The best perennials for Upstate New York landscapes are those that thrive through frosty winters and warm summers while tackling local challenges like deer and diverse soil types.
From native plants like columbine and beebalm to sun-loving and shade-tolerant varieties, as well as top bloomers for every season, this article highlights the best perennials to keep your Upstate garden thriving year-round.
Covering the region north of the New York City metro area, Upstate New York planting zones typically range from 4 to 6, with some areas near downstate reaching zone 7.
For more information on perennials across the state, including Long Island, check out these guides:
Best native perennials for Upstate New York
Native plants for Upstate New York landscapes, including native perennials, are always a great choice. They can handle the cold winters and heavy rain. Plus, they help local pollinators, prevent soil erosion, and boost your garden’s health — all while thriving in the region’s varied soil types.
As New York landscape designer and horticulturist Veronica Tyson-Strait explains, “Native perennials have the added benefits of being host and food plants to many insects, birds, and other creatures. Adding native perennials to plantings in containers, tree pits, backyards, rooftops, parks, and in other cultivated spaces enhances biodiversity.” These are just a few reasons why you should grow native plants.
Bush honeysuckle
Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) is a true garden gem, especially if you’re looking to brighten up your landscape with low-maintenance beauty. Native to the Finger Lakes region, this hardy shrub thrives in challenging spots where other plants might struggle. In late spring and early summer (June to July), it blooms cheerful yellow trumpet-shaped flowers that transition to a striking red-orange.
Reaching up to 3 feet in height and spreading up to 4 feet wide, it’s perfect for creating vibrant shrub borders, mass plantings, or hedgerows. While not a true honeysuckle, its blooms resemble those of the honeysuckle family and are great at attracting butterflies and other pollinators.
Growing Conditions: This plant is native to dry, rocky woodland areas and thrives in a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade. It tolerates medium to dry soil and spreads by suckers, which can form dense thickets over time.
Care Tips:
- Regularly remove suckers that sprout up outside the desired area to prevent unwanted spreading.
New England aster
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a showstopper in any garden, growing up to 7 feet. Its rough, hairy leaves and fuzzy stems create a dramatic backdrop for its large purple blooms with bright yellow centers. These flowers, which bloom from August to October, attract bees and butterflies, making them perfect for pollinator gardens.
As Tyson-Strait notes, “Asters are super low-maintenance plants and a garden must-have. These cheerful plants brighten up the fall landscape and give bees, monarchs, and other insects the bounty of nectar and pollen needed to make it through the winter months.” Just a heads-up, this native perennial has medium flammability, so plan your garden layout accordingly.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in full sun or partial shade and adapts to various soil types, including clay and sand, as long as the soil drains well. It’s great for rain gardens and tolerates occasional dry spells.
Care Tips:
- Trim the plant back after flowering to encourage fresh growth.
- Ensure good air circulation to keep foliar diseases at bay.
Pollinator Pointers: Pollinators are valuable because they help your plants thrive and play a key role in supporting wildlife by providing food and shelter. Learn more in our article: “Why Pollinators are Important for Your Garden.”
White turtlehead
White turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is one of those hidden gems you might stumble upon in the wetlands or damp meadows of the Adirondack Mountains. Standing 1 to 3 feet tall, this native perennial can be found in almost every county in the eastern half of New York.
It produces dense spikes of white or pinkish-white flowers that bloom gradually from the bottom up, giving you a stunning display between July to September. The flowers, with their unique shape resembling a turtle or snake’s head, add a touch of intrigue to any wetland or shaded garden spot.
Growing Conditions: In New York, white turtlehead usually thrives in both sunny or partly shaded areas and in poorly drained sites.
Care Tips:
- At the end of the season, it’s best to cut the plant back to keep it healthy and tidy for the next year.
- Pinch stems in spring to encourage shorter, sturdier growth.
Wild columbine
If you’re looking for a pop of color that attracts wildlife, wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a great choice. This native perennial from the Adirondack Mountains grows 1 to 3 feet tall and blooms in late spring and summer, with vibrant red and yellow flowers.
Wild columbine is hardy and easy to care for, spreading naturally if left to self-sow. Historically, Native Americans used it in folk remedies for various ailments. The plant’s foliage is toxic to mammals but provides nectar for pollinators like bumblebees and hummingbirds.
Growing Conditions: This plant is versatile, growing well in anything from loamy to rocky soil. While it can handle both full sun and shade, it thrives best in light shade or partial sunlight.
Care Tips:
- Remove wilted flowers to promote continued blooming.
- In midsummer, prune the plant down to the base when the leaves start to fade.
Best Upstate perennials for full sun
Looking to brighten up your Upstate New York garden with vibrant, sun-loving perennials? Full sun gardens can be a challenge, especially in warmer zones, but the right plants can turn your outdoor space into a stunning display of color and texture. Check out these top perennial picks that thrive in sunny spots in Upstate New York.
