Low growing perennials

These are the perennials in our records whose average height is 30 cm (about 12 inches) or less, taken as the midpoint of the height range in each record. A plant is listed here only if its record gives a hardiness zone of 7 or colder, so it can stay in the ground over winter in zone 7 or colder; dahlias are left out for that reason. The table below compares every plant we list side by side.

Varieties
40
Height
2–12 in (5–30 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–10
Flowers

13 Hostas

13 Daffodils

12 Tulips

2 Black-eyed Susans

All 40 low growing perennials

Leaves of Autumn Frost hosta up close Autumn Frost Sport of First Frost with blue leaves and extra wide yellow to cream margins in a 12 inch mound. Midsummer, Late summerMedium
A Baby Moon daffodil flower up close on the plant Baby Moon Small jonquilla daffodil with clusters of golden yellow blooms on 6 to 12 inch stems. Mid spring, Late springJonquilla
Leaves of Blue Cadet hosta up close Blue Cadet Compact hosta with heart-shaped blue leaves in a round 12 inch clump and lavender flowers. Late springSmall
Leaves of Blue Mouse Ears hosta up close Blue Mouse Ears Miniature hosta with thick, round blue-green leaves in a symmetrical 8 inch mound. MidsummerMini
A Canaliculatus daffodil flower up close on the plant Canaliculatus Miniature tazetta daffodil with clusters of white flowers and golden cups, 4 to 6 inches tall. Early spring, Mid springTazetta
Cat and Mouse Mini hosta with firm yellow-green leaves edged in blue-green, a sport of Blue Mouse Ears. MidsummerMini
Leaves of Church Mouse hosta up close Church Mouse Miniature hosta with ruffled blue-green leaves and a subtle lighter green margin. MidsummerMini
A City Garden black-eyed Susan flower up close on the plant City Garden Compact 12 inch black-eyed Susan with yellow-orange flowers, July to September. Midsummer, Late summerRudbeckia fulgida
Dragon Tails Mini hosta with narrow, wavy bright gold leaves in a fast multiplying rosette. MidsummerMini
A February Gold daffodil flower up close on the plant February Gold Early all-yellow cyclamineus daffodil from 1923, 8 to 12 inches tall. Early springCyclamineus
Floresta Kaufmanniana tulip striped red and white, yellow interior, 8 inches, early spring. Early springKaufmanniana
A Graefin Bettina tulip flower up close on the plant Graefin Bettina Greigii tulip, yellow with thick red flames and mottled foliage, 10 to 12 inches tall. Early spring, Mid springGreigii
A Jack Snipe daffodil flower up close on the plant Jack Snipe Cyclamineus daffodil with creamy white reflexed petals and a yellow cup, 8 to 10 inches tall. Early spring, Mid springCyclamineus
A Jetfire daffodil flower up close on the plant Jetfire Compact cyclamineus daffodil with swept-back yellow petals and an orange trumpet, 8 to 10 inches. Early spring, Mid springCyclamineus
Leaves of June hosta up close June Tardiana hosta with gold-centered, blue-green edged leaves in a 9 to 12 inch mound. Midsummer, Late summerMedium
A Katie Heath daffodil flower up close on the plant Katie Heath Triandrus daffodil with pendant ivory flowers and soft pink cups, several per stem. Mid springTriandrus
A Lady Jane tulip flower up close on the plant Lady Jane Species tulip with rosy-red outer petals and ivory-white inside, 6 to 12 inches tall. Mid springSpecies
Leaves of Lakeside Paisley Print hosta up close Lakeside Paisley Print Small hosta with wavy green margins around a feathery creamy white center, 10 inches tall. MidsummerSmall
A Lilac Wonder tulip flower up close on the plant Lilac Wonder Species tulip with rose-lilac flowers and yellow bases on 7-inch stems in May. Late springSpecies
A Little Beauty tulip flower up close on the plant Little Beauty Cherry-red miniature species tulip with a white-edged blue center, 4 inches tall. Late springSpecies
Leaves of Mighty Mouse hosta up close Mighty Mouse Miniature hosta with thick blue-green leaves edged creamy yellow, then creamy white. Early summerMini
A Minnow daffodil flower up close on the plant Minnow Miniature tazetta daffodil with clusters of small pale yellow flowers and yellow cups, mid spring. Mid springTazetta
A Mite daffodil flower up close on the plant Mite Miniature cyclamineus daffodil, bright yellow with reflexed petals, very early spring. Early springCyclamineus
Oratorio Greigii tulip, rose-red with an apricot sheen and mottled foliage, 8 inches tall. Early spring, Mid spring (estimated) Greigii
Leaves of Pandora's Box hosta up close Pandora's Box Tiny mini hosta with quarter sized blue-green leaves centered in white, 3 inches tall. MidsummerMini
A Persian Pearl tulip flower up close on the plant Persian Pearl Magenta-rose species tulip with a yellow star center, 4 to 6 inches tall, blooming in April. Mid springSpecies
A Rip van Winkle daffodil flower up close on the plant Rip van Winkle Dwarf Division 4 double daffodil from 1884 with spiky golden yellow flowers. Early spring, Mid springDouble
A Sailboat daffodil flower up close on the plant Sailboat Jonquilla daffodil with several creamy white flowers per stem on 10 to 12 inch stems. Mid spring, Late springJonquilla
Leaves of So Sweet hosta up close So Sweet Vigorous hosta with green leaves and narrow creamy white margins, 9 by 12 inches. Midsummer, Late summerMedium
A Tete a Tete daffodil flower up close on the plant Tete a Tete Miniature daffodil with bright yellow flowers, 6 to 8 inches tall, early to mid spring. Early spring, Mid springMiscellaneous
A Tête Bouclé daffodil flower up close on the plant Tête Bouclé Miniature double daffodil, a yellow sport of Tete a Tete, 4 to 6 inches tall, early to mid spring. Early spring, Mid springDouble
A The First tulip flower up close on the plant The First Heirloom Kaufmanniana tulip, carmine-red edged white, 8-10 inches, early spring. Early springKaufmanniana
Leaves of Tiny Tears hosta up close Tiny Tears Very small venusta hybrid hosta with tiny green heart shaped leaves in tight clumps. Early summerMini
A Toto black-eyed Susan flower up close on the plant Toto Compact 9-inch black-eyed Susan series with many small gold, lemon and rustic flowers. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer (estimated) Rudbeckia hirta
A Tulipa linifolia tulip flower up close on the plant Tulipa linifolia Scarlet-red species tulip with purplish-black bases, 4 to 6 inches tall, blooming in May. Late springSpecies
A Tulipa sylvestris tulip flower up close on the plant Tulipa sylvestris Fragrant yellow species tulip with green outer petals, 8 to 12 inches tall, blooming in April. Mid springSpecies
A Tulipa tarda tulip flower up close on the plant Tulipa tarda Multi-flowering species tulip with star-shaped yellow flowers tipped white, 4 to 6 inches tall. Mid springSpecies
A Tulipa turkestanica tulip flower up close on the plant Tulipa turkestanica Multi-flowering species tulip with ivory stars and orange-yellow bases, 8 inches tall. Early spring, Mid springSpecies
Leaves of Twist of Lime hosta up close Twist of Lime Mini hosta with chartreuse yellow leaves edged in green, 4 to 8 inches tall. Late springMini
A W.P. Milner daffodil flower up close on the plant W.P. Milner Historic miniature trumpet daffodil, pale yellow maturing to cream, 6 to 8 inches tall. Early spring, Mid springTrumpet

