Tall perennial flowers for the garden. The tallest and longest-flowering perennials

There are quite a few unpretentious, long-flowering perennial plants that are not inferior in their beauty and aroma to pampered varieties of garden flowers, but do not require painstaking care. They harmonize amazingly with other colors in all-season compositions, form a good landscape design and look great when used alone. Some varieties begin to bloom as soon as the snow cover melts, while others show off until late autumn, until the snow covers them. Let's talk about the most popular and unpretentious long-blooming perennial garden flowers among summer residents.

Peculiarities

Perennials are plants that do not need to be planted annually. Their underground tubers, bulbs and rhizomes can overwinter in the ground and sprout with fresh shoots in the spring. Many of them reproduce by underground parts of the mother plant, and some by self-sowing (using seeds). Unpretentious perennials are highly valued by gardeners for their undeniable advantages:

easily reproduce even without human intervention;
have a long flowering period;
unpretentious in care;
frost-resistant;
do not require renewal or replanting for up to 10 years;
with their help you can create a perennial flower bed that does not require constant replanting;
have a large selection, there are an unprecedented variety of perennial varieties.

The disadvantages of perennial plants include diseases of their underground parts, which are more common than in annual plants. In addition, creating a flower bed will require certain investments and several years of waiting. The good thing about perennial flowers is that they don’t need to be planted and replanted every year; they can take care of themselves. The main thing is to initially place them correctly so that you don’t have to replant them.

Perennials are very diverse, some love light, others shade, each has different preferences in soil and moisture. All this should be taken into account before planting the plant. Perennials are of low-growing, tall and mixed types, some grow in wide bushes, others in single inflorescences.

When creating a flower bed, plants are planted so that they do not interfere with each other. For example, tall flowers will create shade, which means shade-loving ones can be planted nearby. Perennial plants bloom at different times and bloom for a long time. When creating a flowerbed, you should take these deadlines into account so that it does not remain empty for a long time.

Overview of species

Perennials delight us from early spring to late autumn, surprising us with their variety of shapes and rich palette. They can be classified in different ways; in our review we divided them by size.

Tall

These include irises, peonies, and delphiniums. They always occupy a central place in the flowerbed, making it possible to place smaller plants within their field of view. Tall flowers frame arches, they are used to create hedges, and unsightly buildings and fences are hidden behind them. Tall plants decorate terraces, gazebos and pergolas.

Astilbe

A tall flower of the Saxifraga family, there are up to 20 varieties. It grows wild in North America and East Asia. Astilbe is not afraid of frost, loves moisture, it can be planted in flooded swampy areas, it feels good in the shade. It blooms profusely, with wonderful bright clusters. This is a summer plant; its size and flowering duration depend on the variety. Astilbe delights with its succulent inflorescences at different periods of summer; the earliest species bloom in early June, the later ones at the end of August. Astilbe has dwarf varieties that form bushes of about 30 cm, and there are also tall ones, reaching 1.5 meters in height. The easiest way to propagate it is by dividing the bush, but the seed version is also possible. The plant is afraid of drought and needs frequent watering.

When planting in the shade, you should not get too close to the root system of large trees, they will compete for moisture. Otherwise, astilbe easily combines with moisture-loving flowers and perfectly complements the garden flower beds.

Delphinium

It forms pyramidal dense inflorescences directed upward, up to 60 cm in size. The range of colors is varied, but blue shades predominate. Depending on the species, delphinium blooms at different periods of summer, delighting with colorful flower beds for about a month. You need to cut off the wilted pyramids, then after 30-40 days it can repeat flowering. If you correctly arrange a flower bed from different varieties, it will not stop blooming from the beginning of June until September, surprising you with its variety of colors. Dwarf varieties come in sizes of only 30 cm, and tall species can create a hedge about 2 meters high. The more fertile the soil, the larger the delphinium. It reproduces by dividing the bush and seeds. It should be planted in a sunny place with weak shade.

Stock rose

Belongs to the Malvaceae, grows in the wild in North Africa, reaching a size of 2 meters. It hides old garden fences well and creates hedges. The flowers of the stock rose are double or semi-double, the tonality is very different. From the beginning of June, the plant begins to produce fluffy inflorescences attached to a peduncle, directly on a thick stem. Flowering occurs gradually, from bottom to top, some flowers die, others appear, everything continues for a long time. The stock rose begins to bloom in the second year of life, but in warm summers it can produce buds in the first year. In preparation for winter, the plant is cut off, leaving stems no more than 40 cm.

