Perennial flowers? Looking for the best, longest blooming! Opinions?

I live in Arkansas which I think if zone 7. I've been buying mostly annuals for the past 5 yrs (I just got into gardening in the past few years) I'd like to stop spending so much moola on flowers that don't come back! I have mostly sun with some part-shade. Any advise/opinions would be great! Thanks!

Perennial flowers? Looking for the best, longest blooming! Opinions?
I live in Arkansas too and have had in the past and again at my new house Four O'Clocks. They come back every year and are so pretty! Hummingbirds love them and they are easy to care for.
Reply:gladiolas, dahlias, peonies. oriental lilies

they all bring out big blooming flowers and come back again for the coming years.
Reply:How about Dahlia's? There are many types and they bloom from late May until the first frost. Great Perennial's! Also how about Viola's, Pansies and Marigold's and letting them self-seed? I did this last year, and I have Pansies that I let go to seed and they came up in bunches this year! (Whoo-Hoo, so much cheaper!) I also have allisum (spelling?) that is going crazy!

Good luck!
Reply:I ran into a Plant up here in Michigan where I live called, "Stonecrops". They are Perennial Plants. Now, they start growing in the Spring, Grow all Spring and Summer and Bloom in the Fall! I like them because at the end of the Year, I can trim them all the way back to the ground level and they do regrow the next Spring! They do have large Blooms also! If you get the chance, try them. That is what I did and I really enjoy them now that I have found them. I did buy one to start and I got 7 out of that one!! You can split the roots apart and plant them!! Good luck and enjoy your yard!!
Reply:Two of the longest blooming perennials for me are:



Scabiosa (pincushion flower) Sun



http://www.floracyberia.net/spermatophyt...







And Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate' (Spiderwort) Shade



http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/_ccLi...

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