Here is an overview of some of the best choices for perennial plants considering hardiness, ease of maintenance, beauty, fragrance, pollinator attraction, and sustainability.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile; top dress with manure in autumnPopular Varieties: ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (large double pale pink, fragrant), ‘Festiva Maxima’ (white with splashes of raspberry, fragrant), ‘Moonstone’ (white to pale blush, fragrant), ‘Karl Rosenfield’ (deep crimson)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9Sun Exposure: Full to partial shade, some tolerate full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, tolerant of many soil conditionsPopular Varieties: ‘Blue Angel’ (large blue puckered leaves), ‘Patriot ‘(medium size, deep green with wide white margins), ‘Krossa Regal’ (vase shaped with pointed blue leaves), ‘Royal Standard’ (heart-shaped, glossy green leaves, white flowers)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9Sun Exposure: Full to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, tolerant of many soil conditionsPopular Varieties: ‘Strawberry Candy’ (two tone pink), ‘Bela Lugosi’ (deep burgundy, green throat), ‘Stella D’Oro’ (yellow, compact plants, re-blooms in late summer), ‘Summer Wine’ (magenta pink)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9Sun Exposure: Full to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, tolerant of many soil conditionsPopular Varieties: ‘Moonbeam’ (pale yellow), ‘Route 66’ (medium yellow with bright red markings), ‘Jethro Tull’ (golden yellow fluted petals, compact plant)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9Sun Exposure: Full to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, sandy, loamPopular Varieties: ‘Autumn Joy’ (blooms open pink, mature to red and maroon), ‘Neon’ (pale green foliage, hot pink flowers), ‘Matrona’ (dark red stems, green leaves, pink flowers)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8Sun Exposure: Full to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, and moistPopular Varieties: ‘David’ (tall with showy white flowers), ‘Tenor’ (bright solid magenta flowers), ‘Nicki’ (rich purple flowers), ‘Eva Callum’ (pink flowers with a dark red eye)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10Sun Exposure: Full to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, tolerant of many soil conditions except overly moist conditionsPopular Varieties: ‘Beverly Sills’ (coral pink petals, orange beard), ‘Jurassic Park’ (yellow standards, purple falls), ‘Best Bet’ (pale blue standards, dark blue falls, re-blooms), ‘Immortality’ (white, yellow beards, re-blooms)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, richPopular Varieties: ‘Clara Curtis’ (pale lavender pink daisy), ‘Honeycomb’ (orange button), ‘Cherish’ (pale peach garden mum), ‘Grenadine’ (rich rose red garden mum)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Full shade to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, richPopular Varieties: ‘Red Sentinel’ (bright crimson), ‘Rheinland’ (bright pink), ‘Milk and Honey’ (pale blush), ‘Amethyst’ (light purple)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Full shade to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, richPopular Varieties: ‘Barlow’ (solid colors of dark pink, red, purple, or blue), ‘Cardinal’ (red and white), ‘Tequila Sunrise’ (red-orange and pale yellow), ‘Bluebird’ (light blue and white)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Full shade to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, richPopular Varieties: ‘Blue Moon’ (periwinkle blue), ‘Sherwood Purple’ (light purple), ‘May Breeze’ (pale blue-white)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, richPopular Varieties: ‘Robustissima’ (pale lavender pink), ‘Honorine Jobert’ (white), ‘Pink Saucer’ (pale warm pink), ‘Pamina’ (deep rose pink)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Sun Exposure: Part sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, richPopular Varieties: Tiramisu (green, gold, & orange), Pewter (silvery green), Georgia Peach (red, orange & peach), Palace Purple (deep purple and green leaves)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Sun Exposure: Part sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drainedPopular Varieties: ‘Apple Blossom’ (soft pink that fades to white), ‘Strawberry Seduction’ (red flowers with a bright gold center), ‘Summer Pastels’ (variety of soft hues including pink, peach, pale yellow), ‘Moonshine’ (bright yellow), ‘Cerise Queen’ (medium to bright pink)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, moist, acidicPopular Varieties: ‘Alba’ (white flowers). ‘Kahome’ (deep pink flowers with a mounding habit), ‘Flore Pleno’ (double pink flowers)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9 Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Needs: Well-drained, rich Popular Varieties: ‘Johnson’s Blue’ (violet blue), ‘Brookside’ (luminous cobalt blue), ‘Shepherd’s Warning’ (hot pink), ‘Rozanne’ (periwinkle blue)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, tolerant of clay soils.Popular Varieties: ‘White Swan’ (sturdy pure white flowers), ‘Harvest Moon’ (peach-orange petals tinged with golden yellow), ‘Sombrero Salsa Red’ (orange-red flowers, long lasting), ‘Green Twister’ (lime green petals that transition to pale pink near the core)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9Sun Exposure: Part shade, shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, moistPopular Varieties: ‘Cherry Blossom’ (two-tone magenta and pink flowers), ‘Orange Queen’ (orange and red flowers), ‘Enchantress’ (sickle shaped leaves, pale pink flowers)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertilePopular Varieties: ‘Bath’s Pink’ (pale pink flowers with a magenta ring, heirloom), ‘Greystone’ (silvery white flowers, grey-green foliage), ‘Firewitch’ (hot pink flowers with blue-green foliage)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, loamyPopular Varieties: Walker’s Low (periwinkle blue flowers), Cat’s Pajamas (intense lavender flowers), Blue Wonder (wisteria blue flowers)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, fertile, moistPopular Varieties: ‘Raspberry Wine’ (berry red flowers), ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ (deep scarlet flowers), ‘Balmy Pink’ (bright pink flowers)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, loamyPopular Varieties: ‘Wood’s Blue’ (compact plant with pale blue flowers), ‘Crimson Brocade’ (tall plant with magenta-red flowers), ‘Professor Kippenburg’ (dwarf plant with clear blue flowers and yellow centers)
