Some perennials are very hardy and will survive in extremes weather conditions and have some delightful colored stems and branches which look stunning in the fall and winter.

Irrespective of the size of garden there are perennials to suit. There also a varieties which will tolerate shade and others which survive in full sun. One of the key factors with perennials is that they do not need to be dug up each year and stored, however, they do need to be cared for properly otherwise they will spread and become unsightly and unmanageable.

Perennial flowers need to be kept weed free and dug up to stop them from spreading, this is an ideal time to get plants for free as they can be divided and clumps planted in other parts of the garden.

Perennial shrubs and bushes will need to be pruned each year to help new growth develop and to keep them a reasonable height and size.

The Variegated Japanese sedge is evergreen and works well when planted as ground cover over large areas. It is also ideal for shady spots as this is where it will thrive. This perennial plant is used for its unusual leathery foliage which looks good all year round. The sedge grows well in zones 5-9 although it may suffer from wind burnt leaves in zones 6 and below. The growth of the sedge is moderate and is not invasive and adds interest to flowers perennial designs.

The Bleeding-heart plant is adored by many; it is a tall perennial which has a somewhat brief flowering period. Bleeding heart grows well in zones 4-9 and the variety of fern-leaf bleeding-heart has flowers for much longer and keeps its leaves throughout the season. Dead heading fading flowers will help encourage further flowers.

Daisies are one of the most popular flowers perennial, there are different varieties including the classic yellow-eyed white daisies. With continual dead heading these will flower throughout the summer and are great for growing in tubs and containers as well as in borders.

Perennial sages will tolerate any soil type and there are many different varieties to choose from with different heights and colored flowers. The Caradonna variety has the most distinctive dark violet flowers and black stems which make this an ideal choice for any flowers perennial design.