Beebalm
If you’re looking to add both color and a burst of fragrance to your garden, beebalm (Monarda didyma) is a fantastic choice. This herbaceous mint-scented perennial can grow up to 5 feet tall and blooms scarlet red flowers from mid-July through late August.
Its vibrant, tubular blooms with their unique two-lipped shape attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, thanks to their long proboscises needed to reach the nectar. Tyson-Strait adds that the plant also produces striking seed heads, which are a favorite among birds.
Growing Conditions: This native plant flourishes in rich, loamy soil with good moisture but adapts to well-drained soils. It grows best in full sun but also tolerates partial shade.
Care Tips:
- To extend blooming and support pollinators, regularly remove spent flowers.
- Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring, and mow the area once a year after the first hard frost.
Purple coneflower
If you’re looking to add a pop of color that lasts from early summer through mid-fall, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) might just be your garden’s new best friend. This hardy perennial grows up to 4 feet tall, showcasing striking pinkish-purple blooms that are a magnet for butterflies from June to August.
Whether you’re planting it as a border, grouping it in a native or pollinator garden, or adding it to a naturalized area, this long-blooming plant delivers. According to Tyson-Strait, the attractive seed heads add winter interest, and if you leave some flower heads to dry, you’ll see birds, specifically finches, feasting on the seeds.
Growing Conditions: This flowering plant is not fussy about soil and thrives in well-drained, moist loam but can adapt to different soil types. Once established, this drought-tolerant perennial thrives in both full sun and partial shade.
Care Tips:
- To keep it blooming beautifully, regularly remove spent flowers and trim back the stems.
- Watch for pests like Japanese beetles, leaf spot, and signs of aster yellows disease.
Sneezeweed
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) will make your perennial garden livelier with its eye-catching yellow, daisy-like blooms. Growing up to 5 feet, this native perennial dazzles with its drooping rays and greenish-yellow centers, making it a standout in its blooming season (mid-August through late September).
The quirky name comes from using its dried leaves as snuff to make people sneeze — believed to ward off evil spirits. It is ideal to grow in borders, naturalized areas, and cottage gardens.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in full sun and prefers average to moderately wet soil.
Care Tips:
- To keep those vibrant flowers coming, regularly pinch off spent blooms.
- As the growing season wraps up and the plant begins to fade, trim back the stems to tidy things up.
Best Upstate perennials for shade
In areas with dense tree cover or those shaded by the majestic hills and ridges of the Adirondacks, these shade-loving plants will flourish and add vibrant color to your garden.
Foamflower
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) brings a woodland charm to any garden with its delicate, feathery white flowers that bloom in late spring. Native to the Adirondacks, this low-growing perennial creates lush, spreading patches of heart-shaped leaves, adding a touch of elegance to shaded areas.
Resistant to deer and rabbits, this wildflower typically grows from 4 to 14 inches tall. Blooming from late May to mid-June, it’s a subtle yet captivating addition to woodland or cottage gardens.
Growing Conditions: It grows well in shade or partial shade and adapts well to various soils, especially those that are rich and slightly acidic.
Care Tips:
- Trim away faded flowers and dead leaves to keep your garden tidy.
- To propagate, plant seeds in pots during spring or as soon as they’re mature using a cold frame.
Maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) is a charming addition to any shady garden in the Upstate, with its delicate, fan-shaped fronds and unique dark stems. This resilient fern grows 1 to 3 feet tall. The fronds may brown in the summer heat, but they die back in winter, making way for fresh pink crosiers (curled-up tips of a young fern) to emerge in spring.
Perfect for shade gardens or even containers, this perennial adds a touch of wild beauty wherever it grows. It not only adds delicate beauty but also attracts songbirds, making it a delightful addition for bird lovers.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in well-drained, humus-rich soil and prefers deep shade (less than 2 hours of direct sunlight) or partial shade (2 to 6 hours of sunlight daily). Although it’s a perennial thriving in moist soil, it can handle a bit of drought and will gradually spread to form large colonies over time.
Care Tips:
- If the fronds start browning in the summer heat, move it to a shadier spot or increase watering.
Toad Lily
Toad Lily (Tricyrtis ‘Blue Wonder’) is a real garden charmer, perfect for those shady spots that need a late-season pick-me-up. Growing up to 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide, this perennial sports dark green leaves and striking clusters of flowers in cream white, adorned with blue and deep purple spots.
As summer fades and other perennials start to rest, this plant steps into the spotlight, blooming from late summer into fall. Whether you use it as an accent plant, a ground cover in a woodland garden, or even in containers, it’s sure to delight you every time you walk by.
Growing Conditions: This perennial is not only easy to care for but also incredibly resilient, thriving in partial or full shade. It prefers soil that’s organically rich, well-drained, slightly acidic, and consistently moist.
Care Tips:
- Keep an eye out for snails and slugs.
- When winter approaches, cutting back the old stems will keep your garden looking neat.
Best Upstate perennials for each season
In Upstate New York, with its diverse hardiness zones, choosing perennials that shine in each season will create a vibrant year-round garden.
