A perennial garden features plants that live for over two years, often blooming each season. These plants die back in winter and regrow from the same roots each spring. Planning a perennial garden involves considering plant characteristics, seasonal blooms, garden structure, and maintenance. Here’s a step-by-step guide to planning a good layout, inspiring ideas, and plant selection for tailoring garden plans to fit specific needs and preferences. Discover the best perennial garden plans to create a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that blooms year after year. Let’s start!
Table of Contents
Steps to Plan and Design a Perennial Garden Layout
Let’s start with some planning and layout tips for designing a perennial garden.
Assess Your Site:
- Soil Type: Test your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. Amend soil if necessary to match the needs of your chosen perennials. Learn more about measuring the soil pH by following the link to our post. Learn about how to amend clay soil before planting your perennial garden.
- Sunlight: Observe how much sunlight different parts of your garden receive. Most perennials require full sun (6+ hours) or partial shade.
- Climate Zone: Choose plants that thrive in your USDA Hardiness Zone. There is a new 2023 USDA hardiness zone map. Your zone may have changed recently. Just, type your ZIP code below and verify your growing zone.
Design the Layout:
- Shape and Size: Decide on the garden’s shape and size based on available space and aesthetic preferences. Curved beds often look more natural than straight lines.
- Paths and Borders: Include paths for easy access and maintenance. Use edging to define the garden’s boundaries.
Select Plants:
- Bloom Times: Choose plants with staggered bloom times to ensure continuous color throughout the growing season.
- Height and Spread: Arrange taller plants at the back or center (for island beds) and shorter ones at the front. This layering ensures all plants get sunlight and are visible. You will find some garden layouts, ideas, and diagrams for planting full-sun and shade perennial gardens. In the following paragraph, there is a list of recommended perennial plants for various climates and soil types.
- Color Scheme: Decide on a color palette. Harmonious schemes (analogous colors) or contrasting schemes (complementary colors) can guide your plant selection.
- Foliage and Texture: Include a mix of foliage types and textures to add interest even when plants aren’t in bloom.
Plan for Growth:
- Spacing: Provide adequate space between plants for growth and air circulation. Check mature plant sizes when planning.
- Group by Needs: Group plants with similar water, soil, and light requirements to simplify care. This is also known as “companion plants”.
Sketch the Plan:
- Draw a Map: Create a scaled map of your garden bed. Mark plant locations based on their mature sizes and heights.
- Layering: Indicate layers (tall back, medium middle, short front) on the map for clarity.
Prepare the Soil:
- Weeding and Clearing: Remove existing weeds and debris.
- Amending: Incorporate organic matter, such as compost, to improve soil structure and fertility.
Planting:
- Planting Time: Plant perennials in early spring or fall when temperatures are moderate.
- Planting Depth: Follow specific planting depth guidelines for each perennial. Generally, plant so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
Maintenance Plan:
- Be sure to follow tips on caring for perennial plants, including watering, fertilizing, and pruning.
- Watering: Establish a regular watering schedule, particularly during dry spells. Learn more about the best time to water plants by following the link to our recent post.
- Mulching: Apply mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Learn more about the types of mulch and how to calculate the mulch you need.
- Pruning and Deadheading: Remove spent flowers and prune as necessary to encourage growth and maintain shape.
- Fertilizing: Feed plants with a balanced fertilizer according to their needs and growth stage.
Let’s see some ideas for planning a full-sun and shade perennial garden layout.
Full-Sun Perennial Garden Layout
Let’s see some ideas for full-sun perennial garden plans, layouts, and arrangements.
Idea 1
This first idea for a full-sun perennial garden has an island shape.
| Full-Sun Perennial Garden Plans Idea 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Plant Name | Scientific Name | Height | Bloom Time |
| Back Row (Tall Plants) | Joe Pye Weed | Eutrochium purpureum | 5-7 ft (150-210 cm) | Mid-summer to fall |
| Coneflower | Echinacea | 2-5 ft (60-150 cm) | Mid-summer | |
| Middle Row (Medium Height) | Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) | Mid to late summer |
| Daylilies | Hemerocallis | 1.5-4 ft (45-120 cm) | Summer | |
| Front Row (Short Plants) | Heuchera (Coral Bells) | Heuchera | 1-2 ft (30-60 cm) | Spring to early summer |
| Sedum (Stonecrop) | Sedum | 1-2 ft (30-60 cm) | Late summer to fall |
Shop the look:
Idea 2
Our second idea is also suitable for a full-sun garden and is designed as a perennial cut flower layout. Let’s look at the perennial garden plans and layout.
| Full-Sun Perennial Garden Plans Idea 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Plant Name | Scientific Name | Height | Bloom Time |
| Back Row (Tall Plants) | Delphinium | Delphinium elatum | 4-6 ft (120-180 cm) | Late spring to early summer |
| Joe Pye Weed | Eutrochium purpureum | 5-7 ft (150-210 cm) | Mid-summer to fall | |
| Middle Row (Medium Height) | Shasta Daisy | Leucanthemum × superbum | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) | Early to late summer |
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) | Summer to early fall | |
| Front Row (Short Plants) | Coreopsis | Coreopsis verticillata | 1-2 ft (30-60 cm) | Summer to early fall |
| Creeping Phlox | Phlox subulata | 0.5-1 ft (15-30 cm) | Spring |
Winter Interest Plants
You may want to add some winter interest to your garden that provides visual appeal during the winter months, when most plants have died back or are dormant. In this way, the garden remains attractive and engaging even in the coldest season. Here are some perennial options:
- Hellebore (Helleborus): 1-2 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
- Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis): 0.5 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
Shop the look:
Recommended Readings:
- How to Grow and Care for Delphinium Flowers
- How to Start a Cut Flower Garden: Plan and Layout
- Spring Flower Arrangement Ideas
Idea 3
This third idea for a full-sun perennial garden has an island shape and combines perennial flowers with low-maintenance flowering bushes.
