Monches Farm, LLC
5890 Monches Road
Colgate, Wisconsin
phone: 262-966-2787
Perennials for Special Uses
By Zannah Crowe, horticulturist
Among the factors you might consider when selecting perennials for your garden – beyond their beauty – is what “job” do you want your perennial plants to perform? How about attracting butterflies? Providing natural food for birds? Providing flowers for fresh bouquets or for drying? Scenting the evening air with fragrance? Deterring rabbits? Entertaining young visitors or creating conversation? The possibilities are endless…
Perennials for Attracting Butterflies & Birds
*Plants marked with an asterix are rated “top ten” nectar plants by Stokes Nature Guides
| Early Season Bulbs (Crocus, Scilla, Chionodoxa, Daffodils) |
Early Season Nectar Source |
| Phlox stolonifera & Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox) |
Early Season Nectar Source |
| Hosta |
Hummingbirds |
| Heuchera (Coralbells) |
Hummingbirds |
| Aquilegia (Columbine) |
Hummingbirds |
| Centaurea montana (Perennial Bachelor Button) |
Butterflies (nectar) & Birds (seeds) |
| Penstemon (Beardtongue) |
Hummingbirds |
| Coreopsis (Tickseed)* |
Butterflies (nectar) & Birds (seeds) |
| Achillea (Yarrow) |
Butterflies |
| Monarda (Beebalm) |
Hummingbirds |
| Liatris (Gayfeather/Blazing Star)* |
Butterflies |
| Nepeta subsessilis (Nepeta) |
Hummingbirds |
| Eupatorium (Joe-Pye-Weed)* |
Butterflies |
| Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) |
Hummingbirds |
| Phlox paniculata & P. maculata (Summer Phlox) |
Butterflies & Hummingbirds |
| Silphium perfoliatum (Cup Plant) |
Butterflies & Birds (water source) |
| Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) |
Butterflies |
| Rudbeckia sp. (Black-Eyed-Susan)* |
Butterflies (nectar) & Birds (seeds) |
| Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)* |
Butterflies (nectar) & Birds (seeds) |
| Asclepias sp. (Butterfly Weed & Milkweed)* |
Butterflies (adult & juvenile) |
| Solidago sp. (Goldenrod) |
Butterflies |
| Aster novae-anglae (New England Aster)* |
Butterflies (adult & juvenile) |
| Sedum 'Autumn Joy' |
Butterflies (adult & juvenile) |
| Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn Clematis) |
Birds (cover & nesting) |
| Parthenossisus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper) |
Birds (fruit) |
Flowers & Foliage for Drying
Note: All can simply be harvested at their prime and hung upside down to dry in a cool dry area
| Yarrow (Achillea) |
Flowers (retain brilliant yellow color) |
| Anise-Hyssop (Agastache) |
Flowers (fragrant) |
| Ornamental Onion (Allium) |
Seedheads (can be colored once dried) |
| Artemisia |
Foliage (fragrant) |
| Astilbe |
Flowers (dry brown; can be colored once dried) |
| Belamcanda (Blackberry Lily) |
Blackberry-like ornamental seeds & pods |
| Globe Thistle (Echinops) |
Flowers (retain color) |
| Sea Holly (Eryngium) |
Flowers (retain color) |
| Ornamental Grasses |
Flowers & Seedheads (dry to tan) |
| Lavender (Lavandula) |
Flowers & Foliage (fragrant) |
| Beebalm (Monarda) |
Flowers (fragrant & retain color) |
| Peony (Paeonia) |
Flowers (retain color) |
| Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum) |
Flower Bracts (fragrant) |
| Roses |
Flowers (retain color) |
| Tansy (Tanacetum) |
Flowers (retain color) |
Flowers for Cutting
Actually, a vast array of flowers work well in bouquets. Experiment!
| Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla) |
Beautiful “filler” in arrangements |
| Asters (Asters) |
Fabulous color range, late season bouquets |
| Clematis (Clematis) |
Float a single blossom in a decorative bowl |
| Delphinium |
Striking color palette (true blues) |
| Dianthus, longer stemmed varieties |
Long lasting as cut flower |
| Daisies (Dendranthema, Leucanthemum) |
Classic simple bouquet or filler |
| Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) |
Airy “filler” |
| Daylily (Hemerocallis) |
Each flower only lasts a day; pick a beautiful blossom in the morning and display it on a pretty dish until evening (needs no water) |
| Coral Bells (Heuchera) |
Dainty accent |
| Iris (Iris) |
Fleeting but gorgeous |
| Gayfeather (Liatris) |
Outstanding vertical accent |
| Peony (Paeonia) |
A classic for fresh bouquets |
| Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata/maculata) |
Long lasting & fragrant, good color range |
| Pincushion Flower |
Super long-lasting as cut flower |
Fragrant Flowers
Plant near a patio, deck or walkway to best enjoy their fragrance.
| Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria) |
Tiny but intensely perfumed. |
| Dianthus |
Clove-scented |
| Scented Geraniums |
Annuals, but a “must” for patio containers |
| Hosta |
Certain varieties have very fragrant flowers |
| Lilies (Lilium) |
One plant can scent the entire garden! |
| Peony (Paeonia) |
Many are sweet scented |
Plants Not Favored By Deer/Rabbits
No Guarantees!