As Tyson-Strait notes, “The key is to grow a variety of plants that flower at various times of the growing season and to choose plants that offer attractive seed pods, colorful and contrasting flower and foliage shapes, fragrance, pollinator appeal, and year-round interest.”
From early spring to the quiet beauty of winter, here are our top picks for each season:
Best for spring: Coral bells
Add vibrance to your garden with a plant that’s not only beautiful but also incredibly resilient. Growing up to 3 feet in height, coral bells (Heuchera americana), a charming mounding perennial, is a perfect choice if you’re looking for something eye-catching and low-maintenance. With its vibrant foliage in shades of purple, bronze, or green, often marbled or veined with color, coral bells can brighten up any shady spot.
In spring, delicate bell-shaped flowers on tall, leafless stalks rise above the foliage, adding even more interest. It’s perfect for woodland or rock gardens, borders, and pathways. Plus, its bitter-tasting leaves make it deer-resistant — a real bonus if you live in an area where deer like to snack on your plants.
Growing Conditions: This native plant thrives in moist, rich soils in shade to part sun.
Care Tips:
- Plant coral bells in small groups to make a statement.
- Be sure to divide the clumps every 3 to 4 years in spring or fall to keep them healthy.
Best for summer: Orange daylily
Orange or tawny daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) is a garden favorite for its vibrant orange blossoms and impressive height, growing up to 5 feet. Each bloom may only last a day, but the plant’s cluster of flowers will keep your garden glowing for several weeks in June and July.
Nicknamed the “perfect perennial,” daylilies are known for their stunning flowers, resilience to heat stress, drought tolerance, and ability to grow in various hardiness zones with minimal care. They stand out in any garden, whether in perennial beds, shrub borders, or as ground covers.
Growing Conditions: This flowering plant flourishes in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils.
Care Tips:
- They need space to spread, so planting them 3 feet apart is ideal.
- Despite their beauty, they’re not high-maintenance — simply remove spent blooms to keep them looking fresh.
Best for fall: Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is one of those plants that seem to have it all — it’s striking, hardy, and easy to grow. Often mistaken for an annual because it blooms so quickly from seed, this fast-growing, short-lived native perennial is a staple in many gardens across the eastern United States.
The bright yellow or orange flowers, with their distinctive brown or green domed centers, start to bloom in midsummer and, with a little deadheading, will keep going into the fall. Growing from 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, it also attracts a variety of pollinators and serves as a food source for the larvae of certain butterflies.
Whether you’re planting on a slope, in a naturalized area, or adding to a butterfly or pollinator garden, black-eyed Susan fits right in.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It’s tough enough to handle a bit of drought, salt, and even deer.
Care Tips:
- Remove faded flowers to help your plants bloom more and stop them from spreading seeds where you don’t want them.
- Watch out for the occasional powdery mildew, snails, and slugs.
- Avoid planting it too close to fertilized lawns, as too much nitrogen can reduce its flower power.
Bonus: Tyson-Strait shares that among the Rudbeckia species, she is particularly fond of Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers,’ which also blooms from summer to fall. “They look great in groups and against grasses, but I think they are charming in almost any sunny site. I grow them next to plants with white or purple flowers with pointed or spikey flowers or contrasting foliage.”
Best for winter: Snowdrop
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is a delightful little bulb that brings a touch of magic to your garden when it blooms in late winter or early spring, often pushing through the snow.
Growing 4 to 10 inches tall and spreading about 3 to 6 inches wide, snowdrops are adaptable, handling occasional wet conditions, and they spread naturally by self-seeding and bulb offsets, making them perfect for naturalized or woodland gardens.
They not only brighten up the landscape during those late winter months but also provide a valuable food source for bees. Just be cautious — while they add beauty to your garden, the bulbs are toxic if ingested.
Growing Conditions: These milk-white flowers, native to Europe and southwestern Asia, thrive in full sun to partial shade, especially in rich clay or loam soil with good drainage.
Care Tips:
- Plant in a spot where they can form drifts under deciduous trees or shrubs.
- Divide clumps of bulbs after they have finished flowering or try stem cuttings.
- If starting from seeds, they need a cold period below 20 F to germinate (common in planting zone 4 in the Upstate), so snowdrops might not last as long in warmer climates without these chilly conditions.
Read more about your Upstate lawn
Enhance your Upstate New York yard with these helpful resources on lawn care:
Where can I buy Upstate perennials?
You can find Upstate New York perennials at nearby nurseries, garden centers, or plant sales. You can also check these online retailers:
Need a hand with your Upstate garden?
If your garden or lawn feels like a puzzle you can’t solve, don’t worry — we can match you to a New York lawn care expert to help. We can connect you with a gardening pro who understands Upstate New York’s unique weather, soil, and plant needs.
Whether you’re in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton, Utica, or nearby, these pros have your back. From choosing frost-friendly plants to managing tricky sun and shade spots, they’ll make sure your garden looks great with less stress for you.
Main Image Credit: Jmeeter | Wikimedia Commons | Public Domain
