Hardy Perennials – Must Have Perennials

Top Must Have Perennials® for a Vibrant Garden

Must Have Perennials® You’ll Love

Top Must Have Perennials® for a Vibrant Garden

If you’re dreaming of a garden that bursts with color, texture, and pollinator-friendly blooms season after season, look no further than the Must Have Perennials® collection. With a curated selection of long-lasting, easy-to-grow favorites, this brand offers reliable performers that bring life to every corner of your outdoor space — from sunny borders to shaded nooks.

Here’s a handpicked guide to some of the best Must Have Perennials® to transform every part of your garden:

💜 Hardy Geranium ‘Azure Rush’

A field of hardy geraniums 'Azure Rush' featuring a mix of light purple and pink blossoms surrounded by lush green foliage.

For a perennial that pulls double duty, Hardy Geraniums like ‘Azure Rush’ are unbeatable. These ground-hugging charmers bloom in late spring and can rebloom if trimmed after flowering. Their spreading habit makes them perfect for filling gaps in beds or softening edges.

🌸 Aster ‘Vibrant Dome’

A vibrant bush of pink Aster flowers in full bloom, showcasing rich shades of pink with yellow centers, surrounded by green foliage.

Late summer into fall can feel like the garden’s final bow, but Asters keep the show going. ‘Vibrant Dome’ lights up beds with daisy-like blooms in rich shades of pink and purple. These tough, sun-loving perennials are not just eye-catching—they’re long-lived, often thriving for over a decade!

🍃 Heuchera Summer Haze Series

Close-up of flowering stems with small greenish-yellow flowers against dark mulch, showcasing the delicate buds and foliage.

Heuchera
White

Close-up of flowering plant with pink and white blossoms against a green background.

Heuchera
Light Pink

Close-up of vibrant pink flowering plants in a garden setting.

Heuchera
Dark Pink

Add texture and vibrant foliage to shadier spots with Heuchera, a compact perennial that works beautifully in containers or as edging in beds. ‘Summer Haze’ offers a stunning mix of colors with an airy structure, thriving in light shade and making it perfect for softening woodland paths or patios.

🌿 Sedum ‘Key of Heaven’

A vibrant potted plant featuring clusters of pink flowers and dark green foliage, sitting on a rustic green table with a blurred background of garden furniture and additional plants.

Famous for their drought tolerance and fleshy, succulent-like leaves, Sedums are the workhorses of low-maintenance gardening. Excellent for rock gardens or ground cover – either way these not only bloom beautifully but also make striking cut flowers. A favorite for pollinators and gardeners alike.

🔔 Campanula

Charming, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white make Campanula a delightful choice for garden borders. These perennials prefer full sun but are forgiving of light shade. Their whimsical blooms add a cottage-garden feel to any landscape.

🌼 Echinacea ‘Lovely Lolly’

Close-up of vibrant pink flowers with layered petals, likely a coneflower variety, surrounded by green leaves and a blurred garden background.

Coneflowers (Echinacea) are garden staples — and ‘Lovely Lolly’ is a standout! With its candy-pink petals and sturdy stems, this full-sun perennial is perfect for creating vibrant, pollinator-friendly displays. Bonus: They make excellent cut flowers and come back strong year after year.

🔥 Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’

Close-up of vibrant orange and yellow Helenium flowers with dark brown centers, surrounded by lush green foliage.

Bring personality to your borders with Helenium, often called sneezeweed (don’t worry — it’s not allergenic!). This tall stunner has fiery orange and yellow blooms. It thrives in sunny spots, and it is ideal for late summer color. It’s also a magnet for bees and butterflies.

🌞 Coreopsis

Light and airy, Coreopsis adds a touch of cheer with its yellow blooms bobbing above fine, grass-like foliage. This sun-loving perennial attracts beneficial pollinators and is a great pick for low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly gardens.

