Foolproof Zone 8 Perennials: Gorgeous Plants for Your Garden - MyGardeninn (2024)

Foolproof Zone 8 Perennials: Gorgeous Plants for Your Garden - MyGardeninn (1)

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Learn about the best zone 8 perennials for an easy-care garden. This list includes zone 8 perennials for full sun, part shade, and shade. These low-maintenance zone 8 plants return every year to grace your garden space. Whether you have a small zone 8 perennial garden bed, a large perennial space you need to fill, or are looking for perennial zone 8 border plants, this list is for you. As an experienced Pacific Northwest gardener, I’m eager to share my tried-and-true favorites. So, let’s dive in and get inspired!

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My Zone 8 Foolproof Perennials Backstory

I know there are countless lists of favorite perennials out there, but this one is different. If you’re like me and your plants need to thrive on neglect to survive, then this list is for you. I prefer low-maintenance plants that don’t require coddling or excessive care. So, I’ve curated a collection of reliable and well-behaved perennials for zone 8 that will bring beauty to your garden without causing extra work. Let’s explore these easy-care stunners!

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What Plants Are Best for Zone 8?

Zone 8 encompasses regions with mild winters and hot summers, with average minimum temperatures of 15-20°F (-9 to -7°C). Many perennial plants thrive in these growing conditions. If you’re unsure whether you’re in a zone 8 area, you can use the free tool on the USDA website to find your plant hardiness zone by entering your zip code. This list includes the best low-maintenance zone 8 perennial plants that will thrive in full sun, part shade, or shade.

What is the Easiest Perennial to Plant?

If you’re a beginner gardener or simply looking for low-maintenance plants, there are many perennials that are relatively easy to plant and care for. These choices require little maintenance beyond watering and occasional fertilization. Plus, many of these zone 8 perennial plants can be divided to create more plants, making them both easy to grow and budget-friendly.

Zone 8 Perennials for Full Sun

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In zone 8, there are numerous perennials that thrive in full sun. Here are some fabulous options for sun-loving perennials:

  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Bright yellow flowers with dark centers, reaching up to 3 feet tall.
  • Chives (Allium schoenoprasum): Cute pom-pom blooms atop slender stalks, with culinary uses.
  • Coneflower (Echinacea): Showy daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white.
  • Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.): Bright and cheerful with masses of yellow or red flowers.
  • Daylily (Hemerocallis): Large, trumpet-shaped blooms in various colors that last for weeks.
  • Lavender (Lavandula): Best fragrant perennial with purple spikes of flowers.
  • Lupine (Lupinus spp.): Colorful spikes of pea-like flowers in late spring and early summer.
  • Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria): Tall spikes of red, orange, and yellow flowers during summer.
  • Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum): Colorful addition with red stems and large green leaves.
  • Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Tall spikes of lavender-blue flowers with silver-gray foliage.
  • Salvia (Salvia spp.): Perennials with a variety of flower colors and shapes.
  • Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum): Large white daisy-like flowers with yellow centers.
  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Tough perennial with fern-like foliage and clusters of flowers in various shades.

These perennials will bring vibrant colors and interest to your full sun garden.

Zone 8 Perennials for Part Shade

If you have a partially shaded zone 8 area, there are many perennials that can thrive in these conditions. Here are ideal options for your garden:

  • Columbine (Aquilegia spp.): Unique spurred flowers in shades of red, pink, blue, and yellow.
  • Foxglove (Digitalis spp.): Tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white.
  • Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum): Delicate blue or purple flowers with attractive foliage.
  • Lenten Rose (Helleborus spp.): Large cup-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, green, and white.
  • Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum spp.): Delicate bell-shaped flowers with attractive arching stems and foliage.
  • Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum): Fragrant white flowers in spring with star-shaped foliage.
  • Toad Lily (Tricyrtis spp.): Unique orchid-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white.

These perennials will thrive and bring beauty to your part shade garden.

Zone 8 Perennials for Shade

If you have a shaded zone 8 area, several perennials can still thrive. Here are some top options:

  • Astilbe (Astilbe spp.): Feathery plumes of flowers in shades of pink, red, and white.
  • Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spp.): Delicate heart-shaped flowers in shades of pink and white.
  • Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta): Beautiful blue flowers that spread easily.
  • Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.): Attractive foliage in various colors.
  • Foamflower (Tiarella spp.): Spikes of white or pink flowers with deeply-lobed foliage.
  • Hosta (Hosta spp.): Classic shade-loving perennial with attractive foliage.
  • Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum): Silvery-blue fronds adding lacy texture.
  • Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.): Clusters of pink, blue, or white flowers with silver-spotted foliage.
  • Lamium (Lamium maculatum): Groundcover with silver or variegated leaves and small flowers.
  • Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum): Three-petaled flowers in various colors atop broad leaves.

These shade-loving perennials will thrive and bring color and interest to your zone 8 shade garden.

Best Tall Perennial Flowers for Zone 8

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For the back of your perennial garden or against a fence, you can choose from a variety of tall perennials. Some are from the full sun list, some from the part shade list, and some from the shade list. The best tall perennial flowers for zone 8 that are low-maintenance include Russian sage, coneflowers, black-eyed Susan, foxglove, and columbine.

