We love perennials! If you’re looking to establish a beautiful garden or natural area that, with a little upkeep, will look beautiful year after year, perennial flowers are the way to go. With a little research into the look you want to create and the type of soil and sun you have in your yard, we can help you create a fragrant, beautiful, and inspiring outdoor space. Below are six of our favorite perennials that tend to do extremely well in Nebraska.

Firewitch Dianthus (Dianthus g. ‘Feuerhexe’)

Size: 3-6 inches high, 6-12 inches wide
Soil: Medium, well-drained soil in full sun
Color: Bold, bright magenta
Blooms: May through June
What We Love: This beautiful flowering plant not only smells great, it provides a blanket of color in gardens and often tricky locations like rock gardens or retaining walls.

Butterfly milkweed

Size: 12-32 inches high, 12-18 inches wide
Soil: Dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun
Color: Beautiful clustersof yellow/orange blooms
Blooms: June through August
What We Love: As you might have guessed, butterflies love to flock to these bold and beautiful wildflowers.

Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum ‘Max Frei’)

Size: 9-18 inches high, 12-18 inches wide
Soil: Medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade
Color: Magenta or purple petals with darker veins
Blooms: May through June
What We Love: Compared to most other species of geranium, these stand up better to heat in the summers and cold in the winters!

Dwarf blue indigo (Baptisia minor)

Size: 18-24 inches high, 18-24 inches wide
Soil: dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun
Color: Beautiful deep blue indigo flowers
Blooms: May through June
What We Love: This plant is low maintenance, thrives in a natural setting, and can grow up to 3 or 4 feet tall.

Joe-Pye plant (Eupatorium maculatum ‘Gateway’)

Size: 4-5 feet high, 18-24 inches wide
Soil: Medium to wet soil in full sun
Color: Light to deep purple flowers
Blooms: July through September
What We Love: This big, showy plant looks good and smells great. It also attracts butterflies, but make sure it’s in an area where the soil won’t dry out!

Phlox, woodland (Phlox divaricate)

Size: 9-12 inches high, 9-12 inches wide
Soil: Medium moisture, well-drained soil in part to full shade
Color: Lavender or violet/blue
Blooms: April to May
What We Love: This spreading wildflower is beautiful and forgiving. It does well in mulch that helps retain moisture and keep its roots cool.

Photo credits

mwms1916  pink ‘Firewitch’ dianthus, 2 July 2014 via photopin (license)

Melinda Stuart Fancy Milkweed via photopin (license)

Cam Miller 2017  Facing Spring via photopin (license)

Sarah J. Poe Steal violets from her crown via photopin (license)

Stephen Downes Great Spangled Fritillary via photopin (license)

philipbouchard Blue Phlox via photopin (license)