Perennials

These flowering garden plants return every year. The other type of garden flower you'll find in your local nursery is the annnual. Annuals will bloom for the whole summer season, but when they die, they're gone for good. Perennials bloom annually for a limited time every year during the same season.

Hostas

Hostas are common shade plants grown for their foliage. They can be blue-green or yellow-green or any shade between. Some leaves are thin, others are wide. Others still are variegated, meaning the leaves are two colors.

Crysanthemums

Crysthanthemums, or mums for short, are sun-loving flowers that appear in autumn. They are a great addition to the garden because few flowers bloom this time of year. Many choose to keep them in pots to display with pumpkins on front porches during autumn months, rather than plant in the garden.

Project Three

Daylilies feature yellow or orange trumpets. They do well in full sun or part sun. Their grassy foliage appears in spring, and they will bloom consistently throughout summer. They are more drought-tolerant than some other plants, making them lower maintenance. After a few years, they can be dug up and the roots divided to create more plants. Their cousins, asiatic and oriental lilies grow from bulbs.

Phlox

Phlox is a spreading perennial which blooms in spring in shades of pink and lavender. They grow low to the ground, and they can be a good filler for sunny slops in the garden that are difficult to mow. They are excellent companions for bulbs, as they bloom around the same time of spring.

Clematis

This climbing vine is often found strewing its tendrils on mailboxes. Flowers range in color from pinks to blue-purple. They bloom in spring, and if you'd like to have them on a trellis or mailbox, they'll need a bit of help. You can "train" the flowers by tying the vines where you want them spread.

Black-Eyed Susan

These North American wildflowers can be grown from seed, and once established, they will spread their own seeds. They will grow 1-3 feet tall!