Check out what the nation’s gardeners selected
Midwest
30%:‘Rozanne ’ hardy geranium ( Geranium ‘ Rozanne ’ , USDA Hardiness zone 5–8 )
27%:‘Rocky Top ’ Tennessee coneflower ( Echinacea tennesseensis ‘ Rocky Top ’ , Z 3–9 )
24%:‘David ’ garden phlox ( Phlox paniculata ‘ David ’ , Z 4–8 )
11%:‘Little Joe ’ Joe Pye weed ( genus Eupatorium dubium ‘ Little Joe ’ , Z 3–9 )
8%:‘Fireworks ’ goldenrod ( Solidago rugosa ‘ firework ’ , Z 5–9 )
Voter remark : There are no downsides to the prolific blue - violet blooms , healthy foliation , and ultrapolite spread use of ‘ Rozanne ’ stout geranium . It is an award winner that should be welcome in any perennial bed.—Cheryl Crawford , Harshaw , Wisconsin
Mid-Atlantic
26%:‘Rozanne ’ hardy geranium ( Geranium ‘ Rozanne ’ , Zones 5–8 )
25%:‘Becky ’ Shasta daisy ( Leucanthemum × superbum ‘ Becky ’ , Z 5–8 )
20%:‘Walker ’s Low ’ catmint ( Nepeta × faassenii ‘ Walker ’s Low ’ , Z 4–8 )
16%:‘Caradonna ’ salvia ( Salvia nemorosa ‘ Caradonna ’ , Z 5–9 )
13%:‘Arizona Sun ’ blanket flower ( Gaillardia aristata ‘ Arizona Sun ’ , Z 3–9 )
Voter comment : This geranium ’s mounding habit and long heyday metre provide a good foundation for other plants in my garden . The prime look lovely fuse with either pastels or bright people of color . ‘ Rozanne ’ is a real workhorse.—Kim Scott , Vienna , Virginia
South
31%:‘Becky ’ Shasta daisy ( Leucanthemum × superbum ‘ Becky ’ , Zones 5–8 )
30%:‘Happy comeback ’ day lily ( Hemerocallis ‘ Happy return key ’ , Z 3–9 )
16%:‘Sunray ’ coreopsis ( tick-weed grandiflora ‘ Sunray ’ , Z 4–9 )
14%:‘Rozanne ’ fearless geranium ( Geranium ‘ Rozanne ’ , Z 5–8 )
9%:‘Purple Dome ’ New England aster ( Aster nova - angliae ‘ Purple Dome ’ , Z 4–8 )
Voter comment : I chose ‘ Becky ’ Shasta daisy because it flower all summer . Most gardeners depend on their annual to do that , but I like the consistency and reliableness of my perennials . ‘ Becky ’ also has a pappa of white that draws my heart to it.—Darlene Tanner , Medina , Tennessee
Gulf Coast
35%:Butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa , Zones 4–9 )
25%:‘Purple shower ’ Mexican petunia ( Ruellia brittoniana ‘ Purple Showers ’ , Z 8–11 )
22%:Mexican bush sage ( Salvia leucantha , Z 9–11 )
10%:Blanket efflorescence ( Gaillardia pulchella and cvs . , Z 10–11 )
8%:Blue porter weed ( Stachytarpheta urticifolia , Z 9–11 )
Voter scuttlebutt : Butterfly green goddess is my neighborhood ’s unspoiled flush for sun because its flowers are attractive , it is heat and drouth tolerant , and its leaves ’ toxic sap is tolerated by hungry Danaus plexippus butterfly larvae , thus bring in them inedible to predators.—Sigrid Benson , Gulf Breeze , Florida
Northeast
32%:‘Autumn Joy ’ sedum ( Sedum ‘ Autumn Joy ’ , zone 3–11 )
26%:‘Becky ’ Shasta daisy ( Leucanthemum × superbum ‘ Becky ’ , Z 5–8 )
18%:‘Firewitch ’ cheddar pink ( Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘ Firewitch ’ , Z 3–8 )
13%:‘Zagreb ’ tickweed ( Corepsis verticillata ‘ Zagreb ’ , Z 4–9 )
11%:‘Kobold ’ liatris ( Liatris spicata ‘ Kobold ’ , Z 4–9 )