Irises

Today, about 800 species of this genus are known. Dwarf varieties grow up to 30 cm, but most irises are much taller, some reaching 1.5 meters in height. The plant blooms from May to July, it all depends on the climatic conditions in which it grows; the warmer the climate, the earlier flowering occurs. Irises can grow in any soil and winter well. They do not need to be replanted for 7 years.

Peonies

A lush, amazingly beautiful, unpretentious perennial whose growth often reaches 2 meters. Peonies are undemanding to soil and tolerate frost well. They can stay in one place without transplanting for up to 20 years. The spherical large flowers have a variety of colors. Depending on the variety, plants can be dwarf, medium or tall in size. They grow in bushes, creating beautiful thickets of greenery and inflorescences in delicate shades. Some species have a noticeable pleasant aroma, but there are varieties that have no smell. Peonies are most often used for monoflower beds.

Medium height

These include most types of garden plants. In flower beds they occupy the second tier, growing in neat small bushes or individual flowers about 30-40 cm high. These are ideal plants for gardens, landscape designs of parks and private estates.

Tulips

The most famous and widespread bulbous plants of the Liliaceae family. They number up to 150 wild species, which became the progenitors of many thousands of varieties of garden tulips. Almost any soil suits them and they tolerate winters well. Tulips bloom in the spring, opening buds on erect stems that can be from 10 to 90 cm in height, depending on the variety. Breeders delight us with a wide variety of these wonderful flowers; their petals can be double, simple with a smooth surface or with wavy edges. The color range is endless - white, black, multi-colored, with stripes, splashes and unusual patterns. The flowers open fully during the day and close at night. Active mass growth of the plant occurs from the beginning of April, and after 3 weeks buds appear. In stable, cool weather, tulips bloom for 15-20 days. In gardens they are often planted in colored groups on a green lawn.

Dicentra

Represents the Dymyankov family, has about 20 species. This herbaceous, unpretentious perennial grows naturally in China, the Far East and North America. It is a shrub with a height of 30 to 60 cm. Dicentra has a deep branched rhizome and can grow in one place for up to 8 years. Its long stalks are covered with pink or white flowers, shaped like a heart. The plant blooms in May and delights with its beautiful appearance for a whole month. Goes well with spring medium-sized plants - daffodils, tulips, hyacinths.

Geranium (pelargonium)

The flower is so beautiful that they prefer to grow it at home, but in summer it also feels great in open ground. The inflorescences are endowed with a variety of colors, they can be either simple or double, some varieties look like compact bouquets of roses. Geranium takes root well in the southern regions of the country; in other areas in winter it is better to move it indoors.

Day-lily

In the wild, the flower can be found in Europe and Asia; it grows from 30 cm to a meter in height; long fan-shaped leaves can reach a length of 120 cm. The flowers are large, lily-shaped, with many shades. They form beautiful bushes that designers love to use in arranging gardens. The plant can grow in one place for up to 15 years.

short

These include plants whose height does not exceed 30 cm. They can be erect or creeping. Most spring flowers are small in size. In summer, the vegetation tends to rise, but there are still plenty of compact species. They are good for decorating alpine hills, carpet flower beds, edgings of flower beds, and low flowers make up borders. Often, low-growing plants are used as a background, filling the voids between medium-sized flowers.

Gypsophila

They form a low but wide airy bush, with many small flowers of lilac, white, lavender colors, behind which leaves are almost invisible. Gypsophila is often used to form bridal bouquets filled with grace, air and light. The plant produces more than 100 varieties. It loves the sun and loose soil, but also thrives on soil with limestone deposits. Gypsophila is used as an addition to large-flowered species.

Muscari

The perennial belongs to the Asparagus family and has more than 60 species. Grows on forest edges, mountain slopes of Europe and Asia Minor. The height of the plant is 10-25 cm, depending on the species. The inflorescences look like pyramids on dense stems; each individual flower looks like a tiny bell. Muscari are most often found in blue, white and blue colors, and their spring bloom lasts 3-4 weeks.

Crocuses (saffron)

A tiny plant 8-15 cm tall, it is the first to emerge from under the snow cover. From March to May, you can see cute bright crocus flowers in a forest, park or garden. The plant has more than 80 species, on the basis of which about 300 varieties have been bred. Saffron loves bright sunny meadows or partial shade. In landscape design they are used to design rocky hills and lawn beds. The bulbs are transplanted during the period when the ground part is dying, in August - September.

