Gardeners often seek that "perfect" herbaceous (non-woody) perennial plant to fill a special location or need in the landscape. Listed below are some perennial plants useful for special purposes based on the growing conditions and experiences in Rhode Island. Your experience with the plant may vary somewhat. Of course, this list is not all-inclusive--use it as a guide and then plan some further research on your own.

Sometimes many plants in a genus will fit the category given and are listed as "Hosta spp.," for instance. Do more research to narrow your selection within the genus. Occasionally, a specific cultivar is listed (in single quotes), indicating that the particular plant is the best choice within the species. The Latin name and a common name are given for most listings.

Plants for Sunny, Dry Areas

Achillea spp.-Achillea or Yarrow
Anthemis tinctoria-Golden Marguerite
Arabis caucasica-Rock Cress
Armeria maritima-Common or Sea Thrift
Artemisia spp.-Artemesia
Asclepias tuberosa-Butterfly Weed
Catananche caerulea-Cupid's Dart
Coreopsis spp.-Coreopsis
Echinops ritro-Small Globe Thistle
Euphorbia spp.-Spurge
Gaillardia spp.-Blanket Flower
Helianthus x multiflorus-Perennial Sunflower
Hemerocallis hybrids-Daylily
Lavandula angustifolia-English Lavender
Liatris spp.-Gayfeather
Malva alcea-Hollyhock Mallow
Oenothera spp.-Sundrops
Perovskia atriplicifolia-Russian Sage
Polygonum cuspidatum var. compactum-Fleeceflower
Rudbeckia spp.-Black-eyed Susan
Sedum 'Autumn Joy'-Showy Stonecrop or Live-Forever
Sempervivum tectorum-Hens & Chickens
Stachys byzantina-Lamb's Ear
Yucca filimentosa-Yucca

Plants for Moist to Wet Areas

Aruncus dioicus-Goat's Beard
Astilbe x arendsii-Astilbe
Campanula glomerata-Clustered Bellflower
Cimicifuga racemosa-Black Snakeroot
Dicentra spp.-Bleeding Heart
Houttuynia cordata 'Variegata'-Houttuynia
Iris ensata-Japanese Iris
Ligularia spp.-Ligularia
Lobelia cardinalis-Cardinal Flower
Lysimachia clethroides-Gooseneck Loosestrife
Lysimachia punctata-Yellow Loosestrife
Matteuccia pensylvanica-Ostrich fern
Physostegia virginiana-Obedient Plant
Rodgersia pinnata-Featherleaf Rodgersflower
Tradescantia x andersoniana-Virginia Spiderwort
Trollis europaeus-Globeflower

Plants for Full Shade

Ajuga reptans-Bugleweed
Arum italicum 'Pictum'-Painted Arum
Asarum spp.-Wild Gingers
Convallaria majalis-Lily-of-the-Valley
Dodecatheon media-Common Shooting Star
Galium odoratum-Sweet Woodruff
Helleborus orientalis-Lenten Rose
Hosta spp.-Hosta
Lamium maculatum-Spotted Deadnettle
Liriope spicata-Creeping Lilyturf
Mertensia virginica-Virginia Bluebells
Osmunda regalis-Royal Fern
Polygonatum biflorum-Small Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum commutatum-Great Solomon's Seal
Pulmonaria angustifolia-Blue Lungwort
Pulmonaria saccharata-Bethlehem Sage
Tiarella cordifolia-Foam Flower
Tradescantia x andersoniana-Virginia Spiderwort
Viola odorata-Sweet Violet

Plants for Partial Shade

Alchemilla mollis-Lady's Mantle
Anemone x hybrida-Japanese Anemone
Aquilegia spp.-Columbine
Astilbe spp.-Astilbe
Bergenia cordifolia-Heartleaf Bergenia
Brunnera macrophylla-Siberian Bugloss
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides-Plumbago
Dicentra spp.-Bleeding Heart
Doronicum cordatum-Leopardsbane
Geranium spp.-Cranesbill or Hardy Geranium
Heuchera sanguinea-Coralbells
Myosotis sylvatica-Garden Forget-me-not
Tricyrtis hirta-Toadlily

