Top 5 Best Perennials for NY/CT Landscapes
Top New York and Connecticut area landscape designers reveal their favorite perennials.
Pictured here :Catmint (Nepeta): Best choice perennial for CT
Designing with Perennials: Russian Sage
There are quite a few great publications and online resources available for the gardening enthusiast looking to expand his or her knowledge of the latest and greatest in the horticulture world. But as our readers already know, each zone and state can be different.
In honor of making the most of the landscaping season in the Northeast, we decided to catch up with some of our area’s best landscape design pros to get an insider’s look at some of the best strategies for designing with perennials. We asked the designers a very tough to narrow down question—name your three favorite perennials. After all, what better way to get great, reliable plant picks than going directly to the talented folks that design and build beautiful landscapes in the NY/CT area?
After narrowing down the many suggestions, we put together a list of five perennials handpicked by the pros! Can these time-tested beauties add pop to your outdoor living spaces? Read on for the collection of the best flowers to grow in CT.
Deer-resistant beauty:
CATMINT (NEPETA)
“This plant is what I call the Poor Man’s Lavender,” says Rick King, Project Manager at Hoffman Landscapes in Wilton, CT. “True Lavender is difficult to grow in our zones 5 and 6, so Nepeta is a great substitute.” Pete Nilsesturn, owner of Landworx of NY in Goshen, NY, explains “Catmint provides very nice color during the summer with long bloom times.” There are many varieties of Catmint available, making this perennial very versatile in the design of outdoor spaces. It is also considered deer resistant (not deer proof of course).
One of the best flowers to grow in CT?
SIBERIAN IRIS (IRIS SIBIRICA)
A very distinct perennial, Iris is often identified by its grassy, spikey foliage. “Iris comes in many different varieties, but I prefer the Siberian Iris,” explains Hoffman Landscape’s Rick King. Rick likes the wide variety of available colors including blue, purple, white, pink, and bright yellow flowers. Also a favorite of Brian Higley, landscape architect in Cold Spring, NY, he explains that the foliage of the Siberian Iris is “punk and spikey all season and combines well with many other plants. I also find them way tougher and versatile than descriptions indicate.”
Perennial landscaping ideas from pros:
BEE BALM (MONARDA DIDYMA)
Looking to attract the ever-elusive hummingbird? Planting some Bee Balm is a great place to start. “For me, I always want to know how can I design and create a naturally beautiful, sustainable garden with long blooming colorful flowers which will also attract ecologically valuable wildlife (preferably without deer),” says Jay Archer, President of Green Jay Landscaping in Westchester, NY. The unusually shaped flowers of Monarda sit atop strong stems and are available in pink, red, and purple.
Designing with perennials:
BUGBANE (CIMICIFUGA RAMOSE)
The talented folks at Austin Ganim Landscape Design in Fairfield, CT admit that because they love plants so much, they can be a bit chatty about them. After an office poll, Bugbane made it to their list of favorite perennials. Bugbane is a deer-resistant perennial that stands 3’-4’ with bloom colors of white, cream, or pale pink. Bottlebrush-like flowers emerge in late summer and continue into fall, standing several feet above the foliage. “Its stature makes it perfect for the back of a perennial border and it easily mixes with shrubs in a woodland garden,” explains Eva Chiamulera, a landscape architect for the firm. “Our favorite pink flowering form is ‘Pink Spike’ and for a fantastic color contrast ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ has a bright white flower against dark purple foliage.”
Best choice perennial for CT
RUSSIAN SAGE(PEROVSKIA ATRIPLICIFOLIA)
The tall, soft lavender-colored wands of the drought tolerant Russian Sage plant dancing around in the breeze is a beautiful sight to see. The ‘Little Spire’ variety of this 2’-4’ tall woody perennial made Jan Johnsen of Johnsen Landscapes and Pools top three list for deer resistant choices. Also selected as a favorite of Penny Augustine, owner of Augustine Nursery in Kingston, NY—Penny adds, “The great color and long-lasting bloom makes Russian Sage ideal for plantings around outdoor patios and sitting areas.”