10 award-winning tough, attractive perennials

Planted once and given space to establish, these resilient perennials rise to the challenges of the year, offering dependable displays as the seasons shift. Recognised for their strength and ornamental value, they pair lasting beauty with exceptional staying power. With the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit and a hardiness rating of H6 or H7, they withstand the coldest winters and return each spring with renewed vigour, making them ideal for both new gardeners and established borders.

Lily of the valley

Delicious scent and dainty looks belie the lily-of-the-valley’s tough nature

Lily-of-the-valley(Convallaria majalis)is a rare British native

A native plant is one that originated or arrived naturally in a particular place without human involvement. In the British Isles, native plants are those that were here during the last ice age or have arrived unaided since.

whose perfume and quiet beauty are captivating. In shady spots the roots can sometimes spread strongly, with the dark foliage making effective ground cover and the ideal background for the arches of nodding white bells. It’s always worth growing for those delightful flowers and the red berries that follow. Height 20cm (8in). Hardiness rating H7.

Find out more about gardening in the shade

Golden discs

The horizontal flowerheads of Achillea ‘Coronation Gold’ provide pit-stops for bees and other pollinating insects

Yarrow – Achillea ‘Coronation Gold’has vertical stems and flat horizontal flowerheads which bring a delightful combination of flower and foliage colour. The greyish feathery leaves form an attractive cluster of foliage when they first emerge, while the heads of tiny flowers are bright yellow. Plant in sun in any reasonable well-drained soil. Height 90cm (3ft). Hardiness rating H7.

Meet the daisy family

Late summer blue

Not many late-summer perennials produce blue flowers like Aconitum ‘Arendsii’

Monkshood – Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ – is invaluable for bringing its rich lavender-blue colouring to the autumn garden which is more often filled with orange and rusty shades. The leathery, dark green leaves set off the short spikes of flowers beautifully. Height 1.2m (4ft). Hardiness rating H7.

Hardy succulent

Choose this joyful sedum for cool-coloured leaves and pink flowerheads in late summer and autumn

‘Autumn Joy’ sedum (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’)is surprisingly frost hardy. It’s not for nothing that sedums of this type are called ice plants. Broad, deep pink flowerheads open in August and September and turn brown as they remain on the plant for autumn and winter interest. Provide support for your plants if your garden soil is on the fertile side, as they may grow lush and flop ever when in flower. Height 50cm (20in). Hardiness rating H7.

Learn all about Hylotelephium

Dramatic coneflowers

Helenium ‘Rubinzwerg’ is attractive to pollinating insects and makes a strong impact in late summer

Helenium ‘Rubinzwerg’ is a compact, bushy perennial

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs.

valued for its striking dark red flowers that age to warm orange, with prominent brown centers. Blooming from July to September, it provides essential nectar

Sweet liquid mainly produced by flowers to attract pollinators. Honeybees make honey from nectar.

and pollen for bees and other pollinators. Hardy and reliable in a wide range of climates, its upright stems and narrow green foliage make it a standout in borders or pollinator

Anything that moves pollen e.g. from one flower to another. Insects such as bees are important pollinators.

-friendly gardens. Height 1m (3ft 4in). Hardiness rating H7.

Discover how to grow Helenium

Textured foliage

Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans enjoys partial light and dappled shade to form large, architectural leaves

Hosta sieboldiana var. elegansis an old and dramatic favourite with large, blue-green, corrugated leaves and short spikes of white flowers in early summer. Plants develop into striking clumps, making impressive specimens in light or partial shade. Late frost may damage new shoots, but by summer you’d never know. Height 80cm (2½ft). Hardiness rating H7.

Browse different types of hostas

Cottage garden favourite

This old cottage garden favourite does best grown in dappled shade

Bleeding

The flow of sap, usually from a wound or pruning cut on woody plants. Certain plants are more prone to bleeding, including grapevines, acers and birches, so these are best pruned while dormant.

Sap (which may be discoloured, depending on the cause) bleeding from the bark of trees and shrubs can sometimes be a symptom of disease (e.g. bleeding cankers, acute oak decline), insect infestation (e.g. some wood-boring beetles), woodpecker damage, or adverse growing conditions (e.g. severe drought)

heart – Lamprocapnos spectabilis – is better known by its old name of Dicentra spectabilis. This is one of the most elegant of perennials in the arching growth of its succulent stems – and one of the most intriguing in the colour and structure of its pink and white flowers. It may be damaged by late frosts but it always recovers. The lovely pure white flowered form, Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Alba’ also has an award. Height 90cm (3ft). Hardiness rating H6.

Multi-season interest

Perfect for hot, dry gardens, Jerusalem sage(Phlomis russeliana)is an unexpectedly hardy perennial. In spring you may think it has succumbed to winter cold, but it is noted for its late emergence. The bold, slightly felted lower leaves support upright stems carrying clusters long lasting yellow summer flowers; its seedheads then make an interesting feature in autumn and winter. Height 90cm (3ft). Hardiness rating H6.

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Sunny daisies

The intense brightness of rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ catches the eye immediately

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’is one of the brightest of summer perennials. The deep yellow ray petals strike out boldly around the chocolate brown central cone, each flower held on an upright stem, which supports itself well if the soil is not too rich. With a long flowering season from July to October, this is a colourful sun lover usually comes true from seed. Height 80cm (2½ft). Hardiness rating H6.

Lady’s mantle

Soften path edges with lady’s mantle Alchemilla mollis for an authentic cottage-garden look

Lady’s mantle(Alchemilla mollis)is both valuable and exceptionally hardy. Its chartreuse flowers blend happily with most other shades, while its soft lobed foliage is always appealing, especially when holding dewdrops. Cut the flowers off as they fade to prevent seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

taking over. Height 45cm (18in). Hardiness rating H7.