Below, we explore some of the most beautiful and resilient perennials suited for Zone 7 gardens. Each of these selections not only brings unique colors and textures to your garden but also boasts characteristics that enhance your landscape’s overall health and aesthetics.
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta, commonly known as Black-Eyed Susan, is a classic perennial that thrives in Zone 7. These cheerful flowers bloom from late summer to early fall and are characterized by their bright yellow petals with a dark brown center. Black-Eyed Susans are drought-tolerant and can flourish in various soil types, making them an easy choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Not only are they visually appealing, but they also attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. They look stunning in mass plantings or as part of mixed borders. Their resilience ensures they come back year after year, providing reliable color in your garden.
Catmint
Nepeta mussinii, known as Catmint, is a perennial that adds a touch of whimsy and charm to Zone 7 gardens. This hardy plant features aromatic gray-green leaves with spikes of lavender-blue flowers that bloom from late spring through early summer. Catmint is renowned for its ability to tolerate heat and drought, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens.
Beyond its beauty, Catmint is beloved by pollinators and is deer resistant, which is a bonus for gardeners concerned about wildlife. Plant it in clusters along pathways or in the front of beds to enjoy its delightful scent and pollinator activity throughout the growing season.
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea, or Coneflower, is not only a favorite among gardeners but also a key player in ecological health. This perennial features tall, sturdy stems topped with stunning, daisy-like flowers in vibrant shades of pink, purple, and white. Coneflowers are exceptionally hardy, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil.
They are self-sowing, meaning you can expect new plants to emerge year after year, effortlessly renewing their presence in your garden. Coneflowers are remarkably resilient, attracting pollinators while also providing seeds for birds later in the summer. Their long bloom time adds colorful interest, making them a staple in any garden design.
Creeping Phlox
For those looking to add vibrant blooms to rock gardens or along pathways, Phlox subulata, commonly known as Creeping Phlox, is a perfect choice. This low-growing perennial carpets the ground with a blanket of colorful flowers in shades of purple, pink, blue, and white during the spring months. Creeping Phlox is particularly useful for filling in gaps and providing a lush appearance in the landscape.
This plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. Its dense foliage is also effective in suppressing weeds, making it both an aesthetic and practical addition. Consider this perennial for slopes or as an edge plant in your garden, where it can cascade over stones, creating a beautiful effect.
Daylily
Hemerocallis, known as Daylily, makes an excellent addition to any Zone 7 garden. These versatile perennials produce stunning flowers in an array of colors, including yellow, orange, red, and lavender, each lasting only a day but producing multiple blooms throughout the season. Their lush green foliage provides texture and interest even when not in bloom.
Daylilies are adaptable and thrive in various soil types, and they require minimal care once established. This resilience makes them perfect for gardeners looking for a reliable bloom without too much fuss. Use them in perennial borders or mixed plantings to lend rich layers of color to your garden.
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia, or English Lavender, transforms any garden with its soothing fragrance and stunning purple flowers. Thriving in well-drained soil and full sun, lavender is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators while repelling deer and rabbits, making it a smart choice for the garden.
Lavender is perfect for herb gardens, perennial borders, and even as a low hedge. Its fragrant foliage can be harvested for sachets or culinary uses, adding another layer of utility to this beautiful plant. Consider growing lavender alongside other Mediterranean herbs for a fragrant, cohesive space.
Lupine
Nothing says spring quite like the stunning flower spikes of Lupinus, or Lupine. Known for their tall, colorful blooms that come in shades of blue, purple, yellow, and white, Lupines are an excellent choice for adding vertical interest to your garden. These hardy plants prefer well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
Lupines are also nitrogen-fixing plants, which means they can improve soil fertility, benefiting neighboring plants. These beauties are perfect for cottage gardens or as a backdrop in perennial beds, bringing a gentle grandeur to your landscape.
Polyantha Roses
Polyantha Roses offer a wonderful perennial option with their small blooms and sprawling growth habit. These roses are compact, making them ideal for small spaces and container gardening. They feature abundant clusters of flowers that can bloom throughout the summer and often have a delightful fragrance.
