Column: Well-behaved perennials provide long-term colour

This is the last article in the series on my choice of some of the best perennials to plant in your garden. I have received my order of perennials that are showing colour for a long season of bloom, are well-behaved in the garden and are extremely attractive to butterflies and bees. Luckily for you, I also bought a few extra to share with other gardeners. These well-behaved perennials provide lots of long-term colour.

Spring colour is so appreciated in areas that are blessed with long winters. My mom also grew plenty of primroses so I guess I come by this love with no surprise. Drumstick Primroses are easy to grow and bloom early in spring. The leaves form a rosette close to the soil surface and flowers in white, pink, mauve, blue and rosy red appear on the top of 30-centimetre (12-inch) stems. If your garden is on the dry side, these primroses will die-back and go dormant until next spring but if they are in a moist, organic rich location they will stay green all summer.

For those gardeners with dry full-sun areas in their garden, a selection of hardy Sedums is just right for you. They come in a multitude of sizes, shapes and colours and thrive on neglect.

Sedum Dazzleberry has smoky blue-grey foliage with brilliant raspberry coloured flower clusters up to nine inches (22cm) in diameter on plants up to eight inches tall and will spread to 18 inches.

Sedum Firecracker has shiny red foliage with large medium pink flowerheads in late summer through fall.

Sedum ewersii has sweet blue foliage with bright pink blooms.

Sedum kamtschaticum is vigorous with small, scalloped green leaves with bright yellow star flowers in summer.

Sedum reflexum Blue Spruce has blue-green needle-like leaves with yellow star-shaped flowers.

Sedum repestre Angelina has brilliant yellow needle-like leaves and turn copper in fall.

Sedum spectabile Autumn Joy has a clumping foliage that displays flowers that begin as pink and turn rosy russet-red in fall.

Sedum spurium Dragon’s Blood starts out with green leaves with red flowers.

Sedum Vera Jameson has blue-green foliage turning deep burgundy with dusky-pink flowers.

Last but definitely not least one of my favourite grapes Vitis x Mareschal Foch, which produces a deep purple grape on a vigorous vine growing about 20 feet. One of my favourite Explorer roses Rosa Alexander MacKenzie has semi-double, medium red flowers that are very fragrant.

Other than the grapes and roses, plants are in 3.5- to four-inch pots and the cost per plant is $10. There are limited numbers so place your order now to info@orchidhort.com . Once you receive a confirmation along with a bill, you will need to promptly e-transfer the total amount due in order to guarantee your order is filled. Pick up in Saskatoon. If there are any leftovers, they will be available for sale at a future date. Keep up with all of the plants available on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/orchidhort

Also available are speedwell, bee balm, gaillardia and a selection of hardy sedums.

Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at info@orchidhort.com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.

Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?