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Perennial Plants Benefits In Landscaping

Beautifying a residential landscape involves investing your time and labor into gardens. Many homeowners select flowering perennial plants because of their colorful blooms and significant return on investment. Every day people with a green thumb enjoy the year-after-year benefits with only modest maintenance and care.

One of the commonly used strategies involves integrating plants that flower at different times. Conventional wisdom revolves around having some color at any given time. But what if you could build on that success by planning combinations of flowering perennial plants that paint your property like a masterpiece for entire seasons? If that idea sounds rewarding, it may be in your best interest to re-imagine spaces where flowers enhance the aesthetic value of your property.

Strategically Rethink Spring Flowering Perennial Plants

Too many homeowners rely on annuals to provide a quick color solution to front yards when the weather breaks. Buying annuals offer no return on investment value and require repetitive time and effort. If you are like many who prefer to sip a warm morning beverage and enjoy cheerful blooms each spring, employing the following flowering perennial plants may prove fruitful.

  • Virginia Bluebells: This flowering perennial plant produces delightful pastel-pink buds that evolve into iconic 1-inch lavender flowers in the shape of tiny trumpets. This native North American matures to upwards of 24 inches tall and wide and routinely attracts butterflies. It blooms early to late spring and spreads year over year.
  • Bloodroot: This flowering perennial grows to 8 inches with a 6-inch spread. Its pristine white flowers enjoy a yellow-gold center that gives the impression of a water lily. Ranked among the hearty North American native perennials, Bloodroot blooms in early to mid-spring.
  • Phlox: This colorful ground cover requires minimal care and ranks among the more popular flowering perennials to blanket the perimeter of established gardens. Phlox comes in subtle blues as well as vibrant pinks and purples. Certain varieties bloom in early spring, while others delay until summer.

Other subtle perennials that may fit with personal preferences include Foam Flower and White Violet, among others. Merging these and other perennials that reliably flower in select areas helps sidestep an uneven appearance. Coordinating unique plants with subtly contrasting colors enhances the landscape in a fashion consistent with those created by master gardeners. 

Re-Imagine Summer Flowering Perennial Plant Combinations

Although everyday people often focus on full sunlight perennial plants that bloom all summer long, diverse combinations may prove worthwhile. Some gardening enthusiasts focus on specific plants that offer eye-catching colors without necessarily providing surrounding support. That approach tends to mirror flower-pot gardening and may not maximize the potential of the grounds. By including mainstay perennial plants with some of the lesser-known options, homeowners can transform their property.

  • Black-Eyed Susan: The yellowish-orange petals contrast the dark center. Sometimes considered a coneflower, the Black-Eyed Susan usually blooms all summer long. It ranks among the go-to perennials due to its hearty nature, 36-inch mature potential, and ability to thrive. 
  • Echinacea: The Purple Coneflower also matures to 36 inches and delivers gentle petals all summer. One of the reasons this option works nicely with the Black-Eyed Susan involves its lower aggressiveness. Its yellow coneflower counterpart tends to spread voraciously. Infusing two fast spreaders results in ongoing thinning. Echinacea creates a desirable, peaceful presence.
  • Daylily: Although some like to employ the Daylily as a standalone option that can reach upwards of 36 inches, it has vast potential in more dense gardens. The classic Orange Daylily produces large flowers and reblooms when watered regularly. Other possibilities include the Red Daylily, which matures slightly less than 3 feet and offers a nuanced plant palette.
  • Dandelion: When the Dandelion pops up in lawns, homeowners usually consider it a weed. But perennial gardens benefit from low-growing plants that provide a green base and offer small flowers. The Dandelion generally fits the bill and requires zero maintenance and care. It may come as something of a surprise, but Dandelions remain part of the Daisy family.

One of the gardening tips that sometimes flies under the radar involves thin perennial plant gardens. Daisies and Black-Eyed Susan flourish quickly and tend to compete for ground space. Keeping a well-manicured flower bed with two or more of these spreaders calls for an uptick in maintenance. That’s one reason to consider complimenting one with docile options.

Creating perennial plant gardens that bloom during spring or summer enhances any property. By strategically employing combinations that bloom in unison, you can enjoy lush gardens filled with attractive flowers. If you plan flower gardens or want to retool existing ones, our TN nursery enjoys a complete inventory of perennials.

