Enhancing curb appeal is a priority for any homeowner. Whether you reside in a ranch-style house in Dallas, a Victorian-style home in Charlotte, or a modern style in Los Angeles, perennials offer a transformative power. Redfin asked the green-thumb experts, who shared what botanical beauties will have your curb appeal standing out from your neighbors, ensuring your home looks amazing all year.
What is perennial? The benefits of year-after-year blooms.
These remarkable plants, unlike annuals which complete their life cycle in a single season, or biennials, which take two, return faithfully to grace us with their presence again and again. Beyond their enduring nature, perennials offer a wealth of benefits, from reducing the need for constant replanting and saving money to creating a stable and thriving ecosystem in your garden.
Planning your perennial garden
A successful perennial garden requires careful planning. Start by understanding your climate and soil: determine your hardiness zone, utilize the USDA Web Soil Survey (WSS) for detailed soil information, test and amend your soil for optimal growth, and consider sun exposure. Then, apply design principles to create a visually appealing space: Layer plants for depth, plan for continuous bloom times, and create focal points and pathways. Finally, select plants based on their needs, prioritize native species, and choose a diverse mix of flowers, foliage, and textures for a harmonious garden.
“It is easy to select perennials solely based on flower color and what they look like during the growing season, but we prioritize featuring perennials that offer significant winter interest. This winter interest can come in the form of spent flowers, seed pods, and plants that remain upright even after snowfall. The plant material is left up and not cut back until temperatures are consistently in the 50s in late spring, as this habitat provides shelter for wildlife including bees, butterflies, and birds. We use a mulching mower, set up high, to cut back perennials, and the resulting debris acts as a natural weed barrier and helps to conserve soil moisture.” – Michael Jesiolowski, Director of Horticulture with Rotary Botanical Gardens
Native perennials: A wildlife haven from spring to fall
The changing seasons bring a dynamic shift to our gardens, creating a continuous flow of resources for local wildlife. To support a healthy ecosystem from spring’s awakening to autumn’s close, prioritize native North American perennials. These well-adapted plants provide essential food and shelter for pollinators and insects, turning our yards into vibrant wildlife habitats.
“To boost wildlife in gardens from spring to fall, prioritize native North American perennials. New England examples include: May’s Amsonia (bluestar), June’s penstemon (beardtongue), July’s Asclepias (milkweed) for monarchs, carrot family plants for swallowtails, August’s eutrochium (Joe Pye Weed), and September’s solidago (goldenrod). Add lobelia (cardinal flower) for hummingbirds and spicebush swallowtails. Avoid pesticides/herbicides. Leave leaf litter until spring to protect overwintering insects.” – Barb Young with The Big Little Garden
Amsonia Bluestar
Penstemon Beardtongue
Asclepias (milkweed) for monarchs
Joe Pye Weed
Solidago-goldenrod
Lobelia Cardinal flower
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Top perennial choices for lasting beauty
Discover the top perennial selections that offer vibrant colors, varied textures, and reliable growth, ensuring your home stands out with natural, low-maintenance elegance.
Island snapdragon, Gambelia speciosa
“Island snapdragon (Gambelia speciosa) is a perennial plant native to the Channel Islands and Guadalupe Island, Mexico. It has trumpet-shaped red flowers that attract birds, especially hummingbirds. Under the right conditions, it can bloom almost all year round.
It is easy to grow, fast-growing, and beautiful. It prefers sun or partial shade and tolerates a variety of soils. It is also good in containers.” – Beth Crosse, master gardener at Emerson Avenue Community Garden
Sedum ‘autumn joy’
“Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is a true showstopper that delivers lasting beauty. Its fleshy green leaves and pink flower clusters transition to a rich copper hue as the season changes, providing both visual interest and food for pollinators well into late fall. It’s drought tolerance and low maintenance make it a perfect choice for resilient, lasting charm in any garden.” – Michael, Head of Customer Success at Team Grow
Lenten rose
“The Lenten rose (a season Christians observe for Easter) is an evergreen plants that come in purple, pink, white, yellow, green, and red that are great for a shady part of a landscape bed. Most bloom in early winter in mild climates and in late winter or very early spring, depending on Texas winters. They produce beautiful, single and double flowers in large numbers against deep green foliage in early spring. It reaches 18 to 24 inches tall and wide.” – Trace Worthy, City of Grapevine Horticulturist
Hameln grasses
“Hameln grasses are among the most underappreciated perennials. When people think of perennials, they often picture flowers, however, Hameln grass makes just as much of an impact. Its soft, showy reeds change with the seasons; vibrant green in spring and summer, taking on warm orange undertones in fall with striking plumes, and transforming into a rich wheat hue throughout winter.” – Matt Mosher, co-founder of Dzinly
Bee balm
“Try adding bee balm or salvia to your Kentucky garden for a bold pop of color and fragrance. Bee balm attracts both hummingbirds and bees with its vibrant red and pink blooms. “Salvia offers striking purple spikes that keep your garden buzzing with life. These hardy perennials bring lasting charm and a touch of wildflower beauty to your garden.” –Ellie Davenport, community engagement manager with Louisville Grows
Salvia
Salvia offers striking purple spikes that attract pollinators, keeping gardens buzzing with life. These hardy perennials provide a bold pop of color and fragrance, adding lasting charm to any garden.
Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
“Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), is one of the first to bloom in spring with its dainty dangles of red and yellow dancing in the breeze, welcoming hummingbirds and pollinators back. Weaving in among other perennials, the lovely ferny foliage is a beautiful addition wherever it reseeds. Its flexibility with both sun and shade makes it a versatile, easy care native that shines in the garden.” –Tammy Kennedy, president/CEO of Garner Grows.
Blue hostas
“If you are looking for a thriving perennial, Blue Hostas are a great lover of shade. They flourish with other perennials planted near each other such as astilbe or toad lilies to create a magical garden.” – Kevin and Kim Keck, owners of Amazing Grace Garden Center
Autumn sage and Turk cap
Autumn sage, a sun-loving Salvia greggii, provides a long season of colorful blooms attracting pollinators, while Turk’s cap, a hardy perennial, thrives with minimal water, offering distinctive red flowers favored by hummingbirds and butterflies.
“Two great perennials that have long bloom seasons, provide nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, and need very little water once established are autumn sage and Turk’s cap. Autumn sage, salvia greggii, is a small shrub that blooms in a variety of colors on and off from March until the first frost and needs at least 5 hours of sun a day.”-Janet Smith, master gardener with The Garden Club of Dallas
Lavender
“Lavender is a versatile perennial that not only adds beauty and fragrance to a garden but also thrives in dry, low-maintenance conditions. Its drought-resistant nature makes it perfect for water-conscious landscaping, while its aromatic blooms attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. To keep lavender thriving year after year, plant it in well-draining soil with plenty of sunlight and trim it back after flowering to encourage healthy growth.” – Valeria Vizcaino founder, Archi.ai
Astilbe
“Valerian offers stunning, vibrant, long-lasting blooms in white or red that entices hummingbirds and pollinators. The hardy, easy-to-grow perennials give off a very pleasing earthy scent, are xeriscape friendly, and offer great height in a perennial garden.” – Makayla Vincent, assistant manager at Wilmore Nursery
Ixora
Ixora plants produce clusters of bright, showy flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators, especially in warm climates.
“When Hurricane Milton rolled through, my garden waved the white flag — except for ixora and butterfly bush, who stood there like, ‘Is that all you got?’ These two are the Chuck Norris of perennials: storm-proof, drought-proof, and still looking fabulous.” – Jessica Dunbar, marketing manager and butterfly garden enthusiast with Neighborhood. Online
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes are renowned for their long, vibrant flower spikes that serve as a magnet for numerous butterfly species. These deciduous shrubs provide a beautiful and fragrant addition to gardens, enhancing biodiversity and visual appeal.
Golden oregano
Golden oregano’s vibrant chartreuse foliage offers a striking contrast to traditional greenery, instantly brightening any curb and creating an eye-catching texture. Its low-maintenance nature and ability to thrive in various conditions make it an ideal choice for adding a touch of Mediterranean charm and visual interest to front yards.
“Golden oregano will spill like sunshine from its pot; its vibrant leaves shift from bright green to gold with the seasons. Both ornamental and tasty, it adds a burst of color to the garden while infusing dishes with its warm, citrusy flavor. Blending beauty with purpose, it thrives as a feast for the eyes and the palate.”–Jared Brown, manager of Little Baja Home & Garden Decor
Cactus and agaves
“Cactus and agaves come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors but are often overlooked when people are trying to add interesting plants to their landscaping. In the Southwest, cactus and agaves are used in desert landscaping (known as xeriscaping) which is not only practical but very beautiful.
These plants require very little water, and little-to-no maintenance and provide long-lasting texture, color, and interesting shapes for years. And when cacti bloom, they can be spectacular.” – Ilene Bandringa, co-owner of Back Roads West and Snap Shots West
Clivia miniata
“The current show-stoppers in our yard are Clivia miniata, also known as natal lilies. These gorgeous perennials maintain their leaves year-round, with the funnel-shaped flowers blooming in early winter through mid-spring. The contrast of the vibrant orange blooms against the forest green stems creates a striking contrast. These beauties make a stunning addition to any floral arrangement or shine on their own in a simple bud vase. As members of the amaryllis family, pet parents beware as lilies are toxic to pets.” – Sarah Beaupre, Executive Administrator, Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club
A final flourish: completing your home’s look with perennials
In essence, investing in perennial plants and flowers is an investment in enduring beauty for your home. These resilient botanicals not only enhance curb appeal with their vibrant colors and textures, but they also offer the satisfaction of a garden that evolves and flourishes year after year. By choosing the right perennials, you create a living masterpiece that welcomes you home and delights all who pass by, proving that lasting beauty is truly within reach.