From drought-tolerant yarrow to native wild columbine that loves the cool Adirondack Mountains, we’ve picked the best perennials for New York landscapes.
Whether you’re brightening up a sunny spot or adding charm to a shady corner, this guide will help you find the perfect perennial plants to keep your garden looking great and low-maintenance all year.
If you’re in Upstate New York or Long Island, check out our additional articles for more tailored perennials to suit your New York planting zone, local climate, and conditions:
Best native perennials for New York landscapes
New York landscape designer and horticulturist Veronica Tyson-Strait advises that with so many perennials to choose from, it’s smart to focus on those that thrive in your specific local conditions.
She notes, “Plants that have evolved and adapted to a region’s climate and means of pollination will require less maintenance and perform better than plants that have adapted to or evolved in other regions.”
If you want a perennial garden that thrives in the state’s unique soil conditions and weather, choose New York native plants for your landscape. They generally need less water and care, and they’re great for supporting local wildlife like pollinators.
Here are our picks for native perennials that are perfect for a New York garden that’s both stunning and low maintenance.
Bluestar
Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) is a native perennial that brings seasonal beauty to Northeastern gardens. It grows up to 3 1/2 feet tall with clusters of star-shaped soft blue flowers blooming from late spring to early summer.
As fall approaches, the plant’s leaves turn a brilliant golden yellow, highlighted by striking brown veins and slender seed pods.
Growing Conditions: It prefers partial shade and rich, moist soil but adapts well to drought and full sun.
Care Tips:
- Trim by one-third to one-half in summer to control shape.
- Prune in shady spots to prevent it from flopping.
Blue wild indigo
Blue wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a resilient and beautiful native perennial that blooms with vibrant flowers in May and June, growing to 3 to 4 feet tall and wide with attractive blue-green foliage. It remains lush in hot weather and produces decorative pods in fall.
The plant dies back after frost but grows back each spring. It has been known to thrive even in gardens left untouched for over 30 years, and its roots were once used in medicinal tea. This flowering plant is not attractive to deer.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained soil. It needs minimal maintenance.
Care Tips:
- Avoid moving or dividing once established.
- Ensure it gets 8 to 10 hours of sunlight daily.
- Provide ample space for undisturbed growth.
Culver’s root
Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is a native perennial that can grow up to 6 feet tall. It has tall, straight stems adorned with whorls of narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are often hairy underneath.
Typically flowering from mid-June to mid-August, Culver’s root is a favorite in gardens. In summer, it produces impressive spikes of small, tubular white or pink flowers that attract bees and bumblebees.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in full sun and needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. It prefers well-drained soil.
Care Tips:
- Trim spent flowers to extend blooming.
- Post-flowering, cut back to the base to encourage new leaf growth and a possible re-bloom.
Wild Columbine
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a native wildflower found in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall, and in late spring and summer, it produces beautiful red and yellow flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds.
This hardy plant has good resistance to leaf miners. Let it self-sow, and it will naturally spread throughout your garden.
Growing Conditions: It grows well in diverse soil types, from loamy to rocky, and can thrive in both full sun and shade, though it prefers light shade or partial sun.
Care Tips:
- Trim off faded flowers to encourage more blooming.
- Cut the plant down to the ground when the leaves start to wither.
New York perennials for full sun
Whether you’re maintaining an open Queens backyard or a sunny Long Island front yard, these perennials are designed to handle summer heat throughout New York state. They’ll bring color and elegance to your sun-drenched spaces.
Peony ‘Sea Shell’
Peony ‘Sea Shell’ (Paeonia lactiflora) is a popular Chinese cultivar of peony with bright pink flowers and golden-yellow stamens. These slightly fragrant blooms grow on strong stems that usually don’t need support.
Blooming for approximately 7 to 10 days in late spring to early summer, it can grow up to 4 feet tall, and its lush leaves stay attractive all summer, often turning colorful in the fall, making it great for gardens or along walkways. It’s easy to care for and generally pest-free, though it can be prone to fungal diseases.
Growing Conditions: It flourishes in full sun but can handle partial shade. It prefers rich, well-drained soil.
Care Tips:
- Place them in a spot away from trees or shrubs to avoid competition for nutrients and water.
- Pair them with irises, roses, and other perennials in the garden for added appeal.
Sneezeweed
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) is a native 3- to 5-foot tall perennial that features long leaves with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that have drooping rays and a greenish-yellow center. Its name comes from an old practice: Ancient peoples used its dried leaves to make snuff, which would induce sneezing and was believed to help clear out evil spirits.
This plant blooms in late summer and fall. Resistant to pests and diseases, it is perfect for cottage gardens, borders, and naturalized areas.
Growing Conditions: This plant grows best in full sun and prefers average to moderately wet soils.
Care Tips:
- To keep the flowers blooming longer, remove spent blooms regularly.
- After the flowering period ends and the plant starts to die back, cut the stems down.
Trailing ice plant
Trailing ice plant (Delosperma nubigenum) is a creeping perennial that forms a dense, colorful mat, growing up to 2 inches tall. Its evergreen, fleshy leaves are oval or linear, initially shiny green but turning reddish in autumn.
