10 new perennials for your 2024 garden
If you’re like me, you probably have your trusted garden favorites. Plants and flowers that you just can’t live without. I guess that’s why I grow perennials — they come back year after year and I always know exactly what’s coming.
But at the same time, that can get boring. That’s where this list of 10 new perennials came from. This is the year to add different textures and colors to my borders. Plus, we’re busy creating 4 new flower beds here in our garden… so it’s the perfect time to mix things up with a few new additions.
Let me introduce you to 10 perennials that will keep your garden looking gorgeous all summer long. And maybe you’ll find a few of your new favorites in the list, too.
1. Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae)
Bermuda Buttercup is a hardy perennial that will bloom all summer long, providing beautiful color to your garden. It's also drought tolerant, meaning you don't have to water it as often as other plants. This makes it a great choice for any low-maintenance gardener out there who wants the impact without a ton of extra work.
Love yellow? Here are more vibrant yellow perennials to enjoy.
2. Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia)
Calla lilies are a beautiful addition to any garden and they’re perfect for the 2024 garden design you’re working on. They bloom all summer long, and their trumpet-shaped flowers are absolute showstoppers.
Calla lilies grow best in full sun, and they prefer moist, well-drained soil. Be sure to fertilize them regularly for the best results.
3. Canna Lilies (Canna)
Canna lilies are another summer favorite. These perennials are easy to care for and bloom all season long. They even come in a variety of colors, so it’s easy to find the one that matches the color scheme and style you’ve got going on.
If you’re looking for shade perennials, these aren’t it. Canna lilies grow best in full sun, so make sure to plant them in an exposed spot. They also need plenty of water, so water them regularly.
4. Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis)
If you're looking for a plant that will really make a statement in your 2024 garden (and every year after that), meet the Cardinal Flower. Also known as lobelia, this perennial is native to North America and gets its name from the bright red flowers that bloom in summer.
Cardinal flowers are easy to care for. Give them full sun and moist soil, and they'll bloom from June to August. They can get pretty tall (up to four feet) so make sure to give them room to grow.
One word of caution, however. Cardinal flowers are poisonous, so keep them away from pets and small children who might be tempted to snack on the gorgeous foliage and flowers.
5. Chocolate Flowers (Berlandiera lyrata)
These flowers smell like chocolate. I was sold as soon as I heard that. That’s actually where the name of the flowers comes from. And as the name suggests, these flowers bloom in shades of brown, burgundy, and bronze.
While they're not the most fragrant flowers — neighbors won’t think you’ve opened a chocolate factory —, they're definitely unique and will add interest to your garden. Plus, chocolate flowers are heat tolerant and do best in full sun to partial shade… unlike real chocolate.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage new growth, and be sure to water them regularly.
6. Cobra Lilies (Darlingtonia californica)
If you want something really unique in your garden, border or containers this year, try Cobra Lilies (Darlingtonia californica). And I mean really unique.
These unusual plants are native to boggy areas of Northern California and Oregon and have long, tube-like flowers that can be up to 18” long.
The flowers are pollinated by insects that crawl into the tube. Sadly, these little guys can’t get out because of the downward-pointing hairs inside. The insects eventually die, providing nutrients for the plant.
Cobra Lilies prefer cool weather and moist soil, so they're not a good choice if you live in a hot, dry climate. But if you can give them the conditions they need, they'll reward you with months of insect-killing blooms.
7. Desert Five-Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia)
In case the name didn’t give it away, desert five-spot is a heat-loving perennial that thrives in hot, dry climates and is a great choice for rock gardens or xeriscaping. It blooms with gorgeous magenta flowers.
This drought-tolerant plant is also relatively low-maintenance, and it's happy in most types of soil — just make sure it has good drainage. Desert five-spot does best in full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade.
If you're looking for a long-blooming perennial that will add a pop of color to your 2024 garden, desert five-spot is a great choice. Flowers appear in late spring and continue blooming all summer long.
8. Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora)
Here’s a grass that will make a statement in your garden. We’re looking to add this to the center of one of our new flower beds for height and movement in the breeze.
This tall and slender grass has feathery plumes that appear in early summer and stay through the fall.
Feather reed grass grows best in full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade. It's a drought-tolerant plant, so it's perfect for those hot summer days when you don't want to be out watering your plants all the time.
This plant can get to be up to 6’ tall, so make sure you have enough space for it in your garden.
9. Fire Pink (Silene virginica)
Did someone say pop of color? Meet fire pink. As its name suggests, this plant is a vibrant pink color that will add bold, vibrant color to any garden.
But fire pink isn't just pretty to look at. This plant is also super easy to care for and is drought-tolerant, meaning it doesn't need a lot of water to thrive. Plus, it's deer-resistant, so you don't have to worry about your local deer population showing up for dinner.
Fire pink is also a great choice if you're looking for a plant that will attract hummingbirds to your garden.
10. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)
Another statement-making grass is fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides). This ornamental grass has gorgeous, feathery plumes that appear in late summer and continue into fall.
Fountain grass grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. It's tolerant of drought and heat, making it a low-maintenance plant that's perfect for busy gardeners. When planting, be sure to give it enough room to spread because it can reach up to four feet in width.
In the right conditions, fountain grass is a fast grower, so you'll soon be enjoying its beautiful blooms all summer long.
What are you planting this year? Did any of my top 2024 perennials make your list? Let me know in the comments below.
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