Perennials are beginning to show their colours in many local landscapes Most perennials only bloom for a few short weeks, so when planning a perennial bed, choose perennials with different bloom times as this will give you season long colour. The late spring perennials are already beginning to bloom.

Bergenia: Has attractive year round foliage. This perennial has large, glossy green leaves that take on bronze/red tones in late summer. In May, the clusters of pink flowers appear on tall stems that rise above the foliage. Bergenia is low maintenance, easy to care for, and will grow in sun or shade.

Brunnera: The attractive heart shaped foliage emerges from the soil in early spring, followed now by dainty stems of small long lasting blue flowers. It is very hardy (zone 2) and grows best in part shade/shade moist areas.

Candytuft:Is a low growing perennial, ideal for borders and rock gardens. The small evergreen foliage gives the plant year round interest until it is covered by snow. Right now the foliage is covered over, by a carpet of small white flowers.

Creeping phlox: ( shown in photo)  A favourite perennial in many local landscapes. They are low growing, forming a mat and can be seen blooming now, in rock gardens, ground covers, and borders. There are a few different varieties that have different coloured flowers including shades of white, pink, purple, red

Iris: There are a few different types of irises but the types that are blooming now are the bearded iris and the arctic iris. They have beautiful flowers that rise slightly above the sword like foliage.

Jacobs ladder: Is a clump forming perennial that has fern like foliage that is green or variegated. The clusters of small blue flowers appear above the foliage on tall stems. Remove the finished flowers before they form seeds as they self seed quite easily.

Leopards bane: These are hard to miss as the bright yellow daisy like flowers are easy to spot on the mound forming plants. The heart shaped foliage often disappears by mid summer and so it is a good perennial to plant near late blooming perennials

Lungwort: Is a low maintenance perennial good for shaded areas. The beautiful foliage makes the plant attractive throughout the season, but right now the plant has the added bonus of clusters of flowers. It makes a good ground cover.

Pasque flower: The purple daisy like flowers are pretty when in bloom but also when they have finished blooming as they produce fuzzy seed heads. The flowers are found on tall stems that rise above the mound of silver/green fern like foliage.

Primula: One of the earliest spring bloomers. The ones in our landscape have already finished blooming. They are short clump forming perennials, great for rock gardens and borders.

Spurge: Is attractive even when its not blooming. It forms a perfectly rounded shape of green foliage and right now is full of bright yellow flowers that are actually bracts.

Trollius: Also known as Globeflower, perhaps because of the round globelike flowers that make nice cut flowers. The bright yellow or yellow/orange round flowers are found on top of strong stems that rise above the clumps of dark green, lobed foliage. Once planted, they can remain in the same spot for years. Plant in an area where they will receive even moisture in sun to partial shade.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George

• Highway 16 West at Kimball road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road