Hardy geraniums, also known as cranesbills, are among the most popular perennials for low-maintenance gardens. Their delicate lobed leaves and saucer-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, blue and white appear from late spring until fall. Drought-tolerant once established, geraniums thrive in full sun or part shade and require little care beyond occasional watering and fertilizing.
Salvia, commonly called sage, produces spikes of blue, red or pink flowers from late spring through summer. Varieties like ‘May Night’ and ‘Black and Blue’ are deer-resistant, drought-tolerant and attract pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Salvias grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Prune them back by about half after flowering to promote new growth and another flush of blooms.
Coneflower is a native perennial that bears daisy-like flowers with orange petals surrounding a coppery center cone. Blooming from midsummer into fall, coneflowers are a favorite of butterflies and goldfinches. They grow in full sun and tolerate some drought once established. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage reblooming. Coneflowers may spread somewhat, so plant them where they have room to roam.
Catmint produces a sea of soft lavender-blue flowers atop gray-green foliage from late spring through summer. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, catmint thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Shear it back by about half after the first flush of blooms fade to promote reblooming. Catmint may spread aggressively, so give it plenty of room or plant it in a confined space.
Achillea, commonly called yarrow, produces flat clusters of tiny flowers in shades of yellow, red, pink or white from early summer through fall. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, yarrow grows in full sun and a range of soil types. Shear the plants back after flowering to encourage fresh new growth and another round of blooms. Yarrow spreads moderately, so plant it where it has room to roam or contain it to a confined space.
Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, blooms with yellow or red daisy-like flowers from early summer until fall. Drought-tolerant once established, coreopsis grows in full sun and tolerates a range of soil types. Deadheading spent blooms will promote reblooming. Coreopsis may spread somewhat, so plant it where it has room to roam or in a confined space.
Sedum, commonly called stonecrop, produces clusters of star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, yellow or white from late summer into fall. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, sedum thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Once flowering is done, sedum foliage often turns red or purple for fall color. Sedum spreads moderately, so give it plenty of room to roam or contain it to a confined space.
