In designing with plants, it is the perennials that ensure that there is constant change, and that there is always an element of surprise or interest in the garden.
Getting to know the dormant and flowering periods of the plants is essential to achieving the right balance in the design, so that as one perennial goes to sleep, another awakens.


Perennials, perhaps more than any other group of plants, are available in a huge range of colours, forms, textures and fragrances in both foliage and flower. There are perennials suitable for almost every area of the garden: from full sun to full shade, in large gardens or small beds and to suit every mood or style. Popular perennial plants include Penstemon, Gaura, Canna, Dahlias, Salvias, Lupins, Columbines, Lilies, Delphiniums and Hellebores - oh! the list is endless.

A perennial plant (Latin per, "through", annum, "year") is a plant that lives for more than two years, unlike an Annual which grows, sets seed, gayly disperses it and then dies - all in a single season. Perennial plants are divided into two large groups: those that are woody and those that are herbaceous. They can be short-lived (only a few years) or they can be long-lived, and can vary in size from only a few millimeters to over 10 meters tall. They include a wide assortment of plant groups from Ferns to the highly diverse flowering plants like Orchids and Ornamental Grasses.


Perennials typically grow structures that allow them to adapt to living from one year to the next. These structures include bulbs, tubers, woody crowns, rhizomes plus others. They might have specialized stems or crowns that allow them to survive periods of dormancy over cold or dry seasons during the year. Many perennials have adapted to survive under extreme environmental conditions: some can survive hot dry conditions, or cold temperatures. These plants tend to invest a lot of resource into their adaptations and often do not flower and set seed until after a few years of growth.



Many perennials produce relatively large seeds, which can have an advantage as they produce larger seedlings after germination that can better compete with other plants or more quickly develop leaves, ensuring their survival.

In warmer climates, perennials grow continuously. In seasonal climates, their growth is limited to the growing season. For example, in temperate regions a perennial plant may grow and bloom during the warm part of the year, with the foliage dying back in the winter. These plants are deciduous perennials. Regrowth is from existing stem tissue. In some species, perennials retain their foliage all year round; these are evergreen perennials. Come in and take a look around. We've always got something pretty, perky and persuasive in the perennial line.

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aka Tussock Grass

NZ Native Grass. This is a graceful little grass or tussock with fine, light silver green needles of foliage that curl over at the top. Looks its best when planted in large groups or drifts. Easy to grow in sun or part shade in average soil. Evergreen.

If your clump of Carex becomes a little scruffy give it a new 'do' by cutting off the top growth - you can be quite severe - and it will rapidly re grow with renewed vigour.

 

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aka Spanish Shawl

A prostrate ground hugging perennial with a dense mat of green leaves that in summer becomes smothered by bright cerise pink flowers. Quite a show off really and easy to grow in a sunny well drained spot. Needs protection from frost. Evergreen.

 

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aka Rosemary

A fabulous new version of an old favourite. An upright Rosemary that grows into a pillar or column. Softest blue, large flowers appear from April through to October with the main flowering in September. Loves a well drained sunny position. Clips well. Evergreen.

 

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aka Autumn Crocus, Rain Lily

Autumn Crocus with delightful white crocus like flowers in the autumn. Attractive grass like glossy green foliage, not dissimilar to tall mondo grass. They are excellent in rockeries or borders. H.30cm.