguiles with a fresh scent and convinces with a very long flowering time. The flowers attract numerous insects, including the busy bees. Both the flowers and leaves are edible and have an aniseed and minty flavor. In addition, the herbaceous plant is relatively easy to care for and robust against diseases and pests.
- Herbaceous and clump-forming growth
- Height from 30 to 50 cm, tall varieties up to 150 cm
- Forms white, pink and blue-violet flower colors
- Flowering period from June to September
- Well drained, nutrient-rich and not too moist soils
- A sandy and slightly dry substrate is ideal
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- Needs additional winter protection in severe frosts
Flame flowers(Phlox)
Flame flowers are classic perennials for the cottage garden and belong to the poultry family. The plants bloom colorfully and tirelessly, and they also spread a summery scent. This scent note is most noticeable on hot days and in the evening hours. To select
There are early, medium and late flowering varieties in many different colors that can be planted in combination. If you cut back after the first flowering, the plants will bloom again.
- Growth height from 70 to 100 cm
- Blue, pink, red, purple, and white flowers
- Mixed-colored flowers are possible depending on the variety
- Flowering time from July to September
- Humus-rich, deep and moist loamy soil is ideal
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- Fertilize in spring with compost or horn meal for abundant flowering
- Popular varieties are Blue Paradise, Hohe, and Meadow Flame Flower
Chamois(Doronicum)
The Gemswurz is an abundantly flowering perennial whose flowers are similar to daisies. The small-stature varieties fit well in the front areas of the garden beds and bloom early in spring. The perennials are also very popular with bees and are suitable as cut flowers for the vase.
- Upright and clumpy growth
- Reaches heights of 15 to 60 cm
- Yellow and radial flowers
- Flowering time is from April to May
- Well-drained, sandy-loamy and fresh soils are ideal
- Lime-compatible perennial plant
- Substrate must never dry out, but avoid waterlogging
- Popular varieties are Austrian Gemswurz and Gemswurz Magnificum
- Synonyms: chamois and chamois
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Cockade flower(Gaillardia)
Cockade flowers come from the sunflower family and are tirelessly blooming plants. The summer flowers show their colorful blooms for many months in the gardening season. Not only the garden owner is happy about this, but also insects when foraging for food. The garden perennials form their leaf rosettes directly above the ground, from which the flower stalks protrude.
- Upright, bushy and dense growth
- Reaches heights of 15 to 75 cm, depending on the variety
- Multi-colored flowers in yellow, orange and red
- Flowering time from July to October
- Moderately dry to fresh soils
- Weakly alkaline to weakly acidic pH
- Nutrient-rich and humus-rich substrate, loves lime
- Heavy pruning required in autumn as winter protection
- Popular varieties are Bremen, Fanfare, Goldkobold, Tizzy and Tokajer
lupine
(Lupinus)Lupins belong to the family of the butterflies and are an ornament for every garden due to their bright colors. Each plant bears several of the showy flower stems. A second pile is promoted by pruning back after the first flowering. In addition, the protein-rich plant is also edible.
- Height from 80 to 100 cm
- Flowering period from June to August
- Flowers in yellow, pink, red, purple and white
- Depending on the variety, two-tone variants are also possible
- Sandy, poor and moderately nutrient-rich soils are ideal
- Pay attention to permeable and low-lime qualities
- Do not tolerate waterlogging, create drainage
- Popular varieties are yellow, narrow-leaved, many-leaved, and white lupins
Girl's eye(Coreopsis)
The girls' eyes are also called beautiful faces and originally come from North and South America. The heat-loving perennial is known for its abundance of flowers and forms perennial flowers. In addition, the different varieties of the permanent bloom shine in beautiful colors in the garden.
- Upright to bushy growth
- Heights vary between 10 and 80 cm
- Golden yellow and wheel-shaped flowers are traditionally used
- New varieties with red, pink and white tones
- Very long flowering period from June to October
- Need looser, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil
- Cannot stand waterlogging, but can cope with dry phases
- Popular varieties are Large-Flowered Girl's Eye and Early Sunrise
Palm lily(Yucca filamentosa)
The palm lily is also known as garden yucca and belongs to the agave family. Due to the imposing inflorescences, the plant appears exotic and gives the garden bed a Mediterranean flair. The attractive solitary shrub has strong growth in width, which is why it needs sufficient space in the selected location. Otherwise the plant is quite undemanding and thrives on almost all soils without any problems.
