Once the perennials start pushing through the ground in spring, I sometimes can’t recall what is growing where. I spent nearly 30 years living in Florida where plants don’t have to hibernate over winter. Now that I live in New Hampshire, I’ve had to adjust to not seeing my yard and gardens for months at a time.
Even though I leave the tags near the plant when they are planted, the tags don’t always last. Some of the larger perennials, like the hydrangeas and peonies are easy to identify.
Spring Plant Identification, New England
I’ve taken some recent photos of the perennials growing this Spring as a reminder.. It’s a plant identification guide for myself. Maybe they will help you name some in your yard as well.
I took these photos May 3, 2015. I lived in southern New Hampshire. The top photo, in each ID section, is mine and is as the plant will look early in Spring. The bottom photo (if I have one) is from the Pixabay site and shows a mature, flowering plant.
Bleeding Heart
The bleeding heart has little pink or white flowers that hang in rows along the stems. The Bleeding Heart likes a bit of shade.
Columbine
The Columbine is one of my favorite flowering perennials. It comes in such a wide variety of colors, like pink, red, purple, and yellow, usually in a combination of colors with a light center. The flowers can be ruffled in some varieties.
Coneflower
The Coneflower is an awesome perennial and the tough thistle type seeds draw in the finches in Fall.
Coral Bells
Coral bells are perennials that have stalks of tiny, coral pink colored flowers.
I have two types of Coral Bells and one has darker leaves. I can’t remember what the flowers look like.
Coreopsis
The Coreopsis is a mounded type plant (or at least mine is) that grows little yellow flowers.
Monk’s Hood
Monk’s Hood will have tall stems with blue-purple flowers. I couldn’t find a flowering photo to share.
Phlox
Phlox comes as a creeping variety or this tall variety. Flowers are usually shades of pink, purple, or white.
Wild Bleeding Heart
Hydrangeas Blue 