🌿 With their trusted performance, unique varieties, and garden-tested resilience, Must Have Perennials® lives up to its name. Whether you’re planning a full garden makeover, or just looking to fill a few sunny spots, or even shady ones, these plants offer something for every garden style.

Ready to plant something unforgettable? Explore more at MustHavePerennials.com.

Discover the Charm of Dendrathema Igloo Mum and Other Striking Potted Plants

5 Must Have Perennials®
container plants you will love!

Discover the Charm of These Stunning Potted Plants

If you’re looking to add a touch of vibrant color and elegance to your indoor or outdoor spaces, potted plants are a fantastic choice. They offer flexibility in placement and a way to instantly elevate any setting.

We’re diving into the beauty of some particularly striking potted plants that will make your garden or home flourish with style: the Cranesbill Geraniums, the Westcountry™ Lupin series, Anemone Pretty Lady series, our Helichrysum collection, and of course Dendranthema Igloo mums! Let’s explore why these plants deserve a spot in a pot!

Cranesbill geraniums are celebrated for being hardy with large colorful blooms. The striking blue, pink, and purple flowers of Geranium Rozanne®, Azure Rush®, ‘Blushing Turtle’, ‘Hexham Velvet’, and ‘Sylvia’s Surprise’ bring a serene and refreshing pop of color to any pot.

With lush green foliage and abundant blooms, the Cranesbill Geraniums thrive in a sunny or partly shaded spot and are well-suited to container life. Lovely flowers can serve as groundcovers, or can be maintained in hanging baskets, or front borders. They are fragrant attracting bees and butterflies, but deer are not interested in these plants at all.

Westcountry Lupins™

For a touch of classic elegance, consider adding the Westcountry™ Lupins to your potted plant collection. Known for its tall spikes of flowers ranging from creamy white to soft pink bright pink, purple, and red, Westcountry™ Lupins bring a graceful, old-world charm to any container.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun, part shade
Habit is upright
Blooms in Late Spring /Early summer in zones 4-8
Watering: Requires regular watering, especially in dry periods
Temperature: Thrives in cooler temperatures, ideal for spring and early summer

Lupinus is magnificently known for its exotic appearance and ability to adapt well to container life. It’s perfect for adding a pop of color and an element of intrigue to your plant arrangements.

The Anemone Pretty Lady Series, including ‘Pretty Lady Maria,’ ‘Pretty Lady Diana,’ ‘Pretty Lady Susan,’ ‘Pretty Lady Julia,’ and ‘Pretty Lady Emily,’ are exceptional choices for container gardening due to their compact size, long blooming period, and vibrant flower colors. These cultivars offer a stunning display of semi-double to double blooms in shades ranging from white to soft and even bright pink. Their resilience and adaptability make them perfect for adding a splash of color to front borders as well as patios, balconies, and garden nooks.

Helichrysums such as ‘Ruby Cluster,’ ‘Red Jewel,’ ‘Ember Glow,’ and ‘Amber Cluster’ are ideal for pots and containers, bringing a burst of vibrant color and texture to any space. These varieties are renowned for their striking, papery flowers that retain their brilliance throughout the growing season, creating a visually captivating display. Their compact growth habit ensures they fit perfectly in containers without becoming overgrown, and their hardy nature means they thrive with minimal maintenance.

Additionally, the diverse color palette—from deep ruby and fiery red to warm amber hues—adds a dynamic contrast that can enhance any patio, balcony, or garden setting. With their long-lasting blooms and cheerful presence,

The Dendrathema Igloo Mum: A Delightful Choice for Potted Elegance

If you’re in search of a potted plant that combines charm, ease of care, and a burst of vibrant color, look no further than the Dendrathema Igloo Mum. Commonly known as the Igloo Mum, this variety of chrysanthemum is perfect for adding a touch of cheerfulness to any space, whether indoors or outdoors. Let’s dive into why the Dendrathema Igloo Mum is such a stellar choice for your plant collection.