Polyantha Roses are resilient and can thrive in varying sunlight conditions, making them a flexible choice for different garden styles. Their lush appearance and continuous blooms can create a romantic atmosphere. Consider planting them in borders or around patio areas, where their fragrance can be enjoyed.
Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus, commonly known as Rose of Sharon, is a stunning deciduous shrub that brings a tropical feel to Zone 7 gardens. This plant produces large, showy blooms in various colors, including white, pink, and blue, during late summer when many other perennials are waning. It can grow quite tall, making it a striking focal point.
Rose of Sharon is particularly tolerant of heat and drought, making it a low-maintenance choice. It also attracts pollinators and hummingbirds, enhancing your garden’s biodiversity. Use this plant as a specimen in the landscape or create a dramatic hedge that offers beauty and privacy.
Russian Sage
With its silver-gray foliage and lavender flower spikes, Perovskia atriplicifolia, or Russian Sage, is a standout perennial in Zone 7. This drought-tolerant plant flourishes in full sun and poor soil, making it incredibly easy to grow. It blooms from summer to fall, creating a beautiful contrast with its fragrant leaves.
Russian Sage serves as an excellent backdrop in gardens, complementing other perennials and flowering plants. Its upright habit and airy appearance provide a lightness to garden arrangements, making it a great choice for mixed borders or as part of a cottage-style garden.
Salvia
Salvia nemorosa, or Perennial Salvia, is a delightful addition to any garden, producing spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This perennial thrives in sunny locations and offers a long bloom time from late spring to summer.
Salvia is also drought-resistant and prefers well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens. Its bushy habit provides a lovely form, and it can be used as a border plant or in mass for a vibrant color display during the blooming season.
Sedum
Sedum is a versatile and hardy group of succulents well-suited for Zone 7 gardens. These low-growing plants offer thick, fleshy leaves in various colors, including green, red, and gold. They thrive in poor soil conditions with excellent drainage, making them perfect for rock gardens or along pathways.
During the late summer and fall, Sedums showcase clusters of star-shaped flowers that attract pollinators. Their drought resistance ensures that they flourish with minimal care. Use Sedum in mixed borders, as ground cover, or in containers for a low-maintenance display that’s visually appealing.
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans, or Trumpet Vine, is a vigorous climbing perennial that brings a burst of color and drama to Zone 7 gardens. With its tubular orange and yellow flowers, it attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. In addition to its visual appeal, Trumpet Vine is an excellent choice for covering unsightly structures, fences, or walls.
While this plant grows quickly and can be invasive, regular pruning helps control its spread. Its lush foliage and vibrant blooms create a tropical feel in your garden. Consider pairing it with other climbing plants for a dynamic vertical display.
Verbena
Verbena bonariensis is a tall, airy perennial that is perfect for adding vertical interest and movement to the garden. With its clusters of small purple flowers that bloom all summer long, Verbena attracts butterflies and other beneficial insects. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a resilient choice.
Verbena can be used effectively in mixed borders or to create a beautiful backdrop for lower-growing plants. Its natural tendency to self-seed allows for new plants to appear each year, ensuring a robust presence in your garden over time.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium, commonly known as Yarrow, is a hardy perennial that offers attractive fern-like foliage and flat-topped clusters of flowers in various colors, including white, yellow, and pink. Blooming from late spring to summer, Yarrow is not only aesthetically pleasing but also an excellent choice for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects.
Yarrow is drought-tolerant and can thrive in poor soil conditions, making it ideal for naturalistic or low-maintenance gardens. This perennial works wonderfully in borders or meadows, bringing a wildflower charm to your landscape.
Bird-in-a-Bush
Malvaviscus arboreus, or Bird-in-a-Bush, is an interesting perennial that adds a tropical touch to Zone 7 gardens. Its unique, tubular, red flowers bloom throughout the summer and attract hummingbirds, making it a delightful choice for pollinator gardens. This evergreen shrub prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
Being a low-maintenance plant, Bird-in-a-Bush is perfect for those who want a vibrant display with minimal effort. Use it as a specimen plant or to form a colorful hedge that draws attention and adds life to your garden.
Coral Bells
Heuchera, commonly known as Coral Bells, is celebrated for its stunning foliage and delicate flower spikes. They come in various colors, including purple, red, and green, providing year-round interest. Coral Bells prefer partial shade and well-drained soil, making them ideal for woodland or shaded gardens, where their foliage can truly shine.
