PERENNIALS & GROUNDCOVER

Most perennials bloom for about one month, although some are especially long-blooming. We recommend planting both long-blooming perennials and ones with shorter bloom times that are staggered from each other. That way, there will always be something fresh and seasonal blooming in your garden. Check out our perennials by bloom time info sheet to learn more about which perennials bloom in each season.

Most herbaceous (non-woody) perennials can be divided once they reach a mature size, simply by cutting through their roots with a sharp shovel. Many perennials benefit from being divided periodically, and you can transplant the newly-divided pieces elsewhere in your garden or give them away to friends. Typically, the best time to divide or transplant is in the fall or early spring, when the weather is cool and damp. It’s always a good idea to do some research before dividing any particular species, since each one is a little different.

It might sometimes seem like every plant tag says, “Full sun, well-drained soil, and even moisture.” If you don’t have any or all of those conditions, you’ll need to search specifically for plants that suit your space. Don’t worry — we have them. Our perennial section is divided into sun vs. shade plants, so that’s one way to start narrowing your search. We have plant lists with some ideas to start with for drier conditions, especially wet soil, and shade gardens. Of course, we’re always here to offer personalized recommendations.

Many perennials are great for wildlife, whether you grow just a few in a container or integrate them into a larger wildlife-friendly landscape.  During the spring and summer, our “nectar bar” display is a great place to start for pollinator-friendly perennial blooms. Try to choose several plants with different bloom times, so to provide a long-term nectar supply. Besides nectar plants, choose plants with woody branches for shelter, nutritious berries and seeds, or even narrow leaves that birds can use to build nests. Native plants are often the best of all for native wildlife, but many non-native plants and cultivated varieties of native plants still provide excellent habitat and resources. Check out our plants for butterflies, birds and bees for some ideas to help you get started.

We love natives, and recognize their vital role in native ecosystems. In fact, they're a key group of plants that we like to carve out space for, both in our nursery beds and aisles, and in our online messaging. We carry natives like Iris tenax, Mahonia nervosa, Kinnickkinnick and more whenever they are available to us, but unfortunately, local wholesale native growers can be few and far between.

If you're looking for more natives then we have at the moment, we recommend Go Natives, MsK Nursery, Hima Nursery, or Oxbow Farms. Happy planting, and thanks for doing your part to contribute to our local ecosystem!