Beautiful Gardens Spring Edition 2015 | Page 10

Repeat performers For a succession of flower colour from spring to late autumn, you can’t beat perennial plants. These tough beauties die down in winter, but return year after year T he mainstay of any flower garden, perennial plants, also known as cottage garden plants or herbaceous perennials, provide a wealth of colourful blooms year after year. Select carefully, and you can enjoy blooms in a range of colours, sizes and shapes from spring till autumn, and there are choices for gardens large and small, for sun or shade and all types of soil. Their habits are diverse, too, ranging from dainty perennials perfect fo