Gardeners often seek that "perfect" herbaceous (non-woody) perennial plant to fill a special location or need in the landscape. Listed below are some perennial plants useful for specific growing conditions and experiences in Rhode Island. But remember,everyone’s experience with a specific plant may vary somewhat.
Note regarding use of the following list : When selecting plants it is important to remember that many plants in a genus will fit the category given and are, therefore, listed as “species,” as, for example, "Hosta spp." More research may be necessary to narrow the selection within a genus. Occasionally, a specific cultivar of a species is listed (in single quotes), indicating that the particular plant is the best choice within the species. Both scientific and common names are given. This list is not all-inclusive; use it as a guide and then plan to do some further research.
SUNNY, DRY AREAS
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Achillea spp. |
Achillea or Yarrow |
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Anthemis tinctoria |
Golden marguerite |
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Arabis caucasica |
Rock cress |
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Armeria maritima |
Common or Sea thrift |
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Artemisia spp. |
Artemesia |
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Asclepias tuberosa |
Butterfly weed |
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Catananche caerulea |
Cupid's dart |
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Coreopsis spp. |
Coreopsis |
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Echinops ritro |
Small globe thistle |
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Euphorbia spp. |
Spurge |
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Gaillardia spp. |
Blanket flower |
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Helianthus x multiflorus |
Perennial sunflower |
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Hemerocallis hybrids |
Daylily |
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Lavandula angustifolia |
English lavender |
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Liatris spp. |
Gayfeather |
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Malva alcea |
Hollyhock mallow |
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Oenothera spp. |
Sundrops |
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Perovskia atriplicifolia |
Russian Sage |
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Polygonum cuspidatum var.compactum |
Fleeceflower |
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Rudbeckia spp. |
Black-eyed Susan |
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Sedum 'Autumn Joy' |
Showy stonecrop |
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Sempervivum tectorum |
Hens and chickens |
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Stachys byzantina |
Lamb's ear |
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Yucca filimentosa |
Yucca |
MOIST TO WET AREAS
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Aruncus dioicus |
Goat's beard |
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Astilbe x arendsii |
Astilbe |
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Campanula glomerata |
Clustered bellflower |
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Cimicifuga racemosa |
Black snakeroot |
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Dicentra spp. |
Bleeding heart |
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Houttuynia cordata 'Variegata' |
Houttuynia |
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Iris ensata |
Japanese iris |
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Ligularia spp. |
Ligularia |
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Lobelia cardinalis |
Cardinal flower |
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Lysimachia clethroides |
Gooseneck loosestrife |
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L. punctata |
Yellow loosestrife |
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Matteuccia pensylvanica |
Ostrich fern |
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Physostegia virginiana |
Obedient plant |
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Tradescantia x andersoniana |
Virginia spiderwort |
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Trollis europaeus |
Globeflower |
Full Shade
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Ajuga reptans |
Bugleweed |
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Arum italicum 'Pictum' |
Painted arum |
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Asarum spp. |
Wild gingers |
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Convallaria majalis |
Lily-of-the-Valley |
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Dodecatheon media |
Common shooting star |
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Galium odoratum |
Sweet woodruff |
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Helleborus orientalis |
Lenten rose |
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Hosta spp. |
Hosta |
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Lamium maculatum |
Spotted deadnettle |
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Liriope spicata |
Creeping lilyturf |
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Mertensia virginica |
Virginia bluebells |
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Osmunda regalis |
Royal fern |
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Polygonatum biflorum |
Small Solomon's seal |
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Polygonatum commutatum |
Great Solomon's seal |
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Pulmonaria angustifolia |
Blue lungwort |
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P. saccharata |
Bethlehem sage |
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Tiarella cordifolia |
Foam flower |
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Tradescantia x andersoniana |
Virginia spiderwort |
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Viola odorata |
Sweet violet |
Partial Shade
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Alchemilla mollis |
Lady's mantle |
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Anemone x hybrida |
Japanese anemone |
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Aquilegia spp. |
Columbine |
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Astilbe spp. |
Astilbe |
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Bergenia cordifolia |
Heartleaf bergenia |
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Brunnera macrophylla |
Siberian bugloss |
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Ceratostigma plumbagioides
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Plumbago |
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Dicentra spp. |
Bleeding heart |
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Doronicum cordatum |
Leopardsbane |
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Geranium spp. |
Cranesbill geranium or
Hardy geranium |
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Heuchera sanguinea |
Coralbells |
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Myosotis sylvatica |
Forget-me-not |
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Tricyrtis hirta |
Toadlily |
Long Bloom Season
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Achillea 'Moonshine' |
Moonshine yarrow |
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Asclepias tuberosa |
Butterfly weed |
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Coreopsis lanceolata |
Coreopsis |
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C. verticillata 'Moonbeam' |
Coreopsis |
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Dicentra eximia |
Fringed bleeding heart |