Buy Perennials Online at Tn Nursery

Few would disagree that perennial plants stand as the most cost-effective way to create a garden. They provide greenery and vibrant flowers for years without having to spend time or money replanting. Those rank among the primary reasons our Tennessee community members design perennial gardens. As experienced TN plant nursery professionals, we’d like to share some thoughts about layering a perennial garden. We hope the following information inspires you to redefine your landscape in a way you’ll enjoy for many years to come.

What are Perennial Plants?

The term “perennial” typically refers to plants that come back every year. Or does it? While many perennial plants manage to survive the frigid TN winters and rebloom, not every variety stays into perpetuity. Some species, such as evergreens, can last more than a hundred years. Other perennial plants may not develop deep enough root systems. Plant nursery experts often think about perennials in the following four ways.

  • Short-Lived: This perennial lasts for 3-5 years.
  • Long-Lived: This type usually lasts for more than five years.
  • Herbaceous: Identified by their soft green stems, they die during winter and return in spring. 
  • Woody Types: These plants lose their leaves, but the stems and roots survive the TN winter.

At first blush, home and commercial property owners might believe that short-lived perennials might not deliver the long-term value they seek. That idea can be something of a misconception. Examples of short-lived perennial plants include the popular Black-Eyed Susan and Daisy that thrive year-over-year by distributing seeds. Each type can play an influential role in beautiful your landscape.

Think About Perennial Plant Heights

When designing a perennial garden from scratch, gardening enthusiasts would be well-served to consider plant heights. By placing the tallest plant in the rear, you can taper the colorful flowers in descending rows. This landscaping technique maximizes the natural charm of the diverse blooms. The following rank among the popular flowering varieties used in TN gardens.

  • Day Lily Plants: These hardy and colorful plants mature to 48 inches and forms an excellent backdrop. Their lush orange-red flowers top long stems that create space to place mid-height perennials in front of them. Day Lily Plants also remain a popular option to plant in front of low fences for increased definition.
  • Black-Eyed Susan: Reaching heights of 6 feet in some cases, Black-Eyed Susan delivers lush greenery topped by yellow-gold flowers. One of the more popular perennial plants, they spread voraciously over time and prove highly cost-effective.
  • Goats Beard: Reaching upwards of 6 feet, Goats Beard provides a thick green canvas for home gardeners to paint in front of with ornamentals perennials. Its strand-like plumes lean toward soft creamy whites. However, some varieties offer rich pinks, reds, and shades of purple.

These tall perennials can be set in the back of other mid-sized plants or along fences and hardscapes. But a well-crafted landscape design develops a floral fabric by employing mid- and low-height perennials as well.

Best Mid-Height Plants for Your Perennial Garden

Establishing a row of tall flowering perennials opens the door to incorporating a layer of blooms just below them. This landscaping strategy gives the appearance that flowers are stacked one over the next. When selecting mid-sized perennials, consider their mature height and color. Aesthetically diverse gardens use color flexibility that meshes with personal taste. For example, some gardeners like bold contrast while others prefer subtle differences. The following mid-height flowering plant options can accommodate TN gardens.

  • Brown Eyed Susan: Similar in appearance to Black-Eyed Susan, this variety typically reaches 2-5 feet and showcases coneflowers of 8-20 petals.
  • Bugleweed Ajuga: This plant tends to stay as low as 2-4 inches when not blooming. However, its purple flowers shoot up to about 10 inches, making it a preferred mid-height choice.
  • Virginia Blue Bells: This perennial matures to 1-2 feet and enters spring with subtle pink flowers. As the hot summer months roll in, the flowers evolve to a beautiful blue.
  • May Apple Plants: Growing to 11-17 inches, May Apple Plants tuck delicate white blooms under their green leaves. In many ways, this perennial infuses lush greenery with only modest sprinkles of color.
  • Rue Anemone: Maturing to about 9 inches with small white or pink flowers, Rue Anemone can serve as an in-between height perennial.

Our TN plant nursery stocks a wide range of mid-height flowering plants. As you develop a perennial garden design, consider comparing how tall and mid-height flowers play off each other. To complete the portrait, select a low-height perennial that covers the foreground effectively.