Why Choose the Dendrathema Igloo Mum?

Striking Appearance

The Dendrathema Igloo Mum is renowned for its stunning spherical blooms that resemble a burst of colorful fireworks. The plant typically features dense, rounded clusters of flowers in a variety of shades, including vibrant yellows, rich reds, and soft pinks. This spherical form makes it a captivating centerpiece for any pot, bringing a pop of lively color to your space.

Versatile Planting Options

One of the greatest advantages of the Igloo Mum is its versatility. It thrives in a variety of containers, from small pots to larger planters, making it an excellent choice for patios, balconies, or even indoor spaces. Its compact, bushy growth habit means it doesn’t require a lot of room to make a big impact.

Long-Lasting Blooms

This variety is celebrated for its extended blooming period. The Igloo Mum typically starts flowering in late summer and continues well into fall, providing a long-lasting display of color that can brighten up your surroundings for months. Its resilience and longevity make it a favorite among gardeners and plant lovers alike.

Ease of Care

For those who may not have a green thumb, the Dendrathema Igloo Mum is a relatively low-maintenance plant. It’s known for its hardy nature and ability to adapt to various growing conditions. As long as you provide it with adequate light and water, it will thrive and continue to produce its beautiful blooms.

Care Tips for the Dendrathema Igloo Mum

Light: Igloo Mums prefer bright, indirect light. If growing indoors, place them near a sunny window but avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves. For outdoor pots, a location with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Regular watering is essential, especially during the blooming period. Ensure the pot has good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot.

Temperature: These mums enjoy moderate temperatures. They are quite hardy but should be protected from extreme cold. If growing them outdoors, consider bringing the pots inside when temperatures drop significantly.

Create a cottage garden with Must Have Perennials®

Create a cottage garden this year with Must Have Perennials®

Plant These Must Have Perennials® and transform your garden into a lovely cottage garden

Many gardeners just want to achieve that English Garden look with blue and purple ground covers, windswept flowers and cascading plants over rocks and stone walls. Perennial plants and flowers are a great investment because you can plant them once and enjoy them as part of your landscape
for years to come. Why not create a perennial garden that showcases these cottage garden plants?

Geranium Hardy Geraniums are great performers and help create a desirable English garden. Create beautiful borders, and ground covers with varieties like Geranium Rozanne®, Azure Rush®, and ‘Eureka Blue’.

For inspiration we look to Adrian Bloom, who creates “Rivers” of Rozanne® for Bressingham Gardens®. The rivers are designed to flow through a garden attracting pollinators with fragrant foliage, and cool colors that thrive in the summer heat.

Geranium Black n’ White is a delicate pure white flower that stands out against dark foliage that can appear deep green, purple, or nearly black.

With silver veined flowers, ‘Black n’ White’ is lovely for front borders, cottage gardens, woodlands, and can also be grown in tubs with care. The foliage is fragrant and will attract bees.

Bring in the pinks with Geranium ‘Blushing Turtle’, ‘Hexham Velvet’, and Rothbury Gem (‘Gerfos’)

There are cottage garden flowers like Echinacea ‘Lovely Lolly’, Heuchera Summer Haze in White, Light Pink, or Dark Pink, or Heuchera ‘Steel City’.

Anemone
Pretty Lady Series

Looking to add some beauty and charm to your garden?
Anemone plants are also called windflowers because of the way the blooms appear to be opened by the wind.
The Anemone are known as versatile for front borders and containers too! Butterflies and bees love these pretty ladies, and they are deer-resistant. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5, this plant blooms in autumn with an upright habit. Make sure to plant anemone in full sun or part shade for optimal growth.

Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Emily’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Diana’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Susan’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Julia’
Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Maria’

The Pretty Lady Anemone series are all sun-loving flowers with 2 inch (5cm) blooms with either single or double flowers formed in autumn. The are very floriferous! Habits are compact, unlike other hupehensis selections.