The plant produces bright yellow, solitary flowers that are about 3/4 inch wide during the summer.
Growing Conditions: Ideal for rock and succulent gardens, it thrives in well-drained soil and grows best in full sun.
Care Tips:
- It’s drought-resistant and needs only minimal watering throughout the growing season.
- Watch for mealybugs and avoid crown rot by ensuring well-drained soil. Learn more through our article: “How to Get Rid of Mealybugs in Your Yard.”
New York perennials for shaded areas
Got a shady spot under the trees or just started building a shaded garden? These shade perennials are just what you need to brighten up those dimmer areas.
Bigroot geranium
Bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) is a perennial with fragrant, gray-green, toothed leaves. Its pink, purple, or white flowers bloom in loose clusters on upright stems, forming a cushion-like shape.
Growing up to 1.5 feet tall and spreading 1 to 2 feet, it blooms from May to August, and its foliage often turns red in the fall. It can spread freely if not deadheaded, making it a great choice for ground cover.
Growing Conditions: This plant thrives in well-drained soil and prefers partial shade in hot climates but can grow in full sun in cooler areas. It tolerates drought.
Care Tips:
- Trim off the spent flowers, but leave the foliage through the winter since it’s evergreen and takes on a lovely red tint.
- In spring, tidy up the plant by removing any old or damaged leaves.
Green and gold
Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) is a low-growing plant reaching up to 9 inches tall and spreading steadily. It has dark-green, semi-evergreen leaves and soft, hairy stems.
Its golden-yellow five-petaled flowers bloom in spring, with some blooms continuing into summer.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial to full shade. It is well-suited for shady areas, making it a good choice for ground cover, edging woodland paths, or brightening rock gardens and shaded borders.
Care Tips:
- It doesn’t handle drought well, so regular watering in summer is important.
Lenten rose
Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) stands out with its dark, leathery leaves and lance-shaped leaflets with saw-toothed edges. In early spring, it blooms with large, saucer-shaped flowers in cream, purple, or pink, accented by vibrant yellow stamens.
While it remains evergreen, its leaves may suffer in severe winters if there’s no snow cover. For a striking display, plant it in your garden in clusters.
Growing Conditions: This perennial does best in partial to full shade with humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Care Tips:
- Keep an eye out for black spots and crown rot.
- Note that the plant is toxic, and its sap can cause mild skin irritation.
Deer-resistant perennials for New York
If you’re dealing with deer in the suburbs or Upstate, these perennials are both beautiful and less appealing to these unwanted guests. They’re a smart choice to keep your garden looking great while keeping a deer-resistant landscape.
Coronation gold yarrow
Coronation gold yarrow (Achillea ‘Coronation Gold’) is a hybrid yarrow that stands out for its bright mustard-yellow flowers and aromatic, silvery-gray, fern-like leaves. Growing up to 3 feet tall, this perennial blooms all summer on sturdy, erect stems. Its leaves carry a lasting spicy aroma, making them ideal for dried arrangements.
Deer and rabbits tend to avoid it, making it perfect for sunny borders, but keep in mind it’s toxic to dogs and cats.
Growing Conditions: It’s among the “Best Drought-Tolerant Perennials,” thrives in full sun, and does best in well-drained soil with average to dry moisture.
Care Tips:
- To keep the flowers coming, remove spent blooms frequently.
- Watch out for powdery mildew and learn “How to Get Rid of Aphids.”
Lady’s mantle
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is a perennial with lush, rounded clumps of scalloped, light green leaves covered in fine hairs. These leaves can hold onto water droplets after rain, adding a touch of charm to your garden. Growing up to 2 feet in height, it produces star-shaped greenish-yellow flowers from late spring through early summer.
Popular in gardens, it adds a beautiful texture to borders and works well as ground cover. While it repels deer and rabbits, it attracts butterflies.
Growing Conditions: This plant thrives in full sun or partial shade, in soil that is well-drained and maintains moderate moisture.
Care Tips:
- It can spread quickly if it self-seeds, so removing old flowers regularly helps stop it from spreading too much and can encourage a second bloom in late summer.
Learn more from our list of deer-resistant plants in this article: “Best Deer-Resistant Plants.”
Long-blooming perennials for New York
If you want to keep your New York garden looking great from the first signs of spring through summer or fall, here are perennials that will make sure your garden stays vibrant and eye-catching for most of the year.
Fringed bleeding heart
Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) is a native plant that surprises with its long-lasting blooms, starting in May and continuing well into October. Its soft, feathery green foliage stays vibrant all season, and its red and pink heart-shaped flowers are a favorite with bees.
Growing up to 2 feet, it’s perfect for lining borders, adding color to shaded gardens, filling rock gardens, or even as ground covers.
Growing Conditions: This flowering plant grows best in partial shade and in rich, moist, well-drained soil. It can handle full shade but may not flower as much if it’s too shaded.
Care Tips:
- Plant them right away or after a cold, moist period in the spring.
- It can also be easily spread by dividing the plant in autumn or early spring.
For more reading on planting perennials, check our article: “Tips for Planting Perennials.”
