Gardening with Allen: Can’t stop these perennial flowers

I understand that there are a few perennial flowers that bloom continuously through the summer like annuals. Would you share some of your favorite varieties?

The most outstanding nonstop blooming perennial flower I have grown recently is the Colorita series of Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria). Plants grow 8 to 12 inches high and are covered with lily-shaped flowers in crimson red, orange, rosy pink, yellow and white from May to October. I have seen a purple variety online but not in local nurseries. I planted three varieties three years ago, and they keep getting larger (2 to 3 feet in diameter). Although they do not have long stems, flowers make long-lasting bouquets. There are also some taller varieties that grow 18 to 24 inches tall.

One of the oldest continuously blooming perennials is a thread leaf Coreopsis named Moonbeam. It grows about 18 inches tall and blooms continuously with small lemon-yellow daisy flowers. No deadheading is required. Some new varieties of similar height have also been introduced recently. Lil’ Bang has larger red and yellow flowers and grows 10 to 12 inches tall.

Several taller threadleaf Coreopsis are also long bloomers. They tend to fall over. Plants of Moonbeam also keep getting larger, and I divide mine and share plants every three years.

A good companion for Moonbeam is a sky-blue geranium or crane’s bill named Rozanne. It also grows about 18 inches high and blooms continuously from late May until October without any deadheading.

A 1-gallon pot of both Moonbeam and Rozanne will grow to about 3 feet in diameter in one season, so it does not take a lot of plants to fill a large space.

Scabiosa Butterfly Blue (Pincushion Flower) has lavender blue flowers. It grows 8 to 12 inches high and flowers from early spring through the summer. Repeat bloom is better if the pincushion seed heads are removed occasionally. Pink Mist is similar with lavender pink flowers. Vivid Violet Scabiosa grows 15 inches tall and makes an excellent cut flower.

Most yellow-flowered Gloriosa Daisies (Rudbeckia) grow about 2 feet tall and bloom from midsummer to early fall. Early Bird Gloriosa Daisy starts blooming in early summer.

Many new varieties and colors of Coneflower have been introduced in the last few years that tend to begin blooming earlier than the typical Purple Coneflower. One of the most striking is Tomato Red Coneflower, which grows to about 30 inches in height.

Look for these varieties at full-service nurseries and garden stores, although you will occasionally find some at big-box stores. Some of the newest can be ordered online at Monrovia.com and other sources.

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