| Full-Sun Perennial Garden Plans Idea 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Plant Name | Scientific Name | Height | Bloom Time |
| Back Row (Tall Plants) | Maximilian Sunflower | Helianthus maximiliani | 6-10 ft (180-300 cm) | Late summer to fall |
| Tall Bearded Iris | Iris germanica | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) | Late spring to early summer | |
| Middle Row (Medium Height) | Russian Sage | Perovskia atriplicifolia | 3-4 ft (90-120 cm) | Summer to fall |
| Gaura | Gaura lindheimeri | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) | Spring to fall | |
| Front Row (Short Plants) | Rock Cress | Arabis caucasica | 0.5-1 ft (15-30 cm) | Spring |
| Snow-in-Summer | Cerastium tomentosum | 0.5-1 ft (15-30 cm) | Late spring to early summer |
Plants for Winter Interest
- Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger): 1-1.5 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
- Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose): 1-1.5 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
Recommended reading: The Best Perennial Flowers for Full Sun
Shop the look:
Shade Perennial Garden Layout
Let’s see some ideas for partial and full-shade garden layouts and perennial garden plans.
Idea 1
This first perennial garden plan is perfect for a shaded front yard of the house. The selected plants are short or medium height, although arranged by their sizes.
| Shade Perennial Garden Plans Idea 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Plant Name | Scientific Name | Height | Bloom Time |
| Back Row (Tall Plants) | Hosta | Hosta | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) | Early summer to early fall |
| Astilbe | Astilbe chinensis | 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) | Late spring to early summer | |
| Middle Row (Medium Height) | Ferns | 1.5-2.5 ft (45-75 cm) | Not bloom | |
| Lungwort | Pulmonaria | 1-1.5 ft (30-45 cm) | Early spring | |
| Front Row (Short Plants) | Heuchera | Heuchera | 0.5-1 ft (15-30 cm) | Late spring to early summer |
| Dead Nettle | Lamium | 0.5-1 ft (15-30 cm) | Spring to early summer |
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Idea 2
In this perfect layout for partial-shade gardens, the plants are arranged to allow viewing the island from the front and walking around it.
| Shade Perennial Garden Plans Idea 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Plant Name | Scientific Name | Height | Bloom Time |
| Back Row (Tall Plants) | Rodgersia | Rodgersia aesculifolia | 3-5 ft (91-152 cm) | Early to mid-summer |
| Japanese Forest Grass | Hakonechloa macra | 2-3 ft (61-91 cm) | Attractive foliage | |
| Middle Row (Medium Height) | Japanese Anemone | Anemone hupehensis | 2-4 ft (61-122 cm) | Late summer to fall |
| Bleeding Heart | Dicentra spectabilis | 2-3 ft (61-91 cm) | Spring to early summer | |
| Front Row (Short Plants) | Lungwort | Pulmonaria | 0.5-1 ft (15-30 cm) | Early spring |
| Toad Lily | Tricyrtis hirta | 1-2 ft (30-61 cm) | Late summer to fall |
Winter Interest:
- Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis): 0.5 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
- Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis): 0.5 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
Shop the look:
Idea 3
This stunning shade perennial garden plan is perfect for welcoming entries.
| Shade Perennial Garden Plans Idea 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Plant Name | Scientific Name | Height | Bloom Time |
| Back Row (Tall Plants) | Goat’s Beard | Aruncus dioicus | 4-6 ft (122-183 cm) | Early summer |
| Ligularia | Ligularia dentata | 3-4 ft (91-122 cm) | Mid-summer | |
| Middle Row (Medium Height) | Foamflower | Tiarella cordifolia | 1-1.5 ft (30-46 cm) | Spring to early summer |
| Astilbe | Astilbe chinensis | 2-3 ft (61-91 cm) | Mid-summer | |
| Front Row (Short Plants) | Epimedium | Epimedium spp. | 1 ft (30 cm) | Spring |
| Japanese Painted Fern | Athyrium niponicum | 1-1.5 ft (30-46 cm) | Attractive foliage |
Plants for Winter Interest:
- Cyclamen coum: 0.5 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
- Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis): 0.5 ft, blooms late winter to early spring.
Shop the look:
You Might Also Like:
- 30+ Shade Perennials: Plants and Flowers for a Stunning Garden
- 10+ Shade Annuals: Plants and Flowers for a Stunning Garden
- Hosta Garden: Companion Plants for Hostas (and Plants to Avoid)
- What to Plant with Hydrangeas: Best Companion Plants Guide
Perennial Garden Plans Inspiration Gallery
Welcome to our gallery of perennial garden plans! Explore a variety of inspiring layouts and designs to help you create a beautiful, year-round garden.
Recommended Reading: 3-Season Perennial Garden Plans for Full-Sun and Shade
By following these steps and considering plant characteristics, you can create a beautiful, low-maintenance perennial garden that offers year-round interest and color.
A perennial garden plan ensures a sustainable, low-maintained, and long-lasting garden with year-round interest and blooms.
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