These plants also thrive in containers, allowing for versatile garden designs. The delicate bell-shaped flowers have a long bloom time in late spring and attract pollinators, enhancing your garden’s ecological health.
False Goat’s Beard
Aruncus dioicus, or False Goat’s Beard, is a unique perennial that adds texture and height to gardens. With its feathery white flowers that resemble astilbe, it thrives in shady areas with moist, well-drained soil. Growing to about 4-6 feet tall, it creates a stunning backdrop when planted with shorter perennials.
False Goat’s Beard is particularly well-suited for naturalized settings and woodland gardens. Its foliage is attractive all season long, and the flowers provide excellent nectar for bees and butterflies.
Fern-Leaf Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia, or Fern-Leaf Bleeding Heart, is a charming perennial that offers delicate pink heart-shaped blooms in the spring. With attractive fern-like foliage, this plant thrives in partial to full shade and prefers rich, well-drained soil. Its compact size makes it a great addition to shady borders or woodland gardens.
Bleeding Hearts are particularly appealing when planted in groups, creating a lovely carpet of blooms. They provide a romantic touch to the garden and attract pollinators, making them a beloved choice for shade lovers.
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea, commonly known as Foxglove, adds a touch of grandeur to Zone 7 gardens with its tall spikes of tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, and white. Blooming in late spring to early summer, Foxglove thrives in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
This biennial inhibits self-seeding, ensuring that new plants will appear in future seasons. Foxglove is appealing to both gardeners and pollinators, making it a stunning addition to cottage gardens or mixed borders.
Ground Orchid
Bletilla striata, or Ground Orchid, is a lovely perennial that brings an exotic flair to your garden. It produces clusters of orchid-like flowers in purple, pink, or white above lush green foliage in the spring. This plant prefers partially shaded areas and well-drained soil.
Ground Orchids are hardy and can thrive in a variety of conditions, from gardens to borders. Their unique, tropical look makes them an eye-catching addition, providing a stunning focal point and exotic allure.
Hellebore
Helleborus, known as Hellebore or Lenten Rose, is a remarkable perennial that can bloom as early as late winter. Its lovely cup-shaped flowers come in various colors, including white, pink, and deep purple, making it a fantastic choice for adding color during the dreary months. Hellebores thrive in partial shade and prefer rich, well-drained soil.
This plant’s evergreen foliage offers year-round interest, and it attracts early pollinators, such as bees. Incorporate Hellebores into shady borders or woodland gardens for stunning winter and spring beauty.
Hostas
Hostas are classic garden perennials that are adored for their lush foliage. Hosta spp. come in various sizes and colors, ranging from vibrant greens to striking blues. They thrive in shade to partial shade, making them ideal companions for other shade-loving plants.
Additionally, Hostas produce lovely spikes of bell-shaped flowers in summer, attracting pollinators. Their range of sizes allows for versatile planting designs; consider using Hostas as ground cover or to create beautiful layered effects in shady areas.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla, or Bigleaf Hydrangea, is a stunning shrub that provides impressive blooms throughout the summer. Its flowers can range from blue to pink, depending on soil acidity. Hydrangeas thrive in rich, well-drained soil and prefer morning sun with afternoon shade.
These perennials are ideal for creating lush, vibrant hedges or as focal points in gardens. Their spectacular blooms and dense foliage offer an elegant touch, making them a timeless choice for various garden styles.
Japanese Anemone
Anemone hupehensis, known as Japanese Anemone, is a delightful late-season bloomer that brightens gardens with its delicate, white or pink flowers. This perennial thrives in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, blooming late in the summer to early fall, when many other plants have finished flowering.
Japanese Anemone can create lovely drifts of color, making it perfect for borders or naturalized settings. Their elegant, nodding blooms attract pollinators, ensuring that your garden remains lively even as summer fades.
Japanese Painted Fern
Athyrium niponicum, or Japanese Painted Fern, is a stunning option for adding texture and interest to shady areas. This fern features silvery-green fronds with purple accents, creating a striking contrast in the garden. Preferring shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil, this perennial is a great addition to woodland gardens.