How to choose

  1. Compare the Height column. The range shows how much a plant can vary, and the average of that range is what places it on this page.
  2. Check the Hardiness column against your USDA zone.
  3. Match the Sun column to the spot you want to fill.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Autumn Frost Medium hosta 12 in (30 cm) 3–9 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Baby Moon Jonquilla daffodil 6–12 in (15–30 cm) 4–9 Mid spring, Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Blue Cadet Small hosta 12 in (30 cm) 3–9 Late spring Part shade
Blue Mouse Ears Mini hosta 8 in (20 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Canaliculatus Tazetta daffodil 4–6 in (10–15 cm) 6–10 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun
Cat and Mouse Mini hosta 3 in (8 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Church Mouse Mini hosta 8 in (20 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part shade
City Garden Rudbeckia fulgida black-eyed Susan 9–12 in (23–30 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Full sun
Dragon Tails Mini hosta 6–9 in (15–23 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part sun, Part shade
February Gold Cyclamineus daffodil 8–12 in (20–30 cm) 4–9 Early spring Full sun
Floresta Kaufmanniana tulip 8 in (20 cm) 3–8 Early spring Full sun (estimated)
Graefin Bettina Greigii tulip 10–12 in (25–30 cm) 3–7 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun (estimated)
Jack Snipe Cyclamineus daffodil 8–10 in (20–25 cm) 4–9 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun
Jetfire Cyclamineus daffodil 8–10 in (20–25 cm) 3–8 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
June Medium hosta 9–12 in (23–30 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Katie Heath Triandrus daffodil 10–12 in (25–30 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Lady Jane Species tulip 6–12 in (15–30 cm) 4–8 Mid spring Full sun
Lakeside Paisley Print Small hosta 10 in (25 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Lilac Wonder Species tulip 7 in (18 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Little Beauty Species tulip 4 in (10 cm) 4–8 Late spring Full sun
Mighty Mouse Mini hosta 8 in (20 cm) 3–9 Early summer Part shade, Full shade
Minnow Tazetta daffodil 5–8 in (13–20 cm) 5–8 Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Mite Cyclamineus daffodil 4–8 in (10–20 cm) 4–9 Early spring Full sun
Oratorio Greigii tulip 8 in (20 cm) 3–7 Early spring, Mid spring (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Pandora's Box Mini hosta 3 in (8 cm) 3–7 Midsummer Part sun, Part shade
Persian Pearl Species tulip 4–6 in (10–15 cm) 4–8 Mid spring Full sun
Rip van Winkle Double daffodil 5–8 in (13–20 cm) 4–9 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun
Sailboat Jonquilla daffodil 10–12 in (25–30 cm) 4–9 Mid spring, Late spring Full sun
So Sweet Medium hosta 9 in (23 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Tete a Tete Miscellaneous daffodil 6–8 in (15–20 cm) 3–8 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Tête Bouclé Double daffodil 4–6 in (10–15 cm) 4–9 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun
The First Kaufmanniana tulip 8–10 in (20–25 cm) 3–8 Early spring Full sun (estimated)
Tiny Tears Mini hosta 2 in (5 cm) 3–9 Early summer Part shade
Toto Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan 9 in (23 cm) 3–9 (estimated) Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer (estimated) (estimated) Full sun
Tulipa linifolia Species tulip 4–6 in (10–15 cm) 4–8 Late spring Full sun
Tulipa sylvestris Species tulip 8–12 in (20–30 cm) 5–8 Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Tulipa tarda Species tulip 4–6 in (10–15 cm) 4–8 Mid spring Full sun
Tulipa turkestanica Species tulip 8 in (20 cm) 4–8 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun
Twist of Lime Mini hosta 4–8 in (10–20 cm) 3–9 Late spring Part shade
W.P. Milner Trumpet daffodil 6–8 in (15–20 cm) 4–9 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Where do low growing perennials go in a border?

The RHS advises positioning tall, substantial plants toward the back of a border, which leaves the front for shorter plants like the ones on this page.