Voter comment:‘Autumn Joy ’ sedum is cold sturdy , drouth kind , and disease resistant . Nothing seems to feed it above or below the ground . Even if ignored the eternal sleep of the year , ‘ Autumn Joy ’ will reward you with prime that light up a fading , latesummer garden.—Liz Stanley , West Suffield , Connecticut
Upper Plains
35%:‘Magnus ’ purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea ‘ Magnus ’ , Zones 3–9 )
24%:Tall bearded iris ( Iris cvs . , Z 3–8 )
15%:‘Bluebird ’ delphinium ( Delphinium ‘ Bluebird ’ , Z 3–7 )
14%:‘Becky ’ Shasta daisy ( Leucanthemum × superbum ‘ Becky ’ , Z 5–8 )
12%:Gloriosa daisy ( Rudbeckia hirta cvs . , Z 3–8 )
Voter gossip : For me , ‘ Magnus ’ purple coneflower has a strong upright riding habit and farseeing bloom time . Goldfinches love the seeds in descent , and in winter , the snow model precariously on whatever the skirt do n’t eat.—Cindy Tate , Omaha , Nebraska
Lower Plains
45%:‘Goldsturm ’ black - eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia fulgida var . sullivantii ‘ Goldsturm ’ , Zones 4–9 )
21%:Autumn sage ( Salvia greggii and cvs . ,Z 7–9 )
13%:Gaura ( Gaura lindheimeri and cvs . ,Z 6–9 )
11%:Louisiana iris ( Iris spp . and cvs . , Z 6–9 )
10%:Blackfoot daisy ( Melampodium leucanthum , Z 7–11 )
Voter comment:‘Goldsturm ’ blackened - eyed Susan is one of the few flowers that is perky and happy in our hottest , driest summer here in easterly Kansas . It naturalizes well and immingle in with my other natives . And its bright color and long - halt nous are skillful to add to arrangements.—Joan Vibert , Ottawa , Kansas
Southwest
29%:Cardinal penstemon ( Penstemon cardinalis , Zones 5–9 )
26%:Hummingbird mint ( Agastache cana , Z 6–11 )
24%:Germander sage ( Salvia chamaedryoides , Z 7–11 )
14%:Desert globemallow ( Sphaeralcea ambigua , Z 6–10 )
7%:Desert old maid ( Zinna grandiflora , Z 4–9 )
Voter comment : I select central penstemon because it grows promptly in our compacted Lucius DuBignon Clay soil . Penstemon care our hot , juiceless summers , and hummingbirds love to sip nectar from the ruby flowers.—Irma Rudolph , Sun City , California
Northwest
32%:‘Matrona ’ sedum ( Sedum telephium ‘ Matrona ’ , Zones 4–9 )
22%:Gaura ( Gaura lindheimeri and cvs . , Z 6–9 )
20%:‘Devil ’s Tears ’ phygelius ( Phygelius × rectus ‘ Devil ’s Tears ’ , Z 8–9 )
16%:Knautia ( Knautia macedonica , Z 5–9 )
10%:Sticky Jerusalem sage ( Phlomis russeliana , Z 3–9 )
Voter comment : I believe that ‘ Matrona ’ sedum is best because it is drouth tolerant , provides multiseasonal pastime , and has a great leaf shape to play off ornamental grasses.—Hollye Maxwell , Portland , Oregon
Rocky Mountains
30%:Desert Sunrise ® hyssop ( Agastache Desert Sunrise ® ,Zones 5–10 )
26%:Variegated sweetened iris ( Iris pallida ‘ Variegata ’ , Z 4–9 )
25%:‘Indian Summer ’ brown - eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia hirta ‘ Indian Summer ’ , Z 4–9 )
12%:Oriental outflow grass ( Pennisetum orientale , Z 5–10 )
7%:Mesa Verde ® glass plant ( Delosperma ‘ Kelaidis ’ , Z 4–8 )
Voter remark : I chose Desert Sunrise ® Hyssopus officinalis because it blooms during summer , is xeric , and attracts hummingbird . Even well is that it ’s blue maintenance and good looking.—Sue O’Neill , Colorado Springs , Colorado
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