Perennial flowers aren’t just beautiful additions to your garden; they can also be powerful allies in the fight against weeds. These hardy plants, which return year after year, offer a sustainable and low-maintenance approach to weed control.
By forming dense root systems and creating shade, perennials can naturally suppress weed growth without the need for harmful chemicals.
Perennial flower mixtures were able to significantly reduce weed densities over time, with weed suppression improving in subsequent growing seasons.1 Here are 10 perennial flowers that not only beautify your landscape but also help keep those pesky weeds at bay.
1. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Black-Eyed Susans are the champions of the perennial world when it comes to weed suppression.
These cheerful yellow flowers with dark centers bloom profusely from midsummer to fall, creating a dense mat of foliage that effectively smothers weeds. Their vigorous growth habit and drought tolerance make them ideal for sunny, challenging spots in the garden.
These native North American plants are not only beautiful but also incredibly easy to grow. Black-Eyed Susans attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding life to your garden.
They spread quickly through self-seeding and rhizomes, filling in bare spots where weeds might otherwise take hold.
2. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
Daylilies are the workhorses of the perennial garden, boasting a remarkable ability to outcompete weeds. These adaptable plants form dense clumps of grass-like foliage that effectively shade out unwanted intruders.
With their extensive root systems, daylilies can quickly establish themselves and crowd out competing weeds, making them an excellent choice for problem areas in the landscape.
Available in a stunning array of colors and forms, daylilies offer something for every gardener’s taste. These hardy perennials are known for their long blooming period, with some varieties flowering for months on end.
Their ability to thrive in full sun to partial shade and tolerate a wide range of soil conditions makes them versatile additions to any garden. As an added bonus, daylilies are relatively pest and disease-resistant, ensuring they’ll continue to suppress weeds for years to come.
3. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is a tough-as-nails perennial that’s perfect for outcompeting weeds in challenging garden spots. This drought-tolerant plant forms dense mats of finely-cut, ferny foliage that effectively smother weeds.
Yarrow’s spreading habit allows it to quickly fill in bare areas, preventing weed seeds from finding a foothold in your garden beds.
With its flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers in shades of white, yellow, pink, or red, yarrow adds both texture and color to the landscape. This versatile plant thrives in full sun and poor soil conditions, making it an excellent choice for dry, rocky areas where other plants might struggle.
Yarrow is also a magnet for beneficial insects, including butterflies and predatory wasps that help control garden pests. Its ability to withstand foot traffic makes it a great option for pathways and high-traffic areas in the garden.
4. Sedum (Hylotelephium spp.)
Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a succulent perennial that excels at crowding out weeds in sunny, well-drained areas.
These low-maintenance plants form dense mats of fleshy leaves that create a living mulch, effectively suppressing weed growth. Sedum’s shallow root system allows it to thrive in poor soils where many weeds would otherwise flourish.
With their diverse range of foliage colors and textures, sedums add year-round interest to the garden. In late summer and fall, many varieties produce showy flower clusters that attract butterflies and bees.
Sedum’s drought tolerance and ability to store water in its leaves make it an excellent choice for rock gardens, green roofs, and other challenging environments.
5. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian sage is a powerhouse perennial that combines weed-suppressing abilities with stunning ornamental value.
This drought-tolerant plant forms large, bushy clumps that effectively shade out weeds beneath its silvery-gray foliage. Its extensive root system helps it compete for water and nutrients, further inhibiting weed growth in its vicinity.
From midsummer to fall, Russian sage produces spikes of lavender-blue flowers that create a hazy, ethereal effect in the garden. T
his hardy perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for hot, dry areas where many plants struggle. Its ability to tolerate salt spray also makes it a valuable addition to coastal gardens.
6. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Catmint is a versatile perennial that’s as effective at suppressing weeds as it is beautiful. This fast-growing plant quickly forms dense mounds of aromatic foliage that crowd out weeds and prevent their seeds from germinating.
Catmint’s sprawling habit allows it to cover large areas, making it an excellent choice for filling in bare spots in the garden.
From late spring through summer, catmint produces an abundance of lavender-blue flower spikes that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This drought-tolerant perennial thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to a variety of soil types.
Many gardeners also find that catmint’s aroma helps repel mosquitoes and other bothersome insects.
7. Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
Coneflowers are not only beautiful native perennials but also excellent weed suppressors. These sturdy plants form dense clumps that effectively crowd out weeds, while their deep taproots help them compete for water and nutrients.
Coneflowers’ ability to self-seed allows them to fill in bare spots in the garden, further reducing opportunities for weeds to take hold.
With their daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, white, and yellow, coneflowers add a pop of color to the garden from midsummer to fall. These drought-tolerant perennials thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for hot, dry areas.
Coneflowers are not only effective at suppressing weeds but also attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and birds. Their seed heads provide food for finches and other birds during the winter months, adding year-round interest and wildlife value to the garden.
8. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s ear is a charming perennial that’s as effective at suppressing weeds as it is soft to the touch.
This fast-spreading plant forms dense mats of velvety, silver-gray foliage that effectively smother weeds and prevent their seeds from germinating. Lamb’s ear’s low-growing habit makes it an excellent ground cover for sunny, well-drained areas.
While primarily grown for its attractive foliage, lamb’s ear also produces spikes of purple flowers in early summer that attract bees and other pollinators. It thrives in full sun and poor soil conditions, making it an excellent choice for challenging garden spots.
The soft leaves can be used as a natural bandage in a pinch, earning it the nickname “woundwort.”
9. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
Creeping phlox is a low-growing perennial that excels at smothering weeds while adding a burst of spring color to the garden. This fast-spreading plant forms dense mats of needle-like foliage that effectively prevent weed seeds from reaching the soil and germinating.
Its ability to root along its stems allows it to quickly cover large areas, making it an excellent choice for suppressing weeds on slopes and in rock gardens.
In spring, creeping phlox erupts in a carpet of pink, purple, or white flowers that attract early-season pollinators. This hardy perennial thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, making it adaptable to various garden conditions.
Its ability to tolerate foot traffic makes it an excellent choice for planting between stepping stones or along pathways.
10. Hostas (Hosta spp.)
Hostas are the unsung heroes of weed suppression in shady gardens. These versatile perennials form dense clumps of large, textured leaves that effectively shade out weeds and prevent their seeds from germinating.
This plants extensive root systems help them compete for water and nutrients, further inhibiting weed growth in their vicinity.
From miniature varieties perfect for small spaces to giant cultivars that can reach several feet across, these adaptable plants can fill in bare spots and create a lush, weed-free understory. In summer, many hostas produce spikes of fragrant flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
While primarily known for their foliage, some varieties also offer impressive fall color, adding seasonal interest to the garden long after their blooms have faded.
These 10 perennial flowers offer a powerful, natural solution to weed control while enhancing the beauty of your garden. By choosing these hardy, low-maintenance plants, you can create a lush, vibrant landscape that effectively suppresses unwanted growth.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.