Perennials for a novice gardener

[wbmkk]

A friend of mine has asked for some help with his new garden.

His wife wanted bedding plants, but I said these would need to be replaced every year, so maybe they should consider a few nice perennials.

Which perennials would folk here recommend, something easy to look after, will grow in the NE of England (Newcastle upon Tyne) and offer a decent amount of flowers.

I like lupins and some of the Rudbeckia varieties, but there must be others

thanks

[andy_j]

I grow this lot at work among other things

Rudbeckia Goldsturm
Echinacea cultivars
Heleniums
Phlox
Kniphofia
Coreopsis
Heuchera
Hardy Geraniums
Perovskia (small shrub really)
Gaillardia
lychnis coronnaria
Salvia cerro potosi
Agapanthus
Dicentra
Delphinium
Campanula sp
Veronica
verbascum
Achillea
Persicaria 'firetail'
grasses
ferns
Alchemilla
penstemons
Stachys Byzantina

That's off the top of my head

[andy_j]

Thought of a few more !!!!

Hollyhock
Sanguisorba
Lupins
Actea simplex 'Brunette'
Crocosmia
Leucanthemum
Agastache
Acanthus
Phlomis fruiticosa
Salvia superba
Nepetia (catmint)
Stokesia
Innula
Monarda
Sidalcea
Solidago goldkind

[andy_j]

Don't forget

Eryngium varifolium
Eryssimum
Echinops
Alstroemaria orange king
Alstroemaria aurea

[Bigmallly]

Hardy Fuchsias

[4390evans]

poppys are nice x

[wbmkk]

Thank you for all the answers ...

A special thanks to Andy J

A special thanks to Andy J

A special thanks to Andy J

[WPG]

Can I get a word in for campanula persicifolia. Usually comes in blue or white, flowers for ages, and more or less looks after itself (though it flowers best if you deadhead the old flowers). Here's some info- the write-up says its prone to slugs, rust etc. but I've been growing them 20+ years and never had any problems at all. I don't think it'd have any problems growing in NE England.
Campanula persicifolia | Fine Gardening

[Compo72]

Lavender and salvia every time
For the bumblies


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[robmarston]

Scabious and geums are faves of mine.


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[robmarston]

And did no one mention carnations?


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[Two_Sheds]

I like lupins

Lovely, but they don't last long and then you're left with chopping down the brown flower spikes (I'm guessing your friends want to spend minimal time in the garden?)

Buy Perennial & Biennial Flower Seeds Online | Thompson & Morgan

I'm not a fan of "everything goes" planting, I prefer distinct colour schemes, eg blue & white at home, purple/yellow in school beds, blue/orange in a different bed. You can choose your plants by colour in that link

[alldigging]

Buddleja globosa | Orange ball tree/RHS Gardening

Depends how big your garden is you might only need one.

Nic will kill me if I get one!

[Compo72]

Have a look at seedaholics website
I'm really impressed with there range of seeds
Plus fast delivery on ordering


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[Martin H]

Here's another one:



This plant looks lovely in my garden at the moment. I grew it from seed but it seems to be really well-behaved and easy to grow. It's the Willow-leaved Loosestrife, Lysimachia ephemerum. Makes a clump, grows to about 2 feet 6 (80cm) in my garden. The foliage is really attractive all spring so it earns its keep in my border.