Creekside Home and Garden supplies a great selection of hardy flowers, grasses and ground covers suited for the Edmonton area. We carry a wide variety of perennials for sun and shade to help make your garden gorgeous. 

Perennials are outdoor plants that come back after winter and live for multiple years. In the fall their foliage dies, but the plant does not. The roots or bulbs of perennials go dormant for the winter and then will wake up and begin to grow again in the spring.

It is important to understand climate zones when planting perennials. Plants classified as a perennial in Vancouver may not be a perennial in Edmonton. Edmonton is Zone 3b, so Zone 1-3b plants are considered hardy for our winters.

It is important to note that approximately every 7-10 years we get a very cold and nasty winter that can take out a few of your plants but this means that there will be room for new favourite plants.

  • Zone 1 & 2 are considered very hardy.
  • Zone 3a & 3b are good.
  • Zone 4a are less likely to do well here, but they can still flourish in the right spot.
  • Zone 4b and 5 are not likely to do well here, but it is possible with the right attention.

Our favourite resource for Edmonton friendly perennials is local author Lois Hole. For more information about perennials, we highly recommend her books for both experienced and beginner gardeners. Another great resource is the Edmonton Horticultural Society, They have great tips and tricks on planting in this region, especially on how to care for the higher zone (4-5) perennials. 

Try our plant search! Find the perfect plant for your garden and learn more about what your plants need.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR GARDEN

  • BLOOM TIMES: Perennials bloom at different times throughout the season. Some plants start blooming in May, while others bloom in late July. The length of time the blooms last will vary between perennials and can last weeks or even months.
  • SUN OR SHADE: Typically, perennials need either full sun or shade to thrive. Full sun plants need at least six hours of direct sun each day and can tolerate the hot afternoon sun. Shade plants on the other hand require less than four hours of direct sun each day, ideally in the morning.
  • SOIL MOISTURE: Some plants prefer well-draining soil and could rot in damp conditions, while others thrive in moist ground
  • HEIGHT: It is important to consider the maximum growing height of the plant. Tall plants can easily obscure a view, block sunlight in front of a window, or overshadow a smaller plant. Knowing the size of a plant can help you plan a beautiful layout without obstructing elements in your garden.

GRASSES

Perennial grasses, like blue oat grass, are low maintenance displays of colour. Tall varieties, such as karl foerster, are popular choices to increase privacy and provide a golden colour during the winter months.

GROUND COVER

These perennials only grow a few inches tall but can spread to create dense carpets of colour. Ground crawling perennials can be placed next to walkways or in rock beds to help reduce weeds and fill empty spaces.

FOLIAGE

Not all plants have showy flowers, but they make up for it with decorative leaves. Hostas, heuchera and goutweed are examples of perennials commonly chosen for their unique leaves.

PERENNIAL VEGETABLES

 Did you know that some fruit and vegetables can survive through our winters? Perennials such as rhubarb, asparagus and chives are great additions to a garden which can be harvested for multiple seasons. Garlic bulbs will also survive through the winter and can be planted in the fall for an earlier harvest.

DEER RESISTANT

Deer can be persistent pests. Although they seem to eat anything and everything, you can choose some plants that they are less likely to eat.
Perennials less loved by deer:
Achillea (Yarrow), Aconitum (Monkshood), Artemisia, Aster, Cerastium (Snow in summer), Dicentra (Bleeding heart), Digitalis (Foxglove), Epimedium (Bishops hat), Euphorbia (Spurge), Filipendula (Meadowsweet), Gaillardia (Blanketflower),  Hemerocallis (Daylily), Monarda (Beebalm), Nepeta (Catmint), Penstemon (Beardtongue), Lamium, Leucanthemum (Shasta daisy), Lupin, and Rudbeckia.
Source: Lois Holes ‘Perennial Favorites’