People are investing more in their property with improvements that extend their living outdoors. But adding a backyard patio and other hardscaping is not the only way to increase your home’s value. Creating interest by mixing in deep planting beds and wide borders with low-care perennials is also beneficial.
5 low-care perennials that grow well in the south
Black-eyed Susan – Providing months of blooms, these flowers with their yellow petals radiating from dark chocolate centers are popular with gardeners. Also known by their scientific name, Rudbeckia, you might see them as a mass alongside a fence or wall, or giving height to a garden bed. Varieties can grow in height from 10 inches to 4 feet. And even with a number of flowers, they have sturdy stems so they don’t flop over.
Purple Coneflower – These are care-free, daisy-like flowers with drooping pink to purple petals around a big, orange to maroon center. The flower is long-blooming and distinguished by its cone-shaped center. The coneflower attracts butterflies, songbirds, and hummingbirds to the garden. You might find it in well drained areas of meadows and garden beds. The different varieties can grow from 2 to 5 feet.
Blanket Flower – Also known by its scientific name as gaillardia, this flower provides long lasting color in a sunny location. Its flowers are daisy like, in shades of red with yellow tipped petals. You might see their bright blossoms from a distance where they can grow profusely in the summer sun. Often seen in beds, they grow to heights of 1 to 2 feet.
Coreopsis – Bright yellow to pink blooms grow on 1 to 3-foot-tall stems in a bushy habit. Don’t let the dainty appearance confuse you because these flowers can tolerate drought conditions very well. They liven up many summer gardens with their repeat blooms that help make them one of the longest bloomers of the season.
Garden Phlox – These tall, upright plants emerge in mid-summer after many flowering plants go dormant. They make a spectacular display of long-lasting white, pink, rose and lavender colored flowers. They can stand 3 to 5 feet tall. Because of their height, you might see them in the back of garden beds or massed along fences where there is afternoon shade.
Landscaping is one of the few home improvements you can make that adds value immediately and increases in value as the years go by. By adding perennials such as these, you’re adding an instant splash of color with the flowers coming back year after year.
To learn more about other improvements you can make to your home, talk to the experts at the East Metro Atlanta Home and Garden Expo on April 22nd.