Shasta daisy
Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a classic flowering perennial that brings charm to gardens and makes beautiful cut flowers. With both single and double-flowered varieties, they work well in borders, containers, or cutting gardens and grow between 1 to 3 feet tall.
Their bright white flowers with yellow centers, which bloom from spring or early summer to early fall, are long-lasting and attract pollinators.
Growing Conditions: This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade. Plant them in well-drained soil, whether it’s clay, loam, or sand.
Care Tips:
- To keep it blooming longer, remove faded flowers regularly.
- Once the plants turn brown in the fall and are no longer blooming, cut the stems to a few inches above the ground to encourage new growth the following spring.
New York perennials for each season
As a bonus, check out our best plants for each season. With these choices, you can keep your garden looking lively and colorful all year long, no matter the time of year.
Spring perennial: Basket of gold
Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is a charming perennial that can add a splash of brightness to your xeriscape or rock garden. Perfect as a ground cover, it grows just 6 to 10 inches tall and spreads 12 to 18 inches wide.
With its gray-green leaves and vibrant golden-yellow flowers, it looks like little rays of sunshine, especially when it blooms in early to mid-spring.
Growing Conditions: Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil for the best results. While it’s drought-tolerant, it thrives with slightly moist soil.
Care Tips:
- Avoid over-fertilizing or planting in poorly-drained areas to prevent sprawling growth and issues like leaf spot and crown rot.
- Watch for occasional aphids and mealybugs.
Summer perennial: Tunic flower
Tunic flower (Petrorhagia saxifraga) offers a delightful surprise if you want a summer garden with an understated charm and elegance. This perennial forms a soft, low mound that gently spreads out, reaching up to 10 inches in height and 18 inches wide.
Its slender, bristly-edged leaves create a subtle backdrop for the delicate, pale pink flowers that grace the plant from early summer through the summer season.
Growing Conditions: Perfect for adding a touch of refinement to sunny spots or rock gardens, this plant thrives in full sun and well-drained, moist soil.
Care Tips:
- With shallow roots that dry out fast, it can benefit from a layer of mulch to keep the soil moist.
- After the flowers fade, trim the plant to encourage another round of blooms that might last into autumn.
Fall perennial: Fleeceflower
Fleeceflower (Persicaria affinis) is a perfect choice for adding vibrant autumn hues to your garden. This perennial forms a dense, lush mat with its lance-shaped leaves in dark green, which turn a captivating reddish-bronze in fall.
From mid-summer to mid-autumn, it dazzles with spikes of tiny flowers that transition from pink to deep red (or vice-versa), eventually fading to brown. This color shift beautifully mirrors the changing seasons, making it a standout in fall gardens.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers moist soil, though it can adapt to a range of conditions.
Care Tips:
- In spring, plant seeds in containers under a cold frame, or divide the plant in spring or fall.
- After flowering, trim back the plant and divide any overcrowded clumps every three years.
Explore more fall perennials in our article: “Late-Season Perennials for a Fall Garden.”
Winter perennial: Winter aconite
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) will bring a splash of bright yellow to your garden as a winter-blooming tuberous perennial when most plants are still tucked away. This hardy, low-growing perennial forms clumps of vibrant, cup-shaped flowers surrounded by lush green leaves. Growing up to just 6 inches, this perennial adds a burst of color to late winter and early spring gardens.
Growing Conditions: The plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and does best in rich, well-drained soil.
Care Tips:
- It goes dormant by late spring and summer, so plant its tubers in late summer or early fall, about 2 to 3 inches deep and 3 inches apart.
- Note that it may struggle in temperatures below 5 F.
Want to know more about winter-blooming plants? Check out: “Winter Flowers that Bloom in the Cold.”
Explore more about New York landscapes
Want to get the most out of your yard in New York? Here are more articles to help you with garden planning and lawn upkeep:
FAQ about the best perennials for New York landscapes
Where can I buy New York perennials?
You can find New York perennials at local garden centers, nurseries, and even farmers’ markets. Here are some trusted online retailers:
Which is better, perennials or annuals?
Choosing between perennials and annuals depends on your gardening goals. Annuals give you stunning blooms for one season, while perennials offer lasting beauty but may need more time to grow.
As Tyson-Strait explains, “Unlike annuals that end up in the compost pile or in landfills (along with their many plastic pots) after a few week[s] of being in the ground, perennials can live for many years. They inspire us with their tenacity by returning each year when the ground begins to warm up in spring.”
To know more about their pros and cons, you can read our guide: “Annual vs. Perennial Plants.”
Call a pro
If you’re unsure about choosing or caring for your perennials, or if you need advice tailored to your specific garden, it might be time to consult a professional.
Let us connect you with a local pro who can help with everything from selecting the right plants to providing personalized care tips to ensure your New York garden or lawn thrives.
Sources:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Cornell Botanic Gardens
- Cornell University Cooperative Extension: Top Plant Lists for New York
- Cornell University Cooperative Extension: Plant Materials for Vegetation…
- Gardenia.net
- Greenburgh Nature Center
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- New York Natural Heritage Program
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- The Met
- University of Illinois
- Wildflower.org
Main Image Credit: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0
