I love to plant my gardens in varying heights with scattered bloom times to keep them interesting and pleasing to the eye all season long. Looking for a stately bloomer to provide a tall back drop to your garden plot? Read on to discover a few of my favorite statuesque perennials …
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Spotted Joe-Pye Weed … A butterfly/bird magnet!
1.) Eupatoriums (commonly known as Joe-Pye Weed):
This family of plants is hardy and easy to grow and comes in a wide variety of heights. I especially like Spotted Joe-Pye Weed which grows 5 – 6 ft tall.
Attracts butterflies like crazy! A vigorous and sturdy native plant to our area. Deer and rabbit resistant as an added bonus. Blooms pink in late summer, early fall.
Boltonia’s cheery daisy-like flowers! Great used in masses.
2.) Boltonia asteroids ‘Snowbank’:
A profusion of white daisy-like flowers covers its 4 – 6 ft tall frame in September and October. Pretty blue-green foliage adds to this attractive plant’s appeal. Easy to grow in full sun to part shade.
Pinch back in early summer for a bushier, fuller effect. Looks great planted in masses. Cheery personified!
Butterfly Bush ‘Nanho Blue’. Fragrant & good for cutting.
3.) Buddleia davidii ‘Nanho Blue’ (Butterfly Bush):
There are many varieties of Butterfly Bush, but this is one is a tried and true favorite. Nanho Blue features showy panicles of fragrant blue flowers at the ends of the branches from mid summer to mid fall.
The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has grayish green foliage throughout the season. Besides butterflies it also attracts hummingbirds. Reaches 5 – 6 ft tall at maturity. Also available in dwarf form for smaller spots in the garden landscape.
Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’. Good pollinator plant!
4.) Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ a.k.a. Sunflowers:
The sunflower is named after its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. They come in many different colors and sizes … such happy-looking flowers!
When you think of sunflowers, you generally think of tall and bright yellow. A reliable background plant for the garden …
This variety is a softer yellow, easy to grow, and does not require much water. Grows 6 – 8 ft. tall and reseeds easily.
Hardy Hibsicus ‘Summer in Paradise’ adds a tropical vibe.
5.) Hibiscus ‘Summer in Paradise’ (Rose Mallow – Hardy Hibiscus):
The gorgeous, large, tropical-looking blooms of the hardy hibiscus are a perfect focal point to the garden bed. They are best planted in full sun. Don’t be alarmed … they are slow to break dormancy and often don’t show signs of life until June.
‘Summer in Paradise’ is a new variety featuring luscious hot red blooms from July – Sept. Reaches 3 – 5 ft. tall in moist well-drained soil.
Sunset Hyssop features hummingbird loving coral spiked flowers.
6.) Agastache rupestris ‘Licorice Mint, Sunset Hyssop’ :
I adore plants with orange-coral flowers and this lovely perennial surely fits the bill!
Featuring unique coral flowers with a spicy fragrance. This rugged plant attracts hummingbirds like crazy …
It can endure dry conditions once established. Blooms June – Sept and reaches 3 – 4 ft in height …
Remove old stems just above the new foliage in spring. Excellent drainage is crucial for Sunset Hyssop’s success …
Japanese Silver Grass – one tough cookie …pretty in all seasons
7.) Miscanthus ‘Japanese Silver Grass’:
This family of perennial ornamental grasses are quite showy providing spectacular fall color and magnificent fluffy plumes. They come in a variety of heights and colors …
Miscanthus is one tough plant adaptable to a range of conditions from dry to wet. They provide winter interest and then come spring … cut them down to a few inches from the ground.
Japanese Silver Grass is rabbit and deer resistant plus good for cutting. Grows to 4 – 5 feet tall by 2 – 3 ft wide. Interesting vase shape adds seasonal structure to your plot …
Hollyhock ‘Halo Cerise’ reminds me of old-fashioned cottage gardens.
8.) Alcea rosea ‘Hollyhocks’:
Reminiscent of grandma’s cottage garden, hollyhocks stand tall and offer color and height to the back of the garden or along a wall or fence …
They come in many hues … one of my favorites is ‘Halo Cerise’ in rich pink with a contrasting deep purple halo.
Hollyhocks primarily used to be biennials, but now there are perennial offerings. These new varieties are winter hardy and do best in full sun. Most grow 5 – 6 ft high and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Dwarf types are also on the market …
Oriental Lily ‘Casa Blanca makes a wonderful bouquet!
9.) Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ Oriental Lily:
The lilium family of asiatic and oriental lilies features a large group of summer blooming plants which grow from a bulb. The Oriental varieties are extremely fragrant adding to their appeal.
One type I really like is the ‘Casa Blanca’ Oriental lily. This beauty showcases huge, white, long-lasting 10″ flowers that make a stunning bouquet. It reaches 4 – 6 ft in height …
The taller lily varieties may need stacking to remain upright. Lilies are easy to grow in full sun or partially shaded spots …
Russian Sage – Very reliable & drought tolerant.
10.) Perovskia (Russian Sage):
Always reliable in the garden as an anchor plant or in back of lower growing perennials and annuals, Russian Sage has richly aromatic silver foliage with airy spikes of lavender-blue flowers.
I love to pair it with pink and yellow floral companions for a head-turning combination …
Drought tolerant when planted in well drained soil, this perennial prefers full sun to look its best and keep it blooming July – October. Plants can reach 2 – 4 ft tall.
Of course, the above list just scratches the surface of the wonderful world of tall perennials!
Keep in mind a garden filled with just statuesque flowers and shrubs would be overwhelming and look awkward. You need a full spectrum of various sized perennials for an interesting and effective planting …
I like to mix different foliage shapes and colors in addition to the plant’s bloom times …
Don’t just consider the maximum height of these plants … research the spread too so you know how much room they can take up in your garden. Seasonal flow from foliage to flower to autumn hues and winter interest are the hallmarks of many large perennials.
Other ideas for the backbone of a garden plot include climbing vines and roses. A trellis with clematis or a striking rose climber on a dull garage wall can truly add life and color to the landscape …
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Turn a ho-hum spot into a charming one with tall perennials!
We hope you found this post about statuesque perennials interesting and helpful! Let us know your thoughts, your favorites, and suggest other tall perennials you love by stopping by our contact page …
I have 6′ Joe Pye Weed. What is a variety about 36″ or so?
Hello Tom, your best choices for a smaller version of Joe Pye Weed are the “Little Joe” variety which grows to just 3 – 4 feet tall, making it about half the size of most Joe Pye weeds or the “Baby Joe” that grows to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Both work well in smaller garden plots.