Heading into a crowded nursery and being confronted by row upon row of potted perennials can be a daunting experience for even the most seasoned gardener. Buying perennials should always be considered a long-term investment, so it's important to choose judiciously. Fortunately, plant tags usually give general information about mandatory light levels (from deep shade to full sun), moisture requirements (from dry or well-drained to boggy), as well as hardiness zones and plant size at maturity. (If this information is inadequate or missing, be sure to ask the sales staff.)
The problem that remains, though, is how to separate the wheat from the chaff and choose the best plant in the bunch. When surveying a potential purchase, the first thing I look at is the soil: germinating weed seeds, moss or liverwort (Bryophyta spp.) that choke the soil surface are often signs of a neglected or poorly grown plant.
PHOTO: A well-grown perennial should have a multi-stemmed crown, with several growing points from which shoots can develop (like a potato with multiple eyes, rather than only a few). Roots should reach the bottom of their container; but try to avoid those with roots growing out of the bottom of the pot, as that's a sign the plant's been in too small a container for too long.
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