Best Zone 8 Border Plants

Creating an easy-care perennial border? There are several great plants that will thrive in zone 8. Consider lavender, Russian sage, coreopsis, salvia, and daylilies. By mixing annuals, perennials, and shrubs, you’ll have year-round interest in your border.

Some Which Did Not Make the Cut

While there are many lovely plants that return every year, there are a few that didn’t make the list of low-maintenance perennials for zone 8. Dahlias, irises, and peonies, though beautiful, require more attention and care. Dahlias are technically considered tender perennials and need special care in colder climates. Irises and peonies, though reliable bloomers, require more maintenance such as staking and dividing.

Share Your Favorites!

Your favorite perennials may differ from mine, and that’s the beauty of gardening. I enjoy hearing about favorite plants from gardeners in different regions. So, please share your favorite perennials with me! I’m always eager to learn and be inspired.

Conclusion

Zone 8 gardening doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With these foolproof perennials, you can create a stunning and low-maintenance garden. Whether you have full sun, part shade, or shade, there’s a perfect perennial for your zone 8 garden. And don’t forget to check out the related posts for more planting ideas and a free online garden planner template. Happy gardening!

Source: https://mygardeninn.com
Category: Gardening

Foolproof Zone 8 Perennials: Gorgeous Plants for Your Garden - MyGardeninn (2024)

FAQs

What's the name of the plant that comes back every year? ›

Perennials, on the other hand, live for three or more growing seasons. They are less work than annuals because they grow back each year from roots that go dormant in the winter. They will be around from year to year, so they put their energy into growing strong roots instead of growing lots of flowers like annuals do.

How do I arrange perennials in my garden? ›

In a one-sided planting bed, stair-step plant heights—tall plants in back, short ones in front. If your perennial garden design is a free-standing bed that will be viewed from all sides, put the tallest plants in the middle of the design and stair-step heights to bed edges.

What is the most hardy perennial flower? ›

Keep reading for our Top 10 extremely hardy perennials, perfect no matter where you live in the UK and all rated as hardiness H7 by the RHS.
  • Convallaria majalis.
  • Echinops Taplow Blue. ...
  • Cornus alba Sibirica. ...
  • Geranium Rozanne. ...
  • Hosta Seiboldiana Elegans. ...
  • Aquilegia Nora Barlow. ...
  • Iris Butter and Sugar. ...
  • Astrantia Ruby Wedding. ...
Feb 4, 2022

What perennials bloom the longest? ›

Longest Blooming Shrubs and Perennials
Firefly YarrowStand By Me Bush ClematisTuscan Perennial Sunflower
Pyromania® Red Hot PokerSweet Romance® LavenderAmazing Daisies® Shasta Daisy
'Cat's Pajamas' and 'Cat's Meow''Cloudburst' Tall Cushion PhloxOpening Act Hybrid Phlox
Luminary® seriesProfusion Perennial Salvia series

Can hostas grow in full sun? ›

Did you know you can buy hostas that will grow well in the sun? Despite being called full-sun hostas, though, these plants aren't like coneflower or daisies that can take eight hours of intense sun. Rather, hostas that withstand sun are referred to as sun-tolerant hostas.

What do you add to soil when planting perennials? ›

Add as much organic matter to your planting area as you can. Use things like compost, old leaves, mushroom compost, shredded bark mulch, bark fines or composted manure. Perennials live in the same spot for many years. Adding lots of organic matter creates a base that helps plants thrive.

Which perennials should not be divided? ›

Asclepias, Aquilegia, Baptisia, Paeonia, Platycodon and woody stemmed perennials such as Perovskia should not be divided or moved once planted. Before bringing out the shovel, read our guide below for tips on when and how to divide up your garden.

What flower keeps bugs away from vegetables? ›

Nasturtiums. If aphids are chewing up your garden, it's time to plant some nasturtiums. Easy to grow and pretty in bloom, nasturtiums repel aphids, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles, and whiteflies. Plant nasturtiums near beans, cabbages, and cucumbers to ensure an insect-free growing season.

What plant opens every 100 years? ›

The succulent sends up a tall stalk of blossoms right before it dies. In the Arid Greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Agave ocahui is known as the century plant because people used to think it flowered only once every 100 years.

What's the difference between annuals and perennials? ›

Annual flowers grow for one long season, often into the fall, then die with the onset of freezing weather. With perennials, the above-ground portion of the plant dies back in freezing weather, but re-grows from the base and rootstock the following spring to bloom again.

What is a plant that keeps its leaves all year round? ›

Some of the most common evergreen shrubs include arborvitae, boxwood, false cypress, holly, juniper, wintercreeper, azalea and rhododendron.

What is the name of the plant that blooms year after year? ›

A perennial plant is one that lives for more than two years and returns each growing season. Unlike annuals, which have a one-season life cycle and biennials, which have a two-year life cycle, perennials live for several years, regrowing from the same roots and often producing flowers and seeds each year.

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