Perennials for springtime gardening Top 10 annual flowers at U of M

Perennials

for springtime gardening

By Travis Gulbrandson

Winter is finally gone, which means it’s time for gardeners to get out and start planting.

And what else says springtime like perennials?

Some local experts weighed in on the more popular varieties of perennials, and offered some tips on planting them.

“Daylilies are a big hit with a lot of people,” said Dennis Possin, nursery worker at Colorful Seasons Garden Center in Alexandria. “Tall garden phlox is another one that people really enjoy because it blooms a long time and there’s lots of good colors.”

In addition to salvia, tall garden sedum and coreopsis, hostas are also popular.

“They always have a real good color and (are) pretty tough and pretty durable,” Possin said.

Color is one of the main attributes people look for when choosing which perennials to plant, Possin said, as well as size and how long it blooms.

Durability is another major factor, said David Vaske, owner of Miltona Greenhouses.

“In this area, hardiness is an issue,” Vaske said. “We’re still considered a zone four (for plant hardiness), but after a winter like we’ve just had, we realize we’re really geographically close to a zone three, so hardiness is always a major issue for us.”

One of the hardier perennials is the pulmonaria, or lungwort plant, Vaske said.

“A lot of the newer varieties have sort of speckled or varied leaves, so they’re grown almost as much for the leaf, like a hosta would be, as much for the bloom,” he said.

The dicentra, or bleeding heart, is very hardy, as well, and grows well in partial shade, he said.

FURNITURE • ELECTRONICS • MATTRESSES NEW CONSTRUCTION • REMODELING • SIDING • WINDOWS • DOORS

is...

• Invested in our Community. • Committed to providing knowledgeable sales people. • Your local home improvement store. • Committed to offering the best products at the best prices. • “People you know, Products you trust!”

Proudly Serving The Area For Over 40 Years!

ALEXANDRIA

1620 N Nokomis 320-762-1249

HOURS

Monday–Friday ...........8am-6pm Thursday .......................8am-8pm Saturday .......................8am-5pm Sunday ..........Home with Family “People you know, Products you trust” HOME DECOR • AREA RUGS • INSULATION