One of the best ways to take your landscape beds to the next level is to fill them with flowers and plants that look aesthetically pleasing and give off unique character. Here in Iowa, there are lots of perennials to choose from! Settling on which ones to incorporate into your landscape can be tough, but 5 perennials that will undoubtedly elevate your yard's beauty are daylilies, irises, phlox, hostas, and alliums. All of these plants will add a visual flair to your landscape beds and help boost your property's curb appeal!

1. Daylilies

Daylilies are charming flowers with blooms that remain open for one day, hence their name. They have upright leaves that emerge from the roots and flowers that grow from leafless branched stems. Daylily flowers come in vibrant hues of yellow, orange, white, red, pink, purple, and more adding an intense display of colors to your landscape beds.

Daylilies grow quickly and live long. They start to bloom in midsummer and continue to beautify your yard until early fall. They are not fussy about the soil they are planted in because they thrive in any type, but will grow best in fertile and well-drained soil. They also do well under full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

2. Irises

Another perennial plant that will boost your landscape beds' visual appeal is the iris. This tall flower can make a striking addition to your yard with its statuesque beauty reaching around 2 to 3 feet tall. Irises have six petals, with three hanging petals and three inner petals standing upright that can come in various shades of blue, purple, yellow, pink, orange, and other colors. If you want to incorporate irises into your landscape beds, make sure they are planted in fertile soil that drains well and receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day to get the best blooms.

Irises attract butterflies and hummingbirds, making them the perfect addition to your property if you want to attract these animals to it!

3. Phlox

If you're looking to add a certain charm to your landscape, you should add phlox plants to your landscape beds. This fragrant perennial boasts delicate trumpet-shaped flowers that come in white, pink, or lavender and are arranged in long clusters. What's great about phlox is it is a low-maintenance addition to your landscape. When planted in moist soil with good drainage and in an area where they can receive full sunlight, your phlox flowers will not require too much treatment and attention because they will thrive effortlessly.

4. Hostas

Hostas are a perennial plant that features lush, overlapping foliage providing a verdant background for its bell-like flowers of white, cream, pink, lavender, or blue. This perennial beauty blooms sometime around late spring to late summer, but some species can continue to survive until fall. If you want to add this plant to your landscape beds, make sure they receive consistent hydration because hostas consume lots of water. They grow best in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade, so consider that when planning their location in your landscape beds.

5. Alliums

The distinct round flower heads of alliums standing on slender stems can provide a unique look for your landscape beds if you plant them in them. In late spring to early summer, alliums start to bloom and they can add an explosion of colors to your yard. Allium needs to be planted in well-draining soil, receive full sunlight, and be watered moderately to flourish.

Call us today to get an estimate on our plantings and softscapes service.

Are you looking to take the aesthetics of your landscape beds to the next level? If so, you've come to the right place! Our team at Brilliant Borders Landscaping can breathe new life into your landscape with our plantings and softscapes service. When you sign up for this service, we can either install new landscape beds on your property or renovate your existing ones and then fill them with beautiful plants including daylilies, irises, phlox, hostas, alliums, and more! This service is available to commercial and residential properties in Waukee, West Des Moines, Urbandale, IA, and nearby areas. Call us today at (515) 664-6205 to sign up!