Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Long-lived perennials
If you’re looking to plant and be done with it, consider some long-lived plants. That said, no plant lives that long without some care which may include division. Peonies, which are perennials, come to my mind first.
They will likely far out last you! It takes them 2 to 3 years to produce blooms but they can live over 100 years. Hardy to zone 3 there are various varieties for bloom time and flower shape. They accept part sun too!
Sedum are some of the toughest plants there are and there are a LOT of varieties. In my family we called it “the Uncle Charlie plant” (aka ‘Autumn Joy’) because we all had pieces of his. That’s been over 20 years now!
They are drought tolerant and will take nearly everything you throw at them including clay soil or sandy soil. Most are just fine in full sun to part shade. Be sure to choose the appropriate plant for your climate zone.
Visit your local nursery. Most Sedums are also very popular with pollinators.
Speaking of pollinators, Butterfly Weed, does what you would think based on its name AND it lives a good long time.
It’s large taproot helps it live a long, productive life by storing water and nutrients inside. It’s dark green glossy foliage is pretty even without those eye popping orange flowers that bloom from June to August. It’s also hardy to zone 3. It loves full sun and is one tough plant. Bees also love Butterfly weed.
Generally speaking, it’s our native plants that live the longest. Makes sense!
