Perennials are plants that live for more than two years, returning season after season from the same root system. Unlike annuals, which complete their life cycle in one year, or biennials, which take two years, perennials regrow each spring from underground structures such as roots, bulbs, or rhizomes. This makes them a lasting and reliable presence in gardens and natural landscapes.
Perennials typically go dormant during colder months, conserving energy beneath the soil. When temperatures warm up, they sprout new stems and leaves, often producing flowers throughout the growing season. This natural cycle allows them to survive in a wide range of climates and conditions, from temperate regions to tropical areas.
One of the key advantages of perennials is their longevity. Once established, they require less replanting and maintenance than annuals, making them a practical choice for gardeners. Many develop stronger root systems over time, improving soil structure and helping prevent erosion.
Perennials also contribute to ecological health. Their long-lasting root systems provide shelter for soil organisms, support pollinators with reliable blooms, and offer habitat for insects and small animals. This makes them valuable components of sustainable and wildlife-friendly gardens.
There is great diversity among perennials, ranging from flowering plants and ornamental grasses to shrubs and ground covers. They vary in size, color, texture, and blooming season, offering endless options for designing visually appealing and dynamic landscapes.
Perennials That Naturally Multiply And Spread
Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
Bearded Irises spread through thick, fleshy underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes grow outward, producing new fans of leaves and flowers each year. Clumps should be divided every 3-4 years to maintain vigor and blooms, giving you plenty of new plants to share or expand your garden.
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
A classic “pass-along” plant, daylilies are famously vigorous. They form dense clumps by producing new “fans” of foliage from their crown, and each fan is capable of producing its own flower scapes. They can quickly fill a sunny border and are easily divided with a shovel.
Hosta
Hostas are prized for their lush foliage and are champion spreaders in shady spots. They grow from eyes (buds) on their crown, gradually expanding into wider and wider mounds. A small hosta can become a substantial clump in just a few years, and dividing it is as simple as cutting through the crown with a sharp knife.
Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers spread in two ways: by slowly expanding their clump and, more notably, by self-seeding. If you leave the distinctive seed heads in place over fall and winter, you will often find many new seedlings popping up around the original plant the following spring.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
This woody perennial spreads by sending up new shoots from its roots, forming a larger, airy clump each year. While it doesn’t run aggressively, it steadily increases its presence, providing lovely lavender-blue spikes and silvery foliage.
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
A perfect ground cover for sunny slopes and rock gardens, Creeping Phlox spreads by sending out trailing stems that root wherever they touch the soil. This creates a dense, evergreen mat that becomes covered in vibrant flowers in spring.
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Known for its soft, fuzzy silver leaves, Lamb’s Ear spreads enthusiastically by above-ground runners (stolons) that root and form new plantlets. It can quickly colonize a dry, sunny area, and the extra plants are easily pulled up and moved if they wander too far.
Aster (Symphyotrichum)
Asters are late-season bloomers that put on a fantastic show. They spread vigorously through underground runners (rhizomes), forming large colonies that are excellent for pollinators. Division every few years helps control their spread and rejuvenates their flowering.
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
True to its vigorous nature (and contrary to its “obedient” name), this plant spreads rapidly by rhizomes to form dense patches. Its tubular flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds and bees. It’s best planted where it has room to roam or in a container to control its spread.
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)
An elegant plant for the shade garden, Solomon’s Seal spreads slowly but steadily by rhizomes to form beautiful, arching colonies. The rhizomes can be easily divided in early spring or fall to create new plants and help the colony fill in bare spots.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
An excellent ground cover for sun or partial shade, Bugleweed spreads by above-ground stolons that root as they go. It forms a dense, weed-suppressing mat of colorful foliage and sends up spikes of blue flowers in spring. It’s a very fast colonizer.
Gooseneck Loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides)
This plant is known for its arching white flower spikes that resemble a goose’s neck. It spreads vigorously by rhizomes and can become invasive in ideal conditions. It’s best planted where it can be contained or allowed to fill a large, wild area.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is a tough, drought-tolerant perennial that spreads steadily by its rhizomatous roots. It also readily self-seeds. It forms dense clumps of fern-like foliage and flat-topped flower clusters that are beloved by pollinators.
Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Unlike its creeping cousin, Garden Phlox is a tall, upright perennial. It spreads slowly but reliably by forming new shoots from its base, creating a larger clump each year. It provides fantastic summer color and fragrance but benefits from division every few years to prevent powdery mildew.
Goldenrod (Solidago)
Modern garden cultivars of Goldenrod are well-behaved but still effective spreaders. They expand their territory through rhizomes, forming impressive drifts of brilliant yellow flowers in late summer and fall that are crucial for pollinators.
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
A charming ground cover for deep shade, Sweet Woodruff spreads by underground runners to form a lush, low carpet of whorled leaves. In spring, it’s covered in tiny, star-shaped white flowers, and its foliage has a sweet, hay-like scent when dried.
