I recently shared my favorite seed companies for sourcing annual seeds, so today I wanted to focus on those I’d highly recommend for sourcing perennials, both nationally and locally in central Virginia.
Just as with the seed companies, these companies are ranked as favorites because they provide excellent products and wonderful customer service as well. They have always been quick to answer questions, quick to ship, and quick to fix any errors that may occur during shipping (which, please note, can easily happen with shipping live plants and they’re prepared to help - at least in my experience when I just send a kind email requesting assistance).
So first up, those you can access from your computer:
(photo copyright Geraniaceae)
I’m going to be honest: I have no idea how to pronounce the name of the company, but I do believe the start of it is pronounced like “geranium” since it’s the family of plants they specialize in.
Though you may be thinking it’s strange of me to suggest that you buy geraniums, I promise you there’s a whole world outside of the garish red ones normally found in every garden center - and the scented varieties are wonderful to weave into arrangements.
However, finding the unique varieties I’d been seeing British growers/designers speak of was proving difficult on our side of the world until I found this site. The owner is incredibly quick to communicate and exhibited great patience with me as I proved to be ignorant about the difference between geraniums and pelargoniums. Here’s a snippet of her message back to me so as to help you before you order:
“Gardeners frequently call pelargoniums ‘geraniums’ but they are a totally different group in the geranium family. It's pelargoniums that have the greater diversity of leaf shapes. If you look, for example, under Scented Leaf Pelargoniums, you will see what I mean. Hardy geraniums, although they have some variation on how fat or skinny the lobes are, are much more uniform in shape, although the size varies. I have a number of customers who use pelargonium leaves in arrangements.
I’m going to do a whole blog post dedicated to scented Pelargoniums later this year, but until then, have fun perusing the site and thinking about having potted plants that smell like candy apples if you wish.
This has been one of my tried and true favorite online nurseries for the past few years as they offer small starts of flowering perennials that are often difficult to source locally, including heirloom chrysanthemums. The plants have always been healthy and grown quickly…so don’t be alarmed at the small size of the plants they will ship you. They may not look like much when they arrive, but plant them with care and attention (i.e. water them and water them some more as they become established), and you’ll soon be rewarded with a gorgeous plant that you can enjoy for years to come.
This company offers beautiful bulbs and perennial roots in many favorite varieties. This time of year they offer wonderful summer blooms such as Dahlias, Acidanthera, Lilies and Gladiolus (and often offer free shipping for purchases over $50). Just a quick note of caution to my VA growing friends: They also offer anemones and ranunculus this time of year and label them as “spring planted, summer blooming” but please note that it is not advised to plant those in the spring within the central Virginia climate. They’re best considered fall planted, spring blooming for our area!
A company based out of Virginia that ships nationwide, Brent and Becky’s is a wonderful place to source perennials that are guaranteed to grow well in our area. They offer varieties that are often hard to find as well. Favorites I’ve purchased from them include Japanese anemone (not to be confused with the anemones I referenced above…Japanese anemone can be planted now, will bloom in late summer, and come back in great quantity every year), Ostrich Fern, Veronica, and Phlox. They’re also open to the public for shopping, and though I haven’t personally been, friends who’ve visited had only wonderful things to say about the experience!
Local Nurseries for shopping in person
Milmont Greenhouses
Milmont is a nursery located about 30 minutes outside of Charlottesville. It’s a beautiful drive and you’re rewarded with not only a beautiful view PLUS a goat feeding and petting area when you arrive - a wonderful way to make this part of a family day trip;) Of course the best part of Milmont though is its wonderful offerings for all budgets. Many perennials - including personal favorites geum, lavendar, rudbeckia, and foxglove - are offered in small four packs, something you almost never see in big box stores, and their selection of herbs and shrubs (including roses) is amazing. The people there are always kind and helpful as well!
Located right in downtown Charlottesville, Fifth Season is another wonderful place to find small starts of perennials and herbs, as well as cover crops in small sizes (perfect for small gardens!). Other favorite offering include seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, compost and soil amendments from small and/or local businesses, bundles of bamboo stakes, and other fun gardening tools that you didn’t know you needed until you saw them there. Their website is also connected to their store, so you can make sure they have what you need before you go if you don’t have time to shop!
Also located in downtown Charlottesville, this is my go to place for all things seed starting supplies (their prices on trays, cells, and stakes are the cheapest you’ll find anywhere!) and cover crop in bulk. They also have a wonderful selection of perennial plants and shrubs…and don’t forget to check out the discount corner: it’s always full of plants that are easily saved with a tiny bit of TLC.