Perennials are a popular, often low-maintenance choice among many gardeners. Plus, they usually return for more than one season, so you can plant them this year and enjoy a stunning garden design for years to come.

Discover seven underused perennials you can add to your garden to make it stand out! Whether you prefer a traditional flower garden or a xeriscape, these unique plants add a dazzling flair.

Globe Thistle

Globe Thistle

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Globe thistle or Echinops ritro is a hidden gem. It is an excellent choice for floral bouquets and cutting gardens. This perennial thrives in zones 2 to 9 and blooms in the height of summer from July to September. It will take your garden to new heights, growing as tall as 4 feet, making it a stunning backdrop that adds layers to your garden design.

To help your globe thistle grow healthy blooms, plant it where it gets at least six hours of full sun daily. Globe thistle grows best in dry and low-quality soils, so this plant is an excellent choice if you live in an area prone to droughts.

False Indigo

Baptisia Perennial Flowers That Are Underused

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False indigo, or Baptisia, is a drought-tolerant underused perennial flower that loves the sun. Ideally, it should get at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Cultivating false indigo also presents several options for bloom colors. Baptisia species include blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) with cheerful lavender flowers and white false indigo (Baptisia alba) with bright white blossoms.

Although many false indigo varieties thrive in zones 5 to 8, it is best practice to check which zones your species prefers before you start planting. For instance, while blue false indigo grows well in zones 3 to 9, white false indigo prefers zones 4 to 9.

Purple Prairie Clover

Purple Prairie Clover

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Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) is a perennial wildflower that produces deep magenta and purple blossoms and attracts bees and butterflies. Purple prairie clover is a great low-maintenance choice for xeriscape gardens. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in moist to dry soil. It also grows well in zones 2 to 9 and is wind-resistant. To enjoy stunning blooms, plant this beautiful wildflower in a bright part of your garden where it can get six hours of sun each day.

Bergenia

Bergenia flowers

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Bergenia, or Bergenia crassifolia, is a vibrant yet underused perennial to cultivate in your garden. It's a resilient choice for most gardens in zones 3 to 10, as it tolerates drought and everything from full sun to full shade.

While mature bergenia will tolerate drought, it grows best in moderately moist soils. Most perennials need 1 to 1½ inches of rain each week to thrive. To help your bergenia naturally conserve water, add 1 to 2 inches of mulch around its base. Pine bark mulch, pine straw mulch, and organic compost are all great options that help the roots stay cool and conserve moisture during summer.

Planting bergenia will fill your garden with lavender, pink, and red hues. It is the perfect choice for a showstopping garden with dazzling colors.

Fun Fact: Pigsqueak is a common name for bergenia because when you rub the foliage between your fingertips, it sounds like a piglet squeaking!

Silver Mound Artemesia

Silvermound close view of foliage - underused perennial

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Underused perennials don't just include stunning flowers; you can also find elegant shrubs to elevate your landscape. Silver Mound artemesia (Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound') is a top choice for zones 3 to 8; its preference for dry, poor-quality soil means you can easily add it to a xeriscape yard.

It's better to avoid watering this perennial because it is highly susceptible to downy mildew. Downy mildew is a pest that resembles fungus. It leaves behind brown or yellow patches on foliage and can eventually kill the entire plant. Luckily prevention is an easy course of action; all you need to do is cultivate it where you aren't watering other plants. A xeriscape, rock garden, or edging along a dry walkway are excellent locations.

Note: If you see signs of downy mildew, one of the best treatments is to remove any foliage with discoloration. When it damages the entire plant, get rid of the whole plant to prevent it from spreading to the rest of your garden. Unfortunately, fungicides are not generally available to home gardeners.

Sea Holly

Close look at sea holly flowers

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Sea holly, or Eryngium planum, has spiky blooms from June to September, showcasing its ethereal elegance. Sea holly is resistant to droughts, as well as deer and rabbits, because of its spiny foliage, making it an excellent choice if bunnies frequently hop through your garden. For best results, plant it in zones 4 through 9 in dry soils where it will get six hours of daily sunshine.

Catmint

Catmint flowers in bloom

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Catmint, catnip, or Nepeta, has brilliant purple, blue, and white flowers. Catmint plants are hardy, thrive in zones 3 to 8, tolerate drought, and attract butterflies! Planting catmint in your garden can even help deter aphids. It also provides an elegant ground cover that can spread 1 to 2 feet.

To keep your catmint plants happy, cultivate them in full sun. While catmint tolerates drought, it appreciates occasional watering. Give it 1 inch of water every week in the first year (when seasonal rainfall doesn't provide this). After the first year, water it with an inch of water every three weeks if the soil is dry to the touch.

Note: You can also add 1 to 2 inches of organic compost around the base of the plant in the spring to help it naturally retain moisture in the heat of summer.

Perfectly Unique Perennials

Perennials are an excellent choice for most gardens. Make your garden stand out by planting unique perennials like purple prairie clover, bergenia, or sea holly! With their uncommon blooms and stunning colors, your garden will be the talk of the neighborhood.

What are your favorite underused perennials to cultivate? Share your experiences in the comments below to help fellow gardeners grow a stunning garden!