Early Risers
Some perennials grow best in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. They are called cool season perennials. They are starting to show up and will be blooming soon! Some came through the winter with attractive foliage. Helleborus and Bergenia are good examples of this. Pulmonaria (Lungwort), Dianthus (Pinks), Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) and Aquilegia (Columbine) are all early to emerge and flower.
Some ornamental grasses are early risers and have started to grow. Cool season grasses begin to grow as winter starts to slip away and have bright green foliage by early spring. Festuca (Fescue), Carex (Sedge), Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) are in this early group.
As for annuals, Pansies, Stock, Snapdragons and Nemisa are cool season annuals that can be planted now for early color displays. All of these are especially great for containers.
Sleepy Heads
Some perennials take their time coming out of winter dormancy. Give these plants time to emerge before you declare them dead and dig them up for replacement.
Warm season grasses are late to emerge in the spring. They begin to grow actively when temperatures are consistently warm. Miscanthus (Chinese Silver Grass), Pennisetum (Fountain Grass) and Panicum (Switch Grass) are all warm season grasses.
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Warm Season Perennials |
Cool Season Perennials |
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Balloon Flower |
Pinks |
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Ferns |
Bleeding Heart |
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Giant Fleece Flower |
Barrenwort |
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Joe Pye Weed |
Hellebore |
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Plumbago |
Coralbells |
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Russian Sage |
Garden Phlox |
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Toad Lily |
Jacob’s Ladder |
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Warm Season Grasses |
Lungwort |
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Sweet Flag |
Lamb’s Ears |
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Northern Sea Oats |
Foamflower |
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Hakone Grass |
Cool Season Grasses |
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Chinese Silver Grass |
Feather Reed Grass |
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Switch Grass |
Sedge |
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Fountain Grass |
Tufted Hair Grass |
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Prairie Dropseed |
Blue Oat Grass |
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Warm Season Annuals |
Moor Grass |
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Begonia |
Cool Season Annuals |
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Impatiens |
Pansy |
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Marigold |
Kale |
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Nasturtium |
Nemesia |
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Petunia |
Snapdragon |
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Salvia |
Stock |
