Perennials for Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Utah Perennial Plant Guide by Season

From Rene at Olson’s Garden Shoppe

One of the most helpful tools Rene provides is a seasonal planting list, allowing gardeners to intentionally select plants that ensure blooms from spring through fall.

Below is a curated version of that list, adapted for clarity and blog use.

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Spring Bloomers (Early Season Color)

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These plants provide the first color after winter and are essential for early interest:

• Aubrieta (Rock Cress)

• Basket of Gold

• Bergenia

• Bleeding Heart

• Brunnera

• Candytuft

• Catmint (Nepeta)

• Columbine

• Coral Bells (Heuchera)

• Creeping Phlox

• Geum

• Hellebore

• Iris

• Leopard’s Bane

• Lupine

• Penstemon

• Peony

• Phlox (creeping types)

• Primrose

• Russian Sage (early growth interest)

• Salvia

• Sea Thrift

• Veronica

• Virginia (Bergenia-type plants)

• Winter Heath

Rene’s insight: Spring plants often prefer cooler conditions and partial shade, especially in Utah’s intense afternoon sun.

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Summer Bloomers (Peak Season Performance)

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These are the backbone of your garden’s color during the hottest months:

• Agastache (Hyssop)

• Baby’s Breath

• Bee Balm (Monarda)

• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

• Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

• Catmint (Nepeta)

• Coneflower (Echinacea)

• Coreopsis

• Delphinium

• Dianthus

• Foxglove

• Geranium (hardy types)

• Hollyhock

• Ice Plant

• Jupiter’s Beard

• Liatris

• Lilies (oriental and asiatic)

• Missouri Primrose

• Penstemon (Beardtongue)

• Phlox (garden types)

• Red Hot Poker

• Russian Sage

• Salvia

• Sedum (summer varieties)

• Shasta Daisy

• Yarrow

Rene’s insight:
Summer perennials benefit most from deadheading, which encourages reblooming and extends color into late season.

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Fall Bloomers (Late-Season Interest)

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Fall plants are essential for extending your garden’s life beyond summer:

• Aster

• Anemone

• Balloon Flower

• Chrysanthemum (Mums)

• Crocus (fall varieties)

• Dahlia

• Goldenrod / Solidago

• Grasses (ornamental varieties)

• Helenium

• Helianthus (Sunflower types)

• Mums

• Plumbago

• Rudbeckia

• Russian Sage (rebloom)

• Sedum (Autumn Joy / Stonecrop)

Rene’s insight:
“Fall is when your garden would normally fade—but with the right plants, it becomes one of the most beautiful seasons.”

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How to Use This List Effectively

Rene recommends a simple strategy:

1. Pick 2–3 plants from each season

2. Mix heights, textures, and colors

3. Combine with shrubs or evergreens for structure

4. Plan for continuous bloom rotation

This approach creates a low-maintenance, high-impact landscape.

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Final Practical Tip from Rene

“The goal isn’t just to plant flowers—it’s to make sure something is always blooming.”

By using this seasonal framework, Utah gardeners can create landscapes that are:

• Visually balanced

• Climate-appropriate

• Beautiful from early spring through late fall

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