10 most unpretentious perennials
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An excellent solution for those who do not have the opportunity to provide constant care for flower gardens in their areas is to plant perennials - perennial ornamental plants that are not demanding to care for. Attractive compositions created from perennials of different height, color, leaf shape, inflorescences, are in no way inferior to flower beds with bright annuals. A perennial is an excellent choice for your summer cottage.
Astilba
Astilba
Astilba is a perennial plant, one of the numerous saxifrage family, uniting several hundred species. Most of the plants of this species are common in latitudes with a moderately cold climate, many are found in the highlands. Hence, probably, the plant's resistance to unfavorable weather conditions, as well as unpretentious care. This is one of the reasons for its demand in the design of gardens. Moreover, the plant is very decorative. Astilba grows in the form of a bush, and some of its varieties reach a height of up to 2 meters, has unusual carved leaves and paniculate inflorescences of very different colors, from milky to bright pink.
The plant is propagated both by seeds and by dividing the bush. The latter option is much simpler, since the delenka takes root well and a bush transplanted at the beginning of summer can bloom in the same season. Astilba grows well in partial shade, but for lush flowering it is better planted in lighted places. Care consists in watering the plant abundantly, especially if it is not regular. In this case, to maintain moisture, the soil near the bush can be mulched. The bush looks great in any mixborders, it is also often planted near artificial reservoirs, and the neighborhood with the host is already a classic design option.
Perennial catchment
Catchment
And also aquilegia, eagle, in England - columbine - these are all the names of one perennial herb belonging to the buttercup family. Aquilegia is a biennial plant that blooms from the second year. The flowers have an interesting bell-shaped shape, located on a long, thin stem, towering above the rosette. The color range is huge. The color is monochromatic and multicolored. In height, the aquilegia reaches 40 - 80 cm. The plant propagates by seeds, cuttings and dividing bushes. It should be noted that in the absence of control, aquilegia can quickly "capture" the territory. Therefore, after flowering, the stems with seed pods are cut off. If you miss this moment next year, you will get a huge number of small shoots. The seeds of the plant are frost-resistant and remain viable for 12 months.
The plant is absolutely not demanding either to the place of planting or to care.
Aquilegia will perfectly complement flower beds with irises, ferns, swimsuits, and varieties with low peduncles will look good with saxifrage, gentian and carnation.
Perennial dicenter
Dicenter
Dicentra is a perennial plant of the poppy family. The dicenter develops in the form of a bush, up to 1 meter high. There are also low-growing varieties that grow no higher than 15 cm. The shape of the dicentra flowers is so intricate that this plant cannot be confused with any other. The flowers resemble hearts, dissected at the bottom, with protruding white petals. They are like droplets, hanging in large numbers from arcuate inflorescences. The flowering bushes of the dicentra are striking in their beauty. The only pity is that the flowering period lasts only a month, from May to June.However, the bright greenery of the bush, with beautiful carved leaves, will delight you all season and perfectly complement plantings with flowering summer plants.
The plant propagates by seeds, aerial sprouts and cuttings. It takes root on any soil, however, if possible, it is better to choose a nutritious, moderately moist and well-drained soil. The dicentra will grow in partial shade and in well-lit areas. It should be noted that in the first case, flowering will be late, but at the same time, longer. Plant care consists of watering, weeding and loosening.
By the way, for the shape of the flower, the dicenter is also called "broken heart", according to legend, these flowers appeared in the place where a girl named Jeannette saw her lover leading another down the aisle and her heart broke. This plant is quite common in the design of gardens all over the world, therefore, in almost every country it has its own name. For example, the British saw a "lady in the bath" in the shape of a flower.
Perennial iris
Iris
Iris is a perennial rhizome plant of the iris or iris family. Iris grows as a bush, its height can exceed 1.5 meters. The leaves are long, flat, pointed at the tips. The flowers of irises are quite large, they consist of 6 petals, three of which are bent downward, and three - look up. By the time of flowering, the bush is gaining quite a lot of green mass and flowers on long inflorescences peep out fancifully because of the long leaves. Iris flowers are one of the most diverse in color and combination of colors. A very common and simple way to reproduce flowers is by dividing the rhizome. Iris quickly adapts to a new place and starts growing. Despite the fact that the root system of the plant is located in the upper layers of the soil, irises tolerate cold winters well. It is better to plant plants in well-lit areas with moderately fertile and moist soil. If the place was "to the liking" of the iris, then caring for it will consist only in regular watering and not too frequent feeding.
Irises of various varieties, planted in a mono flower, will become a real decoration of any garden. Low irises are often planted in curbs along lawns or in rockeries.
Perennial lupine
Lupine
Lupine, translated from Latin, means "wolf", among the people it is more often called "wolf beans". The plant is a perennial belonging to the legume family. Lupine develops in the form of a bush with slightly spreading leaves and erect brush-like flower shoots, on which a huge number of small flowers bloom. The length of such an inflorescence can reach half a meter. Most often, lupines are propagated by seeds, sometimes by cuttings.
The plant is not recommended to be planted on loamy and waterlogged soils with an acidic and alkaline environment. The root system of lupine is pivotal and penetrates into the soil quite deeply, therefore, the soil must be moisture-consuming and breathable. The site should be well lit, since in shaded places the lupine stretches out and loses its decorative effect. Plant care, in addition to watering, includes weed removal, loosening, and for adult plants also hilling.