Campanula

The Campanula poscharskyana Blue Waterfall (‘Camgood’) has a low-growing, spreading, and trailing habit. Blue Waterfall flowers in the summer and autumn. It makes a lovely front border, ground cover, rock garden or container plant. These cascading blooms are long-blooming, and also drought tolerant.

Heuchera Summer Haze
This beautiful plant is a must-have in any garden. Heuchera, also called coral bells, is grown more for its gorgeous, frilly foliage that comes in shades ranging from deep burgundy to deep forest green. The flower wands appear in mid-summer in white and pink colors. It’s also not particularly tasty to deer or bunnies and tolerates both sun and shade.

Eryngium zabellii ‘Big Blue’ is an attention grabber at first glance with striking out of this world-blue color. This versatile plant is perfect for use in middle borders, as cut flowers, or as a specimen for dried arrangements.
This perennial is a favorite in the garden because of it’s unique color and it is attractive to bees and butterflies.

Hellebores or Lenten Rose

The Rockies Helleborus

These stunning shade lovers appear in late winter or early spring (around the time of Lent) when snow still is on the ground. They have unique foliage that will extend interest to shade gardens well into the summer.

The Rockies Helleborus Series has the most interesting traits with foliage that is freckled, red, marbled, and toothy. Cottage gardens can include hellebore plants that add a clever touch.

‘Snowshoe Mountain’
New foliage emerges rose-tinged in the fall and early spring maturing to white and green speckled leaves. Bouquets of flowers emerge in early Spring along with a new flush of foliage. Rose blushed buds and flowers striped with green persist for weeks slowly fading to green. Uniquely colored and patterned foliage reminiscent of a snow storm adds extended interest to shade gardens into the summer.

‘Mt. Nebo’
New foliage emerges bright red in the fall and early spring maturing to pink, white and green speckled leaves. Bouquets of flowers emerge in early Spring along with a new flush of foliage. Rosy pink blushed buds and flowers persist for weeks slowly fading to chartreuse. Bright yellow reflexive anthers add to the unique flowers.

‘Pike’s Peak’
Silver-grey leaves with finely toothed margins emerge in spring along with bouquets of chartreuse flowers. Foliage is accented with attractive venation and a silver overlay.

‘Hollowtop Mountain’
In fall and early spring green foliage emerges with bright white mid veins and marbling. Flowers are singular and clear white early in the spring. As leaves mature they hold attractive marbling and develop bright red petioles.

Transform your garden space and include other elements that will help complete the design. Step into the enchanting world of a typical English garden, where stone or brick pathways wind through lush greenery and vibrant flowers. From towering trees, shrubs to colorful perennials, every corner offers a new delight for the senses. Take a moment to relax on a charming bench and soak in the beauty around you. Who knows, you might just discover your inner artist through endless photo opportunities!

Geranium Azure Rush®

Exploring the Compact Beauty of Geranium Azure Rush®

The more contained growth of Geranium Azure Rush® makes a desirable home and garden plant, displaying well in containers and front borders.

In the year 2000, Blooms of Bressingham introduced
Geranium Rozanne® (‘Gerwat’), a creation of the English couple, the Waterers, who crossed a European hardy geranium with an Asian one.

Fast forward to 2007, Blooms of Bressingham unveiled a superior variant, Geranium Azure Rush®. This sport, a genetic mutation, brought lighter flowers, a more compact growth, and less sprawling nature compared to its predecessor,
Rozanne®. The crowning glory of Azure Rush® lies in its vibrant violet-blue petals, distinguishing it as a spectacular evolution in the world of geraniums.

Beloved for their abundance of violet-blue flowers and low-maintenance nature, Geranium Azure Rush® and Geranium Rozanne® emerge as contenders, known for their stunning blooms and easy care, these plants are hardy in USDA zones 5-8.

