Easy-to-grow, gorgeous, and re-grow each year, perennials are an excellent addition to a gardening bed. Below, we are sharing with you some of the best beginner perennials to grow. If you are new to gardening, this list is for you.

Perennials come back each year, so you don't have to re-buy as you do with annuals. An easy way to recall the difference between perennials and annuals is by remembering that you buy annuals "annually". It is nice to have a mixture of both perennials and annuals in your garden, and we will explain why below.

Sunlight

Before selecting perennials, you first need to know the amount of sunlight you receive. Plants have different needs, and if you plant a perennial in the wrong sunlight for its needs, it won't thrive for you. That will hinder bloom production, foliage, and the overall health of your plant. Always know what type of sunlight your gardening bed receives before selecting plants.

• Full sun = 6+ hours per day of sunlight OR (in Middle Tennessee) morning shade with full afternoon sun

• Part sun = morning sun with afternoon shade

• Shade = dappled shade all day

Prep Your Soil for Planting

Perennials may be planted in both gardening beds and container pots. If planting in gardening beds, there is a good chance you'll want to amend the soil. Most of us have heavy clay in our soil, which does not allow water to drain properly. This often leads to root rot.

To amend your gardening beds, we recommend using soil conditioner. We can instruct you on how much to use (a little goes a long way). For perennials, you will dig each hole to be approximately as deep as the pot that the perennial is in, and approximately as wide or a little wider. Break up the soil with your shovel, and add the appropriate amount of soil conditioner to the hole, mixing it in with the existing soil. Then, take the perennial out of its pot, gently massage the roots, and plant. After adding soil around the newly planted plant, we recommend fresh mulch. Mulch keeps plants cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Watering

Newly planted perennials (those planted within the past year) will likely require watering every few days when we aren't receiving adequate rainfall. Many times, perennials will droop and let you know they're thirsty. Set a hose on a slow stream of water for a few minutes when needed. It is best to water in the morning or in the evening, so the sun does not evaporate the water. Additionally, as we mentioned above, a fresh layer of mulch will lock in moisture in the summer, keeping plants cooler, and also keep them warmer in the winter.

Planting Annuals Along with Perennials

Annuals add color continuously all season, while perennials typically have flushes of blooms throughout the season. There are some exceptions to this, but most generally follow this. If you'd like to add color to your gardening beds or container pots all spring and summer, it would be beneficial to include annuals alongside your perennials.

Several of our favorite annuals for blooms all spring, summer, and into early fall include:

Full Sun Annuals

• Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia)

• Bronze-leaf Begonia (Begonia)

• Lantana (Lantana)

• Sunpatiens (Impatiens)

• Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)

Part Sun/Shade Annuals

• Caladium (Caladium)

• Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides); thrives in both full and part sun locations

• Shade Begonia (Begonia)

• Shade Impatiens (Impatiens)

15 Gorgeous, Beginner-friendly Perennials for Your Garden

Full Sun Perennials

• Bee Balm (Monarda); one of our favorites is 'Bee-You-Bee-Merry'

• Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

• Coneflower (Echinacea)

• Tickseed (Coreopsis)

• Beard Tongue (Penstemon)

• Russian Sage (Perovskia)

• Salvia (Salvia)

• Stonecrop (Sedum); two of our favorites are 'Autumn Joy' and 'Dazzleberry'

• Stoke's Aster (Stokesia)

• False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

Part Sun/Shade Perennials

• Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

• Calla Lily (Zantedeschia)

• Coral Bells (Heuchera)

• Butterfly Gaura (Gaura)

• Plantain Lily (Hosta)

• Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

Many of these perennials above bloom profusely in the spring and summer months! Several will also bloom into fall for you, such as 'Autumn Joy' Sedum and Black Eyed Susan. Lenten Roses bloom in winter to early spring, making them a beautiful addition to a shade garden. We recommend planting Lenten Roses near a spot you'll see them from a window or near a walkway, where you can enjoy them during the cold months (as you may be outside less).

Landscape Ideas for a Perennial Gardening Bed

Perennials work well in a gardening bed in front of evergreen, foundation plants, or in a cottage garden mixed with annuals, roses, peonies, and other deciduous, flowering shrubs. Sometimes, however, homeowners want a gardening bed that is exclusively filled with perennials.

When creating a gardening bed full of perennials, focus on layering by height, mass plantings, and staggered bloom times. Place the tallest plants at the back or in the center of the bed, followed by medium-height plants and the shortest in front. If you want the gardening bed to look more natural, avoid straight rows of plants. Planting in odd numbers and groupings is more natural and appealing to the overall design.

Example of a Full sun perennial gardening bed

• Tallest plants: Russian Sage (gorgeous gray-green foliage, upright, small purple blooms), Coneflowers (colorful and upright, blooms last for several weeks), Beard Tongue (hummingbird attractor, upright white blooms)

  Medium-sized and shortest plants: Bee Balm (attracts bees, interesting flower), Yarrow, Salvia

  
  

Example of a Part sun/shade perennial gardening bed

• Tallest plants: Butterfly Gaura (wispy, tall stems that flower in spring and flow in the wind), Calla Lily (upright, elegant, tubular flowers), Hosta (depending on the variety)

• Medium-sized and shortest plants: Coral Bells (gorgeous foliage), Lenten Rose (blooms in winter to early spring and has evergreen foliage year-round), Hosta (smaller varieties)

Perennials tend to spread a bit in size each year. Many perennials can eventually be temporarily dug up, divided, and then you have more plants to plant or share with friends- a great way to share the joy of gardening with others. We are here to answer your questions about adding perennials to your garden space! Reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook, or the next time you stop by the nursery.