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Often called “Bishop’s Weed,” this plant is an extremely vigorous spreader by rhizomes. Its variegated form is popular, but it should be planted with extreme caution, as it can quickly become invasive and is very difficult to eradicate once established.
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
This statuesque fern is famous for its edible fiddleheads. It spreads aggressively by underground runners to form large, dense colonies in moist, shady conditions, making it ideal for creating a lush, woodland atmosphere.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
This aromatic perennial with licorice-scented leaves spreads readily by self-seeding. You will often find cheerful volunteers popping up around the garden. It’s a fantastic plant for pollinators and is very drought-tolerant once established.
Hardy Geranium (Geranium spp.)
Many species of Cranesbill Geranium are excellent, low-maintenance ground covers that spread by rhizomes or by self-seeding. They form tidy mounds of foliage and produce a profusion of saucer-shaped flowers over a long period.
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
A classic and aggressive ground cover for shade, Lily of the Valley spreads rapidly by underground stems called rhizomes (or “pips”). It can form a dense, fragrant carpet of bell-shaped white flowers in spring, but it should be planted with caution as it can easily overtake other plants.
Mint (Mentha spp.)
The quintessential example of a vigorous spreader, mint expands voraciously by relentless underground runners (rhizomes). It is best planted in a container or a deeply sunken bottomless pot to prevent it from colonizing entire garden beds.
Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
These elegant, late-summer bloomers spread steadily by underground runners to form expansive colonies over time. They provide a beautiful, airy display of pink or white flowers and are excellent for adding height and texture to the autumn garden.
Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
A variegated grass with green and white striped leaves, Ribbon Grass is an extremely aggressive spreader. It expands rapidly by rhizomes and is best used in containers or areas where its growth can be physically contained, such as between a sidewalk and a foundation.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’)
This popular succulent forms a neat, upright clump that slowly expands outward each year. It can be easily propagated by division or even from stem cuttings, but its spreading habit is a gradual and manageable widening of the original plant.
Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Catmint forms handsome, sprawling mounds of gray-green foliage. It spreads by seeding itself lightly around the garden and by the clump slowly increasing in size. It is a prolific bloomer and a major attraction for bees and cats alike.
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Tansy is a tall, herbaceous perennial with button-like yellow flowers. It spreads aggressively by rhizomes and can become invasive. While historically used for medicinal purposes, it should be planted with great care due to its toxic properties and vigorous nature.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
This useful culinary herb is a reliable multiplier. It forms dense clumps of grass-like leaves that expand each year. It also readily self-seeds and produces attractive, edible purple flowers that are popular with pollinators.
Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)
A superb ground cover for shady areas, Dead Nettle spreads quickly by trailing stems that root as they touch the soil. It offers attractive, often silver-variegated foliage and a long season of pink, white, or purple flowers, quickly filling in empty spaces.
Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
A fantastic ground cover for late-season color, Plumbago spreads steadily by rhizomes to form a dense mat. It provides brilliant blue flowers in late summer and fall, and its foliage turns a striking bronze-red as the weather cools.
Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides)
This evergreen perennial forms handsome clumps and spreads effectively by self-seeding. You’ll find new seedlings popping up in nearby crevices and open soil, creating a naturalized look in shady woodland gardens.
Bethlehem Sage (Pulmonaria saccharata)
Known for its spotted foliage and early spring flowers, Bethlehem Sage slowly spreads to form a dense, weed-suppressing clump. It multiplies by gradually expanding its crown and can be easily divided to create more plants.
Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria)
A short-lived perennial that acts like a perennial, Rose Campion is a prolific self-seeder. Its striking magenta flowers and silvery-gray foliage will reliably appear in new spots each year, creating charming, unexpected drifts of color.
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
A vigorously spreading plant, Comfrey expands from a deep taproot and can also regenerate from small root fragments. While valued as a medicinal herb and fertilizer, it can be very difficult to remove once established, so it should be sited with care.
Bear’s Breeches (Acanthus mollis)
This architectural plant with glossy, deeply cut leaves and tall flower spikes spreads by underground runners. It can form a substantial, long-lived colony and is known for its tenacious root system.
Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum)
A large, stately fern that spreads slowly but surely via a creeping rhizome. It forms handsome clumps that expand over the years, making it an excellent plant for creating a lush, textured backdrop in a moist, shady garden.
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
A vigorous perennial, Soapwort spreads aggressively by rhizomes, forming dense patches. It bears clusters of pink flowers and gets its name from its sap, which lathers in water. It can be invasive and is best suited for areas that need a tough, fast-growing cover.
Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
Also known as Plumbago, this plant is worth mentioning twice due to its excellent spreading habit. It forms a mat of green foliage that turns bronze-red in fall, with brilliant blue flowers, spreading reliably by rhizomes.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
A native North American ground cover for deep shade, Wild Ginger spreads slowly by rhizomes just below the soil surface. It forms a dense carpet of heart-shaped leaves, effectively suppressing weeds and creating a lush, woodland floor effect.