| Monkshood (Aconitum) |
Toxic |
| Ornamental Onion (Allium) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Bluestars (Amsonia) |
Milky sap |
| Artemisia |
Pungent foliage |
| Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema) |
Toxic |
| Astilbe |
Unattractive taste |
| Calamint (Calamintha) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Turtlehead (Chelone) |
Unattractive taste |
| Snakeroot/Fairy Candles (Cimicifuga) |
Unattractive taste |
| Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) |
Unattractive taste |
| Gas Plant (Dictamnus) |
Toxic |
| Foxglove (Digitalis) |
Toxic |
| Joe-Pye-Weed (Eupatorium) |
Unattractive taste |
| Spurge (Euphorbia) |
Toxic |
| Perennial Geranium (Geranium) |
Unattractive taste |
| Lavender & Most Herbs |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Grass, Ornamental |
Unattractive taste |
| Lenten Rose (Helleborus) |
Toxic |
| Beebalm (Monarda) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Daffodils (Narcissus) |
Toxic |
| Catmint (Nepeta) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Russian Sage (Perovskia) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Balloon Flower |
Milky Sap |
| Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Ornamental Sage (Salvia) |
Pungent scent & flavor |
| Lamb’s Ear (Stachys) |
Unattractive taste |
| Veronica (Veronica) |
Unattractive taste |
Plants for Entertaining Children & Other Garden Guests
| Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla) |
Collects rainwater & dew like jewels on leaf edges |
| Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema) |
Children are fascinated by the floral “house” |
| American Ginger (Asarum) |
Putrid smelling flowers pollinated by flies (little kids love this!) |
| Butterfly Weed/Milkweed (Asclepias) |
Monarch butterfly & caterpillar “magnets” |
| False Indigo (Baptisia) |
Legend has it that native American children shook the seedheads of this plant to imitate their elders in ceremonies |
| Girls especially love these “heart plants” |
|
| Gas Plant (Dictamnus) |
Gaseous emissions can supposed be lit with a match! |
| Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda) |
Fruiting body resembles a cinnamon stick |
| Queen-of-the-Prairie (Filipendula) |
Flowers look like cotton candy |
| Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) |
Flowers look like native American blankets |
| Bedstraw (Galium) |
Early settlers stuffed their mattresses with this plant |
| Catchfly (Lychnis) |
Sticky stems were said to “catch flies” |
| Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia) |
A Wisconsin cactus fascinates children |
| Obedient Plant (Physostegia) |
Turn the blossom and it “obediently” stays where you place it |
| Balloon Flower (Platycodon) |
Buds look like inflated balloons |
| Soapwort (Saponaria) |
Early settlers used this plant to make soap |
| Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum) |
Mother “hen” surrounded by baby “chicks” |
| Lamb’s Ear (Stachys) |
Silky silver “lamb’s ear” foliage |
Perennials for a Wet Site
Marsh Marigold (Caltha)
Turtlehead (Chelone)
Glyceria (Grass)
Houttuynia
Siberian Iris (Iris siberica)
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris Pseudacorus)
Ligularia
Perennial Lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis & L. siphilitica)
Bunchflower (Melanthium)
Water Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpiodes)
Ribbon Grass ({Phalaris)
Obedient Plant (Physostegia)
Primrose (Primula)
Globe Flower (Trollius)
Culver's Root (Veronicastrum)
Perennials for around
Black Walnut Trees
Black Walnut trees contain a substance called juglone that is
toxic to many plants
Astilbe
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Hosta (Hosta)
Lamb's Ear (Stachys)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea)
Sedum (Sedum)
Sundrops (Oenothera)
Particularly Long Blooming
(6+ weeks)
Deadheading will almost always extend bloom period
Yarrow (Achillea)
Perennial Marguerite (Anthemis)
Daisies (Dendranthema & Leucanthemum)
Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Yellow Bleeding Heart (Corydalis)
Fernleaf Bleeding Hearty (Dicentra eximia & cultivars)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)
Blanketflower (Gaillardia)
Perennial Geranium (Geranium)
False Sunflower (Heliopsis)
Daylilies (reblooming varieties)
Coralbells (Heuchera)
Knautia (Knautia)
Catmint (Nepeta)
Persicaria/Polygonum (all types)
Russian Sage (Perovskia)
Summer Phlox (Phlox)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Coneflowers (Rudbeckia)
Ornamental Sage (Salvia)
Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa)
Salt Tolerant Perennials:
Highly salt tolerant:
-
Aquilegia (Columbine)
-
Armeria (Sea Thrift)
-
Dianthus (Pinks)
-
Grass-Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass)
-
Grass-Festuca (Blue Fescue)
-
Grass- Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
-
Grass- Schizachyrium (Little Blue Stem)
-
Hemerocallis (Daylilies - this is GREAT news since you can visit us at the Farm and select from over 400 beautiful varieties!)
-
Waldsteinia (Barren Strawberry)
Moderately Salt Tolerant:
-
Achillea (Yarrow)
-
Anthemis (Perennial Marguerite)
-
Aster (Aster)
-
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
-
Erigeron (Fleabane)
-
Euphorbia (Spurge)
-
Helleborus (Lenten Rose)
-
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
-
Oenothera (Sundrops & Evening Primrose)
-
Penstemon (Beard Tongue)
-
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
-
Phlox (Phlox)
-
Sedum (Sedum)
-
Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks)
-
Stachys (Lamb’s Ear)
-
Veronica (Speedwell)
