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Perennials can be colorful and showy like annuals, but they are generally a more permanent plants in the garden, providing beauty for years. Like annuals though, they can be more high-maintenance in the landscape.
Perennial plants live for three years or longer, and do not die after flowering and setting seed, like annuals and biennials do.
“Perennial” is used as an abbreviation for “hardy, herbaceous perennial”—group of non-woody, hardy plants grown for attractive flowers and foliage.
Some perennials will go dormant and disappear from the garden during winter, while others will be evergreen.
Successful perennials in Texas must be able to withstand summer heat, humidity, rain/lack of rain, and diseases that may occur. Do not plant perennials recommended in books for other parts of the country that wont thrive in the Texas climate.
PLANNING THE PERENNIAL GARDEN
Gardening with perennials is interesting, exciting, and fun—especially after you have become more experienced. Learning and careful planning is required for best results when utilizing perennials.
Bloom seasons and length of blooms will depend on the variety of perennials. Some will bloom over many seasons while others for just a few weeks.
Utilizing perennial varieties that bloom at different times will keep the garden interesting through much of the year.
Important Questions When Planting Perennials
What species or cultivars are best fro Texas?
How tall will the plants grow?
What colors are the flowers?
What light conditions does the plant prefer—full or part sun, part shade or shade?
Do they need excellent drainage?
Are they evergreen?
If they go dormant—when?
How fast will they spread?
With planning, perennials can be used make the landscape stand out in a variety of ways.
Perennials borders or mixed borders (can include annuals, bulbs, shrubs, and small trees)
Tucked among pockets of shrubs, brightening the area up when shrubs are not in bloom.
Container specimens to add focal points.
PLANTING & TRANSPLANTING
Proper bed preparation is the first step to planting perennials for success:
Remove weeds and other unwanted plants from the garden bed. Weeds and plants may be eliminated with a non-selective weed-control. Wait proper amount of time as listed on weed control if planting.
Till and turn the soil to a depth of at lest 8 to 12 inches.
Spread a 4-inch layer of compost, aged manure, rotted leaves, finely ground pine bark, or sphagnum peat over the bed. If needed, add sand, lime, or sulfur during this stage. Test soil through county extension office if you wish to know more about your soil fertility.
Blend amendments thoroughly into the top 4 to 6 inches, rake smooth, and begin planting.
Perennials are generally planted using transplants or divisions, but seeds can work too with patience.
Spring- and early-summer flowering perennials are generally planted October through early December
Late summer- or fall-flowering perennials planted from February through April, or in fall.
Perennials can be planted throughout winter when the weather is mild, especially in south Texas.
PLANTING TRANSPLANTS
Space perennial plants as listed on the label, references, or local guides. Most perennials grow much larger than the transplant, so do not crowd them.
Plant transplants, keeping the top of the rootball slightly above or even with the soil. Many perennials rot if planted too deeply. Tightly packed roots should be separated before planting. Place a slow-release granular fertilizer in the planting hole. Firm soil around the plant once finished planting.
Water in new transplant according to needs. Root stimulator may be applied according to label.
Mulch bed 3 to 4 inches deep to help control weeds.
Some perennials can be easily grown from seed. Generally planted directly into garden beds or outdoor containers. Plant after frost or freeze danger and enough time to establish before winter—April through August.
CARING FOR PERENNIALS
Perennial garden beds require fertilizing, watering, grooming, staking, dividing, cutting back, transplanting, weeding, and mulching. It’s best not to plant more perennial than time allows for.
WATERING
Watering is essential to the success of newly planted perennials, especially during dry, hot summer weather. Water plants deeply and slow over a period of time for best absorption. Sprinklers can be used, but they may damage flowers and promote leaf diseases. Soaker or Drip hoses are best for garden beds. Mulch layered 3 to 4 inches thick conserve moisture and reduce irrigation in perennial beds.
FERTILIZATION
Before planting, apply a small amount of granular fertilizing to the planting hole. Follow label directions. During the growing season, established perennials can be fertilized in March or early April and again in early Fall. A light fertilizer application may be made in Mid- to late Spring to provide a boost through the summer, but don’t overdo this application though. It can be best to use an organic fertilizer in mid- to late spring to prevent burning. Spread fertilizer granules throughout the garden bed every, being sure to water into the soil well, and washing the granulx ecces off the plant foliage to prevent leaf damage. Use high-quality granular fertilizer that is for roses or multi-purpose with a 3:2:1 ratio (including 15-5-10, 21-7-14 and 18-6-12). It is best not to fertilize when temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause excess stress on a plant.
