Polite Perennials

Polite perennials versus aggressive perennials .- why sometimes we grow both polite and impolite perennials

Polite Perennials

Perennial flower beds offer so much variation that almost every American garden can benefit from them. Good perennials that do not get out of bounds aggressively, but return consistently each year, are a major part of a low maintenance garden regime. I classify perennials into three categories:

1) Polite Perennials that do not self seed aggressively, but produce a good floral display are the best sort of perennials to have. Not all perennials fall into this category, and many that are polite in one region of America are darn right rude in another! There are many polite perennials to choose from including many herbs. Look for past Perennials-of-the-Year to get a sense of the variety of polite perennials on the market.

2) Must-Have perennials that are not necessarily polite, but have a particular charm that makes me want to own them. Mint is definitely one of these plants. Left to its own devices it will take over the neighborhood including jumping across parking lots and fences. Kept in a pot it is somewhat manageable, and is indispensable in the kitchen to add to summer drinks and deserts.

3) Never-again perennials are those that run riot and have no observable attributes. This of course is subjective and a personal opinion. Plants that aggressively self seed as well as send out mile-a-minute runners come into this category. Right now I have a plant that is in this category - Pachysandra! My Pachysandra has not only created a sea of groundcover in my garden, but also crowded out and killed perennials but even some shrubs; and it is now happily destroying the landscape timbers by growing in the cracks! I have never had an aversion to this plant before, but it is truly out of control, and lost any attractive qualities. Note: I inherited the monster with this garden two years ago - I did not plant it myself.