Regional Picks: Long-Blooming Sun Perennials for Gardens in the Mid-Atlantic
If you’re looking for plants that provide blooms all season long—not just for a short time—these expert picks for the Mid-Atlantic are sure to brighten your garden. Discover four long-blooming perennials for sun that thrive in the region’s varied climate, adding reliable color to sunny beds and borders from summer into fall.
See more regional picks: Endangered Plants in the Mid-Atlantic
Summerlong™ Coral hyssop
Name: Agastache mexicana ‘Balsumlora’
Zones: 7–10
Size: 1½ to 2 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Southwestern United States and Mexico
Part of the Summerlong™ series of hyssops, which includes plants with a variety of vivid flower colors, Summerlong™ Coral features
stems covered with small tubular orange-pink blooms throughout most of the summer. These blossoms contrast nicely against the plant’s glaucous blue-green foliage. It’s resistant to deer browsing and is a magnet for many pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant this perennial in masses or combine it with other pollinator plants such as coneflowers (Echinacea spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) and butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa, Zones 3–9). Summerlong™ Coral is also an excellent drought-tolerant addition to waterwise gardens. Occasional deadheading will encourage even more flowering.
‘Limelight’ panicle hydrangea
Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
Zones: 3–8
Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Eastern and southern China, Japan, and Korea
‘Limelight’ panicle hydrangea has remained one of the most popular hydrangeas despite a wave of newer introductions appearing over the last 20 years. A recipient of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal award, this extremely durable and long-blooming shrub can grow in urban areas and is tolerant of a variety of garden situations. In midsummer, cone-shaped lime-green flower panicles begin to emerge, reaching 6 to 8 inches long before turning white and then green again, sometimes with shades of pink to burgundy. Toward the end of the growing season, the flower heads fade to a tawny brown and can persist through winter. Like other selections of panicle hydrangea, ‘Limelight’ flowers on new wood and can therefore be pruned in late winter.
Related article: Best Hydrangeas for Stunning Fall Flowers
Phenomenal® lavender
Name: Lavandula × intermedia ‘Niko’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid
Phenomenal® lavender is an incredibly versatile and long-blooming perennial for sun. In many regions it will develop a woody structure and perform like a shrub. It has a tight, compact habit and is covered in small, narrow silver-gray leaves. Both the foliage and the flowers are very fragrant, making it resistant to rabbits and deer. In most areas, it will be evergreen and add considerable winter interest. This lavender is typically hardy to Zone 5, but can be grown in Zone 4 if it has very well-drained soil. In summer it is covered in 3- to 4-inch-long spikes of fragrant blue-violet flowers that attract pollinators. It is drought and heat tolerant and will also thrive in climates where there is considerable humidity. At the end of winter, remove any old flower heads or dead stems. This is also a good time to do any structural pruning.
‘Zagreb’ threadleaf coreopsis
Name: Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’
Zones: 3–9
Size: 1 to 1½ feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Southeastern United States
This compact selection of threadleaf coreopsis is covered in daisy-like, bright golden flowers that are 1 to 2 inches wide. Its fine and narrow leaves give it a great textural quality that combines well with the bolder foliage of plants such as hairy alumroot (Heuchera villosa, Zones 3–9) or ‘Caradonna’ salvia (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, Zones 4–9). It blooms throughout most of the summer, and old flowers can be trimmed back to promote more blooming. This native is both heat and drought tolerant. Because of its compact size, it is a great plant to add to the front of a perennial border, but over time it will spread into a fairly large mass. It’s also a desirable addition to a pollinator garden, where it will attract myriad insects.
Regional expert: Andrew Bunting is vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society.
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Dramm 17050 50′ ColorStorm 1/2″ Standard Soaker Hose
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Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
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