Geranium Azure Rush®: A Touch of Elegance
Azure Rush® is a charming cultivar prized for its delicate lavender-blue flowers and compact, mounding growth habit. Its lush, aromatic foliage provides an excellent contrast to the azure blooms, creating a visually pleasing display in borders, containers, and rock gardens. ‘Azure Rush’ is a mutation of ‘Rozanne’ from the Waterers, discovered at Jeddeloh Nursery in Germany.

Geranium Rozanne® (‘Gerwat’) is a garden-worthy hardy Geranium, recognized as the PPA Perennial Plant of the Year, RHS Plant of the Centenary, and received the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Geranium Rozanne® is a testament that excellent garden plants can emerge from anywhere and become a garden staple. Launched at the 2000 Chelsea Flower Show with our support, it won numerous awards and remains an industry favorite.

Geranium Azure Rush® gets noticed for its compact growth habit and striking azure-blue flowers. This variety stands out for its ability to thrive in a range of conditions while maintaining a neat, tidy appearance. Its compact nature makes it an ideal choice for smaller gardens, containers, or edging along pathways.

One of the defining features of Geranium Azure Rush® is its controlled growth, which typically reaches heights of around 18-20 inches (46-51 cm). This compact size not only lends itself well to confined spaces but also makes it easier to manage and maintain compared to larger geranium varieties.

In contrast, Geranium Rozanne® has long been celebrated for its prolific flowering and vigorous growth habit. While not as compact as Geranium Azure Rush®, Geranium Rozanne® reaches with a height of 20”-24” (48-53 cm) and a sprawling width.

The difference is in the spread of the plants, Rozanne will spread up to 100cm”

-Paul Gooderham – General Manager for Must Have Perennials®

The robust efforts of Blooms of Bressingham, now Must Have Perennials® have brought Azure Rush® and other hardy perennials in the exhibit to the attention of the horticulture industry around the world.

Additionally, deer, rabbits and their predacious four-legged allies generally avoid them. The plants are easy to care for, though deadheading may increase flower production. Generally, ‘Azure Rush’ will flower on and off throughout the growing season.

The trends in marketing our perennials include appealing to consumers who want plants that grow well in shaded gardens as well as containers. The more compact nature of Azure Rush makes it a winner for our program.

We delight in the response of growers that want to include Azure Rush® in their program.”

-Justin Wisniewski, Product Manager for Aris Horticulture®

Azure Rush® adds enduring color from spring until frost. These geraniums are resilient and adapt to diverse growing conditions, an easy choice for gardeners looking to nurture a pollinator garden.

One of the standout features of Geranium Azure Rush® is its exceptional heat and drought tolerance, making it well-suited for gardeners in warmer climates. Additionally, this cultivar thrives in well-drained soil and partial shade, although it can adapt to a variety of growing conditions with proper care.

Geranium Azure Rush® is known for its prolonged flowering period, often extending from late spring to early fall. This extended bloom time ensures exceptional versatility and adaptability to various growing conditions. Whether planted in sun or partial shade, in borders, rock gardens, or containers, this resilient cultivar thrives with minimal maintenance.

Geranium Azure Rush®, a geranium with deeply dissected leaves, lightly scented foliage, and the bright blue, yet pale purple five-petaled flowers. Each petal is about two inches wide and features a white or palest blue central “eye”. The petals are also strikingly veined in deep purple.As trends are leaning towards growing millions of units per year and as we approach the summer of 2024, Geranium Azure Rush® is an inspiration to the industry.

Azure Rush® | Geranium of our Dreams!

Approx. Height 18-20”/46-51cm
Approx. Spread 24-28”/61-71cm
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8
RHS Hardiness Rating -28°C/-20°F
Blooming Time Summer, Autumn
Habit Mounded
Light Sun, Part Shade

Rozanne® (‘Gerwat’) | Geranium of the Millennium

Approx. Height 20-24”/48-53 cm
Approx. Spread 26-30”/63-74cm
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8
RHS Hardiness Rating -28°C/-20°F
Blooming Time Summer, Autumn
Habit Mounded
Light Sun, Part Shade

First-Year Flowering Perennials

Discover our
Must-Have Perennials^®
that Bloom in their First Year

Excited about the latest trends in creating a beautiful garden this summer? We are!

