There’s something satisfying about planting something once and seeing it return the following spring. Perennials can make that possible. Rather than replacing them every year, you give them a good spot in the garden and let them settle in.

Many perennial plants become fuller as the years pass, and some can live for decades with basic care. That makes them a good choice if you want a garden filled with flowers without starting from scratch every season.

From fragrant lavender to long-lived peonies, these 15 plants can give your garden color and interest year after year.

Hardy Geranium (Geranium spp.)

Hardy geraniums are easygoing plants that form low mounds of foliage with small, colorful flowers. Depending on the variety, they can bloom for much of the growing season.

They work well along borders, beneath taller plants, or as ground cover. Give them suitable soil and enough sunlight, and they can return reliably each year.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Lavender is a favorite for its purple flowers, silvery leaves, and unmistakable fragrance. It also happens to be a fairly tough perennial once it has settled into the right spot.

Lavender prefers full sun and soil that drains well. Too much moisture can cause problems, so it generally does better in a dry location than in a soggy garden bed.

Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)

Bee balm brings plenty of activity to a summer garden. Its colorful flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while its upright growth adds height to flower beds.

As a member of the mint family, bee balm can spread over time. Give it enough room to grow, or divide the plants when they start taking up more space than you’d like.

Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)

Hydrangeas can become some of the most noticeable plants in a garden once they reach maturity. Their large clusters of flowers can last for weeks and bring plenty of color to summer beds.

Different types have different light and pruning needs, so check the variety before planting. With the right conditions, a hydrangea can stay in the garden for many years and become larger with age.

Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.)

Asters are a welcome sight late in the growing season, producing daisy-like flowers in shades that can include purple, pink, blue, and white.

Their late blooms also provide food for bees and butterflies at a time when some earlier flowers have already finished. Plant them in a sunny location for the best flowering.

Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Coneflowers have earned a reputation for being tough. They handle heat and dry spells well once established and can keep flowering through much of the summer.

Their large, raised centers are popular with bees and butterflies. The seed heads can also provide food for birds later in the season if you leave them standing.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Few flowers make a garden look as cheerful as a patch of black-eyed Susans. Their yellow petals and dark centers bring plenty of color from summer into fall.

They are easy to grow in sunny spots and can spread from year to year. If you let some flowers go to seed, you may find new plants popping up around the garden.

Iris (Iris × germanica)

Bearded irises bring some of the most distinctive flowers to a spring garden. Their blooms come in a wide range of colors, and their upright leaves continue to provide structure after flowering is finished.

Irises grow from rhizomes and can stay in the same spot for years. If a clump becomes crowded and flowering starts to slow, dividing the rhizomes can give the plants more room.

Peony (Paeonia spp.)

Peonies are the kind of plants that reward patience. They may take some time to become established, but once they do, they can return for decades.

Their large, fragrant flowers are a highlight of late spring and early summer. Peonies prefer a sunny location and don’t like being planted too deeply, so take a little care when putting them in the ground.

Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)

Japanese anemones fill a useful gap in the garden by flowering in late summer and fall. Their delicate-looking pink or white flowers stand on tall stems above the foliage.

They can grow in partial shade, making them a good choice for spots that don’t receive full sun all day. Once established, they can spread and form a larger group of plants.

Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

Lupines are hard to miss. Their tall flower spikes come in shades such as purple, blue, pink, red, and white, giving them plenty of presence in a flower bed.

Many lupines also form relationships with soil bacteria that allow them to fix nitrogen. They prefer well-drained soil and can be especially striking when planted in groups.

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Garden phlox produces rounded clusters of flowers during the summer and fills the air with a sweet fragrance. Bees and butterflies are frequent visitors when the plants are in bloom.

They can grow fairly tall, making them useful toward the back of a perennial border. Good air circulation can also help reduce the chance of powdery mildew, a common issue with phlox.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Hylotelephium spectabile)

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is a favorite for late-season color. Its thick, fleshy leaves handle dry conditions well, while its flower clusters change color as the season progresses.

The plants can thrive in sunny spots and don’t need rich soil to perform well. Their dried flower heads can also provide some winter interest if you leave them in place after the first frost.

Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)

Daylilies are among the more forgiving perennials you can grow. They tolerate a range of soil conditions and can handle periods of heat once established.

Each flower lasts for only about a day, but a healthy plant produces many buds, so the overall bloom period can last for weeks. With time, daylily clumps can become quite large and may need dividing.

Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.)

Tickseed can keep a garden filled with bright yellow or other colorful blooms from early summer through fall, depending on the variety.

It handles dry conditions fairly well once established and attracts bees and butterflies. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage more blooms, while leaving some seed heads behind can provide food for birds.

Perennials are a great fit for gardeners who’d rather spend their time enjoying the garden than replacing plants every spring. Pick varieties that suit your sunlight, soil, and climate, give them room to grow, and many of these plants can reward you with flowers for years.