Perennials are beloved by gardeners because they come back year after year with minimal effort. But one downside is that they often take multiple growing seasons to reach full maturity. If you want to experience the beauty of perennials with little wait time, consider these expert-recommended, fast-growing varieties to plant in your garden for a quick return.
Leopard Plant
Credit:
Getty Images
Leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum) has fast-growing yellow flower spikes that shoot up in spring, offering interest to gardens, says Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University’s agricultural center. The glossy bean-shaped leaves look beautiful even when the plant isn’t in bloom.
Zones: 7 to 10Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Part to full shade; mildly moist soils
Rose Mallow
Credit:
Ali Majdfar / Getty Images
Rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) is a tall, shrub-like plant with beautiful flowers that bloom in shades of white, pink, red, or burgundy. “Cut this plant back in late fall,” says Abdi. “New growth emerges in spring and rapidly fills out the form.” Rose mallow is native to wetlands, so it’s a great addition to rain gardens.
Zones: 5 to 9Size: 3 to 7 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full to partial sun; consistently moist soils
Red Hibiscus
Credit: Manfred Bail/Creative RF/Getty Images
As the name implies, red hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) has striking red flowers that stand out in the garden during summer, says Abdi. Another plant that should be cut back in late fall is this plant, which emerges in spring and grows rapidly.
Zones: 5 to 9Size: 6 to 8 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, wet soil
Candy Corn
Credit:
Sonia Bonet/Getty Images
The beautiful flowers of candy corn (Cuphea micropetala) look like embers burning with orange and red hues throughout fall, says Abdi. Cutting back this plant in late winter allows a new flush of growth.
Zones: 8 to 11Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Joe Pye Weed
Credit: Mark Turner / Getty Images
Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum) is an upright-growing herbaceous perennial with pink or purple flowers that bloom from summer through fall. It’s great for pollinators and should be cut back in late winter to allow new, fresh growth in spring, says Abdi. This fast grower can be divided and replanted elsewhere if it starts to outgrow its current home.
Zones: 4 to 8Size: 4 to 8 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist to occasionally wet soil
Heuchera Ginger Peach
Credit:
Terra Nova Nurseries
Heuchera ‘Ginger Peach’ is one of the fastest growing varieties of heuchera in the garden, says Chuck Pavlich, director of new product development for Terra Nova Nurseries. It has ruffled foliage that changes color as it matures, going from peach to coral to copper to rose. It looks beautiful for years and usually reaches its full size by the end of June.
Zones: 4 to 9Size: 4 to 8 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist to occasionally wet soil
Rose Verbena
Credit:
Mindaugas Dulinskas / Getty Images
Rose verbena (Verbena canadensis) is a low-growing mounding plant with profuse purple flowers that bloom from spring through fall, says Abdi. It spreads quickly, but the blooms are typically short-lived.
Zones: 6 to 10Size: 18 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
Leucanthemum Mt. Hood
Credit:
Terra Nova Nurseries
A variety of shasta daisy, Mt. Hood has a perfect mounding habit and produces an enormous number of flowers throughout the season, says Pavlich. The quick-growing perennial has a strong rebloom and overall great vigor, adding interest to the garden all summer long.
Zones: 4 to 10Size: 16 inches tall x 16 to 20 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil
Agastache Pink Pearl
Credit:
Terra Nova Nurseries
This fast-growing variety of agastache produces a compact mound of cheerful blooms that attract pollinators to your garden. “Soft pink spikes of flowers cover this plant for months without a fuss,” says Pavlich. Agastache ‘Pink Pearl’ grows quite quickly, reaching full size by July.
Zones: 4 to 10Size: 16 inches tall x 16 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil
Coneflower Kismet Raspberry
Credit:
Terra Nova Nurseries
This variety of the native coneflower (Echinacea) is a fast-grower that packs a punch. It flowers from early summer until the first frost and has large, upright, raspberry-colored flowers. “Each flower lasts for weeks with a lovely color and shows well in containers and gardens,” says Pavlich.
Zones: 4 to 10Size: 8 inches tall x 16 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil
Russian Sage
Credit:
loflo69 / GETTY IMAGES
Russian sage, known for its silvery-lavender blooms and wispy stems, is a favorite from late spring through late fall. It’s a fast-growing perennial that thrives in full sun. Once established, it fills in quickly.
Zones: 4 to 9Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun, well-drained soil, very light watering
Coreopsis
Credit:
Josh Byerly / Getty Images
This cheerful bloom is known for its quick growth and long-flowering period. Coreopsis is a good choice for filling in space in a flowerbed, and is great for borders or containers. The yellow, daisy-like flowers will last all summer long.
Zones: 2 to 8Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 1 to 18 inches wideGrowing conditions: Full to part sun; sandy or rocky, well-drained soil
Comments are closed.