Lupine looks good in flower beds with irises, lilies, hosts. Group plantings of lupines of different colors look spectacular.
It is important to follow some rules for creating multi-level compositions. So, if the flower garden is located along the fence or buildings, then tall plants are planted in the background. When the flowerbed is made in the form of an island, the tallest flowers, alone or in groups, are planted in the center.
Herbaceous peonies
Peonies
Peony is a perennial plant that needs no introduction, because a rare site does without these flowers. They have earned the love and popularity of gardeners not only for their beauty, but also for their unpretentious care, as well as good frost resistance.
Peonies simply reproduce in small pieces.It is better to plant plants in well-lit areas with loamy soils. The peony does not require any special care, except for watering, loosening and weeding. During the period of budding and flowering, fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers is necessary.
Planting peonies looks very impressive against the background of the lawn. They are decorated with flower beds, laid out at the facade of a house, a terrace or a gazebo. After the peonies bloom, the greenery of the bushes can serve as an excellent backdrop for other flowering plants.
Chamomile garden
Chamomile garden
Garden chamomile (or daisy) is a perennial herb belonging to the large Aster family. The height of the plant stem can reach 1 meter. And the flower known to all, with a yellow center surrounded by white petals, may have another, brighter color. There are daisies with yellow, brown, pink and lilac petals.
Nivyanik propagated by seeds, dividing the rhizome and cuttings.
So that the tall stems of the plant do not deform, reducing its decorative effect, the area with the cornflower should be well lit, the soil should be drained with a neutral level of acidity.
Plant care includes watering (frequent for young plants and also in dry weather), weeding, loosening, and organic fertilization.
In addition, for a long and abundant flowering, you need to remove dried inflorescences, and at the end of flowering, the bush must be pruned. For the winter, it is recommended to cover the plant with dry foliage.
Uncomplicated-looking flowers of the nivyaniki will well complement complex compositions and large mixborders. Group plantings of these flowers also look attractive. More about nivyanik here.
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia is another flower, a representative of the Aster family. This plant is of various types, perennial ones: hairy rudbeckia (due to the villi on the stem), beautiful, shiny, glossy. Its height can be from 25 cm to 1.5 meters. Rudbeckia has straight or branched shoots, ending in inflorescences - baskets, with a black or dark brown heart and yellow, red or orange petals. The diameter of such flowering baskets in some varieties can reach 15 cm.
The most common way of breeding rudbeckia is by dividing the bush.
When choosing a site for planting, two important conditions must be observed, namely, good lighting of the site and moisture-absorbing soil. All the care the plant needs is watering, weeding and loosening.
Rudbeckia is great for planting in country-style gardens, where a lot of natural materials, wooden architectural forms are used.
By the way, rudbeckia is not at all the name of a girl from some legend. The plant got its name in honor of the father and son of the Rudbeks, who were biologists.
Hosta
Hosta
Hosta is a perennial plant, a native of the asparagus family. It should be noted that the hosta leaves that wake up in the spring, looking out of the soil, really resemble asparagus shoots. As for the rest, biologists know better.
Unlike other plants, in the case of the hosta, the leaves are more attractive and decorative than flowers. Their color is striking in the variety and combination of colors, presented in the range from bluish-green to yellow-green and whitish. The leaves are also interesting for the variety of textures, there are glossy, wrinkled, matte, waxy ones. In size, hosts are also very small, planted in rock gardens and simply gigantic, used for large-scale landscape compositions. Hosta flowers resemble bells, collected on a long inflorescence directed upwards. They do not differ in bright color and, against the background of leaves, you do not always notice them.
Hosts are propagated in various ways: by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush. It should be noted that the last option is the most optimal. The young delenka quickly takes root and builds up the green mass.
When deciding on a place for planting a plant, you need to remember that varieties with bluish leaves are more fond of slightly shaded areas, and well-lit areas with yellow and whitish ones. In general, most varieties prefer partial shade.
The soil for planting the host should be ph-neutral, loose and breathable. When planting plants in fertile soil, feeding can be postponed for several years. But to water the hosts, if possible, you need to regularly and abundantly.
The host, due to the variety of colors, will have a place in any flower beds, on lawns, near water bodies.
And yet, hosta is not just a perennial, this plant is a long-liver. In one place, without a transplant, it can grow for 10-30 years.
Perennial echinacea
Echinacea
Echinacea - before us is again a perennial plant of the Aster family. In garden decoration, one of its types is most common - Echinacea purpurea. Plant height reaches 1.5 meters. Branched and rough stems. The flower basket has a spiny bract (center of the flower) surrounded by purple-pink petals. The plant begins to bloom from the second year.
Outwardly, echinacea is very similar to rudbeckia. By the way, earlier it was called purple rudbeckia. However, after some differences were found between them, the plant began to be attributed to a different species.
Echinacea is propagated by dividing the bush, as well as by seeds. The plant needs a well-lit area and fertile soil. For proper development and flowering, it is necessary to provide abundant watering, weeding and application of organic fertilizers.
Echinacea will look great in any multi-level flower garden with other perennials.
All of the listed perennials are not at all whimsical in care and their cultivation is not difficult, it is only difficult to make a choice from such a variety of varieties and species, each of which is attractive in its own way.