Perennials for an Upper Mid-West Garden

Perennials are the heart of many a mid-west garden. They bloom for many years, becoming like old reliable friends. They also make great cut flowers. Many people plant gardens only with perennials, but they also play a role in a mixed garden with annuals. The annuals can be changed out every year to bring change each year, using the perennials as a permanent background. The USDA defines the Upper Mid West as Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming with hardiness zones ranging from 2b through 6a.

English Lavender(Lavandula angustifolia), also known as true lavender, is a member of the mint family. The plant grows up to 1-1/2 feet tall and about the same in width. The plant does best in a full sun situation, but can take a partial shade spot if necessary. Give the plant a rich, deep soil that is constantly moist and it will reward you with gray-green to green-purple leaves in the summer that turn from silver-green to gray-bronze in the winter. Blue-purple, lavender, violet-blue, or white-pink flowers bloom from late June through early August in clusters at the tips of the stems. English lavender is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia x Andersoniana) is also known as Virginia spiderwort and widow's tears. The plant grows from 1 to 2 feet tall with arching, grass-like leaves and white flowers that grow in umbrella shaped clusters that open in the morning and close by mid-afternoon. Spiderwort will dry out too fast if planted in full sun. It does its best in partial shade and a soil that is moist to wet.
The plant is hardy in zones 5 through 9.

Forget-me-not(Myosotis sylvatica 'Victoria Blue') is a short lived perennial, but it will self-seed, so you will have generations of the plant growing in the garden for many years. Gray green leaves grow in a low mound-6 to 8 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide-- and are covered in clusters of tiny blue-yellow flowers from early spring through early summer. Forget me nots can go in full sun, partial shade or full shade and a moist sandy or clay soil. Butterflies love the plant, but rabbits and deer will leave it alone. The plant is hardy in zones 3 through 9.

Dittany(Dictamnus albus var. purpureus) is also know as the gas plant and is hardy in zones 3 through 8. The plant grows from 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Light green, glossy leaves have the scent of a lemon when rubbed or crushed. Pale pink ot deep purple-pink flowers bloom in May and June growing in clusters at the top of the stems. The flowers are followed by star-shaped seed pods which remain on the plant through the fall. Plant dittany in full sun and a moist, fertile, well-drained soil that is not allowed to get wet and soggy.

Sources:

USDA