Rapidly Propagating Perennials Ideal for Filling Vacant Garden Areas
In the quest to create a vibrant and pollinator-friendly garden, these 18 carefully selected perennials offer fast coverage without the risk of invasiveness, making them true garden heroes. Here's a rundown of these remarkable plants that will transform your garden into a haven for pollinators while filling those empty spaces.
Geum forms lush mounds topped with fiery blooms in spring and early summer, gently spreading through crowns to fill garden gaps. It thrives in full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil.
Astilbe creates feather-like plumes of flowers in shade gardens, humbly expanding into dense, attractive clumps. It grows best in part to full shade with moist soil.
Nepeta 'Walker's Low' forms tidy, aromatic mounds with floriferous lavender flowers, excellent for filling low borders while attracting bees. It is drought-tolerant in zones 4-8, requiring full sun and well-drained soil.
Sedum (Stonecrop) forms spreading mats of fleshy foliage and star-shaped blooms that bloom in late summer and fall, ideal for poor, dry soil with excellent drainage and thriving in full sun.
Coral Bells (Heuchera) spreads modestly into clumps of colorful foliage and airy flower spikes, attracting hummingbirds while subtly filling shaded borders. It prefers part to full shade and well-drained, consistently moist soil.
Among these, there are several fast-spreading perennials that attract pollinators without becoming invasive.
Agastache (Hummingbird Mint) produces colorful flower spikes that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It thrives in full sun, is drought- and heat-tolerant, and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Bee Balm (Monarda) spreads through rhizomes forming lush clumps with bright blooms, attracting a variety of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It spreads fairly quickly but remains manageable.
Pot Marigold (Calendula) is fast growing with flowers that attract beneficial pollinators, suitable for quickly filling empty garden areas.
Sweet Alyssum is a fast-growing ground cover producing fragrant tiny blooms that bloom within weeks of planting, attracting pollinators while filling spaces rapidly.
Bugleweed (Ajuga) modern cultivars spread slowly and politely via runners, creating attractive foliage and purple flower spikes that attract pollinators. Modern varieties like 'Chocolate Chip' or 'Black Scallop' are well-behaved and non-invasive, excellent for ground cover around trees or difficult spots.
These perennials combine fast coverage with pollinator-attracting flowers while being non-aggressive enough to avoid invasiveness, making them excellent choices to fill empty garden spaces without risking uncontrolled spread.
Yarrow (Achillea) produces colorful, flat-topped flower clusters and spreads via rhizomes into dense clumps, ideal for sunny, low-maintenance areas. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, is drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant.
Geranium 'Rozanne' spreads vigorously with blue-violet blooms from late spring to fall, providing long-lasting groundcover and pollinator support. It thrives in sun to part shade (zones 5-8), prefers average garden soil.
Hellebore (Lenten Rose) offers winter and early spring blooms that delight gardeners and pollinators alike, growing in shaded or woodland areas with rich, well-drained soil.
When creating a lush, pollinator-friendly garden that fills itself in, mix mounded and groundcover types to layer height, color, and texture. Plant in gallon-size containers for faster establishment, keep soil evenly moist in the first year, and divide and rejuvenate every few seasons to maintain vitality and prevent overcrowding.
Note: Some aggressive spreaders like Japanese Pachysandra are considered invasive in parts, so prefer native or non-invasive alternatives when possible.
- Geum, Astilbe, Nepeta 'Walker's Low', Sedum (Stonecrop), and Coral Bells (Heuchera) are several perennials that fill garden gaps, thrive in various soil conditions, and attract pollinators.
- Agastache (Hummingbird Mint), Bee Balm (Monarda), Pot Marigold (Calendula), Sweet Alyssum, and Bugleweed (Ajuga) are fast-spreading perennials that contribute to a pollinator-friendly garden without becoming invasive.
- Yarrow (Achillea) and Geranium 'Rozanne' are perennials known for their fast coverage, long-lasting blooms, and support of pollinators.
- Hellebore (Lenten Rose) offers winter and early spring blooms, ideal for shaded or woodland gardens.
- When planting perennials to create a lush, pollinator-friendly garden, consider choosing non-invasive options such as native species, and layer mounded and groundcover types for height, color, and texture variations.