Give our first year flowering perennials a try and find out how these colorful varieties check all the boxes!
Here are a few of our favorites!

Creating a garden that is stunning from the start is easy with first year flowering perennials. These also make wonderful cut flowers for bouquets.

Not only do they add beauty to your outdoor space, but they also attract essential pollinators!

Achillea
Achillea millefolium Little Moonshine
Achillea millefolium Seduction Series
Achillea millefolium Tutti Frutti Series

Aster
Aster novae-angliac ‘Vibrant Dome’
Buddleja
Buddleja davidii ‘Butterfly Gold’
Campanula
Campanula poscharskyana Blue Waterfall (‘Camgood’)
Coreopsis
Coreopsis verticillata Creme Brulee (‘Cremebru’)

Delosperma
Delosperma ‘Mountain Dew’
Delosperma ‘Orange Crush’
Delosperma Fire Spinner ^®

Dendranthema
Dendranthema Igloo Series

Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea ‘Lovely Lolly

‘Lovely Lolly’ has bright pink flowers atop elegant deep purple stems that make this Echinacea truly one of a kind.

Great performance, blooming from late June to late October.

Geranium
Geranium Rozanne^® (‘Gerwat’)
Geranium Azure Rush^®
Geranium sanguineum ‘Blushing Turtle’

Heliopsis
Heliopsis ‘Oriole Variegata’

Heliopsis ‘Oriole Variegata’ is a golden flower with bright variegated foliage that is creamy white with green veins.

Covered in large, 3″ long-lasting golden yellow daisy flowers, this Heliopsis is a show stopper with blooms or without!

Hibiscus
Hibiscus moscheutos Cordials Series
Want to add something outstanding to your garden this summer? Look no further than the Hibiscus Cordials Series!

These beauties are not only easy to grow,
but also heat-loving performers with 8-10″ blooms.
They are a hummingbird‘s paradise!!

Leucanthemum
Leucanthemum x superbum FREAK!^®
Leucanthemum x superbum SUNSHINE FREAK!^™

Verbena
Verbena ‘Lollipop ‘

This elegant flower has 2–3″ clusters of dainty pinkish-purple blooms on wiry, self-supporting stems. Its dark green leaves are narrow and sparse, giving the plant an airy lightness.

Lollipop Verbena bonariensis, is a reliable performer that adds a touch of charm and grace. Zones 7 to 11.

Garden Trends for 2024:

The Rockies Helleborus are different from other Hellebores because of their unique foliage. The leaves are spiky, speckled, and blushing with color bringing texture to the design of the garden. These shade plants, also known as Lenten Rose, add lots of winter interest to your garden, and they are deer resistant.

Garden Trends for 2024
A Deep Dive into The Rockies Helleborus series from Must Have Perennials®

Unveil hidden enchantments in your winter garden with a breathtaking series of Hellebores from Must Have Perennials, The Rockies. Adored by garden enthusiasts and praised as the highlight at our booth at MANTS Baltimore this year. Their foliage, a tapestry of unique patterns and textures, is the talk of the town!

This new series of Helleborus are the result of breeding and selection by Miyoko Matsumura at her Nursey – Matsumura Nursery™ located in Japan.

What are people saying about The Rockies?

These plants are different from other Hellebores because of their unique foliage. The leaves are spiky, speckled, and blushing with color bringing texture to the design of the garden. These shade plants, also known as Lenten Rose, add lots of winter interest to your garden, and they are deer resistant.

Hellebores are hardy perennials that are one of the first blooms seen each year, with their flowers coming out late winter and early spring.

