If you’re looking to create a stunning garden in the Sunflower State, also known as Kansas, you’re in for a treat. Kansas’s diverse climate and rich soil make it a fantastic place to grow a wide variety of perennials that will bring vibrant colors and textures to your outdoor space year after year. Whether you’re planting in Kansas City or the beautiful rural landscapes, there’s a perfect perennial for every garden.
Kansas gardeners face unique challenges, from very hot summers to cold winters. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with a list of the best perennials that are not only beautiful but also resilient and drought-tolerant.
Let’s dive into the best perennials for Kansas, ensuring your garden blooms brilliantly through every season!
Best Perennials for Kansas
1. Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’
Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’ is a sunny delight that brings a splash of golden yellow to your garden. Known for its vibrant, long-lasting blooms, this perennial thrives in full sun and is perfect for the Kansas climate.
Coreopsis’ Early Sunrise’ is a tough plant that can withstand drought conditions, making it ideal for dry soil. With its dark green foliage and cheerful blossoms, it adds a bright spot to any landscape.
This plant is also a favorite among gardeners because it requires little maintenance. It’s easy to grow and resistant to most pests and diseases.
Tips To Grow It Well
- A great tip for growing Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’ is to deadhead the bloom regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the summer.
- This perennial is also an excellent choice for cut flowers, bringing a bit of sunshine indoors.
- Plant it in well-drained soil and watch it thrive, adding a ray of sunshine to your garden.
2. Salvia ‘Amethyst Meadow Sage’
Salvia ‘Amethyst Meadow Sage’ is a showstopper with its striking lavender blooms that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. This hardy perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for Kansas gardens.
Known scientifically as Salvia nemorosa, this purple plant is also drought resistant, making it a resilient choice for the often hot Kansas summers. One unique feature of the Salvia ‘Amethyst Meadow Sage’ is its long blooming season, which lasts from early summer through late fall.
Tips To Grow It Well
- For the best results, grow this flower plant in an area that receives plenty of sunshine and give it some afternoon shade to protect it from the hottest part of the day.
- The plant’s long stems and vibrant flowers make it perfect for adding vertical interest to your garden, and it pairs beautifully with other perennials like Coreopsis and Achillea.
3. Achillea ‘Terra Cotta’
Achillea ‘Terra Cotta,’ also known as Yarrow, is a perennial that brings a unique, earthy charm to your garden.
Its flowers start off a rich, terra-cotta orange and mature to a soft yellow, providing a striking color transition. This plant thrives in full sun , making it perfect for the Kansas climate. Its gray-green foliage adds a lovely texture to garden borders and mixed perennial beds.
Tips To Grow It Well
- Achillea is not only beautiful but also incredibly hardy. Plant it in well-drained soil as it can handle poor soil conditions, making it a versatile addition to any garden.
- For best results, plant Achillea in a sunny location with good air circulation to prevent mildew.
- It’s also a great choice for cut flowers, with its long stems adding elegance to floral arrangements. Plus, it’s deer-resistant, so you can enjoy its beauty without worry.
4. Hosta ‘Gold Edger’
Hosta ‘Gold Edger’ is a pretty perennial for adding a touch of elegance to your shady garden spots. Known for its bright, golden-yellow and lime foliage, this flower plant thrives in partial to full shade and adds a pop of color to those often-overlooked areas. Hostas are well-loved for their lush foliage and ability to thrive in rich, moist soil.
One of the best features of Hosta ‘Gold Edger’ is its ability to provide excellent ground cover, making it perfect for planting under trees or along shaded garden borders if you have good planting information.
Tips To Grow It Well
- To keep your Hostas looking their best, ensure they have plenty of water, especially during dry periods.
- Don’t put much effort into these annuals. They are also relatively low-maintenance and resistant to most pests and diseases, making them a gardener’s best friend.
