Perennials for Zones 8 & 9

U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 and 9 include the southern half of Texas, most of California, the western sections of Oregon and Washington State as well as much of Arizona. These two zones encompass large chunks of such Deep South states as Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Perennials suitable for planting in zones 8 and 9 are so abundant, landscapers have a large selection of different colored flowers from which to choose.

Swallowtail is a hybrid cultivar of columbine, noted for its yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds. This perennial for zones 8 and 9 grows to 36 inches and blooms during June and July. Yellow flowers also emerge on zone 8 and 9 perennials like butterfly weed, false indigo, golden knee, various cultivars of tickseed and chrysanthemums, ox-eye daisy and many forms of daylilies. Daylily cultivars such as Burlesque, Chicago Sunrise and Almost Paradise are fitting plants for both these zones.

Plant ladybells in groups in perennial borders in USDA zones 8 and 9 to take advantage of their blue flowers. Ladybells are native to Europe but adapt to these regions, growing to 24 inches. Dixie Chip and Silver Beauty are cultivars of bugleweed, generating blue flowers and small enough at less than 12 inches to function in rock gardens and as ground cover. Other perennials with blue blooms for zones 8 and 9 are the evolvulus, blue star, mealycup sage and various types of the blue aster.

Orange forms of the Transvaal daisy grow to 18 inches in zones 8 and 9, working well as a container plant or in perennial borders, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Try to locate this perennial in a place that gives it some shade during a hot summer afternoon. Apricot Sparkles and Apricot Petticoats are two of several daylily cultivars with orange flowers. Both grow to 30 inches and bloom in late spring/early summertime. Another perennial featuring an orange flower for zones 8 and 9 is the treasure flower of southern Africa. It is cold hardy to zone 9 and serves as a container flower in zone 8, where bringing it inside during the cold keeps its alive.

Placing the Cardinal cultivar of Aquilegia, a type of columbine, in partial shade in zones 8 and 9 helps it to bloom longer, notes the Perennial Resource website. Cardinal grows to 28 inches, has mostly red flowers and is a perennial that rabbits seem to dislike. Aromatic green foliage and maroon red flower heads highlight the chrysanthemum cultivar Yoraquel. Grow it in borders, masses or containers. Pardon Me, Friend Jack and James Marsh are red forms of the daylily for these zones. It's hard to ignore the 10-inch wide crimson red flowers of Lord Baltimore -- this hardy hibiscus cultivar grows to 5 feet high.