Unique Perennials for Minnesota:

Here are a couple of neat perennials that you don't see in every garden. The picture on the top is of Red Leafed Mukdenia (Mukdenia rossii). This Korean introduction performs the best in moist soils and partial shade. Interesting flower buds, shown here, develop very early in the spring. When the flowers unfurl, they look linke tiny, white stars. Palmate foliage emerges a vibrant green color. As the season progresses, the leaves take on bronzy hues. By fall, the foliage of this plant is brilliant crimson. At my house, I have this plant in a shade garden with windflowers (Anemone sylvestris), white bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis 'alba') and hostas.

The bottom pictures shows our native, Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica). These plants are ephemerals, meaning that they bloom early and disappear for the season shorty thereafter. In this aspect, they are quite similar to spring-blooming bulbs; like tulips. Virginia bluebells tolerate shade quite well. They perform the best in moist, rich soils. In my garden, they are surrounded by May Apples (Podophyllum), hostas, ferns and bugbanes/snakeroots (Cimicifugas). The hostas and ferns don't really get going until the bluebells are past their peak, so they make good neighbors in the garden.