Pictorial Flower Guide

This pictorial flower guide showcases some of the most beautiful and unusual ornamental perennial flowering plants.

Perennials, like annuals provide a colorful display. They remain alive for several years, unlike annuals which only last for one season.

We have included a wide variety of flowering perennial species to help you in your plant selection for your garden.

All of the selected species should be available either through local nurseries or online plant stores.

The following perennial plant pictures and descriptions courtesy of Bluebird Nursery located in Clarkson, NE.

Acanthus mollis - Bear's Breech is a bold specimen that has distinctive glossy leaves with mauve flower spikes during summer.	Achillea millefolium 'Appleblossom' - Yarrow Soft lilac-pink flowers. Blooms all summer and attracts butterflies. Drought tolerant.	Actaea pachypoda - Baneberry Spring blooming, bushy native plant. Glossy white berries. Attracts butterflies. Partial to full shade.
Aegopodium - Bishop's Weed, Goutweed,Ground Elder is a vigorous, dense foliaged ground cover with white flowers in June.	Aethionema grandfiflora - Persian Stonecress is a beautiful evergreen foliaged dwarf with light pink flowers. Used in rock gardens and hot, dry sites.	Agastache 'Golden Jubilee' has dense spikes of lavender-blue flowers with mint scented golden foliage.
Ajuga reptans - Bugleweed a crinkled reddish-bronze ground cover with spikes of blue flowers. Used in rock gardens.	Allium senescens 'Mongolian Gem' a gorgeous blue-green foliage with 2" balls of lavender-pink flowers.	Amorpha nana - Fragrant False Indigo has pink flowers with a honey fragrance on compact plants.
Aquilegia alpina - Columbine has deep, blue, short-spurred flowers in late spring.	Aquilegia canadensis - Columbine a U.S. native has delicate yellow flowers with red spurs in late spring.	Aquilegia - Columbine 'Crimson Star' have masses of crimson and white flowers in late spring.
Arabis caucasica 'Variegata is a dwarf plant with masses white flowers in spring.	Artemesia 'Powis Castle' has dense mounds of lacy, silver foliage that is tolerant of hot, humid weather.	Artemisia 'Oriental Limelight'is a tall brightly variegated shrub with finely cut foliage.
Asclepias incarnata - Swamp Milkweed a U.S. native adapted to wetlands with pink flowers in summer.	Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Milkweed a U.S. native has showy orange flower heads on an outstanding plant.	Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow' has showy bright yellow flowers used for borders and cutting.
Aster dumosus - Wood's Blue a clean, compact, mildew resistant aster with dark green foliage.	Aster dumosus - Wood's Pink with pink yellow centered flowers blooms late summer to early fall.	Astible chinensis 'Pumila' have masses of lavender-pink plumes in late summer. Can use as a ground cover.
Baptisia minor - Blue Indigo, an award winner has showy pea-shaped indigo blue flowers on upright plants.	Belamcanda chinensis - Blackberry Lily has orange flowers spotted with maroon. Seeds cluster like blackberries.	Bergenia cordifolia 'Purpurea' is an outstanding ground cover with glossy dark green leaves and rose-pink flowers.
Bletilla striata is a spectacular hardy orchid native to temperate Asia with pink flowers.	Bletilla striata 'Innocence' a beautiful, hardy white orchid with variable lavender blush on the lip.	Caryopteris clandonensis 'First Choice has dark purple-blue flowers on a compact plant.
Catananche caerula - Cupid's Dart has lavender-blue everlasting flowers in summer and is easy to grow.	Centranthus ruber 'Albus' is a white flowered variety which has glossy foliage that attracts butterflies.	Ceratostigma plumbaginoides - Plumbago, Leadwort an intense blue ground cover that attracts butterflies.
Chasmatophyllum masculinum - Hardy Tiger's Jaws is an evergreen with yellow daisy-like flowers. Great for rock gardens.	Coreopsis auriculata 'Nana' Bright orange flowers that attracts butterflies. Great cutting flower.	Coreopsis grandiflora 'Flying Saucers has large, single, glowing golden flowers. Attracts butterflies.
Coreopsis rosea 'Limerock Ruby' attracts butterflies.	Coreopsis rosea 'Sweet Dreams' has white petals with a raspberry base with yellow centers. Vigorous plants.	Coryphantha vivipara an evergreen cactus with 2" carmine pink to magenta flowers. Gives birth to new plants.
