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Perennials

All Perennials Content

Bright yellow insects present on the stem of a milkweed plant.

Are Aphids on Milkweed Really a Bad Thing?

This year, we’ve noticed large populations of aphids on swamp milkweed plants and we’ve identified them as the oleander aphid (Aphis nerii), which is sometimes referred to as the milkweed aphid.

Shiny green and bronze beetle on green dill plant.

What Are These Shiny Beetles in My Yard and Why Are They Eating Everything?

Japanese beetles are very bad news for anyone with a garden. They are polyphagous insect pests, which simply means they feed on many different host plants.

plant with thick, green leaves and clusters of pink, cup-shaped flowers.

Pig Squeak: Bergenia cordifolia ‘Winterglut’ (Winterglow)

Bergenia is a great plant for many different types of sites in the garden performing well in shady locations to full sun, if extra moisture is provided. It looks great as a single specimen plant or planted in groups of five or more.

A lush, blooming garden with a variety of colorful plants

Creating a Sensory Garden

A sensory garden is a garden that has a collection of plants that are appealing to one or more of the five senses; sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. Sensory gardens should be accessible for all people to enjoy - disabled and non-disabled. Sensory gardens are typically geared towards young children, but are enjoyed by people of all ages.

A Red Colummbine branch with several, bell-shaped pink flowers hanging from the end.

Wild Columbine

Red columbine, Aquilegia canadensis, is this week’s native perennial to know. Also known as wild columbine, this plant has striking red flowers that droop from the ends of tall stalks.

A bushy green plant with pink flowers throughout.

Phlox

This week’s native perennials are both phloxes: Phlox divaricata (Wild Blue Phlox, or Sweet William) and Phlox pilosa (Downy or Prairie Phlox)

Penstemon digitalis plant.

Penstemon

Penstemon grandiflorus and Penstemon augustfolius are both native to South Dakota.

A purple flower blooming.

Viola pedatifida

An early blooming native perennial, Viola pedatifida – commonly known as prairie or larkspur violet, is a low-profile addition to your garden.

A hand holding an asparagus plant.

How to Plant Bare-Root Perennials

Many herbaceous perennial plants are sold as bare-root plants. A bare-root plant is just what it sounds like—a plant with bare roots and not growing in a container. Learn how to select, store, and plant these plants.