If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you probably want to take advantage of the amazing growing conditions available for all kinds of beautiful plants. But what grows best there, and what perennials should you try that won’t simply have your yard looking like everyone else’s? Here are some perfect perennials for the Pacific Northwest.
Dahlias are fantastic for a low-maintenance garden that’s full of color. There are thousands of types in a huge array of colors and textures. Some blooms may be button-sized, others are as big as your head. Really! They love full sunshine and thrive in moist, but well-drained soil. They can grow up to 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide, in zones 5 to 8. They make lovely cut flowers too, and are fantastic for weddings.
For your shade garden, nothing adds lushness like sword fern. It has a deep green color and a unique texture, plus it’s an evergreen that lasts all winter long. It likes to be grown in rich, fertile soil that’s well-drained, in deep or at least partial shade. Sword fern can grow up to 3 feet in height and width, so allow it plenty of space to feather out. Zones 3 to 8.
Shasta daisies grow in full sun, but in any type os soil in zones 5 to 8. Their signature while flowers with the yellow center appear in both summer and fall, and they’re great at attracting butterflies. A bit different than your roadside daisy varieties, these have more robust blooms that are a little larger. They’ll grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feed in width. They make great cut flowers and are non-invasive.
A lot of people have never heard of this gorgeous plant. Solomon’s seal grows great in the shade and slowly forms a big colony, making it perfect for areas of your yard where it’s too shady for grass. It requires moist soil that is well drained, and grows up to 3 feet tall and 1 foot wide. It pairs great with hostas and ferns, and is well suited for zones 3 to 8.
This plant forms a virtual carpet of deep green, shiny leaves with a kidney shape. It does flower in spring, but the foliage is the star of this show. If you rustle it lightly with your hand, you’ll smell the ginger on your fingers. It grows in zones 4 to 8 in full shade and moist soil that is well drained. It will grow up to 12 inches both wide and tall.
Lupine prefers a sunny site, but does just fine in average soil with good drainage. Because they’re actually legumes, growing lupine can even improve the quality of your soil over time. They’ll grow up to 3 feet tall and a foot wide in zones 5 to 8.
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