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Echinacea purpurea |
Purple coneflower |
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Gaillardia x grandiflora |
Blanket flower |
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Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' |
Black-eyed Susan |
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Salvia x superba |
Perennial salvia |
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Scabiosa spp. |
Pincushion flower |
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Sedum 'Autumn Joy' |
Showy stonecrop |
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Veronica spicata 'Sunny Border Blue' |
Spike speedwell |
Fragrant Flowers
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Arabis caucasica |
Rock cress |
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Convallaria majalis |
Lily-of-the-Valley |
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Dianthus plumarius |
Cottage pinks |
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Dictamnus albus |
Gas plant |
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Hosta plantaginea |
Fragrant plantain lily |
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Iris hybrids |
Iris |
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Lavandula angustifolia |
English lavender |
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Paeonia lactiflora |
Peony |
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Viola odorata |
Sweet violet |
Flowers for Cutting
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Achillea spp. |
Achillea or Yarrow |
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Aconitum napellus |
Garden monkshood |
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Alchemilla mollis |
Lady's mantle |
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Anemone x hybrida |
Japanese anemone |
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Aquilegia spp. |
Columbine |
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Armeria maritima |
Common or Sea thrift |
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Astrantia major |
Great masterwort |
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Campanula persicifolia |
Peach-leaved bellflower |
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Chrysanthemum x superbum |
Shasta daisy |
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Convallaria majalus |
Lily-of-the-Valley |
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Coreopsis spp. |
Coreopsis |
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Delphinium elatum |
Delphinium or Larkspur |
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Dicentra spp. |
Bleeding heart |
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Echinacea purpurea |
Purple coneflower |
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Echinops ritro |
Small globe thistle |
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Gaillardia spp |
Blanket flower |
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Gypsophilia paniculata |
Baby's breath |
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Heliopsis helianthoides |
Sunflower heliopsis |
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Heuchera sanguinea |
Coralbells |
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Lavandula angustifolia |
English Lavender |
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Liatris spp. |
Gayfeather |
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Lilium spp. |
Hardy lilies |
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Lupinus 'Russell Hybrid' |
Russel hybrid lupine |
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Paeonia hybrids |
Peony |
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Penstemon spp. |
Beardtongue |
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Platycodon grandiflorus |
Balloon flower |
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Rudbeckia spp. |
Black-eyed Susan |
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Scabiosa spp. |
Pincushion flower |
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Stokesia laevis |
Stokes aster |
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Veronica spicata |
Spike speedwell |
DRIED FLOWERS OR FRUITS
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Achillea spp. |
Achillea or Yarrow |
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Alchemilla mollis |
Lady's mantle |
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Asclepias tuberosa |
Butterfly weed |
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Baptisia australis |
False indigo |
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Catananche caerulea |
Cupid's dart |
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Echinops ritro |
Small globe thistle |
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Gypsophilia paniculata |
Baby's breath |
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Iris siberica |
Siberian iris (seed pod) |
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Lavandula angustifolia |
English lavender |
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Liatris spp. |
Gayfeather |
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Limonium latifolium |
Statice |
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Papaver orientale |
Oriental poppy (seed pod) |
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Scabiosa spp. |
Pincushion flower |
ATTRACTIVE TO BUTTERFLIES
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Achillea spp. |
Achillea or Yarrow |
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Armeria maritima |
Common or Sea thrift |
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Aruncus dioicus |
Goat's beard |
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Asclepias tuberosa |
Butterfly weed |
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Aubrieta deltoidea |
False rock cress |
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Chrysanthemum spp. |
Mums |
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Coreopsis spp. |
Coreopsis |
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Dictamnus albus |
Gas plant |
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Echinacea purpurea |
Purple coneflower |
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Gaillardia spp. |
Blanket flower |
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Lavandula angustifolia |
English lavender |
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Liatris spp. |
Gayfeather |
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Monarda didyma |
Bee balm |
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Phlox paniculata |
Summer phlox |
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Rudbeckia spp. |
Black-eyed Susan |
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Sedum 'Autumn Joy' |
Showy stonecrop |
ATTRACTIVE TO HUMMINGBIRDS
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Alcea rosea |
Hollyhock |
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Aquilega spp. |
Columbine |
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Asclepias tuberosa |
Butterfly weed |
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Dianthus spp. |
Cottage pinks |
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Dicentra spp. |
Bleeding heart |
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Digitalis spp. |
Foxglove |
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Hemerocallis spp. |
Daylily |
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Heuchera sanguinea |
Coralbells |
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Lobelia cardinalis |
Cardinal flower |
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Monarda didyma |
Bee balm |
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Penstemon spp. |
Beardtongue |
Adapted from Ohio State University Extension, 2000