- Clump-forming growth with palm-like tufts of leaves
- Reaches heights of growth of 80 cm to 200 cm
- Makes creamy white and bell-shaped flowers
- Flowering time from July to September
- Stony to loamy soils, dry to moderately dry
- Alkaline, neutral or slightly acidic pH
- A nutrient-rich substrate is ideal, tolerates lime
- Fertilize in spring, cut back after flowering
- Popular varieties are Bright Edge, Polar Bear, and Bell Bush
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delphinium(Delphinium)
Larkspurs are among the best known garden perennials in the local latitudes. The tall plants belong to the genus of the buttercup family and form branched flower panicles, which grow on strong and hollow stems. The deeply incised leaves are also typical of the plants. Unfortunately, lark spurs are susceptible to powdery mildew, and they must be protected from voracious snails when they emerge.
- Upright and slender growth
- Reach heights of growth of 120 to 180 cm
- Flowers light to dark blue or purple, sometimes white
- Well-tried variety shines in gentian blue
- Flowering period from June to September
- Cutting back after the main flowering stimulates secondary flowering
- Loamy, nutrient-rich and fresh soils are ideal
- Popular varieties are Atlantis, Ball Gown, Piccolo and Peace of Nations
Rose Forest Master
(Phuopsis stylosa)The rose woodruff is related to the local woodruff and belongs to the reddish family. It is a free-flowering upholstery shrub that covers the ground and enchants with its herbaceous scented flower balls. In addition, the plant is very easy to care for, but it is not suitable for consumption. In order for the clumps to sprout vigorously and grow more compactly, pruning is advisable at the beginning of spring and immediately after flowering.
- Upright growth, forms clumps and carpets
- Reaches heights of 15 to 30 cm
- The flower color is reddish to pink
- Flowering period from June to August
- Fresh, sandy to loamy soils
- Alkaline to slightly acidic pH
- A humus-rich substrate with lime content is ideal
- Attractive varieties are Purpurglut and Roseum
Gypsophila(Gypsophila)
The gypsophila comes from the carnation family and is very popular in the local latitudes thanks to the large number of star flowers. It fits very well in a cottage garden or as a neighboring plant in the rose bed. The graceful plant looks very delicate, but the gypsophila is tough and robust. The perennial is hardy, but needs additional frost protection in winter and must not be too wet, otherwise the deep roots will start to rot.
- Cut perennial with a spherical habit
- Reaches heights of 25 to 90 cm, depending on the variety
- Predominantly white, sometimes pink flowers
- Flowering period from June to September
- Well drained, humus rich and loose soils
- A nutrient-poor, sandy and moderately dry substrate is ideal
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs, create drainage
- Perennial varieties are flamingo and carpet gypsophila
Hollyhock(Alcea)
The hollyhocks belong to the mallow family and originally come from the Mediterranean region. They have long been known as useful plants for medicinal purposes and are used to color foods. Although hollyhocks are perennial and hardy perennials, they exhaust themselves very much during flowering. That is why the blooms visibly decrease from year to year. Continuous rejuvenation is possible with sowing after flowering.
- Upright growth, produces rosettes
- Growth heights of up to 200 cm possible
- Yellow, orange, red, pink, purple and white flowers
- Flowering time from July to September
- Dry to moderately moist soils
- A substrate rich in humus and nutrients is ideal
- Neutral pH, tolerates lime
- Protect extremely long flower stems with a sturdy rod
- The common hollyhock is widespread (Alcea rosea)
Lemon thyme(Thymus citridorus)
In the case of lemon thyme, the name already indicates its properties and characteristics. Both the leaves and the flowers exude a strong aromatic citrus scent, they also taste fruity and fresh. This is why this perennial enriches every kitchen garden and has a wide range of uses in the kitchen, both for the preparation of food and drinks.
- Dense bushy growth, forming clumps
- Growth height of 20 to 30 cm
- Violet to pink flowers, very fragrant
- Flowering period from June to August
- Sandy to loamy soils, dry to moderately dry
- Only moderately nutrient-rich substrate
- An alkaline to neutral pH value is ideal, loves lime
- Fits well in herb and rock gardens