Top 10 Perennials

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This classic staple of your grandmother's garden won't let you down. Irises come in a wide array of colors--from nearly translucent, pale yellow to a murky, dark purple. Some are bearded, some are not. Most of the common irises bloom in mid to late spring, but if you select from varieties and cultivars, you can extend the season from early spring to early summer. The reblooming bearded iris gives a second blooming period from midsummer to fall. During the rest of the growing season, the lance-shaped foliage is a good filler for the garden. For even more interest off-season, plant irises with variegated foliage.

Planting iris is different than planting most perennials. It’s very important the fleshy bulb, the rhizome, is slightly above the soil's surface. Dig a shallow hole, hold the plant in place and cover the roots and sides of the rhizome with soil. You may have to toggle the plant back and forth to make sure that the tip of the rhizome is exposed. USDA Zones 4 to 9.

2. Peony (Paeonia sp.)

Peony is another classic late-spring-blooming perennial with large masses of petals in shades of pink, white and red. They grow best in full sun but tolerate light shade. Give them well-drained, fertile soil (mix in an organic matter when you plant) and be prepared to wait for a couple of years for their first good show; they often take awhile to become fully established. Plant three feet apart, burying the buds (eyes) no more than two inches below the soil surface. Peonies are a great flower for a cutting garden. Zones 3 to 8.

3. Hosta (Hosta sp.)