Japanese Painted Ferns thrive in groups, lending a graceful touch to your landscape. Their delicate appearance and low maintenance make them a perfect companion for other shade-loving plants.
Leopard Plant
Farfugium japonicum, commonly known as Leopard Plant, is a wonderful ground cover option for shady gardens. Its glossy, prominent leaves are often spotted with yellow, creating an eye-catching foliage display. Leopard Plants thrive in rich, moist soil and like some shading from the hot afternoon sun.
In late summer, they send up tall flower stalks adorned with bright yellow blooms, providing food for pollinators. Use Leopard Plant as a focal point in a shady area or as part of a mixed border for texture and interest.
Lily-of-the-Valley
Convallaria majalis, or Lily-of-the-Valley, is a fragrant perennial that offers delicate white bells that nod on slender stems in the spring. This shade-loving plant thrives in partial to full shade and prefers rich, well-drained soil. With its sweet fragrance and charming blooms, Lily-of-the-Valley provides a lovely addition to shady gardens.
Although it can spread quite easily, its robust nature and delightful fragrance make it a beloved choice for cottage gardens or woodland edges. Plant in mass for a stunning, fragrant display in spring.
Lungwort
Pulmonaria spp., or Lungwort, is a lovely choice for shady gardens. With its spotted leaves and clusters of pink or blue flowers that bloom in early spring, Lungwort provides early-season color and attracts pollinators. It thrives in rich, well-drained soil and partial to full shade, making it a reliable option for woodland settings.
The unique foliage can provide interest all season long, and the flowers are a welcomed sight in the garden after winter. Lungwort is a great choice for ground cover while adding texture and beauty to shady spots.
Rhododendron
Rhododendron spp. offer breathtaking blooms and lush foliage that can dramatically enhance Zone 7 gardens. These evergreen shrubs are available in various colors, including white, pink, purple, and red, often blooming in late spring. Rhododendrons prefer acid soil and thrive in partially shaded areas, making them suitable for woodland gardens or as focal points.
These plants not only bring stunning visual appeal but also act as privacy screens or hedges, offering beauty year-round. Their ability to attract pollinators ensures that your garden remains lively.
Siberian Bugloss
Brunnera macrophylla, commonly known as Siberian Bugloss, is a beloved ground cover for its lovely heart-shaped leaves and sky-blue flowers. This perennial thrives in moist, well-drained soil and offers an element of charm to shaded areas. Blooming in early spring, the small flowers create a lovely carpet of color before the foliage takes center stage.
Siberian Bugloss is particularly impressive when planted in large groups, creating an enchanting effect in woodland gardens or under tree canopies. Its adaptability and beauty make it a fantastic addition to any shade garden.
Spiderwort
Tradescantia virginiana, or Spiderwort, is a delightful perennial that showcases its three-petaled flowers in purple, blue, or white. Spiderwort is easy to grow and thrives in various soil types, requiring minimal care. It prefers full sun to partial shade, making it versatile for garden placement.
With a long bloom period that extends from late spring to summer, Spiderwort brings vibrant color to borders or garden beds. Its arching foliage provides a soft texture, creating an attractive contrast with more rigid plants.
Toad Lily
Tricyrtis spp., or Toad Lily, is an exotic-looking perennial that blooms late in the summer with intricately spotted, orchid-like flowers. These unique plants thrive in partial shade to full shade and prefer well-drained, moist soil. Toad Lilies are perfect for shady borders or woodland gardens, adding an unexpected splash of charm when many other plants have finished blooming.
Their interesting flower patterns and lush foliage create a magical effect in gardens, attracting bees and butterflies. Toad Lilies are a wonderful addition for those looking to add intrigue and beauty to their shaded areas.
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica, or Virginia Sweetspire, is a beautiful deciduous shrub that brings fragrance and vibrant color to gardens. It produces racemes of white flowers in late spring and autumn foliage that can turn stunning shades of red and orange. Sweetspire thrives in moist, well-drained soil and grows well in full sun to partial shade.
It’s particularly effective as a hedge or in mass plantings, creating a delightful naturalistic look. This native plant attracts pollinators and is deer-resistant, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly and low-maintenance gardens.
