PODCAST: Perennial Flowers with Extended Blooming Periods

Perennial flowers can add color and variety to any yard and garden. Taun Beddes, USU Extension horticulturist, discusses his favorite perennials that have long blooming periods in this podcast. To listen, click the play button below:

Transcript Summary

Stella D' Oro Daylily

Commonly referred to simply as Stella daylily, it blooms from late spring into fall, with pretty yellow flowers. It is the most free-blooming of

all daylilies.

Stella daylily grows to between 18 and 24 inches tall and a few feet wide. It requires weekly deep irrigations once it is established. It also needs dividing every three or four years.

Stella daylilies live for many years and are not susceptible to many insect pests or diseases.

One thing I have noted this year is that the continuous 100-degree heat seems to have slowed blossoming down. But once we cool down a bit, they should pick up again.

Coreopsis or Pincushion Flower

Coreopsis starts blooming in June and goes until late July or August. The most common flower color is yellow but orange is also common.

If I had to compare the look of the flowers to another, they loosely remind me of marigolds.

There are many varieties available. Most live for between four and six years or maybe longer. They can get up to 3 feet wide; so give the room. There are red and pink coreopsis varieties available. However, I have not seen any reliably overwinter in Northern Utah.

Coreopsis requires regular deadheading. Additionally, do not over water them. They will become overgrown and leggy. They are also not susceptible to many pests or diseases.

 

Hummingbird Mint, Anise Hyssop or Agastache

These bloom from July to the first hard frost. They come on a multitude of colors from pink, red, yellow and light purple.

They are also valuable pollinator plants, where they attract many species of bees. With this, do not plant these in areas where little kids often are.

Hummingbird mints can reach three to four feet high and wide but do not send runners all over the place like regular mint. If they are over watered, they may be killed. They do just fine, once they are established, being deeply watered every few weeks.

 

Perennial hibiscus

I really like perennial hibiscus, because it grows in almost any Utah soil and blooms for over six weeks. It is also very long lived.

perennial hibiscus comes in many different flower colors from white to pink and even red and lavender. It grows anywhere from 4 to 6 feet high and wide, but more modern varieties tend to stay shorter on the shorter side of this.

Perennial hibiscus is not bothered by many pests or diseases. The only concern I see people have is that it does not break dormancy in the spring until almost June. People sometimes thinks it’s dead.

 

Autumn Joy Sedum or Stone Crop

There are many types of sedum including drought-hardy, beautiful ground covers. However, Autumn Joy sedum is an upright perennial that grows 3 feet high and wide. And it has beautiful pink blossoms in late summer and fall.

Sedums do not tolerate being overwatered. Place them in areas where they can be deep soaked every week or two. Like the other perennials I have discussed, Autumn Joy Sedum is not susceptible to many pests or diseases.