Long-Lived Perennials

Some live for 50 years; others, for three. Find out which perennials will give you longlasting pleasure in your garden.

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Peonies

If you want flowers your future grandchildren can enjoy, try planting peonies—under the right conditions, they have been known to survive for 70 to 100 years

Hosta

These low-maintenance, shade garden favorites can live well beyond 15 years.

Daylily

Don't be fooled by the name—though a single bloom only lasts for a day, daylilies live for 3 to 6 years, and can go on even longer if you divide the plants once they start to fizzle out.

Hellebore

Perennial winter color may seem like a dream come true, but hellebore, also called lenton roses, provide late-winter and early spring color year after year.

Blanket Flower

Though not considered a "long-lived perennial," blanket flower reseeds readily and easily.

Coneflower

Many Echinacea species can live up to an impressive 20 years.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

This butterfly magnet takes 2 to 5 years to reach full maturity and can live much longer. Drought-tolerant, butterfly weed isn’t picky about growing conditions. Give it a sunny spot, and you’ll be on your way to a flowery summer. Butterflies, bees and other pollinators can’t resist these bright orange blooms. Hardy in Zones 3 to 9.

Astilbe

Divide astilbe every 3 to 4 years and it will continue providing color and texture to your garden for a long time.

Iris

Many iris varieties can live for a decade or longer.

Monkshood

This purple-flowered perennial starts opening buds as frost is knocking at the garden gate—and keeps blooming through light frosts. Deer and rabbit dislike monkshood, which is poisonous to people if consumed. Divide only when clumps are crowded, which shouldn’t occur before the three-year mark.