Plants for Long Bloom Season

Achillea 'Moonshine'-Moonshine Yarrow
Asclepias tuberosa-Butterfly Weed
Coreopsis lanceolata-Coreopsis
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
Dicentra eximia-Fringed Bleeding Heart
Echinacea purpurea-Purple Coneflower
Gaillardia x grandiflora-Blanket Flower
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'-Black-eyed Susan
Salvia x superba-Perennial Salvia
Scabiosa spp.-Pincushion Flower
Sedum 'Autumn Joy'-Showy Stonecrop or Live-Forever
Veronica spicata 'Sunny Border Blue'-Spike Speedwell

Fragrant Flowers

Arabis caucasica-Rock Cress
Convallaria majalis-Lily-of-the-Valley
Dianthus plumarius-Cottage Pinks
Dictamnus albus-Gas Plant
Hosta plantaginea-Fragrant Plantain Lily
Iris hybrids-Iris
Lavandula angustifolia-English Lavender
Paeonia lactiflora-Peony
Viola odorata-Sweet Violet

Flowers for Cutting

Achillea spp.-Achillea or Yarrow
Aconitum napellus-Garden Monkshood
Alchemilla mollis-Lady's Mantle
Anemone x hybrida-Japanese Anemone
Aquilegia spp.-Columbine
Armeria maritima-Common or Sea Thrift
Astrantia major-Great Masterwort
Campanula persicifolia-Peach-leaved Bellflower
Chrysanthemum x superbum-Shasta Daisy
Convallaria majalus-Lily-of-the-Valley
Coreopsis spp.-Coreopsis
Delphinium elatum-Delphinium or Larkspur
Dicentra spp.-Bleeding Heart
Echinacea purpurea-Purple Coneflower
Echinops ritro-Small Globe Thistle
Gaillardia spp.-Blanket Flower
Gypsophilia paniculata-Baby's Breath
Heliopsis helianthoides-Sunflower Heliopsis
Heuchera sanguinea-Coralbells
Lavandula angustifolia-English Lavender
Liatris spp.-Gayfeather
Lilium spp.-Hardy Lilies
Lupinus 'Russell Hybrid'-Russel Hybrid Lupine
Paeonia hybrids-Peony
Penstemon spp.-Beardtongue
Platycodon grandiflorus-Balloon Flower
Rudbeckia spp.-Black-eyed Susan
Scabiosa spp.-Pincushion Flower
Stokesia laevis-Stokes Aster
Veronica spicata-Spike Speedwell

Plants for Dried Flower or Fruit Use

Achillea spp.-Achillea or Yarrow
Alchemilla mollis-Lady's Mantle
Asclepias tuberosa-Butterfly Weed
Baptisia australis-False Indigo
Catananche caerulea-Cupid's Dart
Echinops ritro-Small Globe Thistle
Gypsophilia paniculata-Baby's Breath
Iris siberica-Siberian Iris (seed pod)
Lavandula angustifolia-English Lavender
Liatris spp.-Gayfeather
Limonium latifolium-Statice
Papaver orientale-Oriental Poppy (seed pod)
Scabiosa spp.-Pincushion Flower

Attractive to Butterflies

Achillea spp.-Achillea or Yarrow
Armeria maritima-Common or Sea Thrift
Aruncus dioicus-Goat's Beard
Asclepias tuberosa-Butterfly Weed
Aubrieta deltoidea-False Rock Cress
Chrysanthemum spp.-Mums
Coreopsis spp.-Coreopsis
Dictamnus albus-Gas Plant
Echinacea purpurea-Purple Coneflower
Gaillardia spp.-Blanket Flower
Lavandula angustifolia-English Lavender
Liatris spp.-Gayfeather
Monarda didyma-Bee Balm
Phlox paniculata-Summer Phlox
Rudbeckia spp.-Black-Eyed Susan
Sedum 'Autumn Joy'-Showy Stonecrop or Live-Forever

Attractive to Hummingbirds

Alcea rosea-Hollyhock
Aquilega spp.-Columbine
Asclepias tuberosa-Butterfly Weed
Dianthus spp.-Cottage Pinks
Dicentra spp.-Bleeding Heart
Digitalis spp.-Foxglove
Hemerocallis spp.-Daylily
Heuchera sanguinea-Coralbells
Lobelia cardinalis-Cardinal Flower
Monarda didyma-Bee Balm
Penstemon spp.-Beardtongue

 

Adapted from Jane C. Martin, Ohio State University Extension, 2000