Select Low-Growing Perennial Plants to Complete Your Garden

Low-height perennials serve an essential role in gardens. They can protect soil from drying in the TN sun and fill in otherwise vacant spaces in your garden. Low-growing creepers can also spread over hardscape elements such as garden edgings to tie a landscape together. Again, matching the type and color to those standing behind them remains essential to the overall ambiance. Consider the following options to complete your perennial garden.

  • Phlox Plant: One of the more popular choices, Phlox provides wide-reaching flower choices. The purples, blues, and pinks define garden foregrounds with spreading clusters.
  • Wild Ginger Plant: This perennial usually stays under 6 inches and infuses a deep green into shaded areas and perennial garden foregrounds. 
  • American Wintergreen Plant: This low-height creeper shows off bright red berries that contrast its waxed-green leaves.

Low-height perennial plants offer, perhaps, the most flexibility in terms of completing a garden. They can blanket the foreground with lush flowers, subtle blooms, or a primarily green carpet. The value of integrating these types of perennial plants cannot be understated.

Select the Perennial Plants You Desire at Our TN Nursery

Perennial gardens reduce the amount of time our TN community members spend each year replanting. They also stand among the most cost-effective ways to design a garden because they rebloom year after year. But most of all, perennial gardens enhance the quality enjoyment of your property.

If you consider a perennial garden or want to infuse an existing one with color, we offer a complete selection. Contact our TN nursery today.

It may come as something of a surprise to family gardeners, but perennials provide more than reliable color and beauty. As a primary flower bed plant, they create a root system that helps improve soil structure. When perennials flourish, their roots support healthy soil aeration and improve the water and oxygen delivery system. However, those and other perennial benefits tend to fly under the radar.

That’s mainly because the average homeowner is focused on the landscape beautification perennials offer. Another reason people visit a Tennessee plant nursery because perennials reduce the time you spend working in gardens and more time enjoying them. With that in mind, these are practical considerations when selecting perennials at our TN nursey.

Top Perennials To Select At Your TN Nursery

When selecting the best perennials for your gardens, keep in mind that not every species is suitable for the regional climate. Some cannot stand up to winter, and others may wilt under the heat of a Tennessee summer. There are, however, a wide range of perennials that offer everyday people a lifetime of attractive gardens. 

  • Black-Eyed Susans: This native North American flower infuses family gardens with a fetching yellowish-gold that ranks among the standout perennials. They are considered one of the most popular wildflowers and can blanket an area in just a few seasons.
  • Echinacea tennesseensis: Commonly called the “Tennessee Coneflower,” its lush purple-pink petals and distinctive seed center make it another must-have perennial stocked at a TN plant nursery. This variety typically reaches heights of about two feet and thrives in full or partial sun.
  • Shasta Daisies: This European transplant has proven to be a hardy addition to gardens. Its lovely white petals and subtle golden center help soften landscapes and gardens. Home gardeners can anticipate early summer blooms that can run into the fall. Shasta daisies like pH-neutral soil reach two to three feet and do well in full or partial sunlight. 
  • Orange Daylily: This China native was introduced to the U.S. during the 19th Century, and it has emerged as an iconic flowering plant in home gardens and the wild. Considered an ornamental perennial, its long stem elevates the flower to heights upwards of four feet. Home gardeners often select the Orange Daylily from a plant nursery to contrast white picket fences, provide measurement at the rear of flower beds, or as a standalone grouping near mailboxes and walkways, among others.

These foundational perennials tend to give gardens a sense of height, making the overall landscape appear robust. It’s also essential to infuse gardens with ground-level perennials such as Phlox and mid-sized plants such as the brilliant Red Cardinal Flower, among others.

Perennial Gardening Tip From Your TN Plant Nursery

When organizing your perennial gardens, consider which species are inherently the more aggressive spreaders. For example, Daisies and Black-Eyed Susans can quickly overrun ornamentals and groundcovers. And while contrasting the rich colors of coneflowers side by side can be incredibly inspiring, gardeners may be tasked with ongoing thinning as they thrive. If you are considering adding perennials to complete your property, our TN Nursery has a wide selection, and we are happy to answer any perennial questions.