In the spring and summer, Helleborus are a great early food source for pollinators and thrive in the shade or part shade areas of the garden. They are suitable for shady spots, woodlands, and borders, but can also be decorative in pots. With a flowering time from Winter to spring and USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9 they keep gardens looking alive year-round.

Let’s explore The Rockies!

Grand Teton PBR/USPPAF

Grand Teton – The Perfect Hellebore for Shade Gardens!
Dark grey-blue spiny foliage emerges in the Spring along with dark burgundy flowers accented by bright yellow reflexive anthers. Flowers persist on the plant, and the attractive foliage adds interest to shade gardens. Into the summer leaves begin to flush in shades of bright red, deep purple, and green & gold, extending the season of interest.

Hollowtop Mountain PBR/USPPAF

Hollowtop Mountain sports glossy green foliage with bright white mid-veins and marbling for a unique appearance. Once the leaves mature, they reveal stunning marbling and bright red petioles that catch the eye. When the petals fade, they leave behind a romantic, rosy hue that will remain until fresh new foliage takes over the show. Add a beautiful touch to your garden with Hollowtop Mountain!

Mount Nebo PBR/USPPAF

The Rockies Mount Nebo is stunning and promises to brighten up your landscape with distinctive foliage and flowers. New foliage emerges bright red in the fall and early spring, maturing to pink, white and green-speckled leaves. Bouquets of flowers emerge in early Spring along with a new flush of foliage. Rosy pink blushed buds and flowers persist for weeks, slowly fading to chartreuse. Bright yellow reflexive anthers add to the unique flowers and extended interest to shade gardens into the summer.

Pike’s Peak PBR/USPPAF

Pike’s Peak boasts spiky, silver-grey leaves, finely toothed edges, & chartreuse flowers. Emerges in spring along with bouquets of chartreuse flowers. Foliage is accented with attractive venation and a silver overlay. Flowers persist, and foliage adds textural interest to shade gardens into summer.

Snowshoe Mountain PBR/USPPAF

Snowshoe Mountain is prized for its rose-tinged foliage in the fall and early spring, maturing to white and green speckled leaves. Bouquets of flowers emerge in early Spring along with a new flush of foliage. Rose-blushed buds and flowers striped with green persist for weeks, slowly fading to green. Uniquely colored and patterned foliage reminiscent of a snowstorm adds extended interest to shade gardens into the summer.

Table Mountain PBR/USPPAF

If you’re looking for some “wow!” power for shade, this golden-foliaged hellebore is an excellent choice. Table Mountain is stunning, with new foliage swirling with green and gold! Emerges in spring and rosy-purple flowers persist and slowly fade to a dusty rose with chartreuse accents.

Find out more about Hellebores!

Deer Resistant Perennials

Deer-Resistant Must Have Perennials!

A Guide to Deer-Resistant Perennials with Scented Leaves and Textural Interest.

By strategically selecting deer-resistant perennials, you can create a garden that not only survives but thrives. In this guide, we’ll explore a variety of resilient perennials, each with scented leaves, bitter taste, or textures that don’t appeal to our four-legged garden visitors.

Achillea ‘Little Moonshine’: A Ray of Sunshine in Your Garden:

Achillea, or yarrow, features finely dissected, fern-like leaves with a subtle, pleasant aroma.

Deer generally avoid yarrow due to its bitter taste, making ‘Little Moonshine’ a golden addition to your garden.

Achillea millefolium Seduction and Tutti Frutti Series: Irresistible to Gardeners, Unappetizing to Deer:

Both series of Achillea bring fragrant foliage to your garden, enhancing the overall sensory experience.

The bitter taste of Achillea millefolium makes these series unappealing to deer, ensuring a vibrant and protected garden.

Anemone ‘Pretty Lady’ Series: Graceful Elegance, Deer-Resistant Resilience:

The ‘Pretty Lady’ series of anemones offer delicate, fragrant foliage that adds a touch of elegance to your garden.

