Perennial Dianthus – or Pinks.   These wonderful little plants are great border plants for the perennial garden.  They are about as low maintenance as a perennial can get – you just clip off the flower stalks after the blooms are spent and the foliage stays nice and compact the entire season.

‘Raspberry Swirl’ This colorful perennial produces unique blossoms which emerge a light pink with a maroon edge and maroon eye in the spring.  As they age, the flowers brighten to white with magenta markings.   The foliage will be grey-green.

‘Cranberry Cocktail’ – Fruit Punch Series.  This beautiful perennial produces carnation-like, double hot magenta pink flowers atop a low mound of grey-green foliage.

DIanthus like full sun to part shade – they bloom late spring – or early summer.  The foliage is low – and the flower scapes will reach 8″-10″.  Zone 4 hardy!

 

 

‘King Kong’ Bigleaf Ligularia.   Your shade garden will never be the same!

Add something striking to your shade garden with this huge-leaved perennial!  The largest of the leaves measure more than 15″ across.  New leaves are glossy black/purple and transition to a semi-glossy burgundy purple.  Beautiful golden orange flowers top  this fast growing perennial.