As one of the largest landscaping companies in southern New Hampshire, we plant whole lot of nursery stock. It’s important to us that we are using plant plants that will perform well in this climate. Very often these are commercial properties where the soil and water conditions are less than favorable and often exposed to the scorching summer sun.
Through tried-and-true testing, we have found – what is in our opinion – the five best perennials for New Hampshire. And were going to share that list with you here!
In order to qualify for this list, the best perennials must be long blooming, heat and drought tolerant and reasonably non-invasive.
- Daylily ‘Stella D’oro’– a repeat bloomer, this hemerocalis cultivar shows off its orange-yellow blooms up to six weeks on a neat, compact plant. Makes a great bed edger and provides a variety of texture to an otherwise boring summer planting bed.
- Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ – unlike most mint which is very invasive, this Nepeta cultivar stays mounted in one place and occasionally layering branches will form a groundcover. It has a wonderful fragrance from its steel-blue foliage and bright blue flowers that complement very nicely with Stella Doro daylilies. This plant can be cut back in late summer for a second bloom.
- Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ – also known as tickseed, this ferny-foliage provides nice texture to a planting bed or shrub border. Its canary yellow blooms also mix well with the red annuals like begonias. Deadheading this plan will cause it to bloom throughout the summer.
- Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ – although this flower can be considered invasive given the prolific re-seeding quality, it is generally well contained in a mulch bed. To us the benefits far outweigh the risk of taking over a planting bed. Also known as ‘Black-Eyed Susan’, this plant is very heat tolerant, deer resistant and attracts butterflies. It boasts a long blooming period from mid-July to first frost!
- Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ – you’ve probably seen this fall-blooming perennial that looks like broccoli. While groundcover varieties of sedum will run, Autumn Joy stays put and provides bed interest through the first hard frost. Sedum mixes nicely with yellow fall mums or asters.