When it comes to managing a commercial property, the fewer things that require attention, the easier the job becomes. And in terms of managing your landscape, perennials are the unsung heroes. They show up for work, day after day, year after year, and require less maintenance than their annual counterparts, which saves time and money – both of which always seem to be in short supply for property managers.
So, Why Perennials?
Annuals absolutely have their place in a commercial landscape. Their color, seasonality, and overall aesthetic make your property come to life. The downside is that their functional lifespan just isn’t that long – properties may need 2-3 replantings a year to keep the annuals looking their best, and that’s a big investment in both raw materials and labor.
Perennials, however, stay in place for years at a time, which cuts costs over the long term since it’s a one-time purchase in most cases. They also establish stronger root systems, which can pull water from deeper in the soil, helping to reduce water consumption. Throughout the year, perennials can save a huge amount of labor, since they essentially only require spring and fall cleanup, rather than multiple installations and ongoing spot checks like annuals do.
Top Performers For The Mid-Atlantic Region
The Mid-Atlantic region presents unique challenges with hot, humid summers and cold winters (typically zones 6-7). It’s critical that your perennials can withstand a variety of weather conditions and soil types to truly reap the benefits.
Top Tier Selections:
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)- These are the workhorses of commercial landscapes. They tolerate poor soil, drought, part shade, and still bloom prolifically. With thousands of varieties available, you can choose early, mid, or late-season bloomers for continuous color. They rarely need division and have minimal pest issues. Varieties like 'Stella de Oro' rebloom throughout summer.
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)- Native to the region, these golden bloomers flower from midsummer through fall. They're heat and drought tolerant once established, self-sow moderately (not aggressively), and attract pollinators. 'Goldsturm' is a proven commercial variety that forms neat clumps.
Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea)- Another native that's exceptionally hardy. Beyond the traditional purple, newer varieties offer coral, orange, white, and yellow options. They're deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and seed heads provide winter interest. No deadheading required if you want the architectural winter structure.
Ornamental Grasses- Karl Foerster feather reed grass provides vertical interest and blooms early (June). Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) offers stunning fall color. Little bluestem turns copper-orange in autumn. All provide movement, texture, and four-season interest with virtually zero maintenance beyond an annual spring cut-back.
Liriope (Lilyturf)- Perfect for edging beds or mass plantings in shaded areas under trees where other plants struggle. Evergreen foliage in most winters, purple flower spikes in late summer, and it spreads slowly to fill in without becoming invasive.
Additional Reliable Performers:
Catmint (Nepeta) - Lavender-blue flowers from late spring through fall with minimal care. Naturally compact, deer and rabbit resistant.
Coreopsis - Native threadleaf varieties like 'Moonbeam' bloom non-stop with ferny foliage that stays attractive.
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' - Succulent foliage means extreme drought tolerance. Flowers transition from pink to rust-red in fall, and dried flower heads look good all winter.
Hostas - For shaded areas, these are unbeatable. Modern varieties offer incredible leaf variation and slug-resistant options are available.
Russian Sage (Perovskia) - Silver-gray foliage with airy purple blooms. Extremely drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
Your grounds maintenance provider can help you develop a landscape plan that can put the right plants in the right places, and help your landscape look its best, year after year. They know the local weather patterns, soil types, and which plants will thrive under the conditions, so don’t hesitate to spend some time discussing your options over the winter, so you can have a plan in place when the weather breaks.
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DAVEY REPRESENTATIVE TO SEE WHICH PERENNIALS WILL LOOK BEST ON YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY!