PEST CONTROL
Pest control may be needed with perennial gardening. Planting tough, well-adapted perennial plants will reduce pest problems.
Make sure to read pest control aid directions before use.
Caterpillars will damage plants by chewing holes in leaves.
Whiteflies are more difficult insects to control, more-so in mid- to late- summer when populations are at their peak. Adults are small, snow-white flies; larvae appear as small disks under leaves.
Aphids group on flower buds and new growth, sucking sap from the plant. Fairly easy to control may return, requiring additional pest control applications.
Sucking insets such as leaf hoppers, thrips, and plant bugs cause small white specks that appear on foliage of perennials—damage is generally cosmetic, but extensive damage can weaken the plant.
Spider Mites can devastate plants, mostly during hot, dry weather.
Slugs and Snails will feed on hostas and other succulent-leaved plants in shady areas. Use baits to control according to label directions.
Perennials that are well-adapted and planted in the correct locations generally have little disease problems. Leaf spots caused by powdery milden and fungi will occur sometimes and can be treated with fungus control aids. Crown and root rot can occur with improper drainage, when it rains excessively, or when a plant is not well-adapted to the Texas climate.
PERENNIAL QUICK LISTS
SUN-TOLERANT PERENNIALS
Amaryllis, Hardy
Artemisia, Powis Castle
Canna
Chyrsanthemum
Daylily
Fall Aster
Gloriosa Daisy
Grasses, Ornamental
Hibiscus (mallows)
Iris
Pinks
Purple Coneflower
Purple Heart
Red Yucca
Rock Rose
Salvias
Sedums
Shasta Daisy
Thrift
Yarrow
SHADE-TOLERANT PERENNIALS
Columbine
Fern, Autumn
Fern, Japanese Holly
Fern, Southern Wood
Four O’clocks
Gingers
Hellebores
Hostas
Leopard Plant
Oxalis
Oxblood Lily
Resurrection Lily
Sprider Lily
Summer Phlox
Summer Snowflake
Spiderwort
Sweet Violet
Umbrella Plant (paper plant)
BEST FOLIAGE PERENNIALS
Artemisia, Powis Castle
Elephant Ears
Fern, Autumn
Fern, Japanese Holly
Fern, Southern Wood
Grass, Dwarf Fountain
Grass, Maiden
Grass, Mexican Feather
Grass, Gulf Muhly
Hostas
Lamb’s Ear
Leopard Plant
Purple Heart
Umbrella Plant (paper plant)
PERENNIAL EXPANDED LIST
Agapanthus
Anisacanthus
Bee Balm
Black-Eyed Susan, Perennial
Daisies
Blue Plumbago
Bouncing Bet
Butterfly Weed
Blazing Star
Candytuft
Canna
Catmint
Chrysanthemum
Firecracker / Cigar Plant
Columbine
Coneflowers
Coreposis
Daylilies
Dusty Miller
Echinacea; Conflower
Fall Aster
Four O’clocks
Gaillardia
Garden Mum
Gaura
Gayfeather
Gingers
Goldenrod
Gregg’s Mist Flower
Hellebores, Lenten Rose
Hibiscus, Hardy
Hosta
Hypericum; St. John’s Wort
Iris, Bearded
Iris, Lousiana
Jerusalem Sage
Lavender
Liigularia
Mexican Mint Marigold
Mexican Oregano
Mexican Petunia
Mexican Tarragon
Obedient Plant
Primrose
Pincushion Flower
Red-Hot Poker
Rock Rose
Penstemon
Phlox, Louisiana
Phlox, Summer
Pincushion Flowers
Dianthus; Pinks
Pride-of-Barbados, Red Bird of Paradise
Purple Coneflower
Purple Loosestrife
Red Hot Poker
Red Yucca
Russian Sage
Salvia, Anise
Salvia, Autumn Sage
Salvia, Henry and Augusta Duelberg
Salvia, Indigo Spires
Salvia, Mexican Bush
Showy Stonecrop
Sedum
Shasta Daisy
Skullcap
Sweedwell
Spiderwort
Southernwood / Artemisia
Sundrop
Thrift
Turk’s Cap
Verbena, Perennial
Veronica
Violet, Sweet
Yarrow
Zexmenia