If you’re still deciding on the flowers you’d like to see in your Michigan yard, consider the following perennials. You won’t have to deal with annual flower installation. You can sit back and enjoy the flowers.
Best Perennials For Michigan Flower Beds
Sun-Loving Perennials
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
These hardy flowers produce golden-yellow petals and a dark center where the seeds are located. They can withstand 
Michigan’s harsh winters since they are rated for hardiness zones 4 – 9. This perennial comes in a variety of cultivars that grow to varying heights so you can decide how big you’d like your Black-eyed Susan to be. Blooms happen in mid-summer and can produce a repeat bloom in the fall. When it comes to soil, this perennial likes well-drained soil that sits to either side of neutral on the pH scale. Soils that are both slightly acidic or slightly alkaline will be just fine for Black-eyed Susans.
Dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus)
Dianthus produces blooms for several months, and if you remove the dead flowers, you can often extend the blooming period. It’s hardy and will easily tolerate even the coldest, sub-zero Michigan winters. You can expect the plant to reach about three feet in height, and it will need full sun to succeed. Like Black-eyed Susans, Dianthus likes well-drained soil, but it prefers neutral to slightly alkaline pH levels.
Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos)
Though this flower looks like something out of a Hawaiian postcard, this gorgeous flower will do just fine in our Michigan climate. Also called “dinner-plate hibiscus,” this flower will bring butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It begins blooming in late summer and comes in various colors like red, pink, white, or purple. The individual flowers do not live long, but once in bloom, the plant will quickly produce more flowers to take their place. The plant will grow to about two and a half feet in height, and the flowers can be about 10 inches in diameter. Unlike the other flowers we’ve discussed, it actually likes wetter soil, so don’t worry too much about overwatering.
Shade-Lovering Perennials
Hostas (Hosta)
Hostas produce white or purple flowers, but these blooms do not last long. The multi-colored leaves, however, will add some vibrant greens to your garden all season long. While they are mostly shade tolerant, some varieties do like a fair amount of sun, so make sure to discuss with your PPM technician. We can help you find the best hosta cultivar depending on where in the yard you’ll be growing them. Hostas like slightly acidic, rich, well-drained soil. You can expect each plant to be up to four feet in diameter within a few years. If you live near a wooded area, you may need to apply deer-repellant, as hostas are a favorite of these critters. For most suburban yards, however, this won’t be a major concern.
Bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)
Did you know bleeding hearts are native to Michigan? It’s true! That’s one of the reasons this plant is an excellent choice for our yards. It’s already perfectly adapted to our climate. This plant prefers spring and fall cooler temperatures, but you will enjoy repeated blooms of the namesake flower throughout the summer. If you didn’t already know, the plant looks like a heart shape with a drop falling from it, which is how it gets its name. Bleeding heart comes in both pink and white varieties and likes either full shade or partial shade.
Virgin Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Another Michigan native, this perennial produces clusters of blue flowers. In the wild, you’ll find it in forest floodplains or ravines with rich soil. When flowers first produce buds, the young flowers will look more pinkish than their signature blue, but they will produce the blue hues as they reach maturity. If you choose this perennial, you can expect blooms from 
midsummer through the fall. It does well in both full or partial shade, which gives you a lot of wiggle room when deciding where you’d like this plant in your yard. Keep the soil well-drained, but moist and you’ll enjoy one of the most beautiful flowers in Michigan.
Why Choose PPM Landscape For Your Landscaping Needs
Designing, planting, and maintaining flower beds is a lot of work. One plant may like wet soil, while the flower next to it likes well-drained soil. At PPM Landscape Contractors Inc., we’ve got all the landscaping supplies and equipment needed to craft your ultimate dream yard. We’ll work with you to learn about your dreams and goals and help you choose the best flowers for your situation, whether it’s any or all of the perennials we’ve discussed today or any of the thousands of other varieties!
Get Professional Landscape Design Near Livonia, MI
Whether your garden will be in full sun, full shade, or somewhere in the middle, the experts at PPM Landscape Contractors Inc. can help! Our landscape design program will help you choose the best plants for your situation. Plus, our landscape maintenance service cares for your flowers long after they’ve been planted. Let us give you the yard of your dreams! Give us a call at (877) 454-8733, or contact us below.