It’s no wonder that for generations perennial flowers have graced gardens around the world. There is a certain pleasure in seeing the arrival each year of favorites like wildflowers, just seem to happen on their own. Once established in their designated areas they will delight by naturalizing and spreading the beauty of these favorites year after year with minimal efforts. No need to replant entire areas every spring, as these wonders of nature will show up with little more than watering.

The following will introduce you to 20 favorite perennial flowers that are easy to bring into your gardens and may serve to fill out difficult planting areas such as slopes, rocky areas, depressions, ledges and even around trees.

Early spring bloomers can be placed around deciduous trees announcing the beginning of the growing season, think Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths.

Aster x Frikartii Flowers bring a pleasant pastel pop of purple color to any perennial garden. Growing best in full sunlight they make a great addition to butterfly gardens, backyard landscapes, and more. Their daisy styled shape and their long stems make them perfect additions to floral arrangements or bouquets. Aster x Frikartii plants grow to be roughly two feet tall.

Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) – Related to Catnip, this is the perfect perennial that is easy to grow and keep alive. Not only does Catmint sprout flowers in multiple colors, such as pink, white and purple, but it’s a great plant to look at throughout the growing season as it provides a gray-green foliage that people will truly enjoy.

Coneflower flowers have a cone-shaped interior and a floppy petal. Coneflowers belong to an assortment of wildflowers that fall into the coneflower category. Uncomplicated to cultivate and loved by wildlife, the coneflower flower disperses itself effortlessly in good quality earth and plenty of sunshine. A variety of grandiose colors, including orangey-violets, makes it the perfect addition to any cut flower arrangement.

Coreopsis ‘Mango Punch’ – Perfect for sunny areas, coreopsis is easy to grow and thrives on neglect. Tolerant of dry soil and extreme heat, this long-bloomer provides vibrant, daisy-like flowers in vibrant shades of red, yellow, orange and pink. Some varieties grow up to four feet tall while others make delightful mounds of color for beds and borders.

Euphorbia Characias (Mediterranean Spurge) is a flowering plant of the Euphorbiaceae family and typical of the Mediterranean vegetation. It’s unique rounded clusters of green flowers that are accented by distinct black or dark brown centers, or nectar glands. They bloom in the late spring and early summer, and are known to be quite durable and well suited for dry climates, capable of withstanding long periods of drought typical to dry environments.

Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) – Mystifying and elegant, the Forget-me-not flower is one of the most widely recognized flowers, used in countess works of literature and known for its tiny but unmistakable blue flowers. They blossom during the spring in mild climates. A hybrid of the plant, the “Baby Blue”, is bred from Proven Winners and has bright blue buds and grows to be 6 to 8 inches tall.

Gaillardia x Grandiflora – The Gaillardia is a great flower with a long bloom season. If you want a perennial that requires little care, this is an ideal plant. Typically, the Gaillardia grows up to 24 inches, though in some areas, it may not reach full maturation. Simply put, this is the perfect low maintenance plant for a gardener.

The Gaura Plant (Gaura lindheimeri) is often referred to as the wandflower due to its long stems. This perennial blooms with flowers colored pink and white. Sometimes there is a combination of these two colors. The Gaura Plant blooms beginning in late spring with flowers continuing well into the summer months.

The Geum Chiloense flower is perfect for the gardener who wants to add beauty to the yard. This is a strong and long-living plant that you can enjoy for years to come. When planting in the fall or spring, a gardener will watch the Geum Chiloense flower flourish for a long time.

Gloriosa Daisy – Ideal for the gardener who loves a truly beautiful plant. The Glorioso Daisy can grow between one to three feet and is perfect for a garden that gets some shade and some sun. Depending on the climate, one can enjoy Glorioso Daisy plants that will flower well into the winter and provide true beauty.

Heuchera – Although they do produce small flowers in late spring and early summer, heucheras are prized for their stunning foliage. In both sun or part shade, these plants sprout attractive leaves of purple, pink, gold and green. Variegated varieties are available for gardeners looking for some extra punch. Cut back flower stalks after bloom to encourage even more leaves.

Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa) – A native of the Mediterranean, this shrubby evergreen is a drought tolerant plant that can withstand both heat and cold. Its aromatic leaves are slightly grey on top and white underneath. Whorls of bright yellow, tubular flowers adorn stalks up to 4 feet tall and pair perfectly with lavender or phlox for stunning borders or vibrantly colored pots.

Lavender – These fragrant perennials are a colorful addition to a border or herb garden. The plants are native to the Mediterranean region and should only be grown in full sunlight. Flowers are purple or pink. Plants will reach a height from 1 to 4 feet and will spread to cover an area between 2 and 4 feet.

Penstemon Mexicali is a beautiful hybrid that is highly recommended for anyone new to gardening due to ease to grow and maintain, durability, and long bloom seasons. The Penstemons are a genus of North American East Asian flowering plants, and their part in the Penstemon Mexicali flower results in a beautiful yet strong draping purple flowers.

Salvia Leucantha, also known as the Mexican Bush Sage, is a velvety light green shrub with beautiful purple of white flowers which bloom in purple calyces It is very popular as a border plant being a perennial the blooms in the late summer until frost. In warmer climates, the salvia leucantha can bloom year round, constantly drawing hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

Sea Holly (Eryngium amethystinum) plants bring an exotic flair to sunny gardens. Native to European and Mediterranean regions, these brightly colored thistle-like plants thrive best in sandy soils with their long taproots. Their electric blue or purple tones brighten any garden, and will take hold and bring their beauty to the landscape year after year. If grown well they can reach up to 36 inches in height.

Sedum (Stone Crop) Telephium – These plants are a distinctive and interesting color. The StoneCrop plants are the perfect plant for anyone looking for a perfect groundcover. It’s best to plant these in full sun, but some shade is okay as long as it’s not excessive. Simply put, with these star-shaped flowers, you will enjoy the color change throughout the seasons.

Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily) – These profuse bloomers feature three to five azalea-shaped lilies per stem to fill borders, flower beds or planters with color. Also called Parrot Lily and Lily of the Incas, they produce striking flowers with speckled throats. Alstromerias grow as perennials where winters aren’t too severe. The plants grow 2 to 5 feet tall and bloom in the summer.