There are few perennials that bloom for more than a month or two. Generally, to get a long season bloom, gardeners may have to resort to annuals from other places. But native plant gardeners have plants that will bloom for a long time.

Many of the native perennials listed below have been tinkered with. Breeders selected for certain characteristics as to height, bloom color, foliage color, etc.  This is great for us gardeners and the choices of native plants have expanded. The plants listed are available at nurseries and native plant sales. Check the plant’s growth habit before you decided what to plant. The “re-bloomers” Bleeding Heart (Dicentra exam) – The initial bloom happens from April to May, but this charmer re-blooms all summer.

• Goldenstar or Green-and-Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) – blooms from May to June, and re-blooms throughout the season
• Wherry’s Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia var. collina) – April to May, then re-blooms sporadically throughout the summer.
• Mouse Ear Tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata) – May to October Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris) – July to October
• Whorled Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata) – July to September

Blooms for three months or more
White Coneflower (Echinacea purpurpea ‘White Swan’) – July to September
Coneflower, Tennessee Purple (Echinacea tennesseensis) – July to September
Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) – July to September
Mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum) – August to November; fast spreader
Rattlesnake master (Eryngium caroliianus) – July to September
White Snakeroot (Eupatorium hyssipifolium ‘Chocolate’) – July to October
Sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus) – July to September
False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) – June to August
Alum-root (Heuchera americana) – June to August
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia syphilitic) – July to September
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) – March to May
Spotted Bee-Balm (Monarda punctata) – August to October
Meadow Phlox (Phlox maculata) – June to August
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) – July to September
American Ipecac (Porteranthus stipulates) – May to July
Bowman’s-root (Porteranthus trifoliatus) – May to July
Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incacum) – July to September
Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida) – August to October
Wild Pink (Silene Caroliniana ssp pensylvania) – April to June
Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) – August to October
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’) – August to October
Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve ‘Bluebird’) – August – October
Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) – August – October
Rue Anemone (Thallictrum thalictroides) – April – June