Periwinkle

An unpretentious creeping perennial of the Kutrovye family. It grows in the wild in Europe and Southeast Asia. Long creeping stems can take root anywhere where the node and soil come into contact. The leaves have a rich dark green tone, the flowers are most often found in blue, light blue or purple. Mass flowering occurs in the spring. Subsequently, until winter, the soil will be covered with the green cover of a creeping plant, with a rare manifestation of residual flowering.

Pushkinia

A long-flowering bulbous perennial of the Asparagus family, found in natural conditions in the mountains of the Caucasus and Iran. The flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences from 7 to 17 pieces each. It blooms in April - May (depending on the climate) and blooms for 15-20 days. This small flower has an incredibly delicate, pleasant aroma. Alpine hills, rockeries are planted with Pushkinias, and used as borders along paths. They are often planted with other spring flowers.

In order not to complicate the care of perennials, you need to study at the planting stage what soils this or that plant prefers, its requirements for lighting, moisture, proximity to other flowers, and find a suitable place in your garden for each species.

Shade-loving plants include: fern, periwinkle, fragrant violet, lily of the valley, anemone, daylilies, hydrangea, fuchsia, rhododendrons.
Prefer sunlight: irises, tulips, daffodils, crocuses, primroses, peonies, bells, lilies, dahlias, chrysanthemums, gladioli, phlox, clematis.
They love moisture: wild rosemary, loosestrife, many types of geraniums, irises, astilbe, primrose.
They cannot tolerate an abundance of water: anafalis, gypsophila, pearl mussel, lavender, helipterum, cornflowers, amaranth.

It is impossible to imagine a garden without perennial flowers. They are unpretentious, bloom for a long time and eliminate the need to grow new flower seedlings every spring.

To decorate the background of a summer cottage, flowers with tall stems are ideal for planting in the central part of the flowerbed. And there are separate articles about flowers.

Tall perennials

All perennial flowers bloom for about a month, less than twice a season. They bloom continuously all summer, replacing each other. You need to choose plants so that they pick up the baton of flowering from early spring to late autumn.

Lupine

This tall and charming handsome man can often be found in gardens and vegetable gardens.
Lupine is truly a universal plant.

In addition to its decorative qualities, it has the amazing ability of the root system to produce nitrogen.

In addition, crushed stems (without seed pods) and leaves embedded in the soil will improve its structure, provide greater aeration, and enrich it with organic matter.

Therefore, its proximity benefits all plants.

Growing lupine is not difficult. If you don’t have your own planting material, it is propagated by seed. The best option, and less labor-intensive, would be to sow seeds in the ground in the fall.

In the spring, the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place, and in August they will bloom. It is also possible to grow lupine in seedlings at home or in greenhouse conditions, followed by planting it on the site.

A responsible approach to choosing a place to plant lupine has several reasons. Firstly, one should take into account its protection from the wind; the tall stems of the flower can be broken by its gusts. Secondly, the plant has a fairly strong root system, and frequent transplants harm it.

Young plants need additional care in the first year of life; care should be taken not to expose the root collar and sprinkle soil in time. Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers will not be superfluous.

Lupine blooms in June and continues throughout the month, with red, yellow, blue and purple flowers.

A beautiful plant with a stem height of up to one meter, and inflorescences with panicles of red, purple, white or pink flowers.

When planting astilbe on your site, you should remember that it is a moisture-loving plant, so it needs regular watering. Drought is also detrimental for it because the plant may suffer from overheating of the soil; using humus or ready-made compost as mulch, this problem can be avoided.

In addition, when these substrates are applied in the spring, the result of fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers is achieved for the effective growth of leaves and stems. In this case, the next feeding will need to be done after the astilbe has faded, with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

In the place chosen by the summer resident, astilbe can grow for 10 years, but if the plant receives proper care, namely: hilling the base of the flower stem, then it will safely live up to 20 years.

The fact is that astilbe roots grow near the surface of the earth, and without this work, they will suffer from a lack of nutrition and moisture, from overheating of the entire root system, which will lead to the death of the plant.

Astilbe is propagated by dividing the bush when it reaches five years of age. Without digging up the main bush, carefully separate part of the plant and plant it in the right place. Astilbe propagation work is carried out either in early spring or autumn. When planting in autumn, the plant is covered with spruce branches.

You can also grow astilbe from seeds. But this is a more labor-intensive process, requiring their stratification, careful and attentive care of the seedlings.

The area where astilbe will grow should be shady; in the sun the flower will grow, but will not bloom profusely and for a long time.

The plant is from 70 cm to 2 meters high, the baskets are large, with bright yellow, yellow-brown, pink petals.

