NEELI REAMER The Roanoke Times

Baptisia australis (false indigo) is this year's "Perennial Plant of the Year."

Neeli Reamer is The Roanoke Times' gardening columnist. Her column appears twice monthly in Extra.

Neeli Reamer

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About Neeli

Neeli Reamer is a Master Gardener who has a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication and a master's degree in counseling, where she focused heavily on horticultural therapy techniques.

She believes gardening isn't about being perfect, it's about having fun.

As I write this column, my perennial bed is still covered with a blanket of leftover snow. But I like to think that all of the plants are safe and warm tucked underneath, and can't wait to poke their heads up by March 20. Spring is almost here!

Since the day I started gardening, I've been partial to perennials. According to my botany textbook, a perennial is "a plant living through several growing seasons."

I was specifically taught that an annual is a plant that completes its life cycle within a single growing season (e.g. marigolds, zinnias), a biennial completes its life cycle within two growing periods (e.g. foxgloves, parsley) and perennials are nonwoody plants that persist for more than two years.

Some perennials, such as daffodils, daylilies, hostas and peonies, can live for decades. Because I'm on the, let's say "frugal" side, this trait really appeals to me. Perennials are a long-lasting landscape investment, just like trees and shrubs.

Plus, it is so nice to see my old plants again each year and appreciate how much they have grown.

Perennial favorites

The first horticulture class I ever took was about perennials. We studied dozens of them. I quickly chose some standouts in the bunch. Now, I can't imagine my garden without:

"Moonbeam" coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata "Moonbeam") is a 1 ¹₂- to 2-foot-tall perennial that is smothered with butter-yellow flowers summer through frost. The tiny blossoms float above narrow, airy foliage. "Moonbeam" coreopsis thrives in full sun and tolerates drought. Use it at the front of your garden or in containers.

"Moonbeam" pairs well with other perennials such as "Becky" Shasta daisies and Veronica "Sunny Border Blue."

I like to plant my perennials in groups of three or five for maximum impact.

It is important to select perennials that shine at different times during the year. Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) is a tall native that takes center stage in late summer and fall. Its giant mauve blossoms are butterfly magnets. Joe-Pye weed prefers full sun and moist soil.

Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) is a popular perennial that gets 3 to 4 feet high in sun or partial shade. The large, fragrant dome-shaped flower clusters bloom for weeks in midsummer.

Years ago, my Aunt Betsy Webster gave me a bit of her old-fashioned purple Phlox paniculata. It turned into a thug, muscling out every other flower in its way, and is now banned from my garden. Some pass-along plants should come with a warning!

I have since met a white flowered cultivar named "David" that behaves like a perfect gentleman. "David" is also mildew resistant. Mildew is a common problem with garden phlox.

Shade-loving perennials such as hardy begonias, ferns and hellebores are high on my list too.

Perennial of the Year

Speaking of lists, the Perennial Plant Association, a trade group that promotes the perennial plant industry, has crowned a "Perennial Plant of the Year" since 1990. They've created an impressive lineup. (See box for the past 10 years.)

Baptisia australis or false indigo is this year's winner.

Baptisia (pronounced Bap-TEEZ-ee-ah) is a carefree native that grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. It features violet-blue flower spikes in late spring. Rattling seedpods appear on the plant in autumn.

Baptisia's attractive foliage is a soft blue-green. This perennial performs best in sun and well-drained soil. It is (supposedly) deer resistant.

Baptisia has a long taproot that makes it drought tolerant, but also difficult to transplant or divide.

Divide and care

One perk about perennials is that you can divide most varieties in spring or fall and get free plants.

I used to be nervous about digging them up and butchering them, but not so much anymore. Division every few years actually benefits many mature plants.

Soon I'll divide my astilbe, lamb's ears, liriope, yarrow and ornamental grasses. All are good candidates for spring division.

Divide your perennials in early spring when the top growth is about 2 to 3 inches high.

Here's how: Water the plant the day before. In the morning shade, carefully dig and lift the perennial. Shake off some of the soil around its crown. Use your hands, or a spade or knife, to separate the plant into smaller individual clumps. Make sure each clump has a mass of healthy-looking roots. Replant the clumps in enriched soil as soon as possible and water them well. Your divisions may not bloom until the following year.

Perennials are low-maintenance, but this does not mean they are NO maintenance. Some perennials have special needs, like staking.

In general, you should keep herbaceous perennials mulched, fertilized, watered and weeded. Snip off faded flowers to encourage repeat blooms. Cut unwanted dead foliage back in autumn.

Pick up the plants mentioned above at your local garden center. And if you're like me, you may find other exciting, new perennials you'll also want to take home.

Neeli Reamer's column runs every other Saturday in Extra.