Cryptotaenia japonica 'Atropurpurea' - Purple Leaf Japanese Parsley an excellent contrast plant with its decorative bronze-red trifoliate leaves.	Delosperma - Hardy Ice Plant has daisy-like flowers with succulent leaves. Drought tolerant. Outstanding in the rock garden.	Delphinium belladonna 'Galahad has pure white flowers.
Delphinium grandiflorum 'Summer Nights' has dark blue flowers on a well branched dwarf. Better heat tolerance.	Dianthus allwoodii 'Aqua' beautiful white flowers that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.	Dianthus 'Prairie Pink' has large, bright fushcia-pink and fragrant flowers all season with glaucous foliage.
Diascia integerrima 'Coral Canyon' - Twinspur has pretty rose-pink flowers continuously on heat tolerant plant. Excellent for containers.	Dracrocephalum grandiflorum - Dragonhead has heads of unique dark violet-blue hooded flowers. Moist part shade.	Echinacea purpurea 'Doubledecker' - Coneflower great two tier flowers July-Sept on 40"stems.
Echinacea purpurea 'Cygnet White' - Coneflower Baby White Swan a compact selection with horizontal white petals. Outstanding for containers and bedding.	Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' - Coneflower an excellent, intense dark selection. Petals do not droop.	Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern' - Ruby Star Coneflower has intense carmine-red flowers. Petals do not droop. Stems to 40".
Epilobium fleischeri - Alpine Willowherb Pink flowers on reddish stems, with gray-green foliage and attractive, silvery seed heads.	Gaillardia aristata 'Baby Cole' - Blanket Flower dwarf with red flowers with yellow margins. Attracts butterflies. Cutting flower.	Gaillardia aristata 'Burgunder' - Blanket Flower has rich wine-red flowers. Drought resistant. Attracts butterflies. Cutting flower.
Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink' - Apple Blossom Grass outstanding with red stems and rich rose-pink flowers. Rock garden delight.	Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold' has glossy mounds of foliage with shiny yellow flowers all season. Can be used in the rock garden.	Geranium sanguineum - Bloody Crane's Bill bowl shaped magenta flowers late spring to early summer. Red foliage in fall.
Geum coccineum 'Borisii' - Rose ofthe Rockery Outstanding rock garden plant. Bright orange flowers in spring.	Gypsophila 'Compacta plena' - Baby's Breath has white, double flowers that makes this a garden designers favorite.	Gypsophila paniculata 'Pink Fairy - Baby's Breath has masses of lovely, double, pink flowers. Great cutting flower.
Heuchera americana 'Dales Variety' - Coral Bells a unique, silver-blue, marbled foliage with cream flowers. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.	Heuchera sanguinea 'Ruby Bells' - Coral Bells Brilliant dark-red flowers on evergreen foliage. Attracts butterfies and hummingbirds. Excellent for cutting.	Heuchera sanguinea 'Snow Angel' - Coral Bells highly variegated leaves topped with cerise-red bells. Excellent ground cover for the shade garden .
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Hybrids' - Rose Mallow a mixture with spectacular colors. Large flowers. Great for water and bog gardens. Attracts hummingbirds.	Hibiscus moscheutos 'Pink Clouds' Outstanding large intense deep pink flowers that catch the eye from a distance. Blooms over long period.	Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' is a bright pink, white, and green leaved stoloniferous ground cover.
Hydrangea petiolaris - Climbing Hydrangea with clusters of fragrant, white flowers and lush, round, dark green foliage.	Hymenoxys scaposa 'Prairie Sunshine' - Old Man of the Mountain a U.S. native with bright long blooming yellow flowers. Valuable xeric garden plant.	Hypericum calycinum - Rose of Sharon has bright, yellow flowers on a nearly evergreen plant. Can be used as a ground cover.
Iberis 'Daglori Gem' - Candytuft beautiful, black-green leaves with numerous clusters of white aging to light lavender flowers.	Iris cristata 'Dwarf Crested'- Flag, Fleur-De-Lis a U.S. native usually blue flowered that attracts hummingbirds.	Kerria japonica 'Picta' - Japanese Rose a wonderful, variegated woody shrub with large golden flowers. Bright green stems all year.
Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Florentinum' - Yellow Archangelt an excellent low ground cover with marbled silver and green foliage. Yellow flowers.	Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' - Dead Nettle has silver leaves with narrow green edges and pink flower clusters. Popular shade ground cover.	Lamium maculatum 'Chequers' - False Salvia an excellent ground cover with heavily marbled foliage and rose-pink flowers. Covers quickly.
Liatris spicata 'Alba' - Kansas Gayfeather with columnar spikes of white flowers up to 36". Attracts butterflies. Great cutting flower.	Liatris spicata 'Kobold' - Kansas Gayfeather has deep purple flowers on this 24" dwarf variety. Attracts butterflies. Great cutting flower.	Linum narbonense 'Heavenly Blue'- Flax a dwarf strain with true blue flowers especially good for rock gardens.
Lobelia cardinalis - Cardinal Flower has green foliage; scarlet spikes of flowers. Attracts hummingbirds; butterflies. Thrives in water/bog gardens.	Lobelia siphilitica 'Blue Select' a stiffly erect plant with blue flowers. Attracts hummingbirds; butterflies. Great cutting flower.	Lonicera japonica 'Aureoreticulata' has bright yellow and green foliage with netted appearance. Cream flowers. Great accent plant.
Lupinus 'Red Flame' - Lupine has carmine-red flowers. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Great cutting plant.	Lysimachia atropurpurea - Loosestrife has nodding, clear light yellow flowers with purple foliage.	Lysimachia punctata 'Golden Alexander' has cream-green variegated leaves. Golden yellow, star shaped flowers.
Marrubium rotundifolium - Horehound a silvery, evergreen mat with spoon shaped leaves with a cream rim. Excellent for rock garden.	Mimulus ringens - Lavender Monkey Flower has large lavender-blue flowers appear profusely all summer. Shiny foliage. Likes moist/wet soil.	Minuartia verna - Irish Moss dense mat of small, dark green, narrow leaves. Tiny white flowers. Prefers protected shade site.
Monarda 'Petite Delight' - Bee Balm covered with 2" lavender-rose flowers. Glossy leaves. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.	Myosotis palustris - Forget-Me-Not light, bright blue flowers. Attracts butterflies. Thrives in bog/water gardens.	Nepeta-faassenii 'Walker's Low - Catmint lovely violet-blue flowers. Nice foliage. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Oenothera berlandieri 'Siskiyou' - Sundrops fragrant 2" pink blooms. Very hardy. Needs good drainage.	Othonna capensis - Little Pickles Succulent cylindrical leaves with bright yellow daisies. Perfect for the rock garden.	Pachysandra terminalis 'Green Sheen' Japanese Spurge an excellent shade ground cover. Small, dark glossy green leaves.
Pardancanda 'Dazzler Series' - Candylily A dwarf strain of orchid iris with extra large flowers in a mixture of exciting, new colors. Cutting flower.	Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' Striking foliage; white flowers with pink blush. Attracts hummingbirds. Cutting flower.	Penstemon hirsutus 'Pygmaeus' Outstanding dwarf covered with violet flowers over a long period. Attracts hummingbirds. Cutting flower.
Penstemon x mexicale 'Red Rocks' - Beardtonguey Bright rose flowers all summer. Attracts hummingbirds. Cutting flower.	Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire' - Russian Sage Choice, compact cultivar. Spikes of 2' lavender-blue flowers. Cutting flower.	Persicaria affinis 'Himalayan Border Jewel' Fine, creeping ground cover with small, light pink flowers in spring. Great for rock gardens.
Persicaria filiformis 'Red Dragon' Ground cover with deep maroon leaves on red stems with clusters of small white flowers. Attractive.	Physostegia virginiana - False Dragonhead U.S. Native. Spikes of pink flowers. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Cutting flower.	Pontederia cordata - Blue Pickerel Plant Pond plant with shiny, dark green, cordate leaves with large spikes of bright blue flowers.
Potentilla nepalensis 'Ron McBeath' - Cinquefoil Bright carmine-red flowers over long season on neat disease free foliage.	Potentilla reptans 'Pleniflora' - Cinquefoil Excellent ground cover. Spreads rapidly forming dense, low maintenance mat. Yellow flowers.	Pulsatilla grandis - Pasque Flower Largest Pasque Flower with 3", lilac-pink flowers. Desirable plant specie.