Grows well in open sunny areas with cultivated soil. The plant is unpretentious; rare watering in dry sunny weather, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers in the spring and complex fertilizers in the fall are sufficient.

Perennial rudbeckia is propagated by dividing the bush in early spring even before the leaves grow. To do this, use plants that are 5 years old, or by sowing seeds in the ground. The seedling method will allow you to grow a flower that will bloom the same year. Reproduction is also possible by self-sowing, so if the gardener does not need additional planting material, it is better to remove faded flowers in a timely manner, preventing the seeds from ripening.

In addition, such a well-known variety of rudbeckia as “Golden Ball” has aggressive properties and is capable of “conquering” territory from its neighbors.
Rudbeckia blooms from mid-summer and almost until frost. Flowers look good in bouquets.

On your last visit to the dacha in autumn, you should cut off the above-ground parts of the plants.

Dahlia

Every summer resident who is engaged in floriculture in his or her summer cottage is familiar with this magnificent flower.

Dahlias are grown from tubers, which are either purchased in a specialized store or taken from the cellar where they were stored during the winter. In the spring, preparation of the plant for planting begins a month before the due date.

Tubers are placed in a moist substrate, sawdust or peat. After the sprouts appear, the tubers can be divided. This is done to obtain new planting material or to rejuvenate plants.

Plants are planted in a sunny area protected from the wind. Dahlia bushes grow greatly, the stems cannot withstand the weight of large double flowers and therefore they need a garter to support them. It should be installed at the time of planting the flower, so as not to damage the tubers during later installation.

We can talk endlessly about the variety of flower shapes and its colors: feathery and chrysanthemum-shaped, pompom-shaped and peony-shaped, anemone-shaped and decorative, painted in all sorts of colors: white and red, burgundy and purple, yellow and orange.

And if at least some of these colors flare up in flower beds or in free plantings, starting from mid-July until frost, we can consider that the summer season is a success.

Caring for all this beauty is not difficult: watering, without stagnant water, loosening and mulching the soil. If necessary, fertilize and form a dahlia bush if the flower variety throws out side shoots.

At the end of September, cut the stems of the plant, dry the tubers and store them.

It cannot be said about this plant that it does not require a lot of attention.

When choosing a place to plant delphinium, you should know that the plant does not like acidic soil. The soil should be neutral and well-seasoned with organic and mineral fertilizers. Compost and wood ash available at the dacha are well suited for these purposes.

The area should be well lit, light partial shade is possible. And given the height of the plant, which can reach two meters, it is necessary to provide for the installation of supports for attaching the stem. Otherwise, it may be broken by gusts of wind.

If a gardener wants to grow delphinium on his site for the first time, then he should resort to the seedling method of cultivation. It should be noted that the process is quite troublesome.

Delphinium seeds require mandatory stratification (keeping in cold conditions for a certain time). Therefore, the container with the sown delphinium is covered with film and placed in the refrigerator for 12-14 days.

After this time, the container with the crops is moved to the windowsill, and after the first shoots appear, the film is removed. The next stage is picking up grown seedlings, and finally planting in open ground. This work occurs at the end of May or beginning of June.

If the soil for planting delphinium has been properly prepared, then in the first year the plant will not need feeding. But in the coming years they will be necessary.

During the period of green mass growth, the plant is fed with nitrogen fertilizers, and before budding begins - with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. For the third time, it is advisable to feed the delphinium with the previous composition after the end of flowering so that the plant effectively prepares for the next season.

Flowering lasts about two to three weeks. It can grow in one place for up to 10 years.

Aquilegia

This flower is often called a columbine flower due to its characteristic feature of collecting drops of water inside the corolla.

Due to its unpretentiousness, as well as the huge variety of flower colors, aquilegia is very popular among gardeners. The flower is grown either by sowing seeds in the ground, in the fall on the site, or by seedlings at home.

Seeds require stratification, so after sowing them in boxes with fertile soil, they should be put in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for 7-10 days. After exposure to cold conditions, the containers are transferred to a bright place. Next, the seedlings will need picking; plastic or peat cups, as well as a larger box, are suitable for this.

At a summer cottage, seedlings are planted at the end of May, in a slightly shaded place. These can be flower beds, as well as groups of aquilegias, consisting of flowers of different colors.

The columbine bloom lasts for a month and will last longer if spent flowers are removed.

Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers once a season also helps to increase the flowering period. Loosening the soil around the plantings and watering complete the list of tasks for caring for aquilegia.

In preparation for the winter period, which is not dangerous for plants, you should cut off only the flower stalks, leaving a basal rosette of leaves.