Perennials

What to choose?

There are literally hundreds of perennials available. For convenience here we only list the most popular. We have also arbitrarily divided them into –

Long lived perennials - those that tend to be tough and thrive year after year

Short lived Perennials – those that require or are best replaced with new plants every year or every second year.

This split is a little arbitrary, as some perennials may be long lived in ideal conditions and short lived in unsuitable conditions.

Long lived perennials

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  • Long lived perennials

    Agapanthus, Alstromeria,  Ajuga, Aquilegia, Armeria (thrift), Arthropodium (reinga lily), Aster, Astilbe, Canna lily, Clivia, Convolvulus spp, Dianthus, Leucanthemum (Shasta daisy), Hemerocallis     (day lily), Delphinium, Bergenia, Heterocentron (Spanish shawl), Hellebores, Heuchera, Hosta, Liriope, Penstemon, Phlox, Scabiosa (pin cushion flower) and Sedum.

    Short lived Perennials

Arctotis, Argyranthemum (marguerite daisy), Brachycome, Catmint, Chamomile, Chrysanthemum, Heliotrope (Cherry pie), Coreopsis, Cyclamen, Diascia, Euphorbia, Felicia, Gaillardia, Gaura, Gazania, Geranium, Gerbera, Lithodora, Perennial Petunia, Primula/ Polyanthus, Salvia, Verbena and Viola.

Most perennials flower in spring, summer or autumn. With careful planning there is always plenty of colour in the garden.

Season of availability

There is a huge range of perennials and while many can be procured over several months, the majority are available for a short window of about 2 months just prior to and during the flowering for each particular variety.

 

After Care

Watering 

Perennials require regular watering throughout summer.  

Deep watering is more effective than light sprinklings.

Avoid wetting the foliage as this encourages the spread of fungus diseases.

Mulching

Mulch perennials in early spring and again in mid-summer with a compost or Tui Mulch n Feed. Mulching keeps the roots cool and moist.

Feeding

Perennials require regular feeding.  

Use a balanced fertiliser for flowers such as Tui Rose food or Novatec.  

Feed perennials in early spring when new growth appears and again in mid-summer.

Water in well.