Phlox paniculata ‘Shortwood’

Echinacea x ‘Cheyenne Spirit’

In the past few years several great performing perennials have caught my eye. Some are exceptional landscape performers exhibiting long bloom period and exceptional disease resistance. All are hardy in Zones 4-9. Here are five of the best:

Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit coneflower mix (Echinacea purpurea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’) offers a spectacular floral show of many colored ray flowers from mid-summer to early fall. This hybrid purple coneflower comprises a delightful mix of bright red, orange, golden yellow, purple and white ray flowers with a large brown button center. Stems are strong and well-branched. Coneflowers attract butterflies and blooms are excellent for cutting. Deadhead (remove) faded blooms to encourage re-blooming.

‘PowWow Wild Berry’ coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is an outstanding multi-year performer. From late spring to early fall, it produces large 3-4 inch wide deep rose-purple ray flowers with orange-brown button centers. Stems are sturdy and well-branched, 18-24 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide. Plants re-bloom without deadheading.

‘Pardon My Pink’ beebalm (M. didyma) is a self-branching, compact, 10 to 12 inches tall (and wide) beebalm or bergamont. Clear pink flowers measure 2½ to 3 inches across and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It blooms from midsummer to late September along with dark green foliage that is highly mildew resistant.

‘Shortwood’ Garden Phlox is a garden phlox (P. paniculata) that is highly touted by Stephanie Cohen, the perennial diva herself. ‘Shortwood’ boasts full-size bright pink blooms with deeper pink eyes and are wildly fragrant. Flowers are superb for cutting, and attract lots of butterflies and hummingbirds. Plant is also highly mildew resistant.

Dazzleberry® sedum is groundcover type from sedum breeder Chris Hansen that grows only 8 inches tall and 18 inches wide. It is a strong grower with attractive dusty blue foliage. In late summer Dazzleberry is covered with clusters of vibrant raspberry colored flowers.

Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow Wild Berry’