Looking for some new perennial flowers that pop with long-season color and are proven to withstand Colorado’s crazy weather?
These newer perennials were tested at the CSU Trial Garden, 1401 Remington St,. and came out on top.
If you are looking to replace hard-to-water lawn areas, these plants would fit nicely into this list of top plants to replace grass lawns.
Top eight perennial flowers from 2024 and why you should plant them
These eight flowers took top spots, according to the judges. Here is what those judges had to say about each one:
“Chantay” Delphinium: Rich, robust lavender-dusty antique pink spikes make this delphinium a showstopper. Blooms once in late spring and again in early fall with an impressive floral density throughout the season. Be sure to offer support, as their blooms can become heavy.”Orchid Frost Grande” Lamium (Lamium maculatum): This groundcover is an upgraded classic that delivers bigger orchid-pink blooms and lush silver-variegated foliage. Its tidy growth habit and adaptability to sun and shade make it an all-season performer in beds and containers.”Evening Sun” Missouri Evening Primrose (Oenothera missouriensis): This native standout glows with bright yellow blooms that light up the landscape from afternoon through evening. Appeals to pollinators, is drought tolerant, low growing and is a low-maintenance favorite for hot, dry sites.”Jelena” Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Lavender-blue flowers and soft gray-green foliage are a colorful addition to the landscape and are attractive to pollinators. Grows to 3 to 4 feet and resists flopping even when irrigated.”Goldblitz” Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. Sullivantii:) An earlier bloomer than long-time favorite “Goldsturm,” it produces color summer through fall and attracts pollinators.”Conga Line” Stonecrop (Hylotelephium telephium): Turns from deep green to purplish hues as summer progresses and is topped with peach-cream flower clusters. Can endure dry spells and is attractive to pollinators.”Skyward Blue” and “Skyward Pink” Speedwell (Veronica longifolia): These plants are fireworks of blue and pink blooms from late spring into fall.”Pristine Princess Pink” Beardtongue (Penstemon barbatus var. praecox): Bubblegum-pink tubular flowers and lush green foliage make this native penstemon a hummingbird magnet and once established is drought tolerant.
Miles Blumhardt covers a variety of topics for the Coloradoan, including transportation, weather, wolves in Colorado and more.