Anemones contain compounds that deer find unappealing, ensuring your garden remains untouched by their browsing habits.

Aster ‘Vibrant Dome’: A Starry Display with a Deer-Proof Twist:

Aster have fine foliage and vibrant flowers that add to the charm of your fall garden.

Aster foliage has a texture that is less palatable to deer, making them a reliable choice for a colorful, deer-resistant display.

Buddleja ‘Butterfly Gold’: A Golden Haven for Pollinators and a Deer Deterrent:

The strong sweet scent of Butterfly Gold Butterfly Bush attracts butterflies while deterring deer, ensuring your garden remains a haven for pollinators.

Centaurea ‘Amethyst’ Series: A Jewel in Deer-Resistant Gardening:

Centaurea, or cornflower, has fuzzy foliage that complements its vibrant, jewel-toned flowers.

Deer tend to avoid the fuzzy texture of Centaurea, allowing these blossoms to shine undisturbed in your garden.

Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’: Sweet Blooms, Unappealing Bites:

The finely textured leaves of Coreopsis ‘Crème Brulee’ add interest that contrasts with its delicate blooms. The strappy leaves are unattractive to deer, ensuring your garden remains a sweet sanctuary.

Euphorbia ‘Bonfire’ and ‘Frosted Flame’: A Hardy Choice with Pungent Protection:

Euphorbias, with their unique structures, often emit a milky sap that acts as a deterrent to deer. This sap makes Euphorbia a resilient and deer-resistant perennial.

Geraniums Galore: A Symphony of Scent and Taste:

Geranium Cranesbill ‘Azure Rush’®: Fragrant leaves and a taste that deer find unappealing make this Cranesbill a standout in deer-resistant gardening.

Geranium x pratense ‘Black ‘n White’: Elegant black and white blooms are accompanied by aromatic foliage and a deer-resistant nature.

Geranium sanguineum ‘Blushing Turtle’: This sanguineum variety features blushing flowers, and leaves that deter deer with their taste.

Geranium ‘Eureka Blue’: Bright blue blooms and aromatic leaves, that deer prefer to pass by, make this Geranium a garden favorite.

Geranium x wallichianum ‘Hexham Velvet’: Velvet-like blooms, and leaves that deter deer, create a luxurious and protected garden space.

Geranium cinereum Rothbury Gem (‘Gerfos’): Rothbury Gem dazzles with its flowers and repels deer with its taste, ensuring a gem of a garden.

Geranium Rozanne® (‘Gerwat’): Known for its long bloom period, Rozanne also boasts aromatic leaves that deer are inclined to avoid.

Geranium x wallichianum ‘Sylvia’s Surprise’: The surprise here is the resilience against deer browsing, coupled with fragrant leaves.

Geranium x pratense ‘Summer Skies‘: A Blue Horizon Unperturbed by Deer:

Helleborus: The Rockies Series – A Mountainous Defense Against Deer:

‘Grand Teton’, ‘Hollowtop Mountain’, ‘Mount Nebo’, ‘Pike’s Peak’, ‘Snowshoe Mountain’, and ‘Table Mountain’:
Each variety in The Rockies Series of Helleborus offers taste and texture that deters deer, creating a mountainous defense against browsing.

Creating a garden that withstands the persistent nibbling of deer involves thoughtful plant selection. By incorporating these deer-resistant perennials with scented leaves and unappealing tastes, you can cultivate a garden that not only repels Bambi but also delights your senses with fragrant foliage and vibrant blooms. Embrace the beauty and resilience of these Must Have Perennials! ®

5 Must Have Perennials®container plants you will love!

Create a cottage garden this year with Must Have Perennials®

Exploring the Compact Beauty of Geranium Azure Rush®

Discover our Must-Have Perennials® that Bloom in their First Year

5 Must Have Perennials®
container plants you will love!

Discover our
Must-Have Perennials^®
that Bloom in their First Year