Perennials solve landscape problems. Steep slope? Swap turf for a groundcover. Wet low spot? Plant moisture-lovers. Dry, water-restricted area? Choose xeriscape plants. Acidic soil? Grow acid-lovers. Shade under trees? Plant shade perennials. Need lawn alternatives? Use tidy, foot-traffic-tolerant groundcovers. Want to reduce runoff fees? Install a rain garden with moisture-loving perennials. Match each plant’s preferred conditions to your site using the lists below.
Get detailed growing info in our Plant Encyclopedia.
Perennials for Wet Soils
- Cardinal Flower: brilliant red, late summer–fall.
- Goatsbeard: lacy white plumes, 3–5 ft, early–midsummer.
- Joe Pye Weed: large mauve blooms, up to 6 ft, late summer.
- Rodgersia: coarse texture, spring/summer plumes.
- Sweet Flag: swordlike foliage.
Perennials for Shade
- Astilbe: long-lasting summer flower stalks.
- Barrenwort: red/pink/white/purple/bicolor, early–midspring.
- Foamflower: white/light pink, midspring.
- Hardy Begonia: heart-shaped leaves, pink late summer.
- Hosta: grown for foliage, many cultivars.
- Lenten Rose: coarse foliage, late winter–early spring bloom.
- Lungwort: early spring flowers, variegated foliage.
- Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart: pink hearts, spring.
- Woodland Phlox: fragrant blue/purple/pink/white, late spring.
Perennials for Alkaline Soils
- Anemone: late summer/fall flowers.
- Coralbells: many cultivars, colorful foliage.
- Creeping Baby’s Breath: white summer flowers.
- Geranium: spring/summer flowers, red fall foliage.
- Pincushion Flower: blue, summer–fall.
- Pinks: white/pink/red, spring–summer, evergreen.
Perennials for Dry Soils
- Blue Fescue: ornamental grass, bluish-green.
- Catmint: fragrant foliage, lavender-blue flowers, early summer.
- False Indigo: pea-like blue flowers, late spring, attractive seedpods.
- Liriope: dark green grasslike foliage.
- Penstemon: desert species, bright flowers, upright.
- White Gaura: airy white/pink stalks, midsummer–fall.
- Yucca: upright foliage clumps.
Perennials for Full Sun
- Coreopsis: yellow all summer.
- Hollyhock: summer flowers on tall spikes.
- Maltese Cross: silver foliage, scarlet flowers, early summer.
- Mountain Bluet: blue-violet, mid–late spring.
- Oriental Poppy: papery petals, late spring–early summer.
- Peony: large fragrant flowers, late spring–early summer.
- Tree Mallow: shrublike, white/pink/purple-pink all summer.
Perennials for Acidic Soils
- Bear’s Breeches: tall spikes, late spring–early summer, textural foliage.
- Cinnamon Fern: reddish-brown central fronds.
- Fringed Bleeding Heart: finely cut foliage, flowers all summer.
- Gayfeather: purple/white spikes, early–midsummer.
- Heart-Leaf Bergenia: shiny evergreen foliage.
- Japanese Iris: showy flowers, late spring/summer.
- Lenten Rose: late winter flowers.
Perennials for Clay Soils
- Daylily: adaptable, many colors.
- False Sunflower (Heliopsis): daisy-like, prairie native.
- Geranium: many species, pink/purple/white, sun to part shade.
- Monkshood: deep blue late summer, shady sites.
- Obedient Plant: rapid spreader, pink/white candles.
- Peony: fragrant pink/red/white/yellow, late spring.
- Yarrow: ferny, drought-tolerant, many colors.
Perennials for Sandy Soils
- Artemisia: silvery foliage.
- Blanket Flower: long bloom, orange-red daisies with yellow.
- False Indigo: shrubby, blue spring spikes.
- Lavender Cotton: silvery-gray/green fine texture.
- Thyme: groundcover, pinkish-purple blooms.
- Yarrow: full sun, dry soil, wide color range.
- Yucca: succulent, spiky foliage, white bells.
Salt-Tolerant Perennials
- Armeria (Sea Thrift): compact, grassy, pink/white.
- Blanket Flower: bicolor daisies, mounded.
- Butterfly Weed: brilliant orange, butterfly magnet.
- Candytuft: white spring blooms, mounded evergreen.
- Daylily: tough, almost any situation except deep shade.
- Hens-and-Chicks: succulent rosettes, green/pink/purple.
- Pinks: grassy blue-green, fragrant pink/white/red.
Deer-Resistant Perennials
- Astilbe: shade/moisture, feathery plumes.
- Barrenwort: shade groundcover, delicate blooms.
- Cardinal Flower: moisture, brilliant red spikes.
- Foxglove: clustered pink bells.
- Lenten Rose: late winter, pink/white/purple.
- Ornamental Allium: purple/white bulb blooms.
- Russian Sage: silvery-gray foliage, purple summer blooms.
Perennials for Cool Climates
- Delphinium: long blue/purple/pink/white spikes.
- Globeflower: yellow spring, feathery centers.
- Japanese Primrose: moisture, pink/purple/white globes, spring.
- Lady’s Mantle: chartreuse blooms, blue-green foliage.
- Lupine: upright pea-like spikes, many shades.
- Monkshood: fall bloomer for shade.
- Oriental Poppy: crepe-like, orange/red/pink/white, spring.
Perennials for Hot Climates
- Blackberry Lily: orange blooms, black seed clusters.
- Blanket Flower: adaptable daisy for tough sites.
- Daylily: trumpet blooms, wide color range.
- Hardy Begonia: glossy green, pink blooms.
- Mexican Sage: deep purple, silvery plants.
- Muhlygrass: feathery foliage, white/pink blooms.
- Threadleaf Coreopsis: finely dissected, small yellow daisies.
Summer Power Perennials
