Structure and continuity from perennials

Pop! Time for champagne and celebration — at least for gardeners. June is National Perennial Gardening Month, which also highlights the 2026 Perennial Plant of the Year: ‘Blackhawks’ big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’).

During June, we can celebrate the colorful contribution of perennials in our gardens, plant some tough flowers for the next season, and, perhaps, find some treasures on sale as the heat drives nurseries to decrease their plant inventory.

A perennial plant is any plant that persists for several years usually with new growth from a crown or roots that survive from year to year. Perennials may die back in the winter, but return in the spring, often larger and stronger each year. Perennials in all their many forms and colors provide structure and continuity in the garden.

‘Blackhawks’ big bluestem, with near-black coloration and a vertical habit, will add drama to the fall and winter garden. Foliage emerges dark green, developing reddish tips as summer progresses. By September the leaves, stems, and blooms take on a deep purple hue.

Rarely will a national selection of a particular plant thrive in the arid Southwest. However, big bluestem is one of the dominant grasses in North America’s once extensive prairies, which includes New Mexico. This native grass is drought tolerant once established but will perform better with regular water.

After all, it grows in meadows and along stream banks. The leaves and stems provide cover and nesting material for birds and serve as a larval food source for several species of butterflies.

‘Blackhawks’ big bluestem is unlikely to be widely available in New Mexico but may be worth the search if a gardener is partial to grasses and has the space for a plant that grows up to five feet tall and two feet wide. Or search for native big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii).

On the other hand, many perennials still are available at garden centers and nurseries and often are stocked year-round. Perennials are overlooked in the rush of spring planting because they do not arrive in bloom. Many of our best native perennials bloom in summer and fall, so are simply small green plants in spring. It requires knowledge and a gardener’s patience to imagine the plant when it is in bloom.

Many native and drought-tolerant perennials can be planted — if proper attention is given to watering — in the heat of summer, especially if they have not recently arrived from a greenhouse. An added bonus is that at this time of year many of these plants are marked down. If you wish to add to your garden or fill in a hole where a spring plant did not thrive, now is the time to look for a few perennial plants.

What perennials are good choices to plant this month? Search for our tough native and drought-tolerant survivors. These include many varieties of salvia from the autumn or cherry sages (Salvia greggii) to the meadow sages (Salvia nemerosa). My favorite survivors include angelita daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis) and chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata). If you have sandy soil, damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) or desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) thrive in summer. As we get into the monsoon season, I watch for the magic blooms of the rain lily (Zephyranthes candida).

Tuck a few new flowering perennials in your garden and then retire to the shade for a chilled drink. Treasure some time to watch the hummingbirds and butterflies that are abundant at this time of year — and thrilled with their new food source.