Which are the best perenial flowers for the garden either under shade or under full sun?

A lot depends on where you live and what you mean by "best."



What you aim for in a perennial bed or border (other than your personal preferences) is a constant succession of bloom from spring to fall, and this takes planning. Below is a list I developed for my customers. All are Zone 4 hardy. If y ou live in a warmer area there will be more options.



BLOOM SEQUENCE FOR PERENNIALS IN MAINE GARDENS



SPRING (APRIL-MAY)

Dutch bulbs

Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)

Aurinia saxatile (Basket of gold) (also called Alyssum saxatile)

Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding heart)

Doronicum magnificum (Leopard’s bane)

Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)

Phlox subulata (Creeping phlox)

Primula x polyantha (Primrose)



EARLY SUMMER (JUNE)

Anthemis tinctorius kelwayii (Kelway daisy)

Aquilegia hybrids (Columbine)

Centauria montana (perennial bachelor’s button)

Delphinium

Dianthus species (Pinks)

Dictamnus alba (Gas plant)

Geranium sanguinium (Cranesbill geranium, bloody cranesbill)

Hesperis matronalis (Dame’s Rocket)

Iris x Germanica (Bearded iris)

Iris sibirica (Siberian iris)

Lupinus polyphyllus (Lupine)

Malva (White mallow, rose mallow, high mallow)

Paeonia lactiflora (Peony)

Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy)

Polygonum bistortum (Bistort)

Saponaria ocymoides (Soapwort)

Salvia supurbum (Salvia)



MIDSUMMER (JULY TO MID-AUGUST)

Aruncus sylvestris (Goatsbeard)

Astilbe arendsii (Astilbe)

Campanula rotundifolia (Blue bells of Scotland)

Chrysanthemum maximum ‘Alaska’, ‘Agleya’’ (Shasta daisy)

Campanula glomerata suburba (Clustered bellflower)

Coreopsis grandiflora (Tickseed)

Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf coreopsis)

Digitalis (Foxglove)

Gaillardia grandiflora (Blanket flower)

Galium verum (Lady’s bedstraw)

Gypsophila paniculata (Baby’s breath)

Helianthus (False sunflower)

Hemerocallis ssp. %26amp; hybrids (Daylily)

Liatris spicata (Gayfeather)

Lilium hybrids (Asiatic lily)

Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese cross)

Lythrum ‘Morden’s Pink’ (Loosestrife)

Monarda didyma (Bee balm)

Trollius ledebouri (Double buttercup)

Sedum ellacombianum, spurium)



LATE SUMMER (MID-AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER)

Aconitum (Monkshood)

Agastache foeniculum (Anise hyssop)

Aster (New England, New Belgium, alpine, dwarf asters)

Astilbe Taquetti hybrids

Boltonia asteroides (Boltonia)

Cimicifuga ramosa atropurpurea

Dahlia, dinnerplate

Echinacea purpurea (Purple coneflower)

Helenemium autumnale (Helen’s Flower)

Helianthus (False sunflower)

Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow bellflower)

Lilium hybrids (Oriental lily)

Phlox paniculata (Garden phlox)

Physostegia virginiana (Obedient plant)

Polygonum aubertii (Silver lace vine)

Rudbeckia fulgida, R. hirta (Black-eyed susan, gloriosa daisy)

Sedum ssp., especially Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’%26amp; Sedum sieboldii (Stonecrop)

Solidago canadensis (Goldenrod)



ONGOING (LONG-BLOOMING, OR FOLIAGE OF INTEREST ALL SUMMER)

Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed, esp. ‘Burgundy Glow’)

Artemesias (Silver King, Silver Queen, Silver Mound, Silverado)

Delphinium ‘Tom Pouce,’ ‘Blue Elf’

Dicentra luxuriant (Everblooming bleeding heart)

Edelweiss

Euphorbia polychroma (Cushion spurge)

Helictotrichon sempervivens (Blue oat grass)

Hosta (Plantain lily)

Lamium (Dead nettle)

Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny)

Nepeta mussini (Catmint)

Phalaris arundinacea picta (Ribbon grass)

Sempervivum (Hens %26amp; chicks)

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s ear)

Thymus species (Thyme)



Print this out, get a good perennial picture book, and have at it!

Which are the best perenial flowers for the garden either under shade or under full sun?
The best perennials for any garden are those that meet the gardener's needs. Do you like to watch birds? Make honey? Do you have pets and children and want to be sure they are not eating poisonous plants? Do you have large areas to cover and need plants that reseed or naturalize or spread quickly?



Keeping these questions in mind, also remember to choose plants that will be happy where you live. See below for sites on Hardiness Zones in U.S., Canada, or Europe and plant lists for various needs:



Zone map:



http://www.icangarden.com/zone.cfm



Plant sites:

For birds

http://cecommerce.uwex.edu/pdfs/G1609.PD...



Edible--see also poisonous plants list on this site

http://www.perennials.com/edibletable.ht...



For shade

http://www.kennedyscountrygardens.com/pe...



For sun

http://www.4seasonsgc.com/main%20files/p...



For butterflies

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/...



Bulbs

http://www.bachmans.com/tipsheets/bulbs_...





Happy Gardening!

gg
Reply:day lilies are nice
Reply:Hostas and ferns for shade. Day lillies and shasta daisys for sun.