5. American Pride Iris
American Pride Iris is a majestic addition to any Kansas garden, known for its tall, stately blooms and rich, deep shades. This perennial thrives in sun and well-drained soil, and it’s very heat tolerant, making it an excellent choice for Kansas’s landscape. The dark green foliage provides a beautiful backdrop to the vibrant flowers that emerge in late spring.
Irises are incredibly easy to care for and require minimal maintenance once established.
Tips To Grow It Well
- For the best blooms, plant American Pride Iris in a sunny spot with good air circulation.
- Deadhead spent purple flowers to encourage more blooms and divide the rhizomes every few years to keep them healthy and vigorous.
6. Juniper ‘Grey Owl’
‘Grey Owl’ Juniper is a versatile evergreen shrub with silvery-gray foliage that adds a unique touch to your garden. This plant thrives in sun and well-drained soil, making it fit for Kansas’s diverse climate. Junipers are known for their hardiness and ability to withstand dry conditions, making them a reliable choice for low-maintenance landscapes.
One of the standout features of ‘Grey Owl’ Juniper is its ability to provide year-round interest in the garden for those with enough planting information. It’s an excellent choice for ground cover, adding texture and color even in the winter months. This shrub is also resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a trouble-free addition to your garden.
Tips To Grow It Well
- Plant it in a sunny location and watch it thrive. It will add a touch of evergreen beauty to your landscape.
7. Rose‘Easy Does It’
‘Easy Does It’ Rose with its many varieties is a great addition to any Kansas garden, known for its vibrant, multi-colored buds that range from apricot to pink. This rose variety thrives in well-drained soil, and it’s very heat tolerant, making it ideal for Kansas’s summers. The flowers are not only beautiful but also fragrant, adding a delightful scent to your garden.
Roses can be a bit finicky, but ‘Easy Does It’ lives up to its name by being relatively easy to care for. This variety is a great low-maintenance choice for gardeners.
Tips To Grow It Well
- To keep your roses healthy, ensure they have plenty of water, especially during dry periods, and mulch around the base to retain moisture.
- Plant ‘Easy Does It’ Rose in a sunny spot and enjoy its stunning blooms from late spring through winter.
8. Perennial Hibiscus
Perennial Hibiscus is a tropical-looking plant that brings a splash of exotic color to Kansas gardens. Known for its large, showy flowers that come in shades of pink, red, and white. It’s also heat tolerant, making it fit for Kansas’s hot summers.
One of the best features of Perennial Hibiscus is its ability to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding even more life to your garden.
Tips To Grow It Well
- For best results, plant Hibiscus in a sunny location with plenty of space for it to grow, as it can reach heights of up to 6 feet.
- Watering regularly during dry periods keeps the soil moist, and you can enjoy the stunning blooms from mid-summer to early fall.
9. Zinnias
Zinnias are the cheerful, colorful stars of any Kansas garden. These annual plants are known for their bright, bold flowers that come in a rainbow of colors, from reds and pinks to oranges and yellows. Zinnias thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them impeccable for Kansas summers.
One of the great things about Zinnias is their long blooming season, which lasts from early summer through the next season. They are also incredibly easy to grow from seed and require minimal maintenance.
Tips To Grow It Well
To keep your Zinnias blooming, deadhead the spent flowers regularly. They are also excellent for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, making your garden a lively and vibrant place.
Conclusion
Gardening in Kansas offers a world of possibilities with its diverse climate and rich soil. From the vibrant Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’ to the exotic Perennial Hibiscus, there’s an ideal perennial for every garden and gardener. They not only add beauty and color to your landscape but also attract pollinators, making your garden a buzzing hub of activity.
Remember, the key to a thriving garden is choosing the right plants for your specific conditions, whether it’s full sun, partial shade, or a bit of both. With the right mix of perennials, your Kansas garden will be a stunning showcase of nature’s beauty, offering a feast for the eyes and a haven for wildlife. So, get out there, get planting, and let your garden shine in all its glory! Happy gardening!