Ranunculus repens 'Buttered Popcorn - Creeping Buttercup Evergreen ground cover. Gold, chartreuse,green variegated foliage.	Ruta graveolens 'Blue Mound' Striking, ferny blue, mounded foliage. Fine accent plant for the shade garden.	Salvia nemorosa 'Dwarf Blue Queen' Shorter variety with blue violet spikes. Excellent cutting flower.
Sanguinaria canadensis - Bloodroot Choice, native woodland plant with waxy, white flowers in early spring. Summer dormancy.	Santolina virens - Lavender Cotton Dark green scented foliage, with soft yellow flowers. Useful for rock walls or border. Can be sheared.	Saponaria pamphylica - Mat Soapwort Bright pink flowers blue-green foliage. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Cutting flower.
Saxifraga 'Mossy Species Mix' - Rockfoil Low growing, rock garden plants in assorted colors.	Scabiosa columbaria 'Misty Butterflies' - Pincushion Flower Bright pink flowers blue-green foliage. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Cutting flower.	Scutellaria scoridifolia 'Mongolian Skies' Bluish-purple, tubular, hooded flowers on low mat. Shining, deep green narrow leaves.
Sedum dasphyllum 'Himalayan Skies' Robust blue-gray foliage, light pink flowers in summer. Choice cushion forming perennial.	Sedum kamtschaticum 'Variegatum' Durable ground cover. Toothed glossy foliage. Orange-yellow flowers. Starry orange folicles.	Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce' Blue foliage, bright yellow flowers in summer. Popular ground cover.
Sedum spurium 'Bronze Carpet' Prostrate mat of bronzy foliage with bright rose-pink flowers in July and Aug. Great ground cover.	Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant' Carmine-pink flowers in fall. A standard in the perennial border. Cutting flower. Rock garden.	Sedum tatarowinii 'Mongolian Stardust' Blue foliage, bright yellow flowers in summer. Popular ground cover.
Sedum telephium 'Indian Chief' Bright coppery-red flowers in fall over pale green leaves. Cutting flower. Rock garden plant.	Sempervivella alba - Green Carpet Mats of small, flat succulent leaves decorated with large, creamy white stars. Rock garden plant.	Sempervivum 'Mixed Varieties' - Hen and Chicks Excellent in rock gardens. Little chicks' cluster around parent rosette.
Solidago sphacelata 'Wichita Mountains' - Goldenrod U.S. Native Long standing tall rods of bright, gold in late summer. Attracts butterflies. Cutting flower.	Sphaeralcea coccinea -Red False Mallow Low growing native ground cover for naturalizing. Coral red flowers.	Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet' English introduction. Small, compact, bright colored foliage. Dark pink flowers.
Stachys byzantine 'Silver Carpet' Silvery-gray foliage mats, seldom flowers, requires less maintenance.	Talinum calycinum - Rock Rose U.S Native Purplish-pink 1" flowers on 1' stems. Succulent leaves. Outstanding!	Teucrium chamaedrys - Germander Shrub-like green foliage can be sheared. Purple flowers in late summer.
Thymus serpyllum - Mother of Thyme Creeping, sweetly scented foliage, pink flowers. Good ground cover. Excellent drainage is essential.	Tradescantia 'Concord Grape' Rich purple flowers 1" wide; silver-blue foliage. Blooms all summer.	Tradescantia 'Innocence' - Spiderwort Long blooming and compact; large; pure white flowers.
Trifolium repens 'Dragon's Blood' - Clover Silver edged, mint-green, shamrock leaves with a red spot. Unique, colorful ground cover.	Verbena canadensis 'Rose Vervain' - Vervain Bright lavender flowers all summer on this native ground cover. Attracts butterflies.	Veronica austriaca 'Crater Lake Blue' - Speedwell Dense foliage covered with Gentian blue flowers. Attracts butterflies.
Veronica repens - Speedwell Tiny spikes of bluish-purple flowers in June on tight, flat mat of tiny, oval, golden leaves.	Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold' - Periwinkle Blue blossoms; green and gold variegated foliage. Very showy ground cover.	Vinca minor 'Illumination' - Periwinkle Stunning variegation with blue flowering